Bourne School Committee Accepts FY24 Budget Draft
The Bourne School Committee met last Wednesday, March 1, for a public hearing on the district’s drafted budget for Fiscal Year 2024.
The budget is a 3.53 percent increase over last year’s budget, standing at $25,818,363. Director of Business Services Jordan Geist said the district’s year-over-year increase has been pretty consistent thanks to the town’s support.
“This budget, even though it’s about money, it’s really about the students and how we’re going to support students and growth within our school district,” Superintendent Kerri Anne Quinlan-Zhou said.
The budget also outlines an additional $4,615,054 in offsets, the largest portion of which, at 4.37 percent, comes from military mitigation funds.
A big theme of the budget presentation was the continuation of existing programming across the district, encompassing everything from professional development to enrichment programs like BPS’s WIN (What I Need) support block.
“I think you picked up on a theme: continue,” Dr. Zhou said after the presentation. “We’re staying the course; we have a solid three-year plan. I think that many of our staff and teachers will be happy to hear that we’re continuing, especially things that are really starting to take hold and the things that are supporting them and our students. We feel very strongly that this will lead to student success and feelings of belonging.”
Budget Hearing
The entire hearing took about 40 minutes; there was no public comment and minimal discussion from the committee. Most of the budget presentation consisted of highlighting programs that will be continued across the district’s four schools in alignment with the three-year strategic plan.
In terms of staffing changes, there will be minor additions and reallocations across all schools. Overall, Dr. Zhou said there is a net decrease of two teachers due to enrollment and retirement, and two education support specialists due to reallocation.
The upcoming year will be the final year of funding for the district’s professional development, Assistant Superintendent Barbara Starkie said.
In terms of technology, the district will continue its work on upgrading Windows desktop software and Wi-Fi in Bourne middle and high schools. Student Chromebook replacement will continue as well as the installation of 23 additional touch panels at Bournedale Elementary School.
The budget unanimously accepted as presented.
Additional Meeting Notes
The committee unanimously approved the School Year 2023-2024 calendar draft as presented.
The school district recently received a $73,000 high-quality instructional materials implementation grant from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Dr. Starkie said the grant will help fund the continued professional development from Alison Melo on the Eureka resource for math teachers from kindergarten to grade 5.
MCAS exams in English language arts will take place at the high school on March 28 and 29.