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Date: 3/1/2023
WILBRAHAM — Aaron Osborne, the assistant superintendent for finance, operations and human resources, and Dr. John Provost, school superintendent, discussed the challenges facing the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District at the Feb. 22 meeting of the Finance Committee.
While school officials are “looking at the potential for significant cuts,” they also noted the amount of educational funding from the commonwealth — known as Chapter 70 — has not yet been released for the next fiscal year.
Osborne said as it stands the school budget for fiscal year 2024 (FY24) is $2.33 million more than the budget for FY23. That sum represents a 4.5 percent increase. He noted that when the budget process started for the school district in January the amount of the increase was 6 percent.
“It’s higher than we’ve seen in part due to inflationary pressures,” Osborne said.
The cost of utilities is up with increases for both electricity and gas, he noted. Another cost increase has been the increased use of substitute teachers.
Transportation costs are increasing and Osborne noted the bus schedule is being studied for potential savings. “We’re looking at a different transportation plan next month.”
Osborne noted there are more special education students in the district “we’re trying to prepare for.”
Heath insurance costs and increased and Osborne said, “It’s no mystery to us. This is a challenging number.”
Provost explained the district is still facing COVID-19, which attributes to the number of substitutes used. “We’re still bouncing back from learning loss [from the pandemics,] he added.
“Any cut will have a magnified impact,” he said.
“We’re only going to be able to do just so much,” Kevin Hanks, the chair of the Finance committee said.
In response, members of the Finance Committee expressed the need to stick with the budget and hold the line of taxes.
Town Administrator Nick Breault explained to Reminder Publishing that by statute the School Committee must complete its budget 45 days before the spring Town Meeting. With a regional school district, the budget deadline is determined by which community has its Town Meeting first. Although the School Committee is responsible for approving the final budget, it has close communications with the Finance Committee in Wilbraham
After the discussion with school officials, two members of the of Selectmen, Susan Bunnell and Theresa Goodrich continued a conversation about budget matters with the Finance Committee.
Bunnell said, “I haven’t seen this kind of budget in decades.” The suggestion of a Town Meeting in the fall to address funding concerns was made, which Breault said could be used to address budget issues.