Gov’s hike may ease school budgets

Governor Deval Patrick announced Tuesday a proposed $368 million increase in education funding, which he is planning to include as part of the fiscal 2009 budget released later this month.Patrick said the spike in funding would include a record 6 percent increase in Chapter 70 funds for cities and towns, along with significant hikes in universal pre-kindergarten and extended learning time programs.Overall, Chapter 70 funds would be increased to $3.9 billion statewide, a $223 million increase over the current budget.For districts such as Lynn, which has already started slimming down its budget in anticipation of reduced funding in 2009, the governor’s proposed increase should relieve some of the burden and could save the department from cutting vital programs and budget lines.”I am elated, ecstatic, I hope it happens,” said Superintendent Nicholas Kostan. “It would go a long way in easing the precocious budget situation in 2009. We still won’t be out of the woods (if the funding is approved) but this is a tremendous boost if the numbers stay the same.”The governor’s spending plan will focus $26 million on extended day programs, nearly doubling the amount for program grants statewide. The increase would also include $43.2 million to boost an estimated 440 half-day kindergarten programs to full day.Swampscott Superintendent Matthew Malone has told the School Committee on numerous occasions that establishing a district wide all-day kindergarten is one of his top priorities. He said he expects the program would cost at least $150,000 a year and the district has applied for grants to cover approximately 75 percent of the cost of the program.”I’m hoping we get the fund for all-day kindergarten,” he said. “I don’t believe you can have a 21st century school system without all day kindergarten.”Additional funding in the governor’s proposal would include $4.5 million to fund under-performing schools, including $2 million for support programs for students scoring low in the MCAS, $2 million for dual enrollment programs, $81.7 million for charter school reimbursement, $234 million for the “Circuit Breaker” special education residential placement program and a $1.5 million increase in METCO programs.Revere Superintendent Paul Dakin said relatively few local children attend charter schools or residential special education programs, meaning Patrick’s proposed increases in these areas will have a peripheral value for Revere.Dakin said Revere schools must meet the spending challenges involved in reducing class sizes while funding increased expenses, including teacher salary costs. He anticipates state education officials will release detailed information on state aid to local schools later this month.”Right now we’re on pins and needles. If we don’t see a good increase in Chapter 70 money, we will really be behind the 8-ball.”Peabody Superintendent Milton Burnett was appreciative of the extra funding, looking to the students as the beneficiaries of Patrick’s plan.”Items that continue to support public education are always beneficial,” he said. “These items actually benefit the students and continue to strengthen Massachusetts schools.”Saugus has been devastated by more than $1 million in cuts over the last two years and still Superintendent Keith Manville said he took in Patrick’s plans with interest and with a grain of salt.”Obviously I’m very happy about the proposal,” he said. “But I’m very cautious.”Manville said he has heard talk of a $1 million deficit so he can’t help but wonder with a $368 million increase would come from.On the other hand he and Saugus Educators Union President Russ Brandwein have been meeting regularly discussing ways to make the district better.”We’ve sort of thrown everything on the table,” he said. “So if we get to anything concrete this (increase) could really help us.”Patrick is proposing a $223 million increase in Chapter 70 aid over FY ’08.Swampscott School Committee Chairman David Whelan said at first glance h