Mendon Upton Regional School District Looks for Support from Community

At the March 16 Open Budget Hearing the Mendon Upton Regional School District certified a $31.8 million budget for FY16. The proposed budget is 1.9 million over the current year which is a 6.39 percent increase.  To fund the proposed budgete both Towns will have to pass a Prop 2 1/2 override.

“This is a thoughtful, deliberate budget that will bring the district forward,” said Superintedent Dr. Maruszczak. “I am very confident we have constructed a budget that can sustain the school system for the next four to five-year,” he said.

Based on Superintedent Dr. Maruszczak’s presentation there are three main areas driving the budget; increases to everyday operational costs, decreases in state aid, and the investment in ensuring every student has a competitive advantage to be successful in college and beyond.

The district is looking at over a million dollars in increases to salaries (COLA), health insurance, retirement plans, and an increase in the transportation contract outlined below.

• Salary increases including 1.75$ increase in COLA   $690,066
• Health Care Insurance up 3.5%                                    $122,134
• Transportation Increase                                                 $114,048
• Increase in retirement plan                                            $ 99,530
• Electricity Increase                                                           $ 59,000

In addition to the increases outlined above the district has to make up for a  $304,840 cut in their Regional Transportation reimbursement from the state. The state cut the reimbursement rate from 90 percent to 60 percent.

The state has also altered their funding formula; shifting a greater portion of financial responsibility from the state to the Towns. According to Maruszczak every community has a target local share designated by the State based on aggregate property wealth and aggregate personal income levels. Neither Mendon or Upton are paying their “target” share and until the MURSD reaches their “target” the district can expect the absolute minimum, if any, in state aid. Mendon’s target share is 66.05 percent  – they are currently at 57.96 percent which makes them off by 8.09 percent. Upton’s target share it 62.21 percent – they are currently at 54.44 percent which makes them off by 7.77 percent.

The district is also looking to invest in the communities future, their students. Two years ago the district developed a five-year strategic plan with the help of parents, teachers, staff, and community members with the vision of a high achieving school district which meets the needs of all students. According to Maruszczak, both the students and the schools need to be competitive.  Last year Upton was hit with a 32% increase in assessment for its students going to BVT (an increase of $272,678).

Part of the strategic plan is to restore positions lost in the past. Several years ago the middle school’s librarian position was cut, this budget brings that position back.  Maruszczak said, “Now more than ever students need basic research skills.” Below are the positions the district is looking to restore and add.

• Bring back 2 full-time reading specialist teachers to assist struggling learners (one for Clough, one for Memorial)
• Bring back the middle school Librarian at Miscoe
• Bring back a middle school language teacher
• Add one elementary school Language Teacher so all children can be exposed to a second language
• Add one position at the high school to coordinate internships/job shadowing for all Nipmuc students
• Total for all positions listed above $440,000

The district is also looking to invest in reading/ELA texts to keep up with MA curriculum frameworks, to invest in instructional technology (adding SMARTboards at the elementary and middle school levels and lowering iPad costs to parents), to lower athletic fees at Nipmuc from an average of $375 per student per sport to $175 per student per sport, and to invest in athletics and extracurricular programs at the middle school; for a grand total of $363,500.

All members of the School Committee were in favor of the proposed budget. Member Chris Russo said, “I’m proud of this budget and Joe. It’s never a good time for an override. It’s the right thing to do.”

Upton resident Liz Fournier asked, “If the override doesn’t pass will you support a level service budget?”

Dr. Maruszczak replied, “A level service budget would also require an override.”

If the override is not passed the district will be looking at some substantial cuts. Maruszczak said, “The district is very much at a crossroads. I don’t want to see all the gains we have made over the past three or four years regress.”

One resident suggested the district do a better job informing the community and asked Maruszczak if additional information could be put out in the Mendon Upton Town Crier or the Milford Daily News with real numbers. The resident expressed concerns with one source which is bleeding misinformation to the community.

Voters will have the final say. Maruszczak hopes the district comes out in support of the schools.

The certified budget will mean a projected assessment to the town of Mendon of $8.5 million, an increase of $1.3 million and to the town of Upton $10 million an increase of $1.4 million.

Upton voters will voice their decision at the annual town meeting on May 7 at 7 p.m. at Nipmuc Regional High School.  If it passes at town meeting it will be sent to a special election for a ballot vote sometime the week of May 18.

In Mendon voters will have their say on May, 1 at Miscoe Hill Middle School at 7 p.m. Their ballot election is scheduled for May 12.

Here is a link of the hand out presented at the meeting with all the details.