Committee previews budget priorities: shared 0.5 academic leader, family resource center and staffing proposals
December 10, 2021 | Blackstone-Millville, School Boards, Massachusetts
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District leaders used the Dec. 9 meeting to preview FY23 budget priorities and staffing requests as the committee prepares for January workshops and a March public hearing.
Superintendent Jason DeFalco and staff described a strategy to preserve services now funded by expiring ESSA/ARPA grants by moving key positions into the local budget in stages. The district proposed two STEM teachers for FY23, two business/career teachers for middle/high school pathways, additional middle‑school history coverage (0.6), and more permanent substitute coverage. A proposed 0.5 "leader for academic affairs" — shared with the neighboring Bellingham district — is intended to centralize curriculum, coaching and data work and would be cost‑shared by the two districts.
The committee also discussed a district family resource center concept to centralize wraparound services (registration, counseling referrals, food/clothing assistance) and streamline intake so families receive quicker access to supports. Leaders said the idea is intended to help roughly the district's high‑needs population (about 50% of students) by reducing repeated handoffs among school offices.
Members debated athletics staffing. One member urged consideration of a full‑time athletic director to support roughly 30 teams, expand youth outreach and increase program stability; others asked for further cost details to weigh the added position against other priorities.
Budget calendar: The committee settled on budget‑workshop dates in January (Jan. 20 and Jan. 24 at 6:00 p.m.) and scheduled the regular meeting (Jan. 27). The district plans to present a draft budget Jan. 13, hold joint town meetings later in the process and aim for a March 10 public hearing and school‑committee vote on the budget.
What's next: Departments will refine requests ahead of workshops; the committee will take public input at the January sessions and hold a public hearing in March before town votes.
Superintendent Jason DeFalco and staff described a strategy to preserve services now funded by expiring ESSA/ARPA grants by moving key positions into the local budget in stages. The district proposed two STEM teachers for FY23, two business/career teachers for middle/high school pathways, additional middle‑school history coverage (0.6), and more permanent substitute coverage. A proposed 0.5 "leader for academic affairs" — shared with the neighboring Bellingham district — is intended to centralize curriculum, coaching and data work and would be cost‑shared by the two districts.
The committee also discussed a district family resource center concept to centralize wraparound services (registration, counseling referrals, food/clothing assistance) and streamline intake so families receive quicker access to supports. Leaders said the idea is intended to help roughly the district's high‑needs population (about 50% of students) by reducing repeated handoffs among school offices.
Members debated athletics staffing. One member urged consideration of a full‑time athletic director to support roughly 30 teams, expand youth outreach and increase program stability; others asked for further cost details to weigh the added position against other priorities.
Budget calendar: The committee settled on budget‑workshop dates in January (Jan. 20 and Jan. 24 at 6:00 p.m.) and scheduled the regular meeting (Jan. 27). The district plans to present a draft budget Jan. 13, hold joint town meetings later in the process and aim for a March 10 public hearing and school‑committee vote on the budget.
What's next: Departments will refine requests ahead of workshops; the committee will take public input at the January sessions and hold a public hearing in March before town votes.
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