Officials approve pared-down FY25 school budget

The Canton School Committee voted last week to approve a much smaller school budget for FY25 than previously planned, slashing proposed new spending after receiving a lower-than-expected revenue target from the Finance Committee.

That target figure, which is just north of $56 million, represents an increase of 4.76 percent over the current year’s budget. By contrast, the preliminary budget unveiled by school officials had sought a 12.17 percent hike in spending to $59.73 million.

Of the $2,548,055 in additional spending included in the newest budget version, nearly $1.83 million will be needed to cover contractual obligations. The only budget additions that were kept for the next school year as recommended by School Superintendent Derek Folan were a team chair position for the Rodman Early Childhood Center and new special education teachers at CHS and the Luce Elementary School.

Folan said there could be a possible reallocation of funds that could impact a few positions, but that would depend on enrollment figures and nothing is definitive at this time.

Overall, Folan characterized it as a “level service budget,” which he set puts Canton in a better position that many other nearby communities that are facing significant staff reductions or potential tax hikes through Proposition 2 1/2 overrides. Folan is also grateful to the FinCom for supporting a $1.6 million increase in the town’s Special Education Reserve Fund, noting that without it the School Department “could be facing $1 million in cuts.”

Folan acknowledged that going forward, the School Department will need to start absorbing into the operating budget some of the rising costs for out-of-district tuition and transportation and not rely as heavily on the Special Education Reserve Fund every year.

Folan noted that the FinCom targets are based on state aid projections and could still rise if the legislature and governor were to approve more funding for education.

YRBS results show encouraging trends

The other major news from the March 21 School Committee meeting concerned the results of the latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which showed a reduction in suicidal ideation and suicide attempts as well as controlled substance use among middle and high school students.

A total of 439 students at GMS (excluding sixth graders) and 768 students at CHS completed the survey in December of 2023, and the results were …

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Posted by Mike Berger on Mar 29 2024. Filed under Top Stories. Both comments and pings are currently closed.