Superintendents Calls for Budget Increase
By David Huck | Correspondent at January 23, 2024 | 8:45 am | Print
Superintendent of Schools David B. Erwin is requesting a $42 million budget for 2015-16, a plan that he says largely maintains existing services.
The spending plan represents an increase of 2.88 percent, or $1,174,751, more than the current year’s budget.
“The economic conditions in the state and throughout the country remain basically the same, but in order to maintain our existing efforts we have put forth this budget proposal for your consideration,” Erwin wrote in a memo to the Board of Education.
At the elementary, middle, and high schools, Erwin said that funding will remain level as in the current year. The only increases in spending are “just maintenance.”
There are four new positions sought under the proposal. Erwin is seeking three paraprofessionals and an additional preschool teacher to assist with the preschool program.
Erwin noted that, as in previous years, the “reallocation of existing resources and grant funding” were factored into the development of the budget.
“This budget really does not foster or fund new initiatives,” Erwin said. There are no new additional staff being requested at the elementary, middle, or high school levels.
The largest driver of the budget is due to salary increases, which are increasing the budget by 1.56 percent. Administrative salaries are up $50,926, certified salaries are up $251,625, and non-certified salaries are up $336,374. Benefits, meanwhile, are up $169,475. Erwin said that the town’s insurance broker is projecting a health insurance increase of 6 percent over current rates.
Other increases include transportation costs going up $86,601, tuition going up $195,975, and supplies, textbooks, and materials are set to increase $103,929. There are currently six students attending a vocational agriculture program; officials are estimating that there will be seven participating in the program next school year. As for magnet school enrollment, officials are projecting the number of students attending the alternative schools to increase from 67 to 70.
The process for developing the 2015-16 budget began in the summer during an administrative retreat, Erwin said.
Erwin said that the town has the capacity to fund education higher than its current level. He said that in order for Berlin to meet the state “average” per pupil spending would have to increase by approximately $423 per student, or $1.22 million overall. This would require an increase beyond 5.88 percent.
“While additional dollars do not automatically equate to improved student achievement, there are certain core components that are essential to successful, higher-performing school districts,” Erwin noted.
Erwin has included $100,000 in the budget for savings related to four teacher retirements. No teachers have yet announced they are retiring, but Erwin said he is hopeful that the savings will be realized.
“The challenges in putting forth a reasonable budget in today’s economic climate are formidable, but all of us look forward to working with you on submitting a final budget that will be approved and will meet the needs of our nearly 3,000 students,” Erwin said in his letter to town officials.
The superintendent said that if cuts have to be made to the budget, officials would look at a variety of areas, including possibly closing school buildings at 4 p.m. He said if the budget were to contain no increase, there would have to be “a lot of soul searching.”
Erwin noted that the school system over the years has been able to fund more positions through federal grants, helping to offset operational costs.
The superintendent has also helped to draft two budgets that are not part of the operating budget but are submitted to the town. The request for capital equipment is $766,551; the current funding level is set at $57,500. His proposal for the site and building budget is $933,700; the current appropriation is $42,700.
As for enrollment, the number of students at Griswold Elementary School is expected to decline from 547 to 527; stay flat at Hubbard Elementary School; and decrease from 453 to 435 at Willard Elementary School. At McGee Middle School, enrollment is expected to decline from 702 students to 678, while Berlin High School’s enrollment is expected to increase from 918 to 943 students.
School officials will continue to review the budget throughout the month of January. The Board of Education is expected to vote on the spending plan on Monday, Feb. 2. The annual town budget hearing will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14 at McGee Middle School. A town budget referendum vote is schedule for Tuesday, April 28.
