Barrington officials are proposing a $50.8 million operating budget for the school department.

The proposed budget includes a $1.67 million (or 3.4 percent) increase over the current budget, and officials said the vast majority of increases are tied to contractual obligations, mandates or other required expenditures. For example, school officials have included a $129,000 increase for out-of-district tuition for Barrington's special education students. 

Barrington School Committee Chairwoman Kate Brody said the district is committed to providing for the needs of all its students, but acknowledges that most of the cost increase will be paid for by local taxpayers and not through state education aid.

"Our community is shouldering the major expense for this budget. It always has," said Ms. Brody.

In fact, Barrington taxpayers are expected to pay for $45.1 million of the budget, while only $5.65 million will come from state and federal aid. 

Ms. Brody said officials examine each and every part of the budget to find potential cost-savings. She offered the district's capital improvement budget as an example. Initially, officials were requesting $275,000 for new student laptops, computer servers and flatscreen displays. After further analysis, officials were about to reduce the request to about $260,000. It is just a $15,000 difference, but every bit counts, said the school committee chairwoman.

"We realize that our budget is a big ask for our community," added Ms. Brody.

The largest increase in the proposed budget is for salaries. Officials are requesting a $766,645 increase for salaries, while health insurance, pension costs and other benefits are expected to increase by $612,176. 

Rodents and bees

Barrington officials are seeking a $2,300 increase for "rodent and pest control."

Ms. Brody said the district has experienced some unforeseen challenges at Hampden Meadows School and Primrose Hill School. At Hampden Meadows, officials have been working to eliminate some bee hives, and at Primrose Hill School, there have been some problems with bats getting into the school.

Utilities lower

While most residents across the region have experienced increases in their gas and electric utility bills, Barrington schools are expecting a cost decrease.

Ms. Brody said local school officials have been able to negotiate lower rates by collaborating with other agencies. The natural gas line item included a $5,000 decrease, while electricity showed a $10,000 drop. 

Life-span of a Chromebook

School officials have included $260,000 in the capital improvement budget, with a large portion of that money — $118,250 —  earmarked for 550 new student Chromebooks. The new devices will be given to next year's sixth-graders and ninth-graders, and they are expected to use those Chromebooks for the next four years or so. 

"In addition, Chromebooks will be provided to teachers whose Fujitsu laptops (now 6 years old) require replacement, and that equates to a cost savings for BPS," said Ms. Brody. 

Another $28,000 will pay for new devices for Barrington's K-3 students.

"The Apple technology, as noted in the detailed technology request, is for iPads for K-3 elementary school students; our educators have found that this technology is a more appropriate for the growth and developmental needs of younger students," said Ms. Brody.

"The Chromebook technology is not a match for the needs of mathematics teachers. Thus, the Fujitsu laptops are reworked to provide the required support for mathematics instruction."

Enrollment projection

Ms. Brody said school officials are keeping a close eye on student enrollment figures.

The school committee chairwoman said Barrington enrollment has outpaced the estimates offered by NESDEC (New England School Development Council) projects, and could continue to do so, following the construction of the new middle school.

"When you open a new school, you see an increase in enrollment," said Ms. Brody.

Some proposed increases:

Administrative support — $10,000

Special ed. therapists — $135,670

Contracted bus monitors — $31,388

Performing arts specialists — $1,200

Special ed. physical therapists — $26,040

Evaluation-resource — $1,800

Auditing/actuarial services — $3,700

Legal services — $40,000

Other services — $20,000

Dentists — $100

Medicaid claims provider — $5,000

Contracted nurses — $5,141

Other tech services — $538

Other charges (prof. and tech.) — $963

Accreditation — $1,500

Shipping and postage — $1,100

Catering/food reimbursement — $2,300

Rubbish disposal services — $923

Snowplow — $441

Grounds maintenance — $4,343

Rodent and pest control — $2,300

Non-tech maintenance — $150

Repair student transportation vehicles — $1,077

Water — $1,833

Telephone — $2,005

Sewage — $5,694

Wireless comm — $3,020

Internet connectivity — $622

Graduation rentals — $390

Pool rental-swim — $3,000

Transportation contractors — $2,856

Property and liability insurance — $23,287

Tuition to other districts — $36,246

Special ed to private sources — $129,049

Special ed to education service agency — $29,965

Employee travel-teachers — $6,000

General supplies and materials — $720

Athletic supplies — $3,338

Plumbing and heating supplies — $2,000

Custodial supplies — $4,000

Library books — $3,500

Reference books — $4,291

Subscriptions and periodicals — $5,583

Electronic textbooks — $1,295

Professional org. fees — $1,533

Some proposed decreases

Tutoring — $7,000

Health/med. premiums (retirees) — $9,943

Dental buyback — $430

Unemployment insurance — $25,000

Special education psychologist contracted — $17,500

Audiology service — $6,000

Web-based supp. instruction — $1,996

Special education personal care attendant — $53,125

Officials/referees — $2,082

Assessment testing — $4,150

Maintenance and repairs fixtures — $93

Maint. and repair contracted — $14,833

Maint. and repair non-student vehicle — $1,000

Maint. and repair tech related hardware — $5,756

Maint. and repair HVAC — $5,000

Maint. and repair glass — $2,000

Maint. and repair plumbing — $7470

Special education tuition agency out of state — $75,500

Special education tuition — $24,164

Employee travel, non-teachers — $4,000

Natural gas — $5,000

Vehicle maintenance — $1,000

Paint supplies — $1,000

Electricity — $10,000

Textbooks — $10,055

Web-based software — $1,351

Tech-related supplies — $761

Equipment — $10,562

Tech software — $9,397

Other dues and fees — $575