Dedham School Budget Based on 'Priorities'

The Dedham School Committee will send a 2013 budget of more than $35 million to Town Administrator William Keegan to consider after unanimously voting to approve the proposal Wednesday evening.

The budget, nearly a 5 percent increase over this year's, derives mainly from contracted salary increase for teachers, said Michael LaFrancesca. assistant to the superintendent for business affairs.

Salaries represent about 80 percent of the district's proposed budget.

"It's something we have very little control over," said Joe Heisler, chair of the budget subcommittee. "Much of this is geared toward maintaining what we already have."

The School Committee is currently in negotiations with teachers for a new contract that would begin in the fall.

The school district's plan calls for the hire of close to four full-time positions - one addition brings a part-time educator to full-time - and won't replace two retiring teachers, LaFrancesca said.

The district has to absorb the salaries of positions created under a two-year federal education jobs grant that brought the town nearly $275,000. 

"That was one of the requirements of the [jobs grant]," LaFrancesca said.

The Dedham Middle School also will look to hire a full-time engineering/technology teacher for the fall.

In April, the new Avery Elementary School will open on Pottery Lane, a school twice the size of the current building. While the new heating and electrical systems are more efficient, the district budgeted for an increase in cost to operate the new school.

"We are projecting that the cost for utilities to run that building will increase by $79,000," LaFrancesca said.

The $35.22 million budget is just a proposal, however. Keegan would have to agree to the same figure in his overall budget for the town, which would need approval from Town Meeting in May.

In forming her seventh budget, superintendent June Doe said the district placed priority on retaining and adding high-quality staff, maintaining educational resources and programs and improving student achievement through refined curriculum, assessment and instruction.

"It is based on priorities we set as a district," Doe said. "Our hope is always that we would be able to grow supports to increase student performance."