Be a Participant, not a Bystander, in the Process High Rock Renovation on Track

Dr. Gutekanst requested $43.7 million for FY09, a 7.3% increase over FY08. The 7.3% increase funds:

· Base budget increases of 6.5%. These increases allow the schools to provide the same services they provide this year.

· Program improvements of 0.8%.

However, the Town expects revenues to increase by only 3%-5%. Therefore, Dr. Gutekanst presented the School Committee with budget cuts for three scenarios: 3% increased revenue, 4% increased revenue, and 5% increased revenue.

With 3% increased revenue (worst case scenario), the budget request must be reduced by 16 teaching positions across all grade levels; 4% revenue would cut 7 teaching positions; 5% revenue would cut 4 teaching positions. Other reductions are in administrative positions, supplies, and professional development, as well as possible increases in fees. Restoration of past programs such as elementary Spanish and some elementary music and PE are not included under any scenario.

Be a Participant, not a Bystander, in the Process

Citizens for Needham Schools will host a meeting on Sunday, January 13 to review the budget request and its implications. Please come: decisions that may affect your child's classroom will be made this budget season, and we can help you stay informed. We will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Needham Historical Society on the Newman School campus.

On Tuesday, January 15 at 7 pm at the Broadmeadow School, the School Committee will host a public hearing on the FY09 budget. The purpose of the hearing is to give residents an opportunity to understand, discuss, and question the budget.

	High Rock Renovation on Track
The renovation and expansion of the High Rock School into a sixth-grade center is on schedule. Needham's Permanent Public Building Committee has chosen a project manager and subcontractors and is reviewing bids for a general contractor. The School Committee will vote to approve the lowest bidder on January 23. The project is fully funded: in April 2007, Needham voters approved a Proposition 2 ½ debt-exclusion override to pay the complete cost of the building. At that time, the Massachusetts School Building Assistance program, the state program that gives towns partial reimbursement for school building projects, was closed. Since then, the program has reopened. The MSBA published its first list of projects it is considering funding; High Rock is not on that list. The School Committee will continue to work with the MSBA to obtain state funding for High Rock. However, the project does not depend on receiving that funding.

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