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| By Natasha Clark Assistant Managing Editor LONGMEADOW - As of April 9, Longmeadow Superintendent of Schools E. Jahn Hart said the town manager's proposed budget was $500,000 less than what is needed to fund the School Committee's $28,547,875 level service budget request. Last week during a budget overview presentation, Hart stated that pupil services and special education costs are 23.5 percent of the budget, leaving 76.5 percent toward general education costs the majority dedicated to salaries, according to the report. Though this budget includes salary and step raises, it does not include salary increases to be determined by teacher contract settlements. There was approximately a $500,000 increase in special education costs. Susan Bertrand-Grant, director of Pupil Services, said cost trends for special education show that expenses are up and that school districts are getting less money back from the state. Special education cost increases, according to Bertrand-Grant, also are attributed to an increase of students with moderate and serious disabilities. She said there are 50 students in Longmeadow with a form of autism. Of the 50, nine receive services from Longmeadow Public Schools. School Committee member Jerold Duquette said that the level service budget is inadequate and there is a long list of unmet needs. "This budget is the best of the worst," Duquette said. He explained that it did not keep up with the strategic plan for the district nor address increased fees, textbooks, lab equipment, administrative costs, problems with technology or equity across schools. "In the wealthiest community in Western Massachusetts this should not be the case," Duquette added. |