BY GAYLA CAWLEY
SWAMPSCOTT — The Swampscott School Committee unanimously approved a FY17 budget of $30,048,607 Thursday night at their regular meeting.
The budget will next appear before the the Finance Committee, which will make its recommendation, before it is voted on at Town Meeting in the spring, according to School Business Administrator Evan Katz.
The $30,048,607 budget is an increase of $1,954,885, or 6.96 percent over the FY16 budget of $28,093,722.
Town funding allocated for the budget is $27,522,500, which is an increase of $1,366,500, or 5.2 percent increase over those funds contributed to the FY16 budget.
“The town increase is unprecedented,” said Carin Marshall, chair of the School Committee.
Marshall said the increase in town funds allowed the programming to stay the same in the school district. According to budget information assembled by Katz, the budget maintains existing programs and class sizes in the district.
“Their support is invaluable,” Superintendent Pamela Angelakis said of the town. “It’s allowing us to maintain the programming we have.”
The remaining funding in the budget comes from the revolving account — $317,225 — and from grants — $2,208,822. The remaining amount of the Gelfand Grant, or $180,392, will be depleted.
Although the budget was approved, Marshall said line item amounts can still move around within the budget in the coming months.
Additional resources added to the budget include a library/media teacher position shared by the three elementary schools — Clarke, Hadley and Stanley — at a salary of $60,000. An English Language Learners teacher position was added at $60,000, with the location of where that teacher will teach to be determined.
“Our English language learner population has grown tremendously over the years,” Angelakis said. “We continue to not meet the state requirements for time and service to these student populations. It’s not just a wish. [It’s] a definite need.”
The expiring state kindergarten grant will be replaced with $89,000 of town funds. The school share of the town facilities director salary and expenses will be $50,000. A .5 Technology position to support security, safety and assistive technology will also be a new resource in the budget. Nurse and health supplies, services and equipment will see a bump of $12,000.
Cuts include reducing high school administration to one assistant principal, which will save $100,000. The operating subsidy will be eliminated from food service with a savings of $45,000.
Turnover savings, or replacing retired staff with lower paid employees, is $200,000. Katz said there have been a significant number of retirements in the school district.
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley