The approximately $6.1 million budget is a slight increase from the FY09 budget of approximately $6 million, but the school district still faces a $210,375 shortfall in FY10 with the state proposing to fund Chapter 70 monies at FY09 levels and town revenues projected to increase by 1.6 percent compared to 3.5 percent for FY09.
The plan to close the gap includes cutting kindergarten, fifth and sixth grade teaching positions, cutting a kindergarten paraprofessional, one classroom support and four intensive special needs teaching staff positions including a floater.
In addition, the library position will become 0.8 of a full-time position.
The school district saved approximately $94,000 in FY09 entering into a school union with Lanesborough last summer, and while the savings is already reflected in the FY10 budget, it will not be enough.
Rose P. Ellis, superintendent of School Union 71, said Tuesday night that she has looked into some of the suggestions brought up by at the budget public hearing on March 17, and while she was pleased with some of the decisions, she doesn't think the school district would see a "windfall" from them.
One item the school district is optimistic about is the elimination of a school bus for the 2009-10 school year. Ellis said she hopes eliminating a bus and consolidating
"I hope to get savings on the bus, but that is some thing that doesn't help our shortfall," she said.
She said the elimination of one bus would result in some students walking at the most three-tenths of a mile to a bus stop, and spending between 30 and 35 minutes riding the bus to and from school.
Steven Johnson, principal of Williamstown Elementary School, said currently the most time a student spends riding a school bus is 30 minutes.
Another cost saving measure the school district is exploring involves offering an early retirement option.
"At this time, I'm not prepared to discuss it further. I'm still trying to iron out the details of it," Ellis said. One money-raising option the school district is looking into is Medicaid reimbursements from certain special needs students.
Ellis said after some discussion, and discovering there was a Lanesborough School District staff member who was familiar with the program, it was decided pursue the possible funding further.
"We will begin to administer it, see what we come up with, and then talk to the town," Ellis said.
While it will not save the elementary school any money, the administration and first grade teachers have decided to move a first grade teacher to second grade for the 2009-10 school year.
The move will result in the second grade having four sections and the first grade having three sections. Ellis said the change will even out the student to teacher ratio for both grades with 17 students per one teacher in the first grade and 15 to 16 students per one teacher in the second grade.
A coordinated parent volunteer program is also being explored by school officials.
Five parents attending the School Committee meeting Tues day night were surprised when they were unable to publicly comment about the budget.
School Committee Chairman David Backus explained to the parents that anyone wishing to speak must put their name on a sign-up sheet prior to the meeting. He said the procedure is stated in the policy for Williamstown School Committee meetings, and it's available in hard copy at the meetings and on the school district's Web site.
One parent stated that was not adequate notice.
According to a school official, the policy has been in existence for at least three and a half years.
To reach Meghan Foley, e-mail mfoley@thetranscript.com.
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