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 …
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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