Barrington schools requesting $2 million budget increase

Officials whittle down 6.3 percent increase to just under 4 percent

By Josh Bickford
Posted 2/28/20

Three weeks ago, Barrington School Department officials requested a 6.3 percent increase to their operating budget. 

On Thursday night, Feb. 27, officials pitched a whittled down 3.9 percent …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Barrington schools requesting $2 million budget increase

Officials whittle down 6.3 percent increase to just under 4 percent

Posted

Three weeks ago, Barrington School Department officials requested a 6.3 percent increase to their operating budget. 

On Thursday night, Feb. 27, officials pitched a whittled down 3.9 percent increase, which was voted through unanimously by the Barrington School Committee. The budget request is now headed to the town's Committee on Appropriations for further review. Taxpayers will be asked to vote on the proposed budget at the May financial town meeting.

At the meeting on Thursday night, Barrington Schools Finance Director Doug Fiore identified parts of the budget increase that had been reduced. 

He said officials cut $300,000 out of the professional and technical services line in the budget; the savings related to how the district planned to deliver its "in-house services." Mr. Fiore said the move will include additional training and certification for school department employees.

Some savings were also identified through teacher attrition, where veteran educators who were earning more money are expected to retire and their jobs will be filled by educators at lower pay levels. Mr. Fiore said that the salary increase was 2.4 percent, which also included the addition of two new instructional coaches at the schools. 

The district also drew $225,000 off the OPEB (Other Post Employment Benefits) Trust. Officials said the trust was slightly over-funded and was continuing to grow. 

Mr. Fiore said the original estimate for the health insurances costs had dropped from a 17 percent increase to a 14 percent increase, saving the district more than $140,000. 

Officials have also identified one student with special needs currently attending an out-of-district school who will be brought back into the district. That change, said officials, will result in about $120,000 in tuition savings.

In a recent interview, Barrington Superintendent of Schools Michael Messore said the district introduced an alternative learning program (ALP) at Hampden Meadows School last year and plans to continue with the in-house delivery of services to students who previously may have been attended out-of-district schools. 

"I think children who live in town should go to school in town," Mr. Messore said.

The district is looking to reallocate some personnel to run the in-house program. 

New revenue

Mr. Fiore said the school department could be receiving some additional funding as part of the new CTE (Career and Technical Education) program, which allows students living outside Barrington to attend the local high school as part of a specific academic program. 

Mr. Messore said Barrington High School offers career pathways such as architecture and television production. He said there are currently five applicants interested in the six openings; the district would receive additional funding for each student. 

Mr. Fiore said there were other items included in the recent reduction to the budget increase. He mentioned some savings from a potential change to the district's web-based curriculum — the budget summary showed about $57,000 in savings for that item. 

Future spike

Barrington is currently in its final year of a multi-year contract with its transportation contractor, Ocean State Transit. 

The current contract, said Mr. Fiore, offered Barrington a below-market rate for busing students to and from school. That is likely to change next year, said Mr. Fiore.

In an effort to minimize the future transportation costs to the district, Barrington officials are collaborating with school leaders in Bristol-Warren, Portsmouth, Tiverton and Little Compton on a shared contract with a bus company.

Mr. Fiore said the district has hired a consultant who is soliciting bids from transportation companies. Busing costs will become clearer in the near future, he said.

State grant?

Barrington officials are waiting to hear from the state on whether they have been awarded grant money (up to $30,000) for textbooks. Officials said the grant process is competitive and the district could be awarded all, some or none of the requested funding. 

Budget numbers, before and after

The district's current operating budget is $52,457,348, but was set to increase by 6.3 percent (to $55,779,031) following a Feb. 6 school committee meeting. That increase was reduced to 3.9 percent (to $54,500,526) by the time officials approved the budget on Thursday, Feb. 27.

Budget increases in Feb. 6 summary

• Salaries: $1,004,552

• Benefits: $909,357

• Professional services: $565,200

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

• Other purchase services: $660,393

• Supplies/textbooks: $127,448

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

• Dues and fees: $34,822

• Total increase: $3,321,683

Budget increases in Feb. 27 summary

• 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

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.