BOE Approves Annual Budget

Despite protests from three of its members, the Board of Education approved the amended annual budget for the school.

The BOE had requested an increase of $2.4 million from the city, but the city offered $1.7 million saying that the BOE could make up the difference in insurance savings.

The Board indicated Tuesday that savings would come due to the retirement of 24 staffers, the elimination of duty aids in the elementary schools, and the reduction in staff of 10 teachers, a secretary and a maintenance worker.

Board member Corinne Gill asked her board colleagues to reconsider the reduction in duty aids, arguing that forcing teachers to return to the task would mean that all elementary school teachers would face days in which a break would not be possible.  Breaks at lunch time are currently reserved for planning.   Board members Sheila Daniels and Ryan Kennedy concurred with Gill.



Gill suggested that the Board take dollars assigned to certified positions and return $82,880 to the budget to pay for the duty aides.  Gill argued that the Board has seen an approximate $500,000 "surplus" in the certified positions line item every year, and that it would not be a risk to retain the aides.

Superintendent Michael Frechette, and business manager Nancy Haynes rebutted the argument saying that the money budgeted for certified positions reflect the real cost of positions on the books, and that savings which occur during the year are not predictable.

The Board vote 4-3 to adopt the budget as it stands without the return of money for duty aides.