The Regional School Committee said last week it expects another tough budget year, one that may force it to give up on goals like reducing class size.
In acknowledging the town’s fiscal constraints, Southborough officials last month asked all departments, including Algonquin and the K-8 schools, to submit budgets that do not increase services next year in an effort to avoid asking voters for a Proposition 2-1/2 override.
The Metrowest Daily News attended the Regional School Committee’s budget discussion last week and has this to report:
Chairwoman Shirley Lundberg said the committee should at least record a needs-based budget that takes the priorities into account, but said at some point reality will creep in.
“I’m confident that the reality is quickly going to come into play,” (member Daniel Kolenda) said, based on the budget talks going on already.
“The belt tightening is not over yet,” he said, going on to say that he’s heard from a number of parents who are already concerned about things such as student activity fees, which were instituted last year.
He pointed to a section of the goals that stresses providing excellent education “at the lowest possible cost to taxpayers.”
“I think that’s going to be paramount again this year,” he said.
Read the full story in the MWDN.
