Ludlow selectmen fail to agree on school budget recommendation

Selectmen are trying to reach a recommendation prior to the annual Town Meeting.

LUDLOW - Selectmen Tuesday discussed increasing their recommendation for funding for next year’s School Department budget but came to no agreement.

Selectmen said they will seek to meet Monday with the Finance Committee regarding an increase to the fiscal 2013 school budget.

Finance Committee member Maureen “Kim” Downing said the Finance Committee is slated to meet with the School Committee on Wednesday, but will try to move the meeting up to Monday night.

Manuel Silva

School officials say the proposed $25.4 million school budget for fiscal 2013 is $579,000 less than this year’s budget.

School officials said they will have to cut 15 staff positions next year including 10 teachers, a guidance counselor, two teacher aids and two tutors to stay within the budget recommended by the Finance Committee and the selectmen.

At the Tuesday selectmen’s meeting Downing said she would support an additional $150,000 for next year’s school budget which would include $36,000 for the School Department’s share of a police officer for the schools and $114,000 now expected in additional Chapter 70 state aid to the schools.

Selectman Manuel Silva said he felt $250,000 would be a more reasonable increase to give the School Department.

Silva has said he does not want to see a Portuguese language program at the high school reduced as has been proposed due to the decreased funding.

The School Department is currently negotiating with teachers for a new teachers’ contract, but so far has requested no additional funds for a contract settlement, Downing said.

She said that when school officials meet with the Finance Committee next week, they should present a figure of how much will be needed to fund collective bargaining agreements.

Selectmen had first proposed that a budget recommendation be finalized next Wednesday night in advance of the June 18 annual Town Meeting.

Town Administrator Ellie Villano said she needs more time to notify town meeting members of any changes to the budget recommendation so selectmen said they would try to hold all meetings and finalize their budget recommendation on Monday night.