The Barrington School Department is proposing a 4.5 percent increase to next year's operating budget, including additional funding for transportation needs associated with a proposed change in school start times.

District officials shared details from the proposed budget with members of the Committee on Appropriations last week. 

The budget includes funding increases for salaries and benefits, capital requests, textbooks, legal fees, and an additional $246,268 for busing costs associated with the proposed change in school start times.

Barrington Committee on Appropriations Chairman Richard Staples said school officials highlighted the numerous benefits gained by shifting the current three-tier busing system used by the district to the proposed two-tier system. (Three tiers refers to three separate school busing runs; two-tiers implies two busing runs.)

Mr. Staples said school officials spoke about how combining the K-3 run with the grades 4-5 run will benefit the district when it comes to scheduling substitute teachers and will allow for greater collaboration across elementary and secondary schools in Barrington.

"I was surprised, but in a positive way, with the benefits," added Mr. Staples. 

A budget presentation by school officials stated: "By implementing a two-tier schedule, our Pre-K to grade 5 schools will be aligned to start and end at the same time while our secondary schools will begin their day close to 8:30 a.m."

The district's proposed budget also includes two other new initiatives — an increase in instructional coaching at the elementary schools and an increase in social-emotional support at the elementary schools by increasing an existing position.

"Evidence through the work of our current instructional coach supports that continuous, embedded professional development through an instructional coach has a positive impact on student achievement," stated the district's budget presentation. Officials referenced the academic improvements made at Primrose Hill School where officials were able to add additional coaching through a grant.

Barrington school officials estimate that one instructional coach is able to work with 20 teachers and their 500 students annually. 

"Being cognizant of the fiscal impact to the taxpayers, our goal of increasing two additional positions will occur through the reallocation of existing staff," stated the presentation.

The social-emotional support increase included in the budget would also be done through the reallocation of existing resources in the district. 

Capital requests

The school department's capital requests, which were submitted for review to the town's planning board, includes $275,000 for the ongoing replacement of technology devices. The capital requests also include $125,000 for "wireless access point appropriation" to replace the existing access points, and $100,000 for a facilities study which would be used to develop a comprehensive capital improvement plan.

In total, the district's budget calls for an increase of $2,276,557. The vast majority of that will cover salary and benefit cost increases — $948,535 for salary increases, and $606,066 for benefit increases.

Mr. Staples wanted to remind residents that the district's proposal is still a "work in progress."

"We have to understand that what they (school officials) presented was not the final (budget)," Mr. Staples said. 

"I would like to think that the schools are moving to get below the (4 percent tax levy) cap," he added. 

Members of the Committee on Appropriations will continue reviewing the proposed school budget during the March 19 meeting. COA members were expected to review the proposed municipal budget on March 12. 

By the numbers

Here is how the proposed school department budget breaks down:

Expenses

Salaries and benefits: $44,412,242

Other purchased services: $3,980,875

Prof. and tech. services: $1,756,080

Tech., maintenance and property services: $914,129

Supplies: $1,693,153

Buildings, equipment and vehicles: $104,192

Dues and fees: $44,100

Proposed operating budget: $52,904,771

Revenues

Local tax dollars: $46,913,078

General state aid: $5,716,693

Medicaid reimbursement: $275,000