Barnstable Town Council approves Schools, Airport, Police FY22 budgets
Bronwen Howells Walsh
The Barnstable Town Council on Thursday approved a $73,520,899 FY 22 public schools budget, a $1,047,000 increase over FY 21 that places increasing emphasis on mental health services and English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction. Schools are playing a greater role in delivering mental health services, Mayo-Brown said. Counseling services are key and go hand in hand with academic services.
The district s largest spending increases 2017-20, according to Gareth Markwell, Barnstable s assistant Finance director: 35% increase in spending on English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction; 33% increase in guidance counselors; 32% increase for reading; 31% increase in art, applied technology and technology maintenance; a 27% increase in kindergarten instruction; and a 26% increase in math.
It’s a very fragile time for students, parents and staff, said Joe Nystrom.
Susan Vaughn
BP FILE PHOTO
The Barnstable School Committee last Wednesday passed a nearly $75.7 million FY 22 district operating budget, an increase of $1 million, or 1.4% over the current year.
Supt. Meg Mayo-Brown said the budget is based on a plan for a full return to in-person schooling following the pandemic. Continuing online opportunities appears less likely next year, she said.
The budget drew no public comment at the committee’s March meeting except on a proposed amendment to hire additional substitute teachers, which failed by a 4:1 vote.
“We planned for a rainy day, said Gareth Markwell
Susan Vaughn We planned for a rainy day. Barnstable Deputy Finance Director Gareth Markwell
Barnstable Schools Supt. Meg Mayo-Brown presented the draft FY22 schools budget to the School Committee last Wednesday, then replayed it again Thursday for a joint meeting with the Town Council.
Mayo-Brown said the district s proposed $75.6 million includes a $1 million increase, or 1.4%, and is based on pre-pandemic funding levels – even though there are many unknowns about the coming school year regarding social distancing, vaccinations and other pandemic-related factors.
The pandemic caused a big overall decrease in district enrollment, the superintendent said. Some students left the BPS district to attend private schools. Many more changed to homeschooling. Mayo-Brown said the district s extra costs of dealing with the pandemic are expected to reach about $4.5 million.