North school officials seeking 5 percent more
'11 budget outline calls for new technology, another principal
BY AMY DeMELIA SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 2:20 AM EST
NORTH ATTLEBORO - Replenishing supplies, restoring an assistant principal at the Martin School, replacing old technology and hiring an additional middle school principal will be among the school department's priorities next year, if the superintendent's fiscal year 2011 budget proposal is adopted.
Superintendent James Rice has proposed a $34.4 million budget for the 2011 fiscal year, which represents a 5 percent or $1.6 million increase over the current budget.
He said the school department's budget remained flat from 2003 to 2008 and declined from 2008 to 2010. However, school departments across the country are faced with performance challenges such as the standards mandated No Child Left Behind Act, without any funding to meet them.
"The fiscal year 2011 budget represents our best effort sat containing costs while maintaining our existing instructional programs under difficult financial times," Rice said. "The school committee has been conscious of the financial constraints faced by our town. We have attempted to modify our request to meet the resources available to us. Our school system cannot afford to take another step backwards as we did in fiscal year 2010. North Attleboro students deserve better."
Many of the key components of the budget proposal would restore items eliminated in prior budgets, including $81,000 for instructional, office and custodial supplies money for principals, $60,000 for professional development, $70,000 for an assistant principal at the Martin School and $40,000 for district-wide supplies.
The proposal also calls for $15,000 for technology repairs, reconfiguration and restoration conducted during the summer, which have not been funded for several years. He would also boost the technology hardware line item from $5,000 to $70,000 and the technology software line item from $5,000 to $20,000 so that aging and antiquated equipment can be replaced.
Rice is proposing a new special education program, which would cost $80,000 and would provide services for children with special needs between the ages of 18 to 22. The program would require three positions - a special education teacher and two job coaches- who will provide academic and vocational training for students in that age group at North Attleboro High School.
"We currently do not have the staffing or programming to support this growing age group of students in our system," Rice said.
An additional assistant principal for North Attleboro Middle School, at $70,000, is also recommended in part due to added responsibilities related to No Child Left Behind
Rice is also proposing to add $20,000 for building maintenance because the age of the district's school buildings means additional maintenance work is necessary and $16,000 for a English language teacher's aide.
The budget also contains raises for all union and non-union personnel, though he did not release a figure for those increases because negotiations are ongoing.
Rice's budget proposal will first be reviewed by the school committee's budget subcommittee and then by the board as a whole. A public hearing on the budget will be held on Monday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. in the Woodcock Administration Building. In January, the school committee will vote on the budget and send it Town Administrator Mark Fisher for inclusion in the overall town budget.
