The Groton-Dunstable Regional School District School
Committee voted unanimously last night to withdraw its override request
totally $136,989. However, the five
positions that would have been lost with a failed override will not be
eliminated.
The School Committee will assume a risk of funding these
positions without a guaranteed revenue source.
Instead, the positions will be funded through an undefined revenue
source and other cost saving initiatives.
At a Special meeting held
last night, the School Committee voted to include an undefined revenue source
to support the five positions that would have been eliminated if the override
request had failed. Additionally, the
District will be looking at cost saving initiatives to help offset any
shortfalls in this undefined revenue.
Several recent events that
created the possibility for this proposal include:
- the renegotiation of the
bus contract voted by the School Committee on May 7th which will
yield about a $60,000 savings;
- on May 12ththe
District learned that the House Budget earmarked an additional $30,000 for
Chapter 71 funds for regional transportation to Groton-Dunstable (This is not a
final number and could change.); and
- the District may be able
to reduce costs if it can outsource the special education transportation at a
cost savings.
"As Chair of the Committee
I have enjoyed working with a committee that uses data to make informed
decisions in a timely manner. I believe
that the Committee made the right decision in withdrawing the override
request." said Cindy Barrett, Chair of the GDRSD School Committee.
This action will not change
the total operating budget voted on by the School Committee. However, the amount assessed to the towns
will be decreased due to the undefined revenue now supporting the FY09
budget. The District Treasurer will send
out new, certified assessments reflecting this change.
Announcements that the
override was withdrawn were made last night at the Groton Board of Selectmen
meeting and at the Dunstable Town Meeting. Town officials expressed their
appreciation that the District has continued to seek creative ways to support
the FY09 budget without the need for an override.
"I am pleased at the cooperation between town
officials and the School Committee in working collaboratively to provide a
budget that will support the quality of our public education while being
sensitive to the financial challenges that both towns face." said
Superintendent Dr. Alan Genovese
Although an operating
budget override is no longer needed, school and town officials urge residents
to support the debt exclusion ballot question.
