Published February 28, 2020
MELROSE — School officials have plenty to digest as they began digging this week into the 2020-21 educational spending plan proposed by Supt. Cyndy Taymore.
The $38 million plan includes money to deal with rising enrollment, handle a 5 percent special education tuition increase, fund a nearly 50 percent hike in the cost of getting local kids to out-of-town special education programs and meet over $600,000 in negotiated agreements with employees.
On Tuesday night, the School Committee debated all fees for next year. The recommendation from administrators is that no fee increase be made for the Education Stations, the city’s after school program. A 2.5 percent increase has been recommended for the Early Childhood Center’s tuition-based programs at the Franklin School.
No athletic fees are recommended to be increased next year, but officials say they plan a serious review of the charges and will present a plan within the next year. Marching Band and Drama fees are recommended to stay the same, a $5 increase — to $295 — is recommended for elementary school lessons and the administration is asking that a $35 materials fee for high school photography classes be reinstated.
The School Committee has established a rough timeline for discussing the fiscal year 2021 budget and voting on different sections of it. A vote on the fee recommendations, for example, is set for on or before March 10.
Also that night, the school board will begin discussing staffing at the elementary schools, the Veterans Memorial Middle School and Melrose High.
Taymore’s recommendations include more teachers in the elementary schools, added special education professionals, a math teacher in the secondary schools, additional social workers and other social-emotional-behavioral support positions.
According to Jen McAndrew, the School Committee’s chair of Finance and Facilities, she and her colleagues will continue to discuss budget topics like special education, professional development, materials and staffing throughout March into early April.
It is important to note that a public hearing on the schools’ fiscal year 2021 spending plan is set for April 7. Officials anticipate a final budget vote by the School Committee on April 28.
As always, the School Committee welcomes the public to all its meetings and to speak during periods of public comment.
This is a critical time of year for budget planners throughout the city, and the School Department has about the biggest responsibility of all.
