The Manchester Essex Regional
School District is consistently and proudly among the highest-performing
districts in the state. MERSD is an
inclusive school district; as such, we are a collaborative culture that welcomes
all members into our learning community.
Recognizing that students share more similarities than differences, our
learning community respects each individual’s unique contributions. It is expected that all adults share the
responsibility for providing every student with access to and participation in
high quality education. In addition to a robust core curriculum that balances
high expectations for student achievement with the needs of the whole child, we
offer specialty programming and a variety of twenty-first century learning
opportunities, such as: elementary
foreign language; Integrated Pre-Kindergarten; specialized learning programs
for students with dyslexia, autism spectrum disorders, and developmental
delays; STEM coursework in coding,
engineering, project based environmental studies, FIRST Robotics, and Authentic Science Research (ASR); nationally recognized debate and DECCA teams;
Project Adventure; award winning arts and music programs; and, state champion
athletic teams.
MERSD continues to provide value
to the towns of Essex and Manchester by producing top tier results with a per
pupil spending rate that is at the state average and the lowest on Cape Ann.
The FY18 operating budget assumes spending growth of $783K, which is 3.3% more
than FY17. On the revenue side, MERSD is
expecting non-town revenue growth of 4.1%, as it has increased State Aid estimates
slightly to align with current year actual funding. As a result, the assessment increase to the
towns is 3.2% above FY17. Longer-term,
we continue to expect State Aid growth to be below the estimated 3.0-3.5%
spending growth rate in our multi-year budget projections. All of these budget projections are lower
than the estimates contained in MERSD’s multi-year operating budget, which
MERSD uses to help the two towns plan for the future.
MERSD
Recognized for Outstanding Student Achievement
MERHS
ranked 14th in Boston Magazine Best High Schools edition.
MERHS
nationally ranked a Gold Medal School - US News & World Report Best High
Schools.
MERHS
recognized as a Commendation School by MA Department of Education.
MERSD has also leveraged its
improved financial position to secure more favorable interest rates for
long-term debt associated with construction of the Middle High School. After refinancing this debt in the spring of
2016, MERSD will save taxpayers $95-100K annually through 2033, resulting in
total taxpayer savings of $1.7 million over the remaining life of the bonds. Charges
to the towns for MERSD’s capital budget, which pays for debt service related to
construction of the Regional Middle High School, are expected to decline by
$48K or 2.2% in FY18, compared to the prior year. These savings are in addition
to savings generated by the refinancing referenced above.
Following the one-time revenue
correction from taxpayers in FY16, MERSD has committed to keeping annual
operating increases within the levy limit for the foreseeable future. To that end, the FY17 and FY18 budgets are
both “level services” or carry forward budgets, which are designed to maintain
the same level of program currently in place. While health insurance costs have
initially come in significantly higher than estimated, in keeping with past practice,
MERSD will look for cost restructuring opportunities and other operational
efficiencies to fund the increase to health care and any needed programmatic
investments in order to minimize requests for additional taxpayer funding. Over the past several years, MERSD has
outsourced many operational services in order to generate savings and the need
for internal staffing/management, including:
evening custodial services, food service operations and transportation.
MERSD has also taken significant steps to address long-term financial
liabilities, including the cost of mandated health insurance for retirees
(known as Other Post-Employment Benefits or OPEB). As a result of a collaborative effort with
the Manchester Essex Teachers Association, which agreed to migrate staff to
less costly plans, MERSD is now on a path to full funding, with $1.2 million
budgeted for trust contributions through FY18, funded entirely by savings from
employee benefits restructuring.
For More Information please visit the MERSD Budget Page.
Submitted by the MERSD School Committee, Pamela Beaudoin, Superintendent & Avi Urbas, Director of Finance & Operations
