HUNTINGTON – At Wednesday’s School Committee meeting, Superintendent David B. Hopson presented a first look at the Gateway Regional FY18 budget. He said the only new position included in the budget was for a required half-time nurse in the Middle School and High School.
Not included was a needed life skills teacher, curriculum director or technology director. He said the budget also contained no funds for the OPEB (Other Post Employee Benefits) account. It also did not contain funds for the search for a new superintendent, or superintendent separation. FY18 is the last year in Hopson’s contract as superintendent.
The Gateway School Committee posed for picture day at Wednesday’s meeting. (Photo by Amy Porter)
The current projected budget is $16,095,514, an increase of $159,386 or 1% over last year’s budget. He said some of the increases are due to a contracted increase in regional transportation of $18,861. Increases in out-of-district tuition costs for school choice and charter tuition of $234,818, and negotiated pay increases for staff of $129,584 or 1.5%. Oil prices have also risen for all of the schools.
The increases were offset by what Hopson called “a coordinated effort by the district and by the leadership team to cut costs.” Reductions included $345,865 in out-of-district placements for special education students, reduction in special education transportation of $99,403, and savings of $38,392 in the use of electricity despite an increase in rates.
Hopson added that the projected FY18 budget of $16,095,514 is $1,787,006 less than the FY09 budget, despite the fact that a decade has passed.
Hopson said of all the unfulfilled positions or needs, the School Committee might consider doing something for life skills. He said the leadership team all agreed this was the most urgent need.
Michele Crane, chair of the School Committee, asked what would be the cost for the life skills position.
The life skills program would be for special education students between the ages of 18 and 22, before they age out of the public school system when they turn 22. Currently the program is being taught in the school, but they need to expand, Hopson said.
Hopson said the new director of pupil services Kurt Garivaltis is looking at placing students in internships and jobs in the community. Gateway now has a bus available for in-house transportation, which make community placements more realistic for the district. He said they would also be looking for job placements in Westfield and Holyoke.
Middlefield representative Sarah Foley asked how many students would be in the program. Hopson said six currently, but another six students are coming up. He also said that if the needs for a job program aren’t met in the district, the students could go to another program out of district, which Gateway would be responsible for.
Hopson also said that students are moving into the district with more and more needs.
Megan Coburn, principal of Chester Elementary, Littleville Elementary and the Middle School said since August, they have enrolled 35 new students, 16 with significant needs, and 6 English language learners.
“It’s great, and we’re excited to have new kids,” Coburn said, but added that there are significant needs to meet.
Huntington representative Jeff Wyand asked about the need for a curriculum director and technology director. Currently, the duties of both of those positions are being spread out among the leadership team.
Hopson said eventually, Gateway will want to add a half-time director position for both areas. He said down the road, there is also the possibility of sharing one or both with other districts.
Wyand also asked what the district is thinking about the OPEB trust.
Business manager Stephanie Fisk said that last year, they put in what they had achieved in savings in the health care line item. “I’d go with anything left over in insurance,” Fisk said.
Wyand also asked about possible costs for the superintendent search and separation. Hopson said the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) charges $10,000 for the search process, but the average cost for a search is $30,000. He said separation will cost $40,000 to $48,000.
Hopson said the School Committee has to decide whether to offer an extension, and the superintendent would have to agree, or build in $40 to $60,000 not currently in the budget.
Another suggestion that has been given to the towns is to consider a 5-year average for the school budget, which would give a predictive number for the towns to work with. Hopson said the new system would require acceptance by all six towns, and would mean an increase for some of the smaller towns.
