Kids will be heading back to the Fort Barton School in the fall.

The Tiverton School Committee approved a budget Saturday that allows the elementary school to remain open, at least for the coming school year, and will enable administrators to bring back some of the 33 teachers who were recently laid off.

School officials had been considering closing the school since at least March, as one potential solution to a projected deficit of $4 million. Significant district-wide layoffs were also on the table.

Since then, parents and others in the community have jammed school committee meetings and town council budget hearings to fiercely advocate for Fort Barton’s survival. At Saturday’s budget hearing, their fears were put to rest when school committee members voted unanimously to keep the school open. 

“It is just way too late in the game to be looking at this kind of major reorganization to the school system,” committee member Deborah Pallasch said. She added that because of declining enrollment, conversations relating to future modifications of the school or its programs would be worth considering as a cost savings measure, with the goal of bringing back recently eliminated staff and specialist positions.

The numbers

Saturday’s vote resulted in a spending plan of $35.8 million for the coming fiscal year, an increase of less than one percent, or $216,368, over the prior year. Included in that is the addition of the district’s entire fund balance — also referred to as one-time funds — totaling $1.7 million. By using those funds, the district will generate more than $1 million that school officials intend to use for “callbacks” — offering jobs back to about 10 teachers or specialists who have recently been laid off. 

“I think we need to prioritize bringing as many of the teachers in front of the students as we possibly can,” said committee member Jerry Larkin.

Committee chairwoman Diane Farnworth, along with Pallasch, voted against incorporating the entire fund balance into the budget, as both felt a cushion is needed to cover future unanticipated expenses.

Referencing the use of one-time funds, Farnworth said it is a continuation of a practice used by the committee in recent years as deficits occurred annually.

“This is something we have been loudly criticized for doing, but we feel is so important in order to keep our schools running.” 

Other proposals

On Saturday, the school committee also:

• Voted against a reduction of the Ranger School’s full-time principal position to half-time;

• Approved a reduction of Fort Barton’s full-time principal position to half time;

• Reinstated the middle school sports program at a cost of $20,000;

• Reinstated the late school bus program at a cost of $50,000;

• Defeated a proposal to change the number of elementary principal positions from two-and-a-half to two positions;

• Voted to lay off the athletic director, resulting in preliminary estimated savings of about $110,000;

• Voted to eliminate the contract of the data manager, resulting in estimated savings of about $100,000.

Regarding votes to eliminate positions, Larkin said, “Our job is to adopt a budget that conforms with the [town’s] appropriation and with the state aid. I don’t disagree that all of these positions are important and these people are working hard. The services we are providing are not being purchased by the town.”   

Following the meeting, Fort Barton parent Jordan Reilly commended the school committee for “making the right decision on behalf of our children and the taxpayers.”

“This decision has never been about a building though. It’s about protecting the level of services and educational structure that our community has relied on and faithfully funded for decades.”

Reilly, an outspoken critic of the proposal to close Fort Barton, has declared her candidacy for a seat on the school committee in the November election.