Nahant school board OKs override article for Town Meeting warrant

NAHANT – The school department could be asking voters for a Prop. 21/2 override this spring to help fund salaries, special education costs, transportation and other expenses.Superintendent Philip Devaux told the School Committee at its meeting Tuesday evening he is recommending placing an article on the annual Town Meeting warrant asking voters to approve an override for operating expenses.”The gap is substantial,” Devaux said.Devaux said based on the information currently available he expects a deficit of “six figures.” He added he hopes an override would not be necessary.”It is prudent that we place an article on the (Town Meeting) warrant to protect our options as we complete the budget prior to Town Meeting.”Devaux said his FY’12 preliminary $3 million budget assumes the need for one less class at the sixth grade level because two classes of sixth graders are moving on to Swampscott Middle School and there is only one incoming class of kindergarten students.He said his preliminary budget assumes slight increases in teacher salaries, an increase in special education costs and additional special education transportation costs.When School Committee Chairman Mickey Long asked why there was such an increase in SPED costs, Devaux explained two new students with “substantial needs” are moving into the district and he expects a $75,000 increase in SPED transportation costs.Devaux said a reduction in Chap. 70 funding and other aid coupled with rising costs is making the budget process very difficult.The School Committee voted 4-0 to approve submitting an article for the Town Meeting warrant.School Committee member Michael Flynn said it is important for taxpayers to realize the law mandates funding SPED.”This is not extra spending,” he said.School Committee member Christine Kendall suggested a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen.”It is important to let them know why we are asking for this (warrant article),” she said.Devaux agreed it would be beneficial to meet with the selectmen a little further along in the budget process.