School Committee Reviews FY12 Budget

Editor's Note: This story is part of  probing the economy's effect on local schools.

The Westwood School Committee held its second reading of the school budget for Fiscal Year 2012 on Thursday night. With the exception of some mixed views on a Dean of Students Position, the School Committee and Superintendent John Antonucci said they were satisfied with what the budget offers.

Antonucci noted that Gov. Deval Patrick’s budget was also released recently, and Chapter 70 State Aid will give them an additional $20,000 to work with. Thus, instead of a 2 percent budget increase that he was already pleased with, it moves to a 2.1 percent and provides a little extra leeway.

“I think we should probably vote this budget at the next meeting,” said Antonucci.

Director of Business and Finance Heath Petracca gave a brief presentation regarding the capital budget. Petracca related it to the recent snow this winter, saying that it is hard to determine how much will accumulate each year, how long it will last, or even when it will hit the area.

Petracca said that the proposed amount is for $406,000 with three priorities: technology, roofs and a maintenance vehicle. About $274,000 of this will go towards roofs for small work that needs to be done at the Downey School, and a complete roof job at the Deerfield School.

Petracca explained that this will be sufficient because roofs at Westwood High School and Thurston Middle School are in "great shape." In fact, Petracca said that Thurston should be fine for another 20 years, after a major $200,000 re-roofing job was done before.

About $100,000 will be going towards revamping the technology infrastructure around the school system, Petracca added. Student Liaison Harry Clapsis said that this is an important aspect and said that the purchases the school system has made already have been significant. He noted that the students at the high school are very pleased to have brand new “Brainy Macs” at their finger tips because the past computers were “a disaster.”

The remaining $32,000 is for a maintenance vehicle, which Petracca said is much needed; it is a vehicle that is used every day. The current vehicle has been around for a long time and has been used to its maximum potential.

Antonucci told the School Committee that the $406,000 was devised when he sat down with Petracca and put together a five-year plan for a Capital Budget. Essentially, the $406,000 is the amount that the town can afford, and he said the price has been about the same for years.

Antonucci was excited about the fact that they would be getting the state aid, as there has been a lot of talk around the state about cuts. School Committee member John O’Brien pointed out that Westwood is very fortunate because much of the rest of the country, such as Texas, is in disaster mode when it comes to the operating budget.

Aside from the two readings, there has been a PTO sponsored forum regarding the budget. It has also been posted on the school’s website. Antonucci said that he has been pleased with the positive feedback.

“I haven’t heard anything negative,” said Antonucci. “For the most part it seems that the community is somewhat satisfied.”

However, the area of bringing on a High School Dean of Students has brought some concern from the public according to School Committee members. The idea was proposed at the last budget hearing by Principal Emily Parks. It would essentially bring on a 10 month Dean of Students to take some of the strain off of the Assistant Principal. It would allow both positions to be able to get to know students on other than a disciplinary basis.

Committeee member Carol Lewis said that she has heard some feedback about it, and people are wondering how the position will be sustained for years to come. She said that she has heard both positive and negative feedback, so it is hard to gauge the overall public opinion.

O’Brien said that he has mixed feelings himself about the position, and that he has spoken with people around the Westwood community and their feelings have aligned. In fact, he has heard many people not in favor of bringing on a Dean of Students, because the think that it may be time to cut down on fees accrued.

“As good as things are, that position is a $78,000 per year position,” said O’Brien.

He said that the School Department always pointed out the fact that they are a top school district in the state and want to remain that way. O’Brien said that he doesn’t think that they should bring on a Dean of Students merely because of what surrounding communities are doing, or have done.

However, School Committee Chair Josepha Jowdy noted that with 920 students at the high school, it might not be such a bad idea to bring in extra help.

Either way, Jowdy admitted that this is an area of obvious concern and that they still have a lot to think about.

The School Committee is expected to vote on the budget at their next meeting on March 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the High School.