SAU#6

We have started our budget development for FY27, and we want to share some information about the process. We have, of course, new factors to consider, some of which are directly related to our current financial situation and others which would have been part of the equation regardless of where our finances stand. Listed below are several topics of coverage in this process.

Public Participation

We value public input on priorities, needs, and the impact of our budget. It is important to note that our subcommittee meetings are public meetings - meaning the public is invited and encouraged to attend - but they are not open for public comment like the full school board meeting. There will be meetings where the public will be able to voice their input, and we will share when and where those meetings will happen.

To learn more about how and when budget meetings and votes will take place, please review our budget calendar here: [UPDATED AND FINALIZED LINK GOES HERE]

Budget Options

Interim Business Administrator Matt Angell and Interim Superintendent Kerry Kennedy presented two budgets based on two different configurations, each with their own benefits and challenges. They will be working on a third option that maintains the status quo, which we will share as soon as it is complete.

Budget Presentation

Budget for Three School Configuration

Budget for Four School Configuration

Factors that will influence the budget

Normally, we would look at last year’s budget and our year-to-date spending as a framework, but as we know, the information that budget was based on was flawed. Incorrect amounts were entered in the budget as approved and bills from previous years still need to be paid. Because of the inaccuracy of that budget, our actual spending is more than what the previous administration shared. Add into that unexpected expenses, such as our special education expenditures and the additional School Care health insurance costs, and we have to essentially build our budget from scratch to make sure it meets a whole new set of criteria.

With those new factors in mind, we are going to base our budget around three priorities:

1. Student achievement and what it will take to improve our students’ successes
2. School configuration and what will best serve our current and future populations, from students to taxpayers
3. The financial impact on our property tax rate

Our educational leaders know that our FY27 budget is in flux, so they are innovating ways to improve our students’ education while being mindful of our financial reality. We all know we need to make improvements together – teachers, administrators, school board, and families. And we also all know that this process will be challenging for all.

School configuration

Across the state and country communities like Claremont are seeing declining student populations, and we are faced with considering how best to configure our schools to simultaneously improve education for all of our students while still making practical decisions that affect operating costs. These decisions will consider and impact:

• How many buildings Claremont needs to educate its upcoming generations
• How much staff we need to maintain the buildings, run programs, and teach students
• How do these factors affect our costs and, by extension, our budgets

There are three options being considered, and we want to stress that no decision has been made.  We will be discussing the pros and cons of each option throughout the entire budget process, and we will want to hear from you at future meetings. While the finance committee will make recommendations and present the full scope of our data, it will be up to the full Claremont School Board to make the final decision.

The three configurations under consideration are:

Maintain the current 4-school set-up with two Elementary Schools serving Grades K-5; Claremont Middle School serving Grades 6-8; and Stevens High School would continue to serve grades 9-12.

1. Continue to have a 4-school set-up; but change the makeup of the schools to the following:
   1. Disnard would serve Grades PK-2
   2. Maple would serve Grades 3-5
   3. CMS: grades 6-8
   4. SHS: grades 9-12
2. Move to a 3-School model with:
   1. One Elementary school:  grades PK-3
   2. CMS: grades 4-6
   3. SHS:  grades 7-12

Again, no decision has been made and we will continue discussing throughout the budget process. We will continue to update you as we progress.