Published February 26, 2021
MELROSE — The School Committee this week started its review of a proposed $38.9 million educational spending request for the fiscal year beginning in July.
The total requested is $38,995,342, up about 5.5 percent over the current academic year’s allocation.
Earlier this month, Supt. of Schools Dr. Julie R. Kukenberger and schools’ Director of Finance and Administrative Affairs Leia Secor presented the school district spending plan. It was emphasized that there is a difference between level services and level funding when it comes to allocating money for education.
The fiscal year 2022 budget goals are to develop a needs based, student-centered fiscally responsible budget; to design a strategic student-centered COVID-19 recovery plan that allows all students to accelerate their learning; to prioritize resources from pre-K to grade 12; to expand early intervention supports and services; to provide required and appropriate services based on student needs to encourage the best possible educational outcomes for all; to maintain existing programs and ensure student and staff health and well-being, and to support more than 450 School Department employees.
On Tuesday, the School Committee heard presentations on the budgets of the Early Childhood Center and Education Stations, as well as that of the public schools’ Athletics department.
In a message to the community back written in January, Kukenberger stated, “As we embark on the public participation in the FY22 Melrose Public School budget development process, it is essential that we keep our current context at the forefront of our discussion alongside the most impact factor, our students’ needs.
“As we work collaboratively and transparently, both internally and externally, we must keep reminding ourselves that we are still in the throes of a global pandemic. Therefore, our focus for the FY22 fiscal year is to build a fiscally responsible, student-centered budget that supports our COVID-19 recovery plan. We will remain vigilant about educating the whole child, meeting our students and employees’ physical, social, emotional, academic, and mental well-being needs. Therefore, our FY22 budget theme will be focused on recovery, accelerating learning outcomes for all learners, and social-emotional well-being for all.
“Our FY22 MPS student-centered budget acknowledges the current fiscal and political climate in our community while also remaining focused on supporting progress toward rigorous and relevant learning for all. We do all of this while staying true to our mission to “provide and sustain a thriving and dynamic teaching and learning environment, preparing every student to excel in their authentic life and global citizenship, as supported by an engaged community.”
“The goal and purpose of our MPS FY22 budget proposal are to sustain our existing resources in ways that allow us to continue to make progress toward our strategic objectives and priorities. We also aim to position the District to make incremental investments in our response toward pandemic recovery while also being mindful of our students’ immediate and future needs. This strategic thinking will enable us to realize our long-range vision for continuous improvement. It will help educators design safe, supportive, and responsive student-centered learning environments where students own their learning and acquire the academic and social-emotional skills necessary to realize their unique potential. These combined skills will ensure that our students can contribute to their communities in meaningful ways.
“Our FY22 budget proposal will include necessary investments due to new growth in our community and our existing and incoming students’ unique demands.
“Indeed, these are unprecedented times. We can only begin to understand the magnitude and variety of needs our students will present as we develop our COVID-19 recovery plan. However, we must remain true to our mission and purpose of ensuring that all students can access a free and appropriate public education.
“I look forward to sharing more information with you in the coming weeks,” the superintendent concluded.
