It’s intended to provide an economic stimulus, but the end result of federal funding in Belmont may be level funding for the schools, according to a story in today’s Belmont Citizen Herald.
A new plan may add $1.3m back to the school budget
The piece, by Cassie Norton, picks up on a press release from Gov. Deval Patrick’s office this morning regarding plans for an estimated $168m in federal recovery funds to maintain school services in the state. The money will go to maintaining level services for public schools, despite cuts in local aide. Earlier, Patrick had promised to keep Chapter 70 funding level, but would have allowed cuts to other municipal services which, in many towns, would have trickled down to effect schools, just the same. Belmont, which already funds its schools above state mandated “foundation” levels, would have been one of those towns.
The additional funds, targeted at 166 districts state wide, will be used to “preserve programs and avoid teacher layoffs at a time when the global economic crisis is forcing communities to increase class sizes, cut positions and make other difficult budget decisions that threaten the quality of education in Massachusetts.”
According to a preliminary list of towns slated to receive funds, Belmont would receive $1,364,975 under the plan.
As the Belmont Citizen Herald points out in its article, the money would be earmarked for the schools, and would not be divided between the town and school system. However, its unclear how the influx of funds will affect other budget discussions in town. As an example, Town Administrator Tom Younger raised the question of whether the emergency federal aid will impact the allocation of other Chapter 70 funds between the town and school.
Allocation of free cash between the Town and Schools was already likely to be the top agenda item for the Warrant Committee’s April 1 and April 8 meeting. Though the details are still unclear, The Warrant Committee will likely take up this issue, as well.
Two things- first of all, it is my understanding from something Gerry Missal said at the last school committee meeting, that Belmont actually is not funding to the state mandated “foundation” level. I don't know what that means with the state aid issues- but it was news to all of us at that meeting. Also, aren't we 2.5 million behind at the school level? I really hope that this money doesn't make the town suddenly give us less than they planned- it is still nowhere near level funding.
One more thing- we all need to remember that the fee based services that are all but inevitable at the Middle and High Schools is being shrugged off as something we can fundraise for and fix- Angelo mentioned this several times- but they need $600,000 and as the fundraising committee pointed out, in a good year, you might raise 25,000.- not nearly enough. It on't be easy.
Kim,
Why so glum? This is great news. We get the $1.36m because we are underfunded and that is a guideline from the FED. If we were not underfunded we would get what Lexington is getting $0. I expect the entire $1.36m will be applied toward keeping Teachers and should mean no layoffs. The other good news is the SC is getting a 1 time $266k LABB credit which is likely to be applied to fees for sports/arts. That wll help reduce these fee's.
…and the best news that may occur from this is the Override get's tabled for a year. Why is that good news? It helps many people in Town get through a really tough year and it makes the Wellington DE much more likely to pass.
This has been a very good week for Belmont. To me this funding addresses the Needs in the School system which is Teachers and Education. In the coming weeks we can look to reduce the onerous fee's assigned to the important wants like athletics and music.
PJ
Ok PJ- you're were right- but now the word on the street is that we may have to duke it out with Somerville for the money!
But yes, I am happy about the possibility of relief.
I do not know how I feel about the override though- I would like to see Belmont become more proactive and ask for smaller overrides every two years as Lexington does. I understand though, that without the support of the Selectmen and the Warrant Committee that it won't pass. The people who are struggling this year, will still be struggling next year- but the need for funds will be even greater- I am not sure what to think now.
With respect to the first post below: Although I haven't yet watched the most recent School Committee meeting, I suspect that Dr. Missal was refering to the State's projected underpayment of Chapter 70 aid to Belmont for FY10. Under the law, the State is to provide aid to each school district in the Commonwealth. Essentially, the state performs three calculations for each school district: 1) the “foundation budget” – the minimum acceptable level of school funding for that district ($34.1 million for Belmont). 2) The minimum funding level that the district is to provide. 3) The amount of state aid to the district. (Calculations 1 and 2 are minimum amounts, not necessarily the district's actual school budget). The sum of the amounts from calculations 2 and 3 is supposed to meet or exceed the amount in calculation 1. In Belmont's case, the state actually committed to $1.36 million less aid than was required by calculation 3. Thus, the proposed $1.36 million “extra” would merely make up for the state aid Belmont would have received in a healthy revenue / budget environment. There are shortfalls for 165 other school districts, as well, Lexington and Somerville not being among them.
Ok PJ- you're were right- but now the word on the street is that we may have to duke it out with Somerville for the money!
But yes, I am happy about the possibility of relief.
I do not know how I feel about the override though- I would like to see Belmont become more proactive and ask for smaller overrides every two years as Lexington does. I understand though, that without the support of the Selectmen and the Warrant Committee that it won't pass. The people who are struggling this year, will still be struggling next year- but the need for funds will be even greater- I am not sure what to think now.
With respect to the first post below: Although I haven't yet watched the most recent School Committee meeting, I suspect that Dr. Missal was refering to the State's projected underpayment of Chapter 70 aid to Belmont for FY10. Under the law, the State is to provide aid to each school district in the Commonwealth. Essentially, the state performs three calculations for each school district: 1) the “foundation budget” – the minimum acceptable level of school funding for that district ($34.1 million for Belmont). 2) The minimum funding level that the district is to provide. 3) The amount of state aid to the district. (Calculations 1 and 2 are minimum amounts, not necessarily the district's actual school budget). The sum of the amounts from calculations 2 and 3 is supposed to meet or exceed the amount in calculation 1. In Belmont's case, the state actually committed to $1.36 million less aid than was required by calculation 3. Thus, the proposed $1.36 million “extra” would merely make up for the state aid Belmont would have received in a healthy revenue / budget environment. There are shortfalls for 165 other school districts, as well, Lexington and Somerville not being among them.