New Barrington school budget leaves start time change in limbo

The Barrington School Committee held a meeting early Monday morning, March 6, and voted on a new proposed budget … one that does not include funding for the start time change initiative. 

Committee members said they still intended to pursue the start time change, but would have to find a way to do so without dedicating money to the initiative. 

"Basically we can't afford the $307,000 (start time) initiative," said Barrington School Committee Chairwoman Kate Brody, adding that she was still "clearly in support of the start time change."

Committee member Dr. Megan Douglas said she was frustrated with the shift. Just a few days earlier, on Thursday, March 2, the committee had voted to approve a budget that included the $307,000 needed for the start time change. Much of the money was intended to pay for transportation costs associated with shifting the high school and middle school start times from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. (The change would also impact the start times for the district's other public schools.)

But on Friday, March 3 — just hours after the committee voted — Barrington Superintendent of Schools Michael Messore discovered that the proposed budget reflected a 4.6 percent increase over the current budget — the state law caps tax increases at 4 percent. As the prior budget was configured, officials anticipated that it would have pushed the town's tax levy over the 4 percent cap.

Officials had initially figured the proposed increase while using the total operating budget ($49.86 million), but later realized the increase must be based on the local share ($42.2 million) of the budget. 

"It was not our intent to pass a budget that exceeded that (4 percent cap)," said Ms. Brody during Monday's meeting. 

Committee member Anna Clancy later motioned to approve a new proposed budget equaling a 3.75 percent increase to taxpayers. John Alessandro seconded the motion and the committee voted 3-1 in favor of the new proposed budget. Dr. Douglas voted against the motion and Gina Pine was unable to attend the Monday meeting.

The new proposed budget is for $49.55 million, and includes a $1.58 million increase over the current budget. 

The local share of the proposed budget is $42.4 million.

Dr. Douglas said school officials have identified a need to change the high school and middle school start times, and said not addressing that need is not a good thing. Dr. Douglas added that she was concerned that officials were "trapped" by the existing framework of the budget, in which the vast majority of the money is tied up in salaries and benefits for staff and other contractual obligations.

Ms. Clancy said the district encountered some unexpected increases during the current budgeting cycle — "over $560,000." She referenced an increase in medical premiums, transportation for special education students, and out of district tuitions. 

Mr. Alessandro said he believes the district can make other changes to help reduce student stress and wished to focus attention on the successes of the budget, including educator raises.

"We reward our educators for being good people," he said. "The educators deserve to be compensated."

Ms. Brody asked Mr. Messore to take a closer look at cost-neutral options for the start time change initiative. He will report back with more information at an April meeting.