As expected, district seeks additional funding for East Providence’s schools

Pending personnel, other expenditures have been known of previously

By Mike Rego
Posted 8/20/18

EAST PROVIDENCE — At its Tuesday, Aug. 14, meeting, the East Providence School Committee unanimously backed a Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget proposal seeking over $2.3 million in additional …

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As expected, district seeks additional funding for East Providence’s schools

Pending personnel, other expenditures have been known of previously

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — At its Tuesday, Aug. 14, meeting, the East Providence School Committee unanimously backed a Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget proposal seeking over $2.3 million in additional assistance from the city for the upcoming term.
According to deliberations held earlier this budget season, much of the increase is needed to meet the terms negotiated by the district within its current personnel contracts as well as requirements to address its transportation needs and Special Education mandates.
In the stead of vacationing District Finance Director Craig Enos, Michael Hubert, the District’s Accounting Manager/Controller, provided the committee with an updated version of the document from the one the body discussed previously at two public workshops.
The administration, led by Superintendent Kathryn Crowley, is requesting some $2.358 million more in city-side support, or a total of $48.175 million, up from the $45.816 million the district received in FY17-18.
Mr. Hubert noted the revised budget he presented to the committee last week was “in line with the previous proposal.” Minor alterations were made since their last talks including a $150,000 reduction in salaries, which will be offset by grant monies, and $600,000 being removed from the construction line item and placed in the capital fund, some of which will be made up for by a pending state safety/security grant.
Of significance as well, Mr. Hubert reaffirmed state aid will increase slightly by $190,000 year-over-year from $35.483 million to $35.673 million.
Ward 3 Committee member Nate Cahoon, soon headed to the City Council as an unopposed candidate from the same voting block, noted the administration’s budget proposal was “within the recommended range” of state-appointed Municipal Finance Advisor Paul Luba. As far back as last budget season, for the current 2017-18 fiscal year, Mr. Luba has projected a potential tax hike in the range of 3 percent to cover the anticipated costs associated mostly with contract renegotiations between the city and the bargaining units of employees in all municipal departments, including schools.
Superintendent Crowley affirmed Mr. Cahoon’s statement, saying the council and city-side administrators should have expected the proposed increase because they have been included in the long-range, oft-discussed financial forecasts of both entities.
She added, Mr. Luba had supported the district’s fiscal plan, telling the superintendent in a conversation just prior to last week’s meeting, “It’s a good budget.”
School admins were scheduled to meet with their city counterparts earlier this week then make their annual presentation in front of the council at the latter’s August 21 forum.
Of the apparent city-side support for the district’s FY18-19 budget, Mr. Cahoon added, “I just want to say I’m the first to bash on the city when they don’t pony up. And I think that’s been the case here in past years. If they’re ready to support this, then I think that they deserve credit for being able to support this because this doesn’t correct everything that was done, but this goes a long way in showing good faith and responsibly taking care of your school department.”
To Mr. Cahoon’s comments, the superintendent replied, “It really does.”
Capital fund steady
In addition, Superintendent Crowley told the committee the district’s capital fund continues to hold steady with approximately $7.2 still available to be earmarked for upgrades to facilities.
She said the district will soon be reimbursed by the state in the sum of over $300,000 for recent expenditures incurred for replacing the roof at the Myron J. Francis Elementary School and asbestos abatement at the Agnes B. Hennessey Elementary School.
Action items
Of the numerous items voted upon, the committee approved the following notable updates for the 2018-19 academic term: physical eduction/health curriculum; science curriculum; social studies curriculum; elementary student handbook; middle school student handbook; and the high school student handbook and athletic handbook/code of conduct.

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MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.