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02/25/2020 01:00 PMThe Supervision District Committee and the boards of education for Deep River, Essex, and Region 4 approved the proposed 2020-’21 Supervision District Budget at a joint Board of Education (BOE) meeting on Feb. 20. If given final approval, the $7,963,711 Supervision District Budget would represent a $249,308 or 3.2 percent increase from the current 2019–’20 Supervision District Budget of $7,714,403.
The Chester BOE did not have all necessary members present to take action on the Supervision District budget. It is anticipated that Chester BOE members will take their vote at their next budget workshop on Tuesday, March 3, according to the superintendent’s office.
The Supervision District Budget, which provides resources for programs and staff that are shared across the four boards of education, is one of five school-related budgets in Chester, Deep River, and Essex. Unlike the other budgets—the three town BOE budgets covering the individual elementary school and Region 4 BOE’s budget covering operations at Valley Regional High School and John Winthrop Middle School—the Supervision District Budget is voted upon by the joint boards of education, not the public.
Once adopted by the boards, the Supervision District Budget is divided between the four boards of education based on current enrollment. Under the 2020-’21 budget proposal, the towns of Chester and Deep River would see decreases, with Chester paying $1,541,561, a 1.81 percent decrease in funding from the $1,570,027 in the 2019–’20 Supervision District Budget, and Deep River paying $1,899,698, a 3.8 percent decrease in funding from the $1,974,726 in the 2019–’20 Supervision District Budget.
Essex and Region 4 would see increases, with Essex covering $2,247,094, a 3.43 percent increase from the current $2,172,505; and with Region 4 paying $2,275,358, a 13.65 percent increase from the current $2,002,146.
The bulk of the proposed 2020–’21 Supervision District Budget budget, 60.78 percent, goes toward employee salaries, including those of the superintendent and other high-ranking administrators. The second highest chunk, 20.55 percent, comprises employee health benefits.
The remaining covers transportation costs, supplies, repairs and upkeep to school buildings, and equipment, among other items.
The amount given to each school board is calculated using student enrollment, with variances in allocations that allow for how frequently each board would use a particular program, service, or instructor.
The State Department of Education conducts a census on Oct. 1 of each school year to arrive at enrollment figures. These figures show overall enrollment for K to 12 students trending downward, from 2,064 students in the 2012–’13 school year to 1,611 students in the 2019–’21 school year.
The original draft of the Supervision District Budget was modified based on feedback received in a series of budgeting workshops that concluded on Feb. 19.
These changes were “staff-related reductions” and “a payment to the health insurance reserve fund,” said Superintendent of Schools Brian White.
Once given final approval by the Chester BOE, the Supervision District Budget will be the first budget approved in the district’s intricate budgeting process.
“One of the things that we need to be thoughtful of…is the level of complexity in the design of our region,” said White. “For that reason, we’re looking to hire someone with a skill set to manage all aspects of financial operations.”
White and his team will commence the hiring process for a permanent finance director this spring, with an anticipated start date of July 1. The district is currently using the services of interim business manager Richard Huot following the resignation of business manager Kimberly Allen in November 2019.
White said he is committed to fostering transparency in all financial matters.
“My vision is for a process that is collaborative with boards of education and inclusive [of] input from stakeholders…[a] process that provides a level of understanding regarding the financial complexity…and to ensure that my boards of education and communities are able to make well informed decisions about their schools,” said White.