today's Gardner News

District among 9 in state without approved budget

Kerry O'Brien News Staff Writer TEMPLETON — With the Narragansett Regional School District’s budget still not approved by the town and an additional funding request set to go before Templeton voters for the fourth time at a Special Town Meeting on July 26, town officials say there will be discussion of proposing a reduced Proposition 2 1/2 override — although the School Committee has no plans to make further cuts. “I don’t think any cut is good for the school district,” said committee member Dan Sanden, “so I don’t think we should be making any.” Since the town and school have not agreed upon a budget for the fiscal year that began July 1, the state Department of Education has instituted a monthly budget level with last year’s funding. Narragansett’s proposed fiscal year 2014 budget reflects a 1.89 percent increase. During a school committee meeting Tuesday, Superin-tendent Ruth Miller proposed cuts totaling roughly $290,776 per month to meet the school district’s budget of $1,513,816 per month, as mandated by the state.  Proposed cuts include middle school sports, junior varsity sports, cheering invitational, music and theater transportation, late buses, an elementary school assistant principal, business teacher, a middle school assistant principal and band uniforms. “We are about $300,000 short,” Ms. Miller said. “So every month, if we spend the budget amount, we will be overspending. I don’t want this, but if this isn’t it, then it’s three middle school teachers and five high school teachers. We can’t go in the hole while we try to work this out.” Some committee members and residents in attendance, however, suggested cutting other programs, such as Chinese language and separate buses for both towns. Also discussed Tuesday was the process that will result if Templeton does not approve the $691,086 in additional funding required to meet Narragansett’s proposed budget. A joint town meeting with Phillipston would be needed to act on the district’s budget, with a gathering held beforehand to select a moderator. “We don’t have to make cuts tonight,” said committee member John Columbus. “We have to look at what it is we have to do if a budget is not passed.” Ms. Miller said according to Dr. Stephen Hemman, former Narragansett superintendent and current executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools, there are currently eight other regional districts in the state that have also not agreed upon a budget for the current fiscal year. “He said that is the most they’ve ever had,” Ms. Miller said. “The department of education would like us to reason through the process through the town meetings. We can wait to see what happens.” If the towns and district can not agree upon a budget by Dec. 1, the state will step in to oversee Narragansett’s finances. During a meeting early this week, the Templeton Board of Selectmen indicated it plans to negotiate with school officials on a reduced override request. “They have the concern that the department of education could set their budget at the same rate as last year, so there’s incentive from both sides to move toward the middle and prevent that process from happening,” said Selectman Kenn Robinson. “We have to plan for the worst,” said Selectman Julie Farrell. “If we wait until January to make cuts, we’ll have half the money and we’ll have to start shutting things down.” However, town officials said it is unlikely they will have a new proposal for the special town meeting. Since the budget is being sent back to the annual town meeting due to the Massachusetts General Law requirement that voters be presented with the school committee’s full requested budget, a reduced override figure would have to be first certified by the committee. The special town meeting beings at 7 p.m. July 26 at Narragansett Regional High School.