The Common, Edition #17

Dear Nashoba Families,

On January 18, 2023 the Nashoba Regional School District administrative team presented the first draft of the recommendation budget for the 2023-2024 school year to the Nashoba Regional School Committee. This first pass of the budget outlined efforts that have been made to date to craft a responsible budget that ensures we continue to deliver a high quality education program to our students. A major component of our budget building process is assessing our needs based on class size standards and student ratios. In addition, we continued to develop a model of per pupil expenditures for materials and supplies in school-based budgets for the second year in a row. Within the process, we have found efficiencies in the budget to make reductions while maintaining all elements of our instructional program. The total reductions in positions equals 7.5 full time equivalent positions (1.2 administration, 4.3 certified educators, 2.0 support personnel). This was a necessary step to make as we are up against inflation outside of our control and want to ensure that we continue to meet the objectives and iniatives of our Strategic Plan. At this time, due to retirements and expected attrition, we do not anticipate any impact to current staff members. To view a recording of the presentation and review the materials presented on January 18th, go to the meeting materials of the January 18th school committee meeting.

Currently, we are waiting for the state of Massachusetts to release the House 1 funding allotments for the 2023-2024 school year. We expect to receive those numbers on or before March 1st. In the meantime, we will brief the community on progress toward constructing the budget at the school committee meetings on February 15th and March 1st (the latest update can be found in meeting materials from the February 1st meeting). We will have final numbers for the budget presented at the NRSD Budget Hearing, preliminarily scheduled for March 8, 2023. The school committee will vote on the budget on March 15th.

On a different note, the Regional Agreement Amendment Advisory Committee has been meeting for over two years to update the regional agreement. The committee has concluded their work and their recommendation will be put before the school committee at the February 15th and March 1st school committee meetings. The public is encouraged to attend those meetings to participate in public comment regarding the agreement. On March 1st the school committee will vote on the recommendation that will then be forwarded on to our towns and presented to the residents at annual town meetings. The agreement will be posted in the meeting materials for those meetings no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend.

Peace,

Kirk Downing

(He/Him)

“Be your best self. Pave your path. Impact the world.”