‘Transitional’ $1.4M budget backed
Following long debates over priorities, fiscal cliffs and ESSER funds, Superintendent Mary Skipper’s $1.4 million dollar budget has received school committee approval — narrowly avoiding a passed deadline.
“The FY ’24 budget helps us as a transitional budget to really prepare for FY ’25’s fiscal cliff and set our initiatives up with foundational work,” explained Skipper before the vote Wednesday night.
The proposed budget — repeatedly called a “transitional” or “building block” budget moving out of the pandemic and federal funding — represents a $71.7 million increase over the current budget, with big increases to salary and facility costs and investments in multilingual, inclusive and other programs.
The measure was approved with four in favor and members Brandon Cardet Hernandez and Stephen Alkins opposed — member Lorena Lopera was not present to vote. The plan will now come before city officials for final approval.
The committee also unanimously approved the controversial new 5-year transportation contract with incumbent-bidder Transdev — with member Rafaela Polanco Garcia abstaining — and building a new ShawTaylor elementary school following the merger at Wednesday’s meeting.
Preceding the votes, the budget proposal stirred the most controversy over plans for long-term sustainability concerns — with the disappearance of ESSER funds, rise in inflation and costs and drop in enrollment hanging over the district’s head.
“Any person understands that when you find out you’re losing a major source of income you don’t then add to the budget without a plan to backfill it,” said Cardet Hernandez. “Like you can’t buy a house or a long term expense without a strategy for how to keep it. And in this case, the major expense we’re talking about is people.”
Cardet Hernandez argued that one issue of concern was an addition of 230 positions “mostly funded by ESSER” and said there was a “lack of clarity” around the sustainability of these additions, among other new expenses added.
Other members cited concerns around fully addressing priorities and the need to continue to work with the community and task forces.
“For me the I’ve always felt like the budget should be a little bit more radical in the approach that we’re taking,” said Alkins, refencing racial justice, inclusive education and community outreach.
Skipper said she’s “never been more optimistic” about the district’s direction.
“A vote tonight is not the end of the discussion,” the superintendent said. “It’s actually the starting point for our future planning. And one that we are eager for.”