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Date: 4/17/2023
LUDLOW — The School Committee expressed their disappointment with the fiscal year 2024 school budget.
Superintendent Frank Tiano told the School Committee that Town Administrator Marc Strange informed him that the town has slotted approximately $35.95 million for Ludlow Public Schools which represents a 4.3% increase from FY23.
“For us, that is a percentage increase more than this district has received in several years. At the same time, it is still $1.5 million shy of our level service budget. We are still in a difficult position,” Tiano added.
The School Committee approved the FY24 budget at its April 11 meeting but expressed that they would like to see more help from the town when it comes to funding the schools.
The School Committee has hosted multiple joint meetings with the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee to discuss their FY24 budget.
Each School Committee member said they were appreciative of the hard work but disappointed with the final numbers.
School Committee member Sarah Bowler said, “I think our town is not doing a service for the children in this community. I’m not sure what we are doing wrong as a town where we can’t come up with more money, where our money is going. Our children don’t seem to be a priority. For four years we have cut and cut and cut and our teachers are getting cute. We are losing good teachers and that is not okay.”
The school budget takes up around 44% of the overall towns budget.
Bowler added, “I am not talking about increasing taxes. I am talking about seeing where our money is going and ensuring, we are spending our money the way it should be spent. I am not talking about adding fees or getting rid of trash pickup. Something is going on that is not working in this town.”
School Committee member Jeffrey Stratton said, “This is now fourth or fifth year that we have not had a level service budget. That is a lot of cutting over a long period of time and I am disappointed that it seems to be continuing. We have a lot of work to do to see how we can support the schools better.”
During a past budget presentation, Tiano said that the FY24 budget at only 5% increase would increase class size and fees, and reduce 22 full-time employees, high school electives, elementary specials, foreign language offerings and athletic schedules.
A 4.3% increase will intensify those numbers even higher and force more cuts to programs and teachers.
“It’s gut wrenching,” Tiano added. “Am I disappointed with what comes next? 6000%. But that is our charge.”
The School Committee expressed that they would like to avoid teachers being cut.
School Committee member Joao Dias said, “I would obviously love to vote for money but it obviously doesn’t look like it is going to be there for us. What I would like to see is that any cuts that are made are not made from the frontline teaching staff. Our first and most major mandate is to educate the children and without the frontline teachers, I don’t think we are doing a good job with that.”
School Committee Chair Jeffery Laing said, “I do believe that the town is strongest is if we are investing in our schools. That is what makes people want to move here. I think at the end of the day we are left with whatever is left and that is unfortunate.”
He added, “It doesn’t seem like a community that really believes in education. I don’t want to tax anyone more than we already are being taxed. The good news, there is a lot of districts that are looking for teachers. Ludlow is not one of them but there is a lot of vacancy in a lot of other districts that I am sure would appreciate them.”
The school budget will now go to Town Meeting for approval on May 8.