The Rochester School Committee unanimously voted during its March 23 public meeting to approve Superintendent of School Mike Nelson’s proposed FY24 school budget of $7,025,493.
The figure above includes $200,563 for Bristol Agricultural High School, which is not included in the general operating budget of $6,816,930. The operating budget represents an increase of $179,137 (2.7%) over the FY23 total ($6,637,793.)
ORR Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber told the committee during the public hearing that preceded the vote that the Old Rochester Regional administration’s goal has been to provide a zero-based budgetary method, while listening to administrators for school and department goals, including new curriculum initiatives needing planning, along with review and recognition of budgetary shortfalls.
Barber reported $411,636 in total offset funding for FY24, including a $152,802 circuit breaker, $111,334 from the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), a $45,000 REAP grant, $35,000 in Project GROW (preschool) tuitions, $24,000 from rentals of Rochester Memorial School, $20,000 from ESSER III, $18,000 from Title 1 and an EEC grant of $5,500.
In addressing changes to the FY24 school budget, Barber noted three factors: a maximized, zero-based budgeting process, planning for operational expenses and mandates costs.
RMS will see six retirements from its academic staff at the end of the school year, and one of those positions will not be replaced. Barber said the savings are compounded by the canceled step increases among the retiring employees, some with 15-20 years in the system. The net decrease for FY24 is $108,000.
A $67,000 increase in tuition-based programming is somewhat mitigated by a $47,000 increase in the circuit breaker, resulting in a net increase of $25,000 in student services.
In sharing a budgetary comparison between fiscal years 2023 and 2024, Barber displayed how different departments compare.
The $4,793,469 RMS budget is $78,207 less than FY23, but the total assessed operating budget figure including five other charges (Facilities, Central Office, Student Services, Technology and Transportation) that are all greater than in FY23 results in a 2.7% net increase for FY24 ($6,816,930 against $6,637,793 in FY23.)
Although Bristol Aggie is down $81,135 from $289,698 in FY23 to $208,563 in FY24, total budget obligations for Rochester have increased from $6,927,491 in FY23 to $7,025,493 in FY24.
The one eliminated faculty position notwithstanding, many departments are seeing small increases that add up to a net increase of $179,137 in the assessed budget for FY24.
Rochester Chapter 70 (state aid) apportionment for FY24 is $2,399,312.
At the conclusion of Barber’s budget presentation, Nelson credited the School Committee for the work the members did to put RMS into the position it is with the staff it has in place to face FY24 challenges. That work, he said, also helped ORR secure resources to continue improving on the primary academic goals related to literacy.
In answer to committee member Anne Fernandes’ question, Barber indicated that feedback from the town’s Finance Director Suzanne Szyndlar was positive.
With the absence of public comments, Chairperson Sharon Hartley closed the public hearing, and the committee went into a brief executive session.
After voting for the school budget, the School Committee voted to approve the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the School Committee and the Rochester Memorial School Support Personnel Association.
The committee heard a presentation on literacy assessment from The Hill.
The Rochester School Committee also voted the following approvals: FY2023 Safe and Supportive Schools Grant of $10,000; $20,000 USDA and DESE School Nutrition Equipment Assistance Grant; the donation from Free Spirit Publishing of books “I Love You All the Time,” “You Wonder All the Time,” You are Growing All the Time,” and (pending librarian approval) “You have Feelings All the Time;” a donation of two boxes of sanitizer wipes and pump bottles from parent Joshua Rivera; donation of a set of bongos from Nancy Sparklin, chorus accompanist and donation of a steel drum from community member Damien McCann.
According to RMS Principal Derek Medeiros, books donated by community member Greg Hardy, including “Life Skills for Kids” by Karen Harris; “Inspiring Stories for Amazing Boys” by Emily Green; “Inspiring Stories for Amazing Girls” by Eva Kinsley; “Empowering Stories for Amazing Girls” by Sophie Potter; “Little Lives Matter” by Elizabeth Johnston; “Elephants Are Not Birds” by Ashley St. Clair; eight “Otto’s Tales Today …” titles by PragerU; three books from the “Cubs to Bears” series by Brett Pike and “What Should Danny Do? On Vacation!” by Ganit and Adir Levey did not meet the professional standards of the library resource specialist.
The School Committee engaged in discussion, then voted to decline the donation but asked Medeiros to follow up with the donor to see if he would like the books back or engage Plumb Library.
In his Principals Report, Medeiros spoke of an event in which students learned about electricity. In the Chairperson’s Report, Hartley spoke of the resilience of the school throughout the past year. Nelson said two well-attended FORM concerts saw different schools come together with a special performance in music.
During Open Comment, resident Karen Thomas expressed her disappointment in the school’s judgment about accepting or rejecting books. Resident Victoria Bradshaw asked questions as to the book donation process and said she would follow up with an email. Hardy said there is a bias being shown in ORR’s vetting of books.
The next meeting of the Rochester School Committee is scheduled for Thursday, May 4, at 6:30 pm.
Rochester School Committee
By Mick Colageo