Superintendent presents preliminary budget for Boston Public Schools

BOSTON - Superintendent Carol R. Johnson this week presented a preliminary budget proposal for the Boston Public Schools (BPS) 2010-2011 school year to the Boston School Committee and the community. The budget totals nearly $810 million, a 1% decrease from the current year appropriation. Dr. Johnson emphasized the need to be realistic about the economic challenges BPS faces while also reaffirming a commitment to maintaining BPS as a worthy option for the city’s families. 

“Our Acceleration Agenda that we presented in November is our roadmap for the next half decade and must guide all decisions we make, both academic and financial,” said Dr. Johnson. “In the coming weeks we will be forced to make tough yet necessary decisions that will impact all of us. In some cases the decisions may be unpopular, but we must remain on a course that will allow us to offer world-class schools in our world-class city.”

Rev. Gregory G. Groover, Sr., Chairperson of the Boston School Committee praised Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s commitment to public education in Boston. “Mayor Menino asked Boston Public Schools to reduce our budget allocation by 1% while asking all other city departments to reduce their allocations by at least 5%,” said Rev. Groover. “This is yet another example of Mayor Menino’s commitment to our students and the schools they attend.”

BPS is poised to receive external funds that will help in the ongoing implementation of the district’s Acceleration Agenda, but in addition to new investments being made and added costs, significant financial challenges remain. Health insurance costs and other costs of doing business are projected to increase by $28.4 million. Among the key investments recommended in the FY11 budget is $10 million to support the academic needs of non-English speaking students learning the language.

BPS has been able to identify reductions amounting $25.2 million, including consolidation of academic administrative infrastructure and transportation savings through automated routing. Dr. Johnson also announced BPS management, principals and headmasters would not receive a pay raise, resulting in a reduction of $1.3 million. Despite the reductions already identified a $32.5 million gap remains. To close the remaining gap, BPS will look for additional central office reductions, efficiencies that can be obtained through collective bargaining, cost reductions that can be obtained through transportation and student assignment as well as other program changes.

Chief Financial Officer John McDonough also presented to the committee the district’s plans to implement a multi-year budgeting strategy for BPS, allowing BPS to produce transformative change that will directly benefit all BPS students by transitioning to a system that allows for financial stability and freeing up additional funds that can be reinvested in schools. “We must transition to being the first and best option that parents think of when deciding where to send their children to school,” said McDonough.

The school committee will, as required by Massachusetts law, vote on a proposed budget on Wednesday, March 24. The budget will then be delivered to Mayor Menino and the Boston City Council.

AdditionalSchool Committee budget hearing open forums that allow the community to provide input will be held in the coming weeks as follows:

Tuesday, February 9

6:00 pm – Budget Hearing

HarborMiddle School

11 Charles Street, Dorchester

Thursday, February 25

6:00 pm – Budget Hearing

MadisonParkHigh School

75 Malcolm X Boulevard, Roxbury

Monday, March 8

6:00 pm – Budget Hearing

The EnglishHigh School

144 McBride Street, Jamaica Plain

Wednesday, March 10

5:00 pm – Budget Hearing

Winter Chambers

26 Court Street, Boston