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Date: 4/4/2023
LUDLOW — The Board of Selectmen and School and Finance committees hosted a joint meeting on March 28 to discuss the fiscal year 2024 school budget.
Superintendent Frank Tiano had expressed at past meetings with the School Committee that the schools would need a 9.1% or $3.15 million dollar increase to achieve a level service budget for FY24.
The Board of Selectmen voiced at its Feb. 21 meeting that a 9% increase is not possible.
During the joint meeting, Tiano recommended a 5% increase which would cut $1.3 million from level service.
“I am working with our teachers, I am working with our principals and we have been working in terms of what that would look like. We have not landed on how that really looks because if we don’t get at least five percent because then the game kind of changes,” Tiano said.
According to Tiano, the FY24 budget at only 5% increase would increase class size and fees, and reduce high school electives, elementary specials, foreign language offerings, and athletic schedules.
School Committee member Sarah Bowler said, “I look at the list of where the areas of impact are going to be, and I know school is supposed to be learning but it is taking away the fun parts of the school. It is taking away the breaks between math and science and those classes.”
A 5% increase would also eliminate 22 full-time employees.
School Committee Chair Jeffrey Laing said, “It is painful to me as a teacher to let go of teachers. We would never have asked for 9% because we know what that would do for the town but we need to minimize the loss of teachers as best we can.”
Bowler added, “Seeing that we are reducing teachers every year, I think we are at a point where we need to reevaluate the budget percentage the school department is getting with the rest of the town. We employ the most employees in the town so it might help.”
Gov. Maura Healey proposed a 9.8% increase in Chapter 70 school funding which will lead to a 3.2% increase or $452,500, to Ludlow Public Schools.
Tiano said, “That is good because over the last five years it has been a .03% increase. Student Opportunity Act funding will have a $0 impact for FY24.”
Tiano showed the impact that any percent increase below 9 would mean for the budget. For example, a 3% increase would cause the budget to be reduced by approximately $2 million because it is below level service.
The enrollment rate for Ludlow Public Schools since 2019 has dropped by 209 but the number of students with needs as gone up.
The number of English language learners has gone up 100%, the low-income and homeless populations have increased 18% and 200% respectively, and the number of special education students has gone up 6%.
“What is important to note is the change in the demographics in the students of Ludlow. Numbers has gone down somewhat but population has changed, needs has changed. The landscape is shifting, and we need to shift as educators to meet their needs,” Tiano added.
Other factors that caused the budget to increase compared to FY23 is salary by $1.2 million, out-of-district costs by $535,000 and transportation by $224,956.
Tiano added that since a budget hearing on Feb. 14, the school department has reduced an additional $110,230.
The Finance Committee and Select Board said the way the budget is looking now, the School Committee would have to request a Proposition 2 ½ override at Town Meeting but added it would never pass.
Proposition 2½ is a law that prohibits towns from increases the property tax levy above 2.5%. Voters can choose to override the Proposition 2½ as much as they would like but the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee expressed that the town would not approve.
Selectman Bill Rosenblum said, “I can’t see us getting to a 5% increase. Right now, the way the budget sits at $547,000 in excess levy at 3%. I can’t see us getting to 5%. We are looking at an override and that would not happen in this town. The voters would never approve it.”
The Board of Selectmen expressed that they value the school department and teachers but also must worry about every department equally when it comes to the budget.
Selectman James Gennette said, “We have done our job. We have saved $800,000 on our side and you got state money. I don’t care if you request Town Meeting 20%, it doesn’t matter to me. It is all on the School Committee. All we do is put together the budget.”
The Board of Selectmen and School Committee both agreed to table the FY24 budget discussion to look over their respective budget line items again to see if they can save more money.
The Board of Selectmen, School and Finance Committees will meet again on April 11.