Good
Afternoon MERSD Community,
After
considerable deliberation on Tuesday evening, the School Committee adopted the
“Compromise Budget” for FY24. This is a short-term solution that allows the
District to stabilize and regroup to pursue a long-term solution for FY25 and
to better position MERSD to maintain its future financial health and
performance.
The Compromise Budget
- Closes
the $781,000 gap through a combination of position cuts and use of reserve
funds.
- Retains
all high school elective courses and related teacher positions that were
identified for reduction in the May 16th Reconsidered Budget.
- Maintains
the current K-12 music structure but defers implementation of the
Performing Arts Coordinator role.
- Reduces
6.95 instructional positions through attrition (i.e., not replacing retiring
teachers, instead of layoffs).
- Includes
the use of reserves as revenue (Excess and Deficiency at $287,102).
Although this reduces reserve usage by 45% over FY23, reserve funds are
needed for MERSD’s 5-year capital improvement plan and to keep Essex Elementary
School operational, while awaiting a decision from MSBA about the school’s
future, as well as for extraordinary or unforeseen expenditures.
Consistent use of reserve funds for general operating expenditures is not
sound fiscal practice and sets up the District for a greater funding cliff
for the FY25 budget.
- Asks
for commitment to a facilitated budget process with member towns to find a
long-term solution to this recurring problem and support of financing for
the turf fields.
Updated
budget documents can be viewed on the MERSD Budget Page.
The next
step is for each community to hold a Special Town Meeting to approve the
reconsidered budget. The meetings will be held on June 26th in Essex
and June 28th in Manchester. I will share further updates as these
meetings approach and ask you to reach out with any questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Pam
Pamela Beaudoin
Superintendent
Manchester Essex Regional Schools
