Superintendent of Schools Shirley Alvira hopes to present a level-funded, level-service budget.
WESTFIELD - Superintendent of Schools Shirley Alvira hopes to present a level-funded, level-service fiscal 2012 school budget to the School Committee that will have little or no impact on staff or student services.
“That is the intent,” Alvira said as she and her administrative staff struggle to bridge a potential $500,000 gap in potential expenses and receipts for the new year that begins July 1.
Alvira will present a recommended budget to the School Committee at a public hearing Monday scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at South Middle School.
The School Department currently operates with a $51.9 million budget and while administration seeks level funding for the new year, that level funding requires an increase of at least $1.5 million to meet contractual and other financial obligations.
“Yes, level funding does mean an increase,” said Alvira. “But our goal is to limit increases and not be forced to trim staff or programs and services,” she said.
School Committee finance chairman Kevin J. Sullivan said Tuesday he is expecting the superintendent to bring forward “what a level-service budget will be and what a level-funded budget will mean for the district.”
“We will have to tighten the belt again, but we will figure it out,” Sullivan said.
Mayor Daniel M. Knapik continues to work on the municipal budget proposal for the new year and is expected to present his request to the City Council in early May.
Problems facing the School Department are the need to boost salary accounts to make up for furlough days, ranging from one to three, that were taken by employees this fiscal year. Also, school officials this year used $1.5 million in federal stimulus funding to restore 13 positions, including four teachers, that originally were eliminated in the fiscal 2011 school budget.
There is no federal stimulus aid available for 2012. School Department salaries represent $43.8 million of the current $51.9 million budget.
The School Department has cut 100 positions in the last three years because of financial constraints.