On December 2nd, Superintendent Gutekanst presented his FY16 operating budget request to the School Committee (for the school year starting in July 2015). This request calls for an operating budget of $61.07 million, a 5.37% increase ($3.1 million) over this year's budget. A presentation on the Superintendent's Budget Request is available here.

A key driver in next year's budget is rising special education costs. Over $1 million in new special education costs have arisen since July when the current budget year began. These costs stem from an increased number of Needham children requiring special education services, and children with more severe and complex needs that necessitate specialized programs, therapies or out of district placements. These unanticipated expenses have a large impact on next year's budget request, and they are also putting pressure on this year's school budget. 

A substantial portion of the increase being proposed for next year, $2.8 million, is directed toward providing the same level of services as are provided this year (e.g, similar class sizes, programs & services; contractual increases; replacement materials). It's important to note that this amount approaches, but does not meet, level service requests. The remaining $340,000 is for program improvements. 

Next year's budget request includes the addition of 13.05 full time positions. These positions are being added to meet growing enrollment at the secondary level and special education needs at all levels.

Also included in next year's proposed budget are the reallocation and reduction of some existing resources. For example, elementary staff are being reallocated to the secondary level, special education staff are being moved among existing programs and certain items such as professional development are being reduced.
 

The budget proposal will continue to be refined over the coming weeks in conjunction with other Town departments. As mentioned above, the Needham community is encouraged to attend the School Committee's Public Budget Hearing on January 20th to learn more and provide comments on next year's school budget. You may also submit written comments at any time to [email protected].

Over the last year, the Permanent Public Building Committee (PPBC) and the Facility Working Group have been engaged in a study of the current and future needs of Needham's capital infrastructure. At a public meeting in November the PPBC presented some of the findings from this town-wide study to the community. A copy of the presentation from this meeting is available here.  

Needham's Facilities Master Plan examines projects for Police & Fire, Department of Public Works and Parks & Recreation as well as the schools. Among the many capital needs part of this study, several school projects of varying sizes were identified, including Hillside and Mitchell Elementary Schools, Pollard Middle School, Needham High School and the Emery Grover Building (school administration).

All of the proposed capital projects for either School or other Town needs are highly interconnected, and will have a substantial impact on Needham taxpayers. We encourage you to learn more about this study and the future capital projects planned for our Town.