Bellingham schools ask for $24.7M

BELLINGHAM – Schools Superintendent Peter D. Marano is proposing a $24.7 million school budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

The $24,793,397 budget for fiscal 2018 represents a $690,000, or a 2.9 percent, increase over the current $24,103,397 budget.

“The recommended budget has been carefully constructed using our district strategic plan and district improvement plan as a blueprint and guide,” Marano says. “This budget attempts to achieve the multiyear goals and priorities for our school system outlined in those plans.”

According to Marano, the school district’s five-year strategic and district improvement plans contain a shared vision and specific steps to improve the district through programming and services that benefit all students.

Strategic objectives include improving curriculum and instruction; creating a strong student-centered learning environment; balancing operations and facilities; and improving the culture to engage families and community members.

“Our strategic plan is anchored in a shared vision that all students will achieve academic excellence and be self-directed learners possessing the ability to think critically, problem solve, communicate, collaborate and research effectively to be socially responsible citizens,” Marano said.

Marano says the budget he

is recommending represents the culmination of “a tremendous amount of work” involving input from school administration, school committee members, staff, parents and the community.

Marano says the major drivers of this year’s budget include:

·Salary and benefit obligations to employees per the collective bargaining agreements.

• Non-union salary and benefit increases in line with COLA adjustments for collective bargaining units.

• Anticipated increases in current out-of-district special education tuition increases.

• Increases in regular transportation and special education transportation. • Additional personnel. Marano says there are several initiatives and programs that are highlighted in the strategic plan that are being implemented at all schools, including:

• Aligned, rigorous, standards-based units of instruction at all grade levels and content areas to create a comprehensive college and career ready K-12 curriculum.

• Targeted professional development to improve instructional practices.

• A balanced system of formative and benchmark assessments that report results for student achievement.

• Effective interventions that will close the achievement and behavior gaps.

• A 1:1 initiative and Google Classroom for all 7th grade students and all math classes in Grade 6.

Not included in this budget, Marano says, are funds for unanticipated enrollment increases or unanticipated special education costs related to out-of-district placement tuition, transportation, or other services.