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Date: 5/13/2022
EAST LONGMEADOW – The School Committee discussed updates to the East Longmeadow High School Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) process and the school district’s budget during their May 9 meeting.
MSBA
Superintendent Gordon Smith shared that designer Jones Whitsett Architects in partnership with SMMA finalized their contract with the school district a week prior to the meeting. “Now they are fully on board, which is fantastic. Now they can get into the work,” said Smith.
Smith said the design entities hosted an introductory meeting with the high school’s leadership. The superintendent explained that the firms will work during May and June to schedule visiting sessions with staff, students and community members to gauge input.
Smith envisions the high school continuing in its community building role, with both the senior center and the Parks and Recreation Department utilizing the current space for activities. He stressed the importance of involving both operations in constructing a “community vision” for the updated high school.
The superintendent also shared that the district is developing a web page where updates on the MSBA process will be available. “It’s a place that people can go at anytime and see what is going on,” said Smith.
School Budget
As the town and school district undergo budget review, Smith, School Committee Chair Sarah Truoiolo and School Committee Vice Chair William Fonseca met with the Financial Oversight Committee on April 28. The superintendent said the school district is working to build back its budget to pre-coronavirus pandemic norms over the next two fiscal years.
During the meeting, the trio also stressed the importance of the Financial Oversight Committee supporting newly identified needs. “I think that the answers we provided helped give the Financial Oversight Committee a much better sense of what we’re trying to achieve and where we are trying to go,” said Smith.
After airing grievances during the prior meeting, School Committee member Gregory Thompson reiterated his criticisms of the process. “I think the way we are funding this is a catastrophe…If we don’t fund capital projects through the operating budget, we’ll be looking at several cuts next year,” said Thompson.
Thompson advocated that the current budget plan does not account for all increases. “I think that the process is broken…$1.1 million is a cliff and it won’t be there next year,” said Thompson. The School Committee member said it’s unfair that an unelected committee makes final decisions on the school district’s budget.
Truoiolo argued that the School Committee worked in “a collaborative fashion” with the Financial Oversight Committee. Smith agreed, sharing that the meeting between the two sides was “well-received.”
The School Committee will meet again on May 23.