What is in the school budget?

The Franklin School budget has been in development over the last several months.

The Superintendent's office worked on a "good to great" budget. These budget numbers show what it would take for Franklin to restore cuts from prior years and enable the district to deliver not just a good education but a great one. This budget would have been an increase over 2006 of approximately $12 million. Clearly, not something Franklin could afford but a necessary exercise (PDF) to see what it would take to go from "good to great".

The second major iteration was one that would provide "level service (PDF)". "Level service" means that the service level being currently provided during this current school year would be continued next year. This is what makes the most sense to me. If what Franklin gets today is good, then continuing that should be good.

The third iteration was a request for a "level funding (PDF)" budget. "Level funding" means taking the current budget and determining how to provide the best possible education with less funds. This would require the layoffs of more than 70 school personnel. Why? This is due primarily to increases in state mandated special education requirements.

What will really happen? Go to the information session on Tuesday, May 1 to find out what the current iteration will be. The latest iteration is required because the Town Council voted for something less than a level service budget. It will be important to find out what will get cut whether the override passes or not, as well as what will get cut if the override doesn't pass. The "pay to ride" program and sports fees will likely see good increases if the override doesn't pass.

This is a town problem, not a school problem. Franklin needs to determine how to develop a revenue stream to maintain a level service funding model.