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Right, so:
Last night, the Worcester School Committee passed the FY20 budget: $421M including grants.
Here’s what maybe you don’t know:
It adds:
23.4 secondary teachers
9 guidance counselors
9 English learner teachers
17 special ed teachers
6 + 8 elementary teachers
4 adjustment counselors
2 psychologists
2 nurses
a wraparound coordinator
(and this isn’t the whole list)
23.4 secondary teachers
9 guidance counselors
9 English learner teachers
17 special ed teachers
6 + 8 elementary teachers
4 adjustment counselors
2 psychologists
2 nurses
a wraparound coordinator
(and this isn’t the whole list)
There’s an increase in instructional supplies.
There’s a furniture account.
There’s an increase in the sub rate.
There’s a maybe realistic budget for translation and workers comp.
There’s an actual increase in building repairs for the first time I remember.
There’s a furniture account.
There’s an increase in the sub rate.
There’s a maybe realistic budget for translation and workers comp.
There’s an actual increase in building repairs for the first time I remember.
I point this out for two reasons:
1. You’ve just had another demonstration of what those not-to-be-trusted-Gateways do when they get more funds.
1. You’ve just had another demonstration of what those not-to-be-trusted-Gateways do when they get more funds.
2. It is what Worcester doesn’t have.
One thing I have noticed (even more than the calls for “increased accountability” not having any substance) is how much we don’t really get it on how different districts are.
I don’t know that I did until I saw close up districts that do fund and have funded 10%, 25%, or more over foundation, after my closest experience having been my own “did we stretch to legal this year” hometown.
We ought to do exchanges for everyone.
Otherwise it just looks like a lot of money, right?
It is hard to wrap your head around how corrosive year after year after decade of chronic underfunded looks and feels like until you’re there.
It is hard to wrap your head around how corrosive year after year after decade of chronic underfunded looks and feels like until you’re there.
And it is this (in my first budget season having wrestled my way through budget projections myself) that disappoints me about the Worcester School Committee votes.
The budget numbers aren’t made up.
Good budget numbers aren’t.
Real projections take work.
Good budget numbers aren’t.
Real projections take work.
And those who voted to move money implicitly are admitting that by saying the money will be “found” later in the year.
It won’t be “found”; they’ll just have projections solid enough to move money, and thus never have real consequences.
It won’t be “found”; they’ll just have projections solid enough to move money, and thus never have real consequences.
With all of that, what is the deliberation’s outcome?
$50K from underfunded accounts so a claim can be made on support for diversity.
$50K from underfunded accounts so a claim can be made on support for diversity.
The time to support diversity in teaching isn’t just when you know November (and September) is coming, though.
In sum? Good budget, but we need more of them to make up lost ground.
And Worcester’s fiscal elected oversight needs to stop thinking this is a game.
/fin
(gifs from “Good Omens,” pun intended)
(gifs from “Good Omens,” pun intended)
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