Blackstone–Millville officials present FY23 budget trimmed by $1.9 million while preserving core programs

Superintendent Jason DeFalco told a joint meeting of Blackstone and Millville school and town committees that the FY23 budget presented to the district has been reduced by about $1.9 million following exhaustive line‑by‑line reviews and five‑year expense analyses.

DeFalco and School Committee member Jane Reggio said principals and cost‑center managers began with needs‑based proposals, after which administration and the committee removed several expense lines to reach what they described as a more ‘‘palatable’’ budget for both towns. They emphasized that the reductions did not eliminate core instructional programming or the district’s career pathways, including STEM and biomedical tracks.

The presentation highlighted student demographics and academic context: roughly half the district’s students qualify for free or reduced‑price lunches and nearly half are classified as ‘‘high needs’’ (students eligible for FRL, special education, or English‑language services). DeFalco noted the district’s four‑year graduation rate remains strong, near 95 percent, and framed the budget choices around the district’s Blueprint 2.0 strategic plan.

Officials said the district has been aggressive in pursuing outside revenue and has secured just over $2 million in grants to date, with a recent $20,000 state grant to support anti‑hate crime and diversity, equity and inclusion work. Administrators also reported applying for an additional ~$150,000 grant for a PK–8 math program; if awarded, those funds would reduce local cost pressure.

On revenue assumptions, leaders flagged the impact of school choice and charter tuition on Chapter 70 state aid (noting roughly $1.5 million removed from Chapter 70 receipts for students attending other districts). They plan to apply expected circuit‑breaker special‑education relief—about $630,000—and use banked circuit‑breaker funds (~$175,000) to offset next year’s costs.

Board members pressed for details about enrollment and retention between middle and high school. DeFalco described K–12 pathway investments—including elementary STEM teachers, middle‑school career grants and an eighth‑grade dual‑enrollment pilot that puts select eighth graders in high‑school courses for credit—as part of a strategy to retain students through graduation.

The district plans a public hearing on the proposed budget on March 10 and must certify assessment numbers by March 24. Administrators asked committee members to keep the packet and assessment pages in front of them as those figures can change with capital decisions, OPEB assumptions and final state aid figures.

The committee said it will continue to refine the budget in response to town feedback and noted that specific assessment impacts for each town will be calculated and shared with municipal finance committees before final certification.