Barrington taxpayers were recently offered a glimpse at the school district's proposed budget requests for the upcoming school year.

At a Barrington School Committee meeting on Thursday, Jan. 23, officials shared their budget priorities, which included new instructional coaches and new curriculum materials. In addition, the district is planning to make some capital requests, potentially including new vehicles and technology equipment and upgrades.

District officials have not yet specified the costs that will be attached to the budget requests. That information will likely be released during a Feb. 6 meeting. 

"We focused on what's needed," said Barrington Superintendent of Schools Mike Messore, in an interview on Monday, Jan. 27. "All of this is academic focused and social-emotional focused."

Mr. Messore said one of the key targets for the budget priorities will be curriculum materials and resources for all grades. The superintendent said that the state has instituted a 2023 deadline for updating its English and math curriculum. 

"We have been working on it," Mr. Messore said. "We want to be ahead of the 2023 deadline."

The re-vamped curriculum will require some new hard copy materials (textbooks, etc.) as well as new electronic programs and licensing. Mr. Messore said he asked Assistant Superintendent Paula Dillon to complete a five-year projection on the licensing costs associated with the new programs … "and it's expensive," said Mr. Messore. 

The superintendent said the district has been trying to phase in the curriculum changes slowly, but anticipates that there will be some larger costs coming due in the next few years.

Barrington schools are also hoping to add two instructional coaches next year — one would be dedicated to the three K-3 elementary schools, while the other would be embedded at Hampden Meadows School, which services students in grades 4-5. The instructional coaches would work with local educators to improve the delivery of instruction to students.

Mr. Messore pointed to Primrose Hill School as its "success story," highlighting the benefits of instructional coaches. Mr. Messore said an instructional coach at Primrose Hill worked hand-in-hand with the teachers there; the result was improved student assessments. Mr. Messore added that the teachers, through a survey, spoke about the benefits of the instructional coach.

Reallocating staff

Mr. Messore said the district is currently exploring the idea of reallocating staff members in an effort to establish an alternative learning program in the K-3 schools. The program, he said, would focus on helping students who have been identified as having social and developmental needs. 

Mr. Messore said that the program could help the district reduce the number of students placed in schools outside the district.

Capital requests

Mr. Messore said the district's budget request for capital items may be higher than usual this year. He said the district is planning to install new wireless access points at five of the six public schools; the middle school does not need new wireless access points, he said.

The superintendent also said the district needs to pay for the replacement of old Chromebooks (in the 1-to-1 initiative) and Apple devices (at the elementary schools).

"And when you buy new Chromebooks, you need to buy new Chromebook licenses," he said. 

Mr. Messore said the district also needs to replace the devices used by building administrators. He said some of the devices are seven years old and so outdated that they can no longer be updated. 

In addition, certain classes need new technology equipment, such as the graphic design class which is using 10-year-old devices.