Episode 1219

FM #1219 - FPS Budget Subcmte Mtg - 05/28/24

Published on: 29th May, 2024

This session shares the Franklin School Committee Budget Subcommittee meeting of Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Subcommittee Chair Dave McNeill, Dr Paul Griffith, KP Sompally, Supt Lucas Giguere, Business Administrator Dr Bob Dutch and current Asst Business Administrator Janaina Vasconcelos-Melotti participated.

My notes from this session:

  • Overview of agenda from Supt Giguere, Dr Dutch provides update on scenarios being prepared, 35+ staff possible if the override fails, some of the estimates depending upon how the teacher contract handles the individuals and their status, licensure, tenure, etc.
  • If fees go up, then some of the cuts could decrease. There is more coming in the SchCom meeting about use of the revolving funds, there is nothing more there to use, albeit some folks not quite accepting/understanding it
  • The cuts, if the override does not pass, will increase class sizes, and course loads for teachers and other staff will also increase. They did look to provide class size equity across in consideration.
  • By way of example, high school students in selecting their electives are helping to determine what is offered or not
  • An overview of the revolving accounts. "The idea that revolving funds can contribute more than they have is not reality" Revolving funds accounts are also restricted to expenses of that nature, they can't be used indiscriminately elsewhere
  • Special Ed would be an investment that can provide a return
  • Review of the future budget forecast, after the $6.3, assuming the override passes, then the 60% would come, does it include the 'normal' 2.5% or not. Bottom line, the $4m would still be more than 'normal'
  • Meeting adjourned, downstairs to full school committee meeting

The meeting recording runs about 46 minutes.

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Agenda for this session ->  

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/5-28-24_agenda-budgetsubcom_0.pdf 

My notes captured via Twitter can be found in one PDF file -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bQxguiqvMylIi8_n0OOfzP6NJwDUsngX/view?usp=drive_link 

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The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

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About the Podcast

Franklin Matters Radio
Information for the community because Franklin matters
What matters in Franklin MA - we follow the money sharing Town business meetings and interviews to enable an informed resident and voter

About your host

Profile picture for Stephen Sherlock

Stephen Sherlock

I volunteer as the Community Information Director for Franklin, MA (USA)*. I have been providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin since 2007. Currently working in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019.

*They don't have one and couldn't afford me.