“We have faced difficulties in addressing competing financial priorities for decades, but COVID-19 further complicated the process of creating a financial blueprint that continues to build on successes while also aggressively addressing unprecedented issues,” said Superintendent of Schools Daniel Warwick.
“We know that many of our students are worse off socially and emotionally because of the coronavirus pandemic. Many have grieved the loss of a loved one and others have suffered due to the isolation of learning from home. These are stark realities for students nationwide and we fully understand that addressing those issues as best we can is paramount to clearing the pathway for teaching and learning and beginning a return to some semblance of normality.”
Warwick said the newly adopted budget allows the District to enhance its City Connect programming, a service that addresses social/emotional and other non-academic needs by connecting students and even their families to resources designed to address their particular need.
“We have found that providing wrap-around services for students and their families has been a great value-add for the District. Under this new budget, we will be afforded the opportunity to offer these services to more families at a very critical time in our history as a school district, city, and nation.”
The general fund budget is $501 million for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22). The proposed budget won the School Committee’s approval during a special meeting on Thursday, May 7th. It becomes effective July 1st.
Warwick said the budget also allocates $6.8 million of Student Opportunity Act funds to schools to spend on evidence-based programs to support highest-need student groups. These programs include increased personnel and services to support holistic student needs, inclusion/co-teaching for students with disabilities and English learners, supporting educators to implement high-quality, aligned curriculum, and community partnerships for in-school enrichment and wraparound services.
Additionally, the budget allows the District continued investment in full time Pre-K by offering Universal Full-Day PreK for all four-year old’s and Universal Half-Day PreK for all three-year old’s, Warwick said.
Warwick added that cost drivers such as health insurance continue to tax the school department budget, but he pointed to charter school enrollments as the key factor behind the district’s deficit again this year. Warwick said Central Office departments were tasked with cutting their budgets by three percent, while no reductions were imposed on schools.
Warwick also pointed out the commitment of Mayor Domenic Sarno and the School Committee in ensuring that schools have the resources necessary to support student learning. He also recognized the district’s award-winning Business Department, which leads the budgeting process annually.
“Faced with unprecedented circumstances, we have once again crafted a budget that puts students first. I would like to thank the hardworking Budget and Finance team, under the leadership of Patrick Roach for their tireless efforts; our community partners for their dedication and commitment; and our School Committee, chaired by Mayor Domenic Sarno for their continued support and leadership,” he said.
