Barrington school officials do not plan to make any changes to their proposed budget as the end of the fiscal year draws near.

During the Barrington School Committee meeting on Thursday night, officials spoke briefly about the financial situation facing the district. In most years, taxpayers would have already voted on the budgets by the end of May. But this is not a normal year.

Instead, town and school officials are still discussing how to conduct the annual financial town meeting, and the committee on appropriations has not yet offered its position on the proposed budgets. In fact, the COA is not due to meet again until June 9.

Barrington Schools Superintendent Michael Messore told members of the school committee on Thursday night that not much has changed recently with the budget. He said the district has utilized almost all of its employees throughout the switch to distance learning, which started in late-March.

Mr. Messore said it was important to keep staffing in place to ensure that students have the support they need during distance learning. The superintendent said he is actually looking to fill nine positions before the start of the next school year.

Doug Fiore, the director of finance and administration for the schools, said there is still a lot of uncertainty regarding state aid. Mr. Fiore said the state has not yet had direction from the federal government about whether they will receive additional funding to compensate for the economic losses associated with the coronavirus pandemic. He said that means cities and towns are still waiting to hear about state aid levels. He added that the state is not expected to know about federal funding until July 1.

School committee members did learn some good news on Thursday night — Paula Dillon, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, reported that the district had been awarded $400,000 in grant money for grades pre-kindergarten through five. The grant will off-set some of the expenditures included in the operating budget for supplies and materials, and will pay for an additional instructional coach for two years.

Barrington School Committee Chairwoman Gina Bae asked if school officials should revise the proposed budget, now that they know they will receive $400,000 in grant money.

Mr. Fiore advised against that move. He said there were still many "moving pieces" in the budget and it would be wise to keep the proposal as it was earlier drafted.

Enrollment to increase?

Ms. Dillon told school committee members that Barrington already has 60 students registered for next year's pre-kindergarten program. That enrollment figure is about double the current number, said school officials. (The district received about $40,000 in grant money to expand its pre-kindergarten program.)

Committee member Anna Clancy said she has also heard that there are a number of Barrington families with children enrolled at private schools who are considering moving them back into Barrington schools because they were not happy with the private schools' distance learning programs.

Ms. Dillon confirmed that information, stating that those transfer requests come through her office.

Layoffs?

Mr. Fiore appeared to advise against the district laying off employees. He said that move would result in an increase in unemployment costs for the summer months, and then the district may have to rehire those individuals at the start of the upcoming school year.

"It's just a waste of money," he said.

Ms. Dillon also responded to a question she heard from someone recently, asking if it was necessary to have an instructional coach on staff while students are committed to distance learning.

Ms. Dillon said the district's instructional coach continues to play a key role in helping Barrington's teachers best deliver instruction to students during distance learning. She said the position has been absolutely crucial.

Ms. Bae added to that message. She said she has read reports that show that in school districts where distance learning has not worked as well, it is often because teachers feel woefully unprepared. That is not the case in Barrington, she said.

Budget numbers

The district's current operating budget is $52,457,348. At last check, the proposed budget calls for a 3.9 percent increase to $54,500,526.

Budget increases

• Salaries: $781,314

• Benefits: $520,948

• Professional services: $197,717

• Tech., maintenance, property services: $30,470

• Other purchase services: $391,018

• Supplies/textbooks: $97,448

• Building, equip., vehicle: ($10,560)

• Dues and fees: $34,822

• Total increase: $2,043,178