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Date: 12/28/2022
LUDLOW – The Board of Selectmen met the School Committee to go over the fiscal year 2024 (FY24) budget at its Dec. 20 meeting.
Superintendent Frank Tiano said that he hopes to have the final estimated budget for the School Committee by Jan. 10, 2023, and have the committee vote in February 2023.
District Business Manager Kathy Demetrius said at the Dec. 13 School Committee meeting that the revised budget for 2023 is approximately $34 million with $2.3 million in funds still available.
School Committee Chair Chip Harrington mentioned how Tiano took a new approach to the budget in his first year being hired.
Harrington said, “Tiano has been taking a different approach to the budget which has been very good. He has been including all members of the committee. In years past we have had a subcommittee report back occasionally. Dr. Tiano reports to us almost every committee meeting with Mrs. Demetrius.”
Tiano mentioned how “great this process has worked so far.”
“We started looking at our budget in August and worked our way through each point of the process like working with our budget mangers, the town administrator and town accountant while also setting up times with our School Committee to update them.” Tiano said.
Tiano added, “We feel like we had had a great dialogue in terms of our financial outlook.”
Tiano mentioned how their Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER) funds they were awarded during the coronavirus pandemic were put to good use for school programs and equipment but “had a shelf life” and will be done after this year.
“We currently have $1.4 million in our operating budget going away for next year.” Tiano said.
Selectmen Derek DeBarge and Manny Silva asked why the committee would use ESSER funds for items that need to be funded every year if they knew the funds were going away creating a deficit.
Harrington said, “We knew that as a district there is a cliff to this funding. Most of these funds were earmarked. ESSER I was for ventilation, ESSER II was for special education social workers for out of school students during coronavirus.”
Harrington added that last year the committee had a discussion to use ESSER funds for teachers after almost cutting 13 teachers to “keep their head above the water right now.”
“Knowing we are going to be in this position right now. We knew there may be an end to the other positions as well. The administration must decide now what to do after there are some kids who need these programs and social workers.” Harrington added.
The budget expects to see a 2 percent increase in salaries due to faculty being due for pay increases and 3 percent increase in transportation according to Tiano.
He added, “We have taken apart hundreds of line items. We looked to see how our funds are being spent and making sure they are in the right line. We are trying to not have an increase in non-salary expenses.”
The School Committee will meet on Jan. 10, 2023, to discuss the proposed budget for FY24.