AMHERST — The town’s elementary schools will not be able to offer the same level of services in the next school year as officials intend to reduce spending to be aligned with the mandated budget increase set by the town’s Finance Committee.
More than $500,000 will have to be cut from a budget that would need to rise by $837,070 — from $23.9 million this year to $24.75 million — to maintain existing programming.
“That’s a pretty sizable series of cuts we’re going to need to make,” Douglas Slaughter, the finance director for the schools, told the Amherst School Committee Tuesday.
Instead, the plan is to present a budget that rises by only 1.3%, or $320,937, to $24.2 million.
The exact cuts will be outlined at a budget hearing March 16, though Slaughter cautioned that there is “not a lot of fat” to cut from the budget that supports the town’s three elementary schools.
During what Superintendent Michael Morris said was the “first glance” at the budget, the presentation shows that $700,000 in school choice money will be used to support the spending plan for salaries, including cost-of-living and step increases that are being negotiated with the teachers union, as well as health insurance and special education.
Federal CARES Act money is not available for regular budget needs, according to Slaughter.
Even though Amherst School Committee members said education will need to be bolstered as the pandemic winds down, and many children will need more support if in-person classes are possible, the budget will not allow that to happen.
“I don’t like this budget,” said member Peter Demling, who said the schools need more services, not fewer.
Kerry Spitzer called it a frustrating budget, pointing out that if students can be back in buildings they may need more teachers to keep class sizes small.
