Springfield School Committee celebrates budget and grant approval

May 24, 2018 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

SPRINGFIELD – The School Committee celebrated accomplishments and recognitions at its May 17 meeting as well as acknowledge the completion of the new budget for the fiscal year 2019.

When asked for a report from the Budget and Finance Committee by Mayor Domenic Sarno, Vice Chair Christopher Collins said with a smile, “It’s done.”

The general fund budget is $420.7 million for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 and the total all-funds budget is $500 million. The proposed budget was approved on May 14.

The School Committee had to overcome a $6.8 million shortfall, but funds a new curriculum to support measurable and individualized student instruction, the expansion of City Connects across the District, and the creation of a Student Employment Office. It also allows the Springfield school district to expand pre-k program through five new full-day classrooms.

In a written statement, Superintendent Daniel Warwick said, “Balancing the budget is always a tedious, painstaking process, but it is one of the most important of our tasks because it serves as the foundation for our movement forward. The way we spend our money is reflective of our goals and priorities.”

During the meeting the committee approved the receipt of a $275,000 grant from the Kendall Foundation. The funding will be used to support the new $23 million Culinary & Nutrition Center currently under construction.

Warwick said, “This is another exciting grant for our culinary program.”

Marc Roy, the general manager of Sodexo, said the foundation only considers applications from potential recipients it invites.

The committee approved changes in the memorandum of understanding that crated the Springfield Empowerment Zone partnership that will allow for necessary changes in how schools the zone are funded. Collins said the changes “make perfect sense” and will give the schools financial stability.

The School Committee noted that for a second year in a row is received an award for Forbes Magazine as one of the 2018’s “America’s best Mid-Size Employers.” Warwick explained the award was based on a survey given to employees. The school district ranked 163 out of the 500 businesses recognized nation-wide.

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