Amherst Elementary Budget Hearing background

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On Tuesday 3/17 at 6:30 PM the Amherst Elementary School Committee will hold its annual budget hearing for the FY27 Budget. The Meeting will take place in the Town Room at Town Hall and is also available via Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/95934675913?pwd=aNZ7EBh3GVDaBEXbM6vWbXsSyaNKOW.1). This is the public’s chance to weigh in on the FY27 budget and the changes that will result from the proposed budget. You can view the entire budget here. 
 
The Elementary budget for next year is a little confusing because there are a lot of changes due to the opening of the new school and the shift of the 6th grade. At this point in time, the Town of Amherst has told the Elementary School District that it can expect a 3.85% increase over the funding it received from the town last year. This percentage increase will be applied to the TOTAL funding from the town from last year and includes the supplementary money the town provided out of free cash. At some point it was in question whether that money would be included in the base for the calculation, and it is, which is good news. This still leaves a budget gap of approximately $1 million. 
 
To get a good overview of all of the changes, take a look at Pages 21-28 of the Amherst Budget Book. There are adjustments (these are neither additions nor cuts but shifts in the source of funding), additions and reductions (cuts). It’s hard to parse out which are due to budgetary constraints versus changes in need due to the building consolidation. 
 
Here is a brief summary based on the language in the budget book (FTE = full time equivalent).
 
Reductions (cuts): 
  • Clerical (1.4 FTE) – $70,000 – due to building consolidation 
  • Classroom Teachers (3 FTE) – $210,000 – due to building consolidation 
  • Specials Teachers (4.5 FTE) – $335,475 – due to building consolidation 
  • ESL Teacher (.2 FTE) – $14,000 – due to enrollment and service distribution
  • Read/Math Intervention Coach (2.5 FTE) – $182,000 – due to building consolidation 
  • Custodian (1 FTE) – $45,000 – due to building consolidation 
  • Non Program SE Teachers ( 4 FTE) – $280,000 – Reorganization and planning a higher ratio of students to teachers
  • Psychologist (1 FTE) – $90,000 – [Explanation in the book isn’t clear]
  • Central Office Salary Attrition -$13,000 – due to attrition 
  • Fringe -$60,000 – reduction in benefits associated with reduction in staff
  • Food Service (1 FTE) – $0 – reduction due to consolidation but because food service paid out of a revolving fund it doesn’t impact the budget
Additions: 
  • BCBA/PT/SLP (1.12 FTE) – $96,400 – Includes portion of BCBA position that Amherst will pay to the Region to share services AND additional PT/SLP needs in the elementary schools
  • Library Paraeducator (.3 FTE) – $9,000 – Represents Chestnut Street’s portion of shared staff at ARMS
  • Principal (.3 FTE) – $39,000 – Represents Chestnut Street’s portion of shared staff at ARMS
  • Guidance/SAC (1 FTE) – $80,000 – Coordination of MTSS at Chestnut Street
  • ETL (1 FTE) – $70,000 – To provide IEP coordination at Elementary Schools
  • Dean (.3 FTE) – $29,000 – Represents Chestnut Street’s portion of shared services at ARMS
  • Nurse (.3 FTE) – $26,000 –  Represents Chestnut Street’s portion of shared services at ARMS
  • World Language (.4 FTE) – $28,000 – Represents Chestnut Street’s portion of shared services at ARMS
  • SE Program Teachers (.4 FTE) – $28,000 – Represents Chestnut Street’s portion of shared services at ARMS
  • Preschool Teachers (1.2 FTE) – $93,000  – Addition of a preschool classroom to meet the needs of the increasing number of children who qualify for preschool
  • Preschool Paraprofessionals (3 FTE) – $90,000  – Addition of a preschool classroom to meet the needs of the increasing number of children who qualify for preschool
 
Also sharing some articles about the great state-level advocacy going on right now around MA: