Max on Budget
Developing a budget is one of the School Committee’s primary responsibilities. We are dealing with the impacts of a teacher contract that has put significant pressure on non-salary expenditures. We have to be smart, creative, and transparent about how we deal with these challenges to ensure our school system does not suffer. I think we can meet these challenges, and we have to be thoughtful about future negotiations to ensure we create a sustainable environment for our school system.
Let’s do better with our budget:
Transparency. Every year, the School Committee gets the budget just days before the budget hearing. That’s not enough time for anyone — including the community — to review it properly. We need more time to ask questions and make sure we’re making the right decisions. Other towns publish a budget spreadsheet - we should do it too!
Setting Priorities. Many businesses take an approach called ‘Zero Based Budgeting’ which is a fancy way of saying they assess all costs. Given the budget challenges Sharon schools are experiencing, it is important that the School Committee assess each cost and set clear priorities for what is needed most. My priorities include maximizing student opportunity, protecting teaching positions, and creating a sustainable budget that will enable Sharon schools to thrive.
Stewardship. Last year, the School Committee asked for $365,000 for new high school math textbooks and elementary ELA materials. But the ELA materials were eligible for a state grant, and the math books aren’t even being used — teachers prefer giving students PDFs. That $365,000 could have saved 5 teacher jobs, improved instructional assistant pay, lowered kindergarten fees, or helped with other needs in town. We can do better with our resources.
New Revenue Sources. Particularly during times of budget shortfalls, the school and School Committee should be exploring additional funding sources such as State and Federal grants. I would dedicate time to identifying these options and work hard to secure these funds to help alliviate the financial burden from the students and community.
Free Kindergarten. The School Committee promised free kindergarten, then canceled it. Many parents were left feeling disappointed and surprised by this expense. The School Committee must be clear, competent, and forthright in its communication with the town especially on such impactful issues.
Negotiating for the Future. Next year, the School Committee will negotiate a new teacher contract. My goal is no layoffs, absolutely no tax hikes, and it is clear that significant teacher raises will drive even further budgetary challenges. We need a sustainable contract that supports our teachers, our students, and our community. I negotiate nearly every day in my job and understand the challenges of complex deals, as I am in involved in mergers and acquisitions. We are going to need strong, clear, and rationale actors to ensure a successful outcome during next year’s negotiation.