Out-Of-District Tuition Among Top Increases In School Budget Plan

After another round of identifying potential cuts in the proposed school budget for fiscal 2012, Johnston School Committee members remained $469,000 away from their goal of a fourth straight level-funded budget.

On March 16, the committee held a second budget workshop at to review an updated proposal by school administrators for a $48.87 million budget, about $1.2 million more than the current fiscal year's spending plan.

"We're really at the bone," Supt. Dr. Bernard DiLullo told the committee. "Any more major cuts and you're talking about (cutting) teaching positions. I think we've made all the cuts in programs we can without affecting service to the students."

The $469,000 increase is essentially the amount that the town's contribution would go up beginning July 1; committee members repeatedly referred to the number as their target for reductions.

Among the top items represented in the proposed hike is about $250,000 more for out-of-district tuition. Committee members learned that, since students may enroll in vocational and charter schools until the end of the summer, there's no way to predict how much of that amount may actually be spent.

"It's a moving target," DiLullo said.

Committee Member Lorraine Iafrate (Dist. 2) offered several small cuts — $1850 for books at the elementary schools; $757 for school office supplies; and $6,000 for graduation ceremonies for Johnston High School. DiLullo and Chairwoman Janice Mele informed her that many of those items were either mandated by state law, or, in the case of graduation ceremonies at Providence Performing Arts Center, already determined to be the best use of available funds.

"We looked at other places," Mele explained, including Community College of Rhode Island, but with the added expense of chairs, a temporary dais, and security "I think we were going to save, like, $250."

Iafrate also asked about special education evaluations — "Doesn't Blue Cross pay for those?"

"If the school district asks for an evaluation, the school district is responsible to pay for it," DiLullo responded.

Member Joseph Rotella (Dist. 4) asked whether a cut of $50,000 from the oil budget were possible.

The school committee has been considering plans to replace the oil-fired burners in the boilers at Johnston High School with what promises to be more efficient gas-fired burners. National Grid Senior Sales Executive Joseph McLoughlin previously told the committee that the district could save as much as $120,000 in fuel costs.

Voicing skepticism that such a savings would be possible — Director of Facilities David Cournoyer reminded the committee that McLoughlin "is a salesman trying to sell you something" — committee members eventually agreed to Rotella's suggestion.

At one point, Member Robert LaFazia (Dist. 1) said he was "leery" of cutting the oil budget — with or without the conversion — "because of the increases in the cost of oil."

"We have to find the money somewhere," Rotella replied. "I don't want to take a teacher out of a classroom or a book out of a kid's hands. I'd rather take the shot and roll the dice."

Later in the session, Rotella also mentioned that several of the buses leaving the high school in the afternoon "are empty," and asked whether savings could be found in consolidating bus routes.

Mele explained that it's a state mandate that governs transportation of students.

"You have to have a seat for every student, whether or not they take it," Mele said.

After an hour, the committee had identified another $60,000 in potential cuts that will be compiled for a final budget workshop on March 22 at 6 p.m. The committee is scheduled to hold a vote on the spending plan at 7 p.m. that night.

Watch JohnstonPatch for a copy of the updated school budget proposal.

Update: This article was updated with the proposed out-of-district tuition increase after it was first published.