March 26, 2008
At the meeting of the Birdgewater-Raynham School Committee this evening, the formal Hearing and discussion took place on the FY2009 school budget.
The Budget SubCommittee recommended a total Operating budget of $57,231,644. After State and other revenue, this leaves requested assessments to the two towns of $33,270,200. Bridgewater's share to be $20,265,577 and Raynham's share to be $13,061,623. This was unanimously voted by the full School Committee.
The presentation is available by clicking the following link. The slideshow can be navigated by standard PowerPoint commands - PageUp and PageDown move between slides, etc...
{Click here to download the complete 28-slide PowerPoint presentation.}
Highlights of the presentation are:
Quality of educational programs - 92% high school seniors to college or military; acceptance to many of the finest schools in the country.
Sound Fiscal Management - several contracts settled with three years at 2.5% salary increases; acceptance of MGL 32B s19 (coalitional bargaining) as first step towards State GIC or similar plans; MA Office of Educational Quality and Accountability Audit "The district performed best on the Financial Management standard"
Good Value for comunity investment - scholastic achievement coupled with well-managed programs
Enrollment Trends - student enrollment up; retaining students in-district; School Choice program
FY2009 Budget Goals - Continue quality educational programs while cognizant of finance
Evolution of FY2009 budget - Original proposal of $62,945,460 >>> final budget of $57,231,644
Last reducations included - legal services, staffing levels, contracted costs, supplies & materials, & transportation
FY2009 budget - represents "level services"; Continues quality educational programs
The budget has been descibed as "frugal" - and that is meant in a good way as to managing every last penny well. From the public, there were comments that the budget "aimed responsibly". When the School Committee was asked to provide its ideal request - the original budget of $62.9M would be a $5.7M increase over this now-approved amount or roughly an additional $3.6M to Bridgewater and $2.1M to Raynham.
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Joseph Gillis Jr.
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