An amendment which would have reduced the Mascenic Regional School District budget by $899,107 failed during the district’s deliberative session on Wednesday, leaving the budget at its originally proposed $23.9 million.
The proposed budget is an increase of $1.9 million, or 8.75% over the current amount, which was a default budget. An expected increase in state revenue would result in an overall tax impact of about 6.5%.
New Ipswich resident Jeff Carter spoke about the rising costs in the district and the pressures being put on taxpayers, offering an amendment to reduce the proposed budget to an even $23 million. He said that was still an increase over the current budget, but would offer some relief.
Ralph Somero spoke in agreement with the amendment, stating that the tax increases in New Ipswich were outpacing the Social Security annual increase.
“I can’t emphasize enough that we are way overtaxed because schools are way overspending,” Somero said.
New Ipswich resident Gretchen Smith said she would like to know where the cuts would come from.
“I hear we’re looking to cut from an already low budget, and I just would like to ask where these people who want cuts, what they would like to see cut from the budget,” Smith said. “You cannot improve scores without staffing, and the opportunities that budgets provide your students.”
Speaking to the question, Superintendent Liz Pogorzelski said that even a third year in a default is likely to result in staffing, extracurricular and program cuts. She said further cuts to the proposed budget could include reducing extracurriculars, reduction of staff, reduction of preschool at Highbridge Hill, or even the closure of the Boynton Middle School.
The amendment failed on a voice vote. A member of the audience objected to the vote being taken by voice vote, and requested a paper ballot, but moderator Bob Romeril ruled that the vote had already been taken and was decisive.
Another amendment was offered, to change the budget to $23,000,050. The amendment failed on a 76-101 vote. Greenville voters cast one vote for yes, and 26 for no, and New Ipswich 75 yes to 75 no.
There were no further amendments offered.
Salaries, benefits and facilities costs are the major drivers in the increase. The district has also allocated $100,000 for the possibility of having to pay open enrollment tuitions if a new law requiring all districts to become open enrollment districts passes.
If the district voters do not pass the budget, the default budget is $23.4 million.
District considers open enrollment
As is the case with many school districts this year, Mascenic is proposing an open enrollment policy. Open enrollment allows students to attend schools outside their home district within the state. The home district is responsible for paying at least 80% of the tuition for those students, as well as any special education costs under the current law. New rules for open enrollment may be enacted as early as this week, with a bill currently in the House of Representatives. The passage of that law could make the district’s warrant moot.
Mascenic is proposing to allow up to 10% of its population in out-of-district students to attend any of its three schools, which would be about 90 students based on current population, but not to allow any of its students to go out of district under the open enrollment rules.
School Board Chair Mitch Gluck said that not knowing how many students might seek open enrollment placements would make budgeting “very, very difficult” for the district, and estimated it would represent as much as $20,000 to $25,000 per student, per year.
Building trades on the warrant
The district is proposing to reinstate a building trades program at the Mascenic Regional High School. The cost of the program would be included in a warrant article separate from the budget, and have a total cost of $192,000, which would include $142,000 for salaries and benefits for an instructor and $50,000 for supplies.
“This program used to be in Mascenic. A number of years ago, Jaffrey [Rindge Cooperative School District] ended up taking it over, and they were no longer able to offer it this year, and they’re not funding it this [coming] year,” said Pogorzelski.
She said in surveying Mascenic students, there were 25 students in grades 9-11 who were interested in the program.
“I think it would significantly benefit our community to have this program back,” she said.
Other articles on the warrant
The district has proposed a three-year agreement with the Mascenic Education Support Staff Association. The first year would include increases of $149,707, the second year $55,078, and the third year $47,585.
The agreement includes raising starting salaries and step increases for all paraprofessionals. In exchange, employees will increase their contributions for health care.
The district is proposing additions to its capital reserve funds, including $150,000 for the building maintenance reserve, and $35,000 for the technology reserve, and $25,000 for the food service reserve, all amounts to come from the end of the year unreserved fund balance.
The board is considering two feasibility studies. The first would be to hire an independent consultant to conduct a building consolidation study of the district’s three school buildings and SAU offices to determine if consolidation is possible. The estimated cost of the study is $26,000.
Gluck said consolidation has been a conversation for several years and felt it was time to discuss it. Pogorzelski said the district has looked at the possibility of the closure of Boynton, and said she does not believe, based on current class sizes and projections, that the district is at a point where it can close the school, calling it a “humongous decision.” She said the district has also looked at closing the SAU offices, though she said that it is the only school building located in Greenville, and having buildings in both towns is required by the district’s articles of agreement.
“We are going to take an honest, unbiased look at this, and we’re going to depend on experts to help us with this,” said Gluck.
Similarly, the district is requesting $10,000 for an independent analysis of SAU staffing levels.
Gluck said the district’s own analysis of its staffing suggests the district is doing “much more with less” than other SAUs in the region. He said the study would look at the number of staff, as well as their functions and roles.
A petition article submitted to the district calls for a per-pupil spending policy. The article would require an operating budget cap that would allow no more increase in the cost per pupil than the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, or CPI-U.
No one spoke to the petition article during the deliberative session. Romeril said that the article does not use language required by state law, and would be unenforceable and considered advisory.