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Crawford criticizes educator step raises
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The Select Board expressed its support for the preliminary fiscal year 2025 school budget during a March 11 meeting.
Interim Superintendent Tom Geary gave an overview of the preliminary $30,973,648 million operating school budget for FY25 to the Select Board. The spending plan currently represents a 4.4 percent increase over FY24’s $29,656,549 operating budget. The town is allowing the School Department to have a 3.9 percent budget increase in FY25.
The Select Board’s meeting was held the day before a large crowd of residents, educators, students and health care professionals criticized a series of proposed school budget cuts (see separate story). While many people in the community are concerned about the preliminary school budget, the Select Board was mostly receptive to it.
Select Board Chair Joe Connell said town officials “have always had a great friendship” with the School Department and School Committee.
“We have always worked together for the best interest of the students of Lynnfield, no matter what it takes,” said Connell. “We always balance the needs of the town, but specifically, always prioritize and meet the needs of our children.”
Connell said the Select Board and Town Administrator Rob Dolan support school officials’ request that $260,000 from Free Cash be used to help finance the $375,000 cost of the Differentiated Learning Program (DLP) classrooms at Huckleberry Hill School and Lynnfield Middle School. The New England Center for Children (NECC) will be taking over the special education program next year.
“We 100 percent agree and support getting that program to where it needs to be,” said Connell.
Geary thanked Dolan and the Select Board for supporting the NECC funding request. He also thanked the Lynnfield Teachers Association (LTA) for supporting the program change.
“We really appreciate everyone going to bat for that,” said Geary.
Connell noted that the Department of Public Works’ operating budget funds busing, custodial services, energy bills, facility maintenance, field maintenance and snow removal costs for the schools. He also said the town funds educators’ and school staff members’ health insurance in addition to property casualty insurance for a natural disaster such as a fire or flooding.
“All of that is about $9 million to $10 million,” said Connell. “The town takes on those responsibilities so that teachers just teach. I only say that because in the last week-and-a-half, I have had more people come up and ask me how is the budget going to work and what does the town do for the schools. There is some misinformation that the Select Board is not providing for our young mothers and children. That is not the case. We work hard on this every single day. This is a full-time job.”
Connell noted that the rates for the town’s health insurance provider, the Group Insurance Commission (GIC), are increasing significantly in FY25.
“That is the big concern right now,” said Connell.
Connell said DPW Director John Tomasz has begun reaching out to companies to get cost estimates for the School Department’s $100,000 capital request to have the seats in Lynnfield High School’s auditorium reupholstered.
“John is a terrific guy who gets things done,” said Connell.
Select Board member Dick Dalton, who is the liaison to the School Committee, complimented Geary and School Committee Chair Kate DePrizio for working closely with him and Dolan during the FY25 budget development process.
“As the liaison, I have had numerous meetings,” said Dalton. “Believe me, this was a very challenging budget. As someone with a longtime business background, I could sit there and be comfortable with every explanation that was given in regards to something being a need and not a want. There were some cases that were overdue quite frankly. In the corporate world, we would call it a little bit of a restructuring.”
Dalton expressed his support for school officials’ decision to address increasing enrollment at the elementary schools by adding teachers and support staff. He also expressed his support for having NECC take over the DLP classrooms.
“This isn’t a budget that is just getting by,” said Dalton. “I think there is some good things in this budget that are positive steps. I hope people will take the time to understand there are some real pluses included in this budget.”
Select Board member Phil Crawford was more critical of the School Department’s preliminary spending plan, and had “a couple of questions” about it.
Crawford said he was “happy” that Geary developed a line item school budget for FY25. Former Superintendent Kristen Vogel got rid of the line item budget the last two fiscal years, which was criticized by residents and local officials.
“This is my 17th budget, and this is the first time I have seen a breakdown of what teachers’ steps are, salaries and how many teachers are involved,” said Crawford. “That is a good thing.”
Crawford asked how do educators receive salary step increases. According to the United Federation of Teachers, “a salary step is an incremental increase in salary based on previous qualifying professional experience.”
Geary said educators receive salary step increases based on their experience, years of service and educational degrees such as a master’s.
“You had mentioned in your cover letter that 23 of the teachers are pursuing an educational increase in their pay in addition to the (2 percent) cost of living increase based on the classes they are taking,” said Crawford in response. “How many did it this year? Do you have any idea? We look at it every year as far as the budget goes. We know that a 2 percent increase is really 3 percent because of all of these increases.”
Geary said between 20 and 30 teachers receive salary step increases annually.
Crawford said he supports bringing in NECC to take over the two DLP classrooms.
“Outplacement costs are just ridiculous, so we certainly encourage and support that,” said Crawford.
In response to a question from Crawford, Geary said the paraprofessionals who will be working in the DLP classrooms will be employed by the School Department and not NECC.
“NECC will be providing certified teachers, and we reduced those out of the budget,” said Geary.
Crawford repeatedly talked over Geary while the interim superintendent was trying to answer his questions, resulting in the crosstalk being inaudible. Crawford concluded his remarks by saying Geary “did a nice job” while giving an overview of the budget.
“I appreciate the additional information,” said Crawford.
Connell did not let a small group of residents weigh in on the proposed FY25 school budget because the School Committee scheduled a public hearing on the preliminary spending plan on March 12.
The Select Board and Finance Committee will be holding a public hearing on the town’s recommended operating budget for FY25 on Thursday, March 28, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Al Merritt Media and Cultural Center.
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