| School Committee Budget Meeting 6 PM Monday, May 6, Mount Holly School Zoom link: https://trsu.zoom.us/j/81776410689 After voters rejected the initial budget, the school committee worked with the administration to find savings that would not significantly reduce benefits for our students. We found about 2.5% in savings that would have minimal impact on students. The budget we proposed would have resulted in property tax increases of about 3% in Ludlow and 5.5% in Mount Holly, with the exact figure depending on actions of the State Legislature. Last week voters rejected that budget by 27 votes. On Monday evening the School Committee will meet in Mount Holly to discuss what to do next. State law requires us to continue submitting budgets to the voters until one is approved. Most of our expenses cannot be reduced for the next school year. The biggest increases in the budget are for tuition for our middle and high school students and for special education costs that are mandated by federal law. Teacher and staff salaries were negotiated two years ago and cannot be changed now. The only capital cost included is for the Mount Holly boiler – if it fails next winter school would have to be cancelled until it is repaired or a replacement could be installed. None of the other projects that were in the bond proposal are now being budgeted. Though we will continue seeking savings in other than personnel costs, it appears that the only significant savings possible are likely to come by eliminating teaching and support positions. This would mean larger classes and less support for students who need extra help. I hope many members of the Mount Holly and Ludlow communities will attend the meeting on Monday, either in person or by Zoom. I would also appreciate hearing your ideas about how we should move forward. Thank you, Dave Martin
david@davidsmartin.net | 
