The School Committee brought a bottom-line budget plan of $44,222,832 for fiscal 2011 to the Finance Committee on Monday, March 29.

The lone vote against the proposal on Thursday, March 25, was committee Chairman Joseph Curran. Member Denise Burns, honored at her last meeting, left before the budget discussion and vote. Ron Spangler had a family commitment was not present and missed his last meeting. The budget vote was 4-1.

The committee adopted a motion to request that the Finance Committee use at least $550,000 of the town reserves and expressed support for the research on using reserves done by Vicki Ford and Annie Thompson. 

The committee asked Superintendent Kathleen Bodie to draft a proposal showing what the money would restore.

During public participation, resident Len Kardon requested that the committee not approve a budget based on the current revenue numbers but support one that includes a request of an additional $700,000 from the town. The committee members later commented on Kardon's recommendation, but the majority rejected it.

In discussion of $550,000 in addbacks, in case reserves are used as proposed, Joseph Curro Jr., chair of the budget subcommittee, suggested using about $150,000 to cushion the blow of fee increases. 

Arlington High School Principal Charles Skidmore said that if the committee followed that course, he would consider that the high school's share and would not ask for anything more, leaving the additional $400,000 to be distributed between other levels.

Member Leba Heigham expressed a desire to look at addbacks that benefit only teaching and learning. 

The committee asked Chief Financial Officer Diane Johnson to provide more details about athletic fees at the next meeting, April 13. Curran had asked March 23 and 25 about the reconciliation of accounts in fiscal 2008, which he interpreted as a diversion of funds.

The committee discussed the need for a proposed schedule of fees. Curran and Curro asked for analysis of a flat, blanket athletic and activity fee, similar to the kind levied at public and private institutions of higher education.

Skidmore said that, under improved budget numbers, he will not have to institute block scheduling at the high school. He noted that classes would be large. He said online courses -- from Harvard or MIT -- and dual enrollment with colleges are approaches that he expects to become common at some point.

As of the meeting of March 23, the school budget deficit stood at $3.5 million. A 4-percent reduction in state aid is expected.

At the same time, Town Manager Brian Sullivan reassigned $400,000 from the special-education reserve account to the general fund last week.

Mark Ryder, director of special education, discussed on March 23 a $600,000 reserve fund to cover legal fees associated with disputes between families and the district. After discussion, the committee voted to reduce these reserves to $200,000 and free up $400,000 for the budget. 

Also during public participation on March 25:

* Ted Dever, AHS director of athletics, objected to the proposed increases in athletic fees.

* Seven parents and administrators spoke in protest of the planned $125,000 cuts for Metco spending proposed on March 23 by Curro; that is about 30 percent of the Metco budget. 

* A large number from the Peirce Parent Action Committee attended. Their representative protested the proposed cut of two teachers at Peirce and the proposed two mixed-age classrooms, pointing out that Peirce classrooms are quite full now.