Clarksburg School Draft Budget Up 6 Percent For 2016
 The School Committee reviewed a draft budget for fiscal 2016 on Thursday. |
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — School officials are dealing with a 6 percent increase in the draft budget for 2016.
The budget plan distributed by Superintendent Jonathan Lev last Thursday had a bottom line of $2,567,736, up $144,782 over this year.
Major hikes include salaries, insurance, tuition and energy costs.
Lev told the School Committee that the line item for teachers' salaries included the contracted 2 percent raise for a total of $762,146, up $51,000.
Two percent had also been added in for non-union employees, dependent upon approval by the School Committee.
"It's not carved in stone," said Lev.
The principal's salary is entered at $82,233, the figure it ended at last year with the retirement of Linda Reardon; the actual amount will be dependent upon negotiations with a new principal.
Staffing is down by a paraprofessional but up by two to three aides, a $10,000 increase over this year. One post has been a cut and another may be reduced.
"We are not planning on any new staff," said Lev.
Health insurance is up $27,000 to $302,940, based on Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association estimates of a 10 percent increase.
Internet is up $4,500 because the school recently signed on with Crocker Communications; that price is expected drop next year. The technology line item is $7,000 to purchase about 30 Chromebooks.
Preschool tuition is at $12,000; out-of-district placements rose from about $99,000 to $142,000. Lev also built in a 3 percent increase in high school tuition based on past experience. The total cost will depend on which schools the students choose.
"It's been a 3 percent increase every year I've been here," he said. "I haven't gotten the increase from North Adams, but I think you can bank on 3 percent."
The last page of the budget — tuition, placement and insurance — is $64,000 of the overall budget increase.
Last year, the school budget was slashed by $50,000 and plans for a preschool put on hold as the town struggled to close a budget gap.
"Again, this a draft," said Lev. "Obviously, we will be having a conversation with the Finance Committee and we'll keep working at things like tuition and probably more staffwise in the aide category."
Tags: Clarksburg School, fiscal 2016, school budget,
