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GRAFTON, Mass. - The Grafton Public School District is $522,000 short of its projected budget after two phases of reductions and an expected $1.4 million contribution from the town through Free Cash and other sources.
Superintendent of School James Cummings warned the School Committee Monday night that a third phase of reductions, which would be necessary in lieu of finding an additional half million dollars in the budget, would mean cutting programs from Grafton schools, something Cummings has been working for months to avoid. It would also mean a likely increase in class sizes to the "high 20s," according to Cummings.
"Although the first two phases of reductions were very painful, we're starting to cut to the bone by further eliminating staffing and programs entirely," Cummings said.
The first two reduction phases -- the first of which eliminated future positions at the new Grafton High School while the second cut 12 existing positions -- elminated a total of $722,978 from the FY13 budget, leaving Cummings and the School Committee another $1.92 million short of their project spending.
Cummings said Town Administrator Tim McInerney is working toward moving $1.403 million from general funds, Chapter 70 monies and about $250,000 in Free Cash to help offset expenses in a year in which the district will undergo the opening of a new high school, the end of stimulus funding and a district-wide re-organization.
"This is historic for Grafton," said School Committee member Teri Turgeon. "I'm wondering how many other towns or districts are force to make the same kinds of cuts."
The contribution from municipal funds will also help with the one-time cost of adding full-day Kindergarten; Chapter 70 funding increases dramatically after the first year. Full-day K is something Cummings has said repeatedly is worth going after even in a year of massive cuts, pointing to research that states full-day kindergarten is a great benefit to young students.
However, program cuts may be the sacrifice for getting some of Grafton's youngest students in school for a full day.
"How do we say that one program is more important than another?" asked Turgeon on the difficulty of making those types of decisions.
McInerney will be presenting budget recommendations to the Finance Committee next Wednesday, Feb. 15, where questions for both the town and Grafton schools will become a bit clearer.
A class size of mid to high 20's dramatically invokes the law of diminishing returns. The value and outcome of the education is significantly reduced. It is irresponsible to vote to approve improvements in and expansion of facilities and then not fund them to operate properly. I don't support it. I will support doing what is necessary to maintain the semblance of quality of education and raise the taxes.