Key Takeaways from the FY17 School Budget

The School Budget was approved by the School Committee on January 21 and then forwarded to the Town Manager.  The Town Manager will present the overall town budget to the Selectmen by March 1. For now, here are eHop’s Key Takeaways from the FY17 School Budget.

Overall:

Total FY17 Budget $40,902,901.  This is an increase of 4.495% ($1,759,460) from the FY16 Budget

Personnel:

Additions:

• 1.2 FTE English Language Learner positions (Curriculum – District)
• 1.0 FTE Maintenance staff (Buildings & Grounds – District)
• 0.5 FTE Middle School Custodian (Buildings & Grounds – Middle School)
• 1.0 FTE Technician Asst. for all buildings (Technology – District)
• 1.0 FTE Student Data Coordinator (Technology – District)
• 1.0 FTE Literacy Coach (shared by Center and Elmwood, replacing a Reading Teacher)
• 1.0 FTE  Instructional Assistant (Center)
• 0.5 FTE Intensive SPED Teacher (Special Education – Center)
• 1.0 FTE Board Certified Behavior Analyst (Special Education – Center)
• 1.0 FTE Grade 2 Teacher (Elmwood)
• 0.5 FTE Learning Specialist (Special Education – Elmwood)
• 0.2 FTE Administrative Assistant (Elmwood/Preschool)
• 0.8 FTE Adjustment Coordinator (Hopkins)
• 1.0 FTE Reading Coach (Middle School)
• 2.0 FTE Paraprofessionals (Special Education – Middle School)
• 0.8 FTE Subject Matter Leaders (High School)
• 0.5 FTE Intensive SPED Teacher (Special Education – High School)
• 1.0 FTE Board Certified Behavior Analyst (Special Education – District)

Eliminations:

• 1.0 FTE Elementary Curriculum Coordinator (Curriculum – District)
• 0.6 FTE Lunch Monitors (Elmwood)
• 0.5 FTE Library Assistant (Hopkins)
• 1.0 FTE Grade 5 Teacher (Hopkins)
• 1.0 FTE ABA Coordinator (Special Education – District)
• 0.7 FTE Speech & Language (Special Education – District)

Building maintenance:

The Preliminary FY17 Buildings & Grounds budget includes extraordinary maintenance items totaling $210,750. 

• Elmwood: $79,000
• Hopkins: $15,000
• HMS: $48,000
• HHS: $20,000
• Systems: $18,750

Fees:

The Bus Fee for students in grades K-6 living less than 2 miles from school has been eliminated, which increased the total budget by $53,475.  Currently 1,254 K-6 students are eligible to ride the bus for free, while 345 K-6 students pay the bus fee, and 100 K-6 students do not ride the bus. All students in grades 7-12 who opt to ride the bus will still pay the $155 fee next year.  All other fees for next year will remain the same including parking fees, athletic fees and preschool tuition.

Projected Class Sizes 2016-17:

FY17 Budget Documents:

• FY17 School Budget Book – Approved 1-21-16*
• FY17 Curriculum & Professional Development Executive Summary
• FY17 Buildings & Grounds Dept. Executive Summary
• FY17 Technology Dept. Executive Summary
• FY17 Central Office Executive Summary
• FY17 Center School Executive Summary
• FY17 Elmwood School Executive Summary
• FY17 Hopkins School Executive Summary
• FY17 Middle School Executive Summary
• FY17 High School Executive Summary
• FY17 Athletics Executive Summary
• FY17 Student Services / Special Education Executive Summary
• 10 Year Capital Forecast Submitted to School Committee 12-10-15*
• Financial Impact of Fees
• An Update on the Hopkinton School District Performance 11-19-15
• Massachusetts DESE 2015 Report Card for the Hopkinton School District – Level 2*

* Items marked with a star were added on 2/10/16 after our blog was originally posted.