Dulac proposes $29.1M FY12 budget for Marblehead schools

MARBLEHEAD – Superintendent of Schools Paul Dulac is proposing a $29.1 million budget for Fiscal Year 2012, an increase of 2.4 percent, or $690,885, over this year?s figure of $28.4 million.Dulac unveiled his budget proposals at a special Friday afternoon meeting of the School Committee.In his final months as superintendent, Dulac took a moment to boast about six of this year?s seniors who were accepted on early admission to MIT, but money was another matter.?Once again this year, the administration has reduced selected programs and staffing to allow the 2012 educational programs to grow,” Dulac noted.His savings included six less administrative and staff positions ($264,000) and eight teacher retirement savings ($240,000) and he anticipates an additional $90,000 in revenue from special education tuitions.The additional money ($594,000) must cover an anticipated 5 percent decrease in state aid, but it will also be used for a guidance post and Spanish teachers for Grade 4 and 5 at the Marblehead Village School and an increase in paid hours for the part-time athletic director and data analysis position. It will also be needed to cover $102,000 for two out-of-district special education placements and 14 other areas, including Marblehead High?s accreditation process.School Committee members weighed in on a budget exercise Dulac is conducting this year, in which school principals and department heads reduce their budget areas by 5 percent.?This can demonstrate how lean the budget is,” said committee member Patricia Blackmer.