During the Exeter School Board voting meeting on Jan. 17, Business Manager Anne Guydish presented the preliminary general fund budget of $75.4 million for 2017-18.
The budget brings a 5.35 percent or $3.6 million increase from the original estimate of $71,811,896. It now totals $75,485,085 and is scheduled to be adopted in February.
Incldued in the budget is a millage rate increase of 1.14 mills or 3.55 percent, bringing the maximum millage to 33.3627 mills from the previous 32.2187 mills.
Some of the expenses in the budget include new staff requests – three additional special education classrooms, contract wage increases, healthcare premiums, retirement contributions, and a telephone system replacement.
Board member Michael B. Jupina Jr. asked Guydish, in regards to overall employment, how many positions has the district eliminated in the past several years.
“About 50,” said Guydish.”Due to reduction of enrollment and reassignment of responsibilities?” asked Jupina.
“Yes, both,” said Guydish, adding how it mostly has to do with reduction in enrollment.
Then, turning to Dr. Suzanne M. Miller – Director of Special Education and Pupil Services, Jupina referenced a previous discussion about how the some group homes in the area are adding to the need for mandated special education.
“What else is driving that growth in special education?” Jupina continued, “We’re in effect either being required by mandates to meet these placements, and also I believe there are advocates out there that represent people who may feel they haven’t been treated fairly.” He asked her to outline some of the bigger issues regarding out-of-district placement for special education students.
Miller explained how the district is responsible for those 18-21 years of age. “They usually have severe needs and high needs and many times we cannot meet those needs here in the district; we have to place them out of the district at a very high cost.” She listed aids, specialized transportation, on-site counselors, psychiatric needs, and other mental health needs as items beyond what the district can offer.
She said usually the biggest factor has to do with safety. “We cannot safely educate them or it’s a factor where the child is just not making progress because of other components. We try everything before we send a student out. We bring in services. We’re known for doing anything and everything we can think of.”
Board member Jim Brady asked what the expectation of Exeter is, out of its current budget, to supply that every year without any reimbursement from the state and also what was the increases have been over the last 5 years.
Guydish said the total cost of special education is approximately $13 million, which includes a state subsidy of $1.9 million. “On average we’ve seen 5 percent increases or more.”
“So basically, Exeter, at this point, is on the hook for $10.5 million out of our $72 million for these costs,” said Brady, mentioning another increase expected next year.
Guydish said she could supply for information next time.
Brady also spoke about the anticipation of tax elimination and what adverse effects that could have on students. As a part of his comments, he said “What we have to do is keep the focus on the children, in any kind of decision like this. It’s really something where we’re investing in the future.”
“With these group homes, about how many students are we talking about?” board member Patricia A. O’Brien-Pieja asked Miller.
Miller said there were five students right now, one billed for by the district and four are either independents or wards of the state.
In other news, Russell Diesinger, currently serving his 16th year as a member of the Exeter Board of School Directors, has announced he will not seek re-election to his position in the 2017 primary.
The preliminary budget is scheduled to be adopted at a Feb. 14 special voting meeting.
