Fiscal 2018 Budget Process Begins!

December marks the start of the Fiscal Year 2018 budget season.  Manchester Essex Regional School District (MERSD) remains committed to a collaborative approach to budget planning.  Throughout each budget season, we work cooperatively with Boards of Selectman and Finance in both Essex and Manchester meeting regularly to provide on-going progress reports on our planning process and outlook.  During the next few months, a great deal of our time and energy will be focused on budget development, spending priorities, and fiscal responsibility.  It is important to keep in mind that the ultimate goal of our budget is to support our school and district goals.

School Committee Goals FY18

• Target resources to support the social/emotional needs of students and foster creativity and innovation across the District.
• Support the implementation of programs that enhance our organization’s cultural proficiency and promote respect and appreciation for individual and cultural differences.
• Continue to focus on strengthening the Middle School as a separate entity and addressing its large class sizes.
• Develop and deliver a fiscally responsible budget that maintains educational quality, supports District goals, and aligns with our multi-year budget commitment to work within the confines of Proposition 2 ½.
• Begin Feasibility Study module of the MSBA process for the Memorial Building project and develop a capital plan to maintain Essex Elementary.
• Continue ongoing review of all District policies, updating existing policies and job descriptions where needed, and researching new recommendations. 

Budget Goals for FY18

• Position MERSD for continual improvement of educational program and student achievement 
• Manage Enrollment 

              -Strive to meet School Committee class size guidelines
              -Serve increasingly diverse student educational needs 

• Exercise fiscal responsibility 

                -Seek internal efficiencies to offset growth needs when possible 

• Meet local, state and federal responsibilities while controlling growth

The MERSD School Committee will meet on Tuesday, December 6th at 7:00pm to discuss and approve its tentative budget.  This will be followed by a public budget hearing on Wednesday, December 14th at 7:00 at the MERMHS Library.  This event is meant to provide the community with an opportunity to learn and ask questions about our proposed budget for FY18.  

Please visit our Finance & Operations page for information about our budget process, a complete budget season calendar, and links to our strategic plan which outlines the work going on in the district. 

Two Key Meetings will take place in December:

December 6^th @ 7:00pm (MERMHS Library) 
MERSD School Committee Meeting
Presentation of the Tentative Budget to the School Committee

December 14^th @ 7:00pm (MERMHS Library) 
Public Hearing on the Tentative Budget
Presentation of the Tentative Budget followed by public input. This is an opportunity for  the community to learn, ask questions, and provide feedback about our proposed budget for FY18. 

Full Budget Calendar