Nahant school board starts budget process

SALEM – The School Committee will begin developing the 2012-13 school budget in regular session and as a full board rather than form a budget subcommittee this year in a move officials said would promote transparency.”We will hold a preliminary first meeting (on Jan. 10), it won’t be a hearing but we will invite the public and encourage anybody who is interested to come,” School Committee Chairman Christine Kendall said at the board’s Tuesday evening meeting. “We want to continue to keep it as transparent as possible and put it on the table.”Town officials from several boards have urged a more transparent budget and budget process for the schools since last year’s debate over a proposed $260,000 override for the Johnson Elementary School. Proponents argued the override was necessary to maintain the quality of education as the school faced increased state-mandated special-education costs and a reduction in state aid. But override opponents said the school needed to better manage and address costs. The override was approved at the April 30 Town Meeting but defeated at the Town Election held the same day. Voters decisively rejected the override at a June 25 Special Election.Since then, proponents and opponents have promoted a transparent budget process to support their views.Superintendent Philip Devaux said Tuesday that the School Committee normally forms a School Budget Subcommittee to develop the budget and then present a draft budget to the full committee.But he said the subcommittee historically met in the afternoons when the public was unavailable to attend. Furthermore, the entire school committee usually participated in the process any way, so they might as well develop the budget in regular session.Kendall said that although the public couldn’t participate in the budget process until the committee holds its public hearing, meeting attendees would hear and be informed of the discussions concerning the budget. School Committee member Lissa Keane had earlier suggested that all budget documents be posted on the committee’s website.Devaux cautioned that the budget was “a fluid conversation.” The schools did not yet know how much they would receive in state aid or finalized costs, he said. However, he said the public meeting on Jan. 10 would give a “broad outline of the budget.”Cyrus Moulton can be reached at [email protected].