Committee for Education in the 21st Century     Home
PO Box 812293
Wellesley, MA 02482-2293
 
   
Committee for Education in the 21st Century    
PO Box 812293
Wellesley, MA 02482-2293
 
   
Supporting Education in the Wellesley Public Schools
Committee for Education in the 21st Century February 16, 2006


School Committee Cuts $426,000 from Budget

Where to from here?

Town Meeting Candidates

Committee 21 Planning
 
WHS

Upcoming meetings:

School Committee - Tuesday, February 28, 7:30pm at WHS Library. On the Agenda: FY07 Operating Budget.

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  • School Committee Cuts $426,000 from Budget
    		•

    Under pressure to reduce the $6.1 million overage in the town budget, School Committee reduced the FY07 Operating and Capital Budgets by a combined $426,608. The vote was not unanimous; with one dissenting vote, the revised budget was passed 4 to 1.

    The following items were cut from the operating budget:
    • 1 new Grade 6 teacher for next year
    • 0.2 FTE Elementary assistant librarian (will not restored)
    • Some of the WHS academic labs (resulting in only partial rather than full restoration of labs)
    • 1 new WHS attendance clerk for next year
    • All library books (will not restored)
    • Professional development (will not restored)
    • 1 new WHS Custodian for next year

    The following fees were increased:
    • Athletic fees (WMS/WHS - to $150 per season per sport)
    • Parking fees (WHS - $180 to $250)

    The following item was cut from the capital budget:
    • 3 projection systems

    School Committee members acknowledged that they did not want to make any cuts and that the decision on which items to cut was extremely difficult. Unfortunately, given the reductions made during the last few years, it is inevitable that any significant cuts to the WPS budget such as these will impact programs and class size.

    The FY07 Operating Budget is on the agenda again for the next School Committee meeting on February 28th. It is not known at this time if further reductions will be under review. It is important to be aware that the process will remain fluid until Town Meeting.

     
  • Where to from here?
    		•

    The School Committee returns to the Interboard Working Group this week to discuss townwide budgets and efforts to reduce the overage. Additionally, they will be discussing the total amount and structure of the override ballot question that will be presented to the voters in the spring.

    There is one more School Committee meeting prior to the town election on March 7th. Following the election, Marlene Allen and Mike Young will join School Committee, replacing Anna Sereiko and Gerry Murphy. The new Committee will re-vote the budget prior to Town Meeting which starts March 27th.

    The following must all be approved by Town Meeting: The FY07 Operating and Capital Budgets; the funding for the modular classrooms at Schofield and Fiske; and the amount of the override that is presented to the voters this spring.

     
  • Town Meeting Candidates
    		•

    The election of Town Meeting Members is March 7th. These members are eligible to vote in the upcoming Annual Town Meeting in March. For a list of the candidates running in your precinct, click on the link below.

    We encourage you to learn the views and positions of your candidates and cast an informed vote.

    Town Meeting Candidates 2006
  • Committee 21 Planning
    		•

    In the weeks leading up to Town Meeting we will encourage you to contact your Town Meeting Members about the issues on which they will be voting.

    We continue to feel strongly that Wellesley residents have invested in our public school system for decades. Any change in this commitment must be made by the voters.

    Bring it to a vote.