Weston Schools' Proposed Budget for FY13 Remains Level

The superintendent of Weston Public Schools is recommending a budget for next year that will remain at a mostly steady level, proposing an increase of 2.65 percent, or about $882,000, over current funding.

In the annual budget presentation and overview at Monday’s School Committee meeting at Case House, Superintendent Cheryl Maloney called the proposed FY13 budget “fair and appropriate” and said it’s one that should “move the program forward” in a way that’s sustainable.

Maloney said she based the budget prediction on a “stable enrollment” level, aside from growth in certain grade levels, and that the increase was due mainly to staff and program changes.

For staffing, such changes include salary increases and the potential hiring of a Special Education department head for grades 9-12 and an elementary science curriculum specialist. Program changes projected for next year include student database replacement and an impending transition to digital photography at Weston High School, among others.

“I think this is a fair and appropriate budget that moves the program forward,” said Maloney, adding that the overarching goal of budget decisions are always to “maintain (district) guidelines” of supporting core curriculum outcomes and continuing professional development, among other standing objectives.

Next steps to the budget approval process include a series of School Committee budget subcommittee meetings in the coming months, followed by a town budget hearing on April 30 and Town Meeting on May 7.

Other financial matters discussed at the meeting were those of projected costs for facility improvements. The capital facilities report was presented by Gerard McCarty, Weston’s director of facilities, who outlined for meeting attendees priorities for updating facilities in school buildings. Such improvements range from replacing boiler controls software at Weston Middle School to installing drainage at the Woodland School playground, and were presented in order of priority ranging from one to three.

The projected cost for such “priority one” improvements is $206,000, down from last year’s estimated cost of $230,000, said McCarty. Overall, the projected cost of facility improvements is $2.1 million.

The discussion also included a longer-term look at the life cycle of certain equipment “to hopefully help plan out future (budget needs),” said McCarty.

The discussion wrapped with a show of support from the Committee, who voiced enthusiasm for McCarty’s efforts.

The School Committee’s next regularly scheduled meeting is on Feb. 6.