The Arlington School Committee held a public hearing on the fiscal 2014 school budget for Thursday, Feb. 28, at 6:30 p.m. at School Committee Room, sixth floor, Arlington High School.

See the School Committee on cable 

Read the full, proposed budget here, in a searchable .PDF. 

The School Committee discussed the budget at some length on Thursday, Feb. 14.

The town budget appropriation is to increase 4.5 percent, from $45,612,598 to $47,675,113.

Grants are expected to decrease 1.1 percent, from $2,337,344 to $2,312,408.

Revolving fees and reimbursements are to decrease 1.9 percent, from $2,831,104 to $2,778,033.

The totals are expected to increase 3.9 percent, from $50,781,046 to $52,765,554.

Superintendent Kathleen Bodie provides these points about the budget plan:

* The Town of Arlington’s funding agreement with the Arlington public schools provides stable and consistent support that allows the district’s budget to fund key initiatives this coming year, and the ability to plan ahead for future investments.

* The budget for FY14 effectively supports the work of implementing the district’s strategic vision.

* Key priorities of the FY14 Budget include:

-- Investments in curricula and instructional leadership to ensure a successful introduction of the Common Core state standards.

-- Additional coaching for teachers as the district provides the resources necessary to support staff as they seek to achieve goals set under the new teacher evaluation system.

-- The opening of the new Thompson Elementary School with a full staffing complement.

-- A districtwide commitment to special education that brings a team-based approach of licensed professional instructional support to all students.

Draft agenda

Here is the draft agenda* for the Feb. 28 meeting:

6:30 Open Regular Meeting

6:30 Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2014 Arlington Public Schools Budget

7:30 Opening Remarks (10 minutes) K. Allison-Ampe
7:40 Public Participation (10 minutes)
(Per File BEDH, ASC Policy Manual)

Speakers will be allowed three (3) minutes to present their material. Issues requiring extensive discussion may be deferred to a future meeting as a scheduled agenda item. All remarks will be addressed through the chairperson of the meeting

7:50 Discussion of FY 14 Budget (40 minutes) K. Bodie

8:30 Warrant 2013 Town Meeting Articles (10 minutes) K. Bodie, D. Johnson

Article 9 Grant of Easements/Thompson School

Article 11 Bylaw Amendment/Use Regulations Public Land/Property

Article 32 Appropriation/Creation of Special Education Stabilization Fund

Other Articles

8:40 Update on Thompson Rebuild (5 minutes) K. Bodie

8:45 Superintendent Report (15 minutes) K. Bodie

9:00 Subcommittee & Liaison Reports (30 minutes)

Policies & Procedures, Second Reading: J. Pierce

JLCA Physical Examinations of Students

JLCB Immunization of Students

JLCC Communicable Diseases

JLCD Administering Medicines to Students

Budget C. Starks

Community Relations L. Heigham

Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment & Accountability J. Thielman

Facilities W. Hayner

Legal Services Review Chair

Chair K. Allison-Ampe

9:30 Consent Agenda (5 minutes)

All items listed with an asterisk (*) are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the committee so request, in which event the item will be considered in its normal sequence:

* Approval of Warrant # 13119 Dated, February 14, 2013, Total Warrant Amount $325,224.91

* Minutes for Approval: January 10, 2013 and January 24, 2013

9:35 Secretary’s Report (5 minutes) L. Heigham

9:40 Executive Session (20 minutes)

To conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with union and/or nonunion personnel or contract negotiations with union and/or nonunion in which if held in an open meeting may have a detrimental effect.

To conduct strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation, in which if held in an open meeting may have a detrimental effect, Collective bargaining may also be conducted.

10:00 Adjourn

* The listings of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the chair that may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.

Submitted by K. Allison-Ampe,
Chair, Arlington School Committee

** Stated times and time amounts (listed in parenthesis) are the estimated amount of time for that particular agenda item. Actual times may be shorter or longer depending on the time needed to fully explore the topic.

This story was published Tuesday. Feb. 19, 2013, and updated Feb. 25 to include the agenda.