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Date: 2/8/2023
LONGMEADOW – The proposed Longmeadow Public Schools (LPS) budget for fiscal year 2024 (FY24) is “one of the more complicated budgets that we’ve had in many, many years,” Superintendent M. Martin O’Shea said at the Longmeadow School Committee meeting Jan. 31.
He thanked Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Tom Mazza, the administration team, Town Manager Lynn Simmons and Interim Finance Director Paul Pasterczyk for the work they did to bring it together.
In FY23, the revised school department budget totaled $40.18 million, with $37.39 million from the general fund and $2.79 million from special revenue, such as grants. The proposed budget for FY24 would use $38.89 million from the general fund and $3.04 million from special revenue, totaling $41.94 million, an increase of $1.75 million over the current fiscal year. O’Shea said the budget was an “ambitious request” but “reflective” of student needs.
A major factor in the budget is a 14 percent increase in out-of-district (OOD) tuition rates for students who need programs LPS does not offer. The district is asking for $682,718 more than last year for special education, largely because of the OOD increase, which translates to $364,868. Historically, increases are between .75 and 2.72 percent year over year. LPS wrote to the state Operational Services Division, which sets OOD tuition rates, to object to the increase, but to no avail.
School Committee member Jamie Hensch asked if the dramatic increase in odd placements will continue year over year into the future. Mazza said the percentages may be higher than in the past but “hopefully not this high.” Hensch suggested a continued pressure campaign on the OOD to bring the year over year costs back down.
School Committee Member Gina Allentuck called the 14 percent increase to OOD tuition “disgusting.” She asked if some currently out-of-district programs could be created in-district by the next school year. O’Shea explained districts are required to educate students “in the least restrictive environment possible." If LPS can provide the least the restrictive environment, "then we’re always interested in doing that.” He said it was “too early to say what, if any, services could be offered in district.”
There are also other issues impacting special education costs, O’Shea said, including a rise in the number of students the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) classifies as “high needs” from 23.2 percent in the 2014-15 school year to 29.1 percent in the 2022-2023 school year. Students with special education requirements, English language Learners and students from low-income families are considered high needs.
Among the factors in the proposed budget are “inflationary pressures,” including the cost of living and utilities, as well as the state budget, town finances and a revision in the implementation of Chapter 70 state aid.
O’Shea also spoke about the “shifting educational landscape.” Based on school climate data, LHS rates of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm and suicidal ideation have all increased, with depression and anxiety up by 76 percent and 63 percent, respectively, over the past five years.
“We have been on a journey to expand our capacity to meet the health and wellness needs for our students,” O’Shea said. He noted the work already done, such as securing a drug free community grant, life skills program and career counseling. With the FY24 budget the district is seeking to honor its contractual commitments, support academic coaches, realize optimal class sizes, broaden support for career tech opportunities, behavioral needs, special education and English language learners.
School Committee Vice Chair Mary Keane asked about the role of student support specialists in the budget. Glenbrook Middle School Principal Nikcole Allen explained that student supports work with students “who just need that extra [social-emotional] support.” She compared a student support specialist with math lab and literacy lab supports.
O’Shea said the role is a part of the district’s work to address student social-emotional health. Additionally, a new student discipline law requires restorative practices. “No longer can we simply send students without any level of intervention to an internal suspension room” or “send a student home who needs to get regulated.”
The district’s current enrollment is 2,787 with fewer students in the lower grades. As such, O’Shea said the district expects to offer two fewer classrooms or “sections” in the 2023-24 school year. The district plans to reduce two full time equivalent (FTE) positions at the kindergarten grade level, 1.8 FTE positions at LHS, one FTE special education position, two FTE specialist positions at the middle schools, and 0.2 FTE in World Language positions at Williams Middle School.
A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for Feb. 7. The school committee will vote on the budget on Feb. 14 and the Select Board will vote on the town budget, including the school budget, on March 20 the budget will be finalized at the annual town meeting on May 9.
Program of studies
Longmeadow High School Principal Tom Landers presented changes to the high school program of studies. There will be two new courses introduced in the fall. One is English 4 Honors. Allentuck noted that last year, a Junior’s Honors History class was proposed but it “wasn’t marketed well” and it “didn’t happen.” Landers explained only three students signed up for it, so the section was not run, but the class is still on the books and available if there is enough interest. He also noted students that had expressed interest in the class but did not sign up chose AP History instead because it may look better on a college transcript.
School Committee Chair Nicole Choiniere suggested that prerequisites for Advance Placement (AP) classes, specifically teacher recommendations, may be a barrier to more students pursuing higher level learning. Landers said LPS has always “honored the waiver” and “generally, the student and the family have the last say” in whether the student takes an AP course.
The other class is Basic Guitar and Piano. Landers said the introductory music class is designed for students who play instruments outside of school or otherwise have an interest in learning music, but “are intimidated because the music program [at LHS] is good.”
Another change to the program of studies is the use of foreign language levels “novice,” “novice-intermediate,” “intermediate” or “advanced.” this terminology matches the use by the American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages.
The course changes were approved 5-1, with Keane dissenting.
Controversies
O’Shea referred to a “personal matter” in which a “non-teaching employee” at Wolf Swamp Road School was fired, allegedly for filming an inappropriate video in a school bathroom that was then uploaded to the website Only Fans. O’Shea also mentioned a “safety situation” at Glenbrook Middle School in which a “threat of future violence” was found by a student in a restroom. The threat was determined to be meritless. O’Shea said he was worried about “the sense of unease” staff and students may have experienced because of these incidents. He thanked the Longmeadow Police Department for responding and investigating.
Other topics
The district has fulfilled the requirements of the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s (MSBA) eligibility period “many months in advance,” O’Shea said. The MSBA is an agency that reimburses school districts for a portion of eligible costs related to repairs and construction of school buildings. In April, there will be an MSBA meeting at which Longmeadow may be invited into the feasibility study agreement, the next step in building a new middle school.
Regarding the middle school project, School Committee member Kevin Shea noted that Longmeadow is a Green Community and must comply with the updated Stretch Energy Code, a more stringent building code, when constructing new facilities.
In a discussion regarding the 2023-24 school calendar, Hensch asked about the elimination of February school vacation. O’Shea confirmed that other districts had tried it, but that it has not worked, largely because it does not line up with the calendars of other districts. He also noted union contracts specifically call for a break that week. The calendar was approved.
The district accepted $19,970 in the form of 50 Lego Spike Prime Robotics Kits. The kits were received when STEM teachers from both middle schools attended the Massachusetts STEM Week robotics professional development.
Allentuck read a letter from LHS Music Department Chair Kayla Werlin, who praised the Jan. 28 instrument drive organized and run by students Meghan Baker and Maye Dromey to “break down barriers to participation for all children.” A dozen instruments were collected.