By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The School Department will be improving “budget transparency” during fiscal year 2025, Acting Superintendent Tom Geary said during the Finance Committee’s recent budget summit.
During the FY23 and FY24 budget cycles, Superintendent Kristen Vogel did not disclose a number of budget cuts that included eliminating teacher and support staff positions as well as programming changes until late in the process. She also nixed creating a line item budget for the last two fiscal years, which was criticized by a number of residents, staff members and town officials. Vogel is currently on a medical leave of absence.
“The biggest area, as far as me taking over, will be budget transparency,” said Geary. “I think there is a bit of a concern justifiably so about that and all of the changes we have had. We have to balance a budget with growing and improving the schools. But in the areas of openness, credibility, trust and transparency, I get it. It is my job right now to take that on and do whatever it takes to regain trust in the process. I want to affirm that everybody is going to be involved, communicated with and heard. I think it’s important and you will see that going forward in the process.”
Geary said he is “desperate to get back to” where the School Department was in regards to budget transparency several years ago.
“We can find a path to do that, and I am happy and more than willing to do that,” said Geary.
Finance Committee Chair Chris Mattia said parents and residents “appreciate” that Geary is leading the school system while Vogel is on leave.
“Those of us who sit on the School Subcommittee are looking forward to working with you as we always do,” said Mattia. “I think this year will be more in-depth and getting back to that line item budget view. We understand that we can’t control all of it, but seeing where it goes will be critical this year.”
Geary agreed.
“There will be complete understanding,” said Geary. “Nobody is going to be unaware of major drivers or expenditures that are planned within our budget. Changes happen during the year similar to other budgets, but the main themes are going to be understood by everyone.”
Finance Committee member Alexis Leahy inquired if school officials have factored in some of the areas of concern raised by the Lynnfield Teachers Association and parents at the start of the budget process.
“It will be an open process,” said Geary. “You are going to see what we, teachers and staff believe is needed to effectively run the school system going forward.”
Finance Committee Vice Chair Tom Kayola thanked Geary for his “pledge to bring more transparency” to the budget process.
“We have got issues in some departments more than others,” said Kayola. “With all of them, we are looking to improve the town. Last year, we didn’t get budgets for the DPW and the schools early enough to have those meaningful conversations and give feedback. We need those budgets way earlier than we did last year to have those meaningful conversations.”
Leahy said she will have a “very difficult time” making a recommendation on the School Department’s FY25 budget request without improved transparency.
Geary said he understood Kayola and Leahy’s viewpoints.
Looking ahead to FY25, Geary said school officials will be examining the Student Services Department’s programming.
“Special education staffing and models need to be looked at because the neediest kids are struggling the most,” said Geary. “We have to serve them. Out-of-district tuition and transportation continues to be an issue for us as it is for most school districts. Honestly, there are not enough private schools out there right now to take on all of the needs school districts have. It’s a concern. We have to either fund them within district or have to potentially send kids farther away. It is not a great balance. There is a waiting list for certain schools.”
Geary said elementary school enrollment has been increasing.
“It wasn’t happening post-COVID for a couple of years, but we are now seeing it,” said Geary. “It needs to be looked at, it will be looked at and it will be addressed, mainly at the lower end of the elementary schools.”
Geary said school officials will also be identifying “staffing and programming gaps” over the next couple of months.
“We will be sharing those as we go,” said Geary.
Geary said the School Department will be requesting $250,000 for technology expenses in the town’s FY25 capital budget.
“We typically get that each year,” said Geary. “Every few years, we build in an infrastructure year and next year is going to be more of an infrastructure year. We are going be upgrading Smart flat panels in classrooms and making firewall upgrades. If anybody has been to the high school, then you know that they desperately need Wi-Fi upgrades. We have a pretty big fleet of teacher laptops that need to be replaced. This coming year, there won’t be any town funds used for students’ Chromebooks. Those will be purchased through grants and other things.”
FY24 update
Geary said the School Department’s current budget for FY24 is “on track.”
“It will be a little tighter than usual, but we should be okay,” said Geary. “The main area of concern is special education. It’s all fronts this year. Tuitions, transportation, aspects of social-emotional learning and contracted services are just up because additional students have been identified.”
Geary said the School Department received a $135,000 safety grant from the state for FY24. He thanked Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director Glenn Davis and Police Chief Nick Secatore for their assistance in the grant application process.
“It was a competitive grant,” said Geary. “We were the fifth highest funded town in the state, which is great. That is going to help us buy more security cameras, two-way radios, glass coverings on doors and updating our response system. It was really needed.”
Leahy asked if the recently announced School Committee investigation will be funded by the FY24 budget or FY25 budget. Former School Committee Chair Rich Sjoberg recently announced that the school board authorized the district’s attorney to hire a third party to conduct an investigation into determining whether “a breach of school district policy, law, contract or accepted standards of professional conduct” occurred.
Geary said the FY24 budget will be funding the investigation’s cost.