Town/district still facing net school spending issue

By Melissa Fales

Reporter

 WARE -At the Oct. 24 meeting of the School Committee, Ware School District Business Manager Andrew Paquette of the Management Solution, said the end of the year financial report for fiscal year 2012 shows that the town is under the minimum net school spending requirement established by the state by about $298,000. Paquette said the shortfall was not a surprise, but he wanted to bring it to the attention of town officials and residents.

In January, the state notified the town that it owed the district nearly $1 million after erroneously including retired teacher’s health insurance amounts in the school’s net spending figures. “The expectation is to begin to address this in fy 2013,” said Paquette.

According to Town Manager Stuart Beckley, the town’s fy 2013 budget will fund the schools at 95 percent of the state’s net school spending figure, at a total of approximately $10.37 million. The state can assess a penalty if a town pays less than 95 percent of its assessed figure. “Neither the town or the school can afford a penalty,” said Beckley.

Beckley said the fy2013 school spending amount includes the $270,000 appropriated at the Annual Town Meeting in May to be put towards the money the town owes the school. He said the town is committed to paying the district the full amount that it is owed, approximately an additional $666,000, but said it will take time. The state did not establish a deadline for all of the back payment to be in.

Dr. Mary-Elizabeth Beach, Superintendent, expressed her frustration that the district still won’t be receiving 100 percent of the net school spending funds the state has said it is due. She said students are doing without. “We actually need this money owed to us,” she said. “We need it.”

 

Committee reviews warrant articles for Nov. 19 STM

The committee reviewed two articles to be placed on the warrant for the Special Town Meeting set for Monday, Nov. 19.

The first is a $10,350 invoice for fy 2012 transportation costs the district received after the fiscal year was over.

The second article asks for a $638,436 supplemental appropriation for four different requests, including $60,000 for a full-time nurse. The district currently has two nurses to care for 1200 students over three schools. This would place a full-time nurse at each school.

Beach explained that some students who had previously been transported to programs out of the district are now attending school here in Ware. Some of these students have serious medical needs that require a nurse’s attention. Beach added that there is a significant cost savings on transportation by teaching them here.

The request also asks for approximately $118,000 in additional out of district tuition needs, approximately $250,000 in additional in-district Special Education needs, and approximately $212,000 in staffing needs due to an increase in student enrollment.

School Committee Chair Christopher Desjardins said the town doesn’t have $638,436 to appropriate. He suggested prioritizing the four items listed under the article and presenting a request for a more reasonable amount. However, committee member Aaron Sawabi said he thought the needs of the district were justified and suggested presenting the entire amount at Town Meeting and letting the voters decide. “I think we should stick with what we have and let the chips fall where they may,” he said.

Beckley invited the School Committee to attend the Nov. 13 selectmen’s meeting where the entire warrant will be reviewed by the town moderator, finance committee and selectmen for their final approval.

 

Superintendents working out contingency plans

Following the Oct. 21 hazmat scare that occurred in the area of the Ware Public Schools campus, Beach said she has met with nearby superintendents to discuss contingency plans in case one of their schools had to close for several weeks or months. She said the superintendents talked about what spaces might be available for instruction in case of an emergency school closing. “We’ll be continuing that discussion,” she said.

Dejardins asked about attendance in the schools on Oct. 22, the day after the hazmat scare. Beach said the three schools had attendance percentages in the high 80s that day. Attendance is typically at 95 percent.

 

Professional development day scheduled for Nov. 5

There will be no school Monday, Nov. 5, a professional development day for teachers.