Swampscott finds $195G school budget surplus

SWAMPSCOTT – Superintendent Lynne Celli credited school leaders and administrators with enabling the district to record a $195,098 budget surplus in 2011.”We spent every dime on kids that we could,” Celli told the School Committee at their Wednesday evening meeting. Nevertheless, “with very diligent budgeting and very good implementation of programs, we were able to turn back [the money] to the town.”According to figures provided by District Budget Director Ed Cronin, the district spent $24,982,529 this year. The most recent 2011 budget figures available on the district website – used when the School Committee formulated its 2012 budget this spring – set a 2011 Budget of $25,142,981.Celli said that the majority of the savings could be attributed to three major areas: savings in clinical services for out-of-district special education placements, a reduction in utility bills, and a reduction in money paid for elementary school substitutes.Celli credited former Assistant Superintendent for Student and Instructional Services Maureen Bingham – who became the district’s assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and professional development and non special-education grants in June – with developing programs that enable the district to provide most special education services in the district. She credited staff and students with being diligent in their effort to shut off lights that are not in use. Celli also praised elementary school principals with finding creative ways to meet students needs when teachers were absent and complimented elementary school teachers for their dedication to their classroom.But she also acknowledged that the news was “double-edged” for her as an administrator and for her as a parent.She agreed with School Committee Member Jaren Landen that she would “like to spend every dime we can on the children in the schools.”But she and Cronin also assured the committee that there were systems in place to adjust the budget throughout the year so that resources could be reallocated. Celli also noted that special education costs could fluctuate widely due to a single person moving into town – noting that she has seen an individual’s special education tuition cost more than $200,000 a year.But Celli said that she would much prefer a surplus to having to go back to a Special Town Meeting to request more funds.