February 5, 2025 Budget Subcommittee Meeting
Weymouth School Committee
Budget Sub-Committee with Full School Committee
Adams Library Conference Room | 89 Middle Street, Weymouth
February 5, 2025 | 6:00 p.m
Agenda
- Call to Order 6:00 pm
- Grants & Gifts
- Audits & Reports
- Contracts & Procurement
- FY26 Budget Planning
- Governor's Budget Message
- Athletics Budget Update
- Review Proposals: EdTech, Maintenance, District,
- Academy, Hamilton, Murphy, Nash,
- Pingree, Seach, Talbot, Wessagusset, WECC
- FY26 Budgeting Schedule
- Public Comment
Public Comment shall be in accordance with Policy BEDH
The three members of the Budget Subcommittee wish to encourage all members of the School Committee to attend and participate in budget discussions whenever they like. Because the Open Meeting Law requires that any meeting that includes a quorum of school committee members (4) deliberating on matters under their jurisdiction be posted as a meeting of the full committee, all Budget Subcommittee meetings are listed as full School Committee meetings.
Pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023, this meeting will be conducted in person and, as a courtesy, via remote means in accordance with applicable law. Please note that while an option for remote attendance and/or participation is being provided as a courtesy to the public and School Committee, the meeting/hearing will not be suspended or terminated if technological problems interrupt the virtual broadcast, unless required by law.
To join the meeting via Zoom by computer or internet-enabled phone:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82812956009?pwd=WaGMd5lvSPAmpwjl2vvHTpTrnWml21.1
Meeting Minutes
WEYMOUTH BUDGET SUB COMMITTEE with Full School Committee
Adams Library | 89 Middle St., Weymouth
February 5 | 6:00 p.m
Members In Attendance: Danielle Graziano (Chair), Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw, Tracey Nardone
Members also present: Mary-Ellen Devine, Dana Scott
Also Present: Melanie Curtin, Superintendent; Brian Smith, Assistant Superintendent
The meeting came to order at 6:01pm
The Chair advised that the meeting is being recorded.
Grants & Gifts
IDEA grant 274 (implementation of new IEP) funds of $40K will be used for IEP meeting tech. Funds to be expent by September.
Ms. Harris will be presenting the semi annual gift report at the 2/26 meeting.
Audits & Reports
The Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent will be touring the old St. Jerome School-new site for Don Bosco tech, with the Mayor on 2/6/25. More information to come.
Ms. Powers has posted the Field Use MOU to the school committe blog.
Contracts & Procurement
Special Education transportation contracts will go through a competitive process next year. Transportation is looking at parochial school transportation; enrollment, routes, and ridership. Conversation will take place in the spring with St. Francis and Sacred Heart regarding utilizing WPS transportation. The First Student contract expires in 2026.
FY26 Budget Planning
Governor’s Budget Message
Mr. Smith Summarized the Governor's executive letter regarding the FY26 budget. She is putting forth a budget of $59.85 billion, a 2.6% increase over FY25. $1.95B of the budget is tied to Fair Share income Surtax (universal free meals for schools). Estimated revenue increase is a modest 2.2%. Out of 319 districts, 233 (like Weymouth) receive minimum aid ($30 per pupil). The Governor is proposing an increase to $75 per student. Weymouth's allocation is $30,364,583. Chapter 70 will be on the agenda of the 2/26 meeting. Charter school enrollment has decreased from 306 (FY24) to 293 (FY25) and is projected to be 291 for FY26. The full budget presentation will include data on Chapter 70 and charter school assessments.
Athletics Budget Update
To date the cost of keeping buildings open on the weekends for sports is $5K (covered by the maintenance budget). The athletics sub committee met 1/27/25 and the next meeting is in March, boosters will be on the agenda. The committee requested a copy of the athletics presentation (middle and school program budget breakdown) prior to the 2/26 budget sub meeting.
The goal in building the FY26 budget is level service staff and level funded expenses. Trying to softly land the fiscal cliff (loss of ESSER, ARPA) of FY25 ($5.3M shortfall) has effects. The potential proposed budget could be $92M which is a 5.25% increase over FY25, typical funding from town is 3.8%. Based on projected revenues the difference in ask to allocation could be from $1.2-1.9M. Significant look at expenses and prioritization is prudent. The proposed school budget will be presented at the 2/26 meeting (it will be posted online before). The needs list will be submitted along with the proposed budget.
The one to one chromebook initiative is approximately $600K/yr. to maintain the fleet (various leasing/purchasing options). A refresh pause will take place for FY26.
Edtech
Brett Lindholm and James Rekowski shared that different models are being looked at for strategies and assessment of tech assets and maintenance working within a level service budget of $702K. Kudo’s were expressed to the tech team for their accessibility and work. Quick discussion was had extended insurance for device loss; supplemental self funded insurance will be looked at for next year.
Maintenance
Thanks and appreciation were expressed for the hard work of Mike Manning and Tom Merrill. This year Champions and food service revolving accounts will be able to offset increased utility costs.
2 vans have been ordered and are expected soon. 1 will be added to the transportation fleet and the other will replace an older van swapped out to maintenance. Contractual service line covers maintenance of buildings (HVAC, generators, mechanical systems, alarms, etc).
District
Stoneman Chandler legal fees of $100K will be reallocated to appropriate lines; $25k for school committee and $75K to special education. The audit cost for FY26 fee has increased as well.
Academy/Hamilton/Murphy/Nash
Assistant Superintendent Smith advised that budgets will be level funded (mirror FY25). Staffing the modular classrooms at Wessagusset, Hamilton and Nash will be funded thru attrition.
Principals Higgins, Panetta, Costello, and McDevitt presented additional staffing requests:
Academy-New position of a .5 EL teacher (increase to 56 students),
Hamilton-Additional staff of teacher, ABA, and ESP for kindergarten CEP with increased number of incoming students and level of needs’
Murphy-additional ESP for SAIL program to provide additional support for inclusion. There are currently 2 SAIL teachers, 1 for 4th & 5th and 1 for 1st & 3rd
Nash-.5 ESL teacher due to increase of students from 27-47 and growing
Pingree/Seach/Talbot/Wessagussett/WECC
Principals Fratolillo, Ronan, Day,Doherty, and Perez presented additional staffing requests:
Wessagusset-Additional inclusion ESP for CEP students (to travel with them for pull out services)
Pingree-Data of average inclusion time for Pingree students (student, day, grade) was requested.
Talbot-Kingergarten-1 inclusion ESP for CEP to allow for higher inclusion, Special education teacher to push inclusion
Seach-Adjustment Counselor to help with increased social emotional and behavioral needs, Full time BCBA (shared .5 at the moment), Special education coach, a nurse ESP (increased complex medical needs), a bilingual ESP (increased daily needs of EL students and families)
WECC-With the special education population growing an additional inclusion teacher and ESP. The number of students on IEPS has increased from 86 (FY24) to 116 (December of this year). The additional classroom would be funded through tuition. It was clarified that students on IEPs do not pay tuition. There are currently 246 students enrolled.
It was shared that STEAM teachers (shared between buildings) and additional BCBAs have been added to the district needs list. Compliance needs are added throughout the year as necessary.
Thanks was expressed to all the Principals for attending.
Committee/Community Discussion:
Chapter 70 numbers are reported to DESE twice a year, October and July. There is an increase in enrollment at the elementary level but not the secondary level at this time. Enrollments are watched and tracked year to year for projections. There are currently 200 students registered for Kindergarten.
2nd Library doesn’t seem to be working and the community would like STEAM back. It was shared that the block should not be used as babysitting or computer games and legos; concentration should be on reading, imagination, science and creativity.
Support was expressed for the Seach additional staffing requests.
Reiteration for the reinstatement of the STEAM program was made; that it is a need and not a want and inquired what it would take for funding.
It was confirmed that the needs list will accompany the proposed budget to the Mayor's Office.
Worry was expressed for the lack of chapter 70 funding. Encouragement was given for the Mayor to attend school committee and budget subcommittee meetings.
It was reminded that the town has funded modular classrooms (6 this year), technology, the Adams School buildout, middle school sport fees (3yrs), CTE equipment, and many more projects over the years. It was repeated that the projected budget of $92M, if funded with previous 3.8% and combined with decreased revenues that there could be a potential $1.2-1.9M shortfall and prioritization and difficult decisions will need to be made. The Assistant Superintendent is in daily communications with Chief of Staff Langil.
Requests were made for families to attend future meetings and budget management meetings so that town counselors are aware of the extent of needs. Request was also made for families to be informed and educated as well as for town council to be too and for the school department to submit a budget to the Mayor that truly identifies the needs of the district.
The Superintendent shared that the district loves seeing the support and urged parents and community members to keep attending meetings as this is only the beginning of the process. She stated the district is trying to be clear and transparent so that the community is aware and educated on what FY26 will look like.
The FY26 Budget Preparation Schedule was reviewed.
The next meeting (2/26) will review the proposed budget. It will be posted online 2/13, in the town hall and at administration. Encouragement to attend the next meeting and bring questions was shared. The budget will be presented at a public hearing on 3/13 at the school committee for school committee vote on 3/27. The budget will then go to the Mayor’s office and then will be included in the town budget proposal. On May 13, 2025 the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent will present the budget to town budget management (after the town meeting). Request has been made to move up the school presentation date for before the town meeting. It was shared that town council can only take away from the budget, not add.
Ms. Graziano shared that she is accessible via email and available for conversation and/or coffee.
The Meeting adjourned at 7:59pm on the motion by Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw seconded by Mrs. Nardone. Motion passed unanimously.
Meeting Materials
Documents referenced in the meeting to be posted: