Attleboro Schools Face Tough Budget Cuts; Good News for Special Needs

Attleboro schools are facing budget cuts for the next school year, members of the Attleboro School Committee said Monday. Schools will need to spend less on textbooks, supplies, building technology, classroom technology and library supplies, according to the committee. 

The cuts will be necessary since the district is facing a decrease in its budget which was $59.8 million last year and will be $59.4 million this coming school year. 

The overall decrease in the district's total budget comes from a $2.4 million loss in funds from the federal American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA). 

While the total budget has decreased for the coming year because of the missing federal funds, the city's budget did see an increase from $57.4 million to $59.4 million. Had the ARRA funds come through, the city would have a total budget of $61.8 million.

How important was the ARRA funds? According to the budget, 32 positions that were originally paid for using the ARRA funds are now on the local budget.

The change will not result in 32 positions being slashed, but it does mean two positions will be eliminated next year including the Central Office/SPED Student Service Coordinator and a position froms evening diploma program.

Despite the decrease in the budget Superintendent Pia Durkin hopes that the district will continue its stated “Journey Toward Excellence” while avoiding as many layoffs as possible.

“Our vision doesn’t change with the resources we’re given,” Durkin said.

As for the decrease in money for supplies, Durkin made it clear that she does not want parents to think the schools have no supplies. She explained that many of the supplies are reusable from year to year and that staff throughout the school has become more efficient in using what they have.

“Principals have done a good job maintaining supplies for themselves," Durkin said. We’re going to be okay."

Good News For Special Needs

Schools will have to scale back on pencils and other needs, but schools throughout the district will see an increase in their various special needs programs.

While the district’s enrollment numbers have decreased by 107 students, there is a total increase of 44 special education students.

will benefit greatly from the increase and has plans for a new program for students on the autism spectrum disorders. 

The committee voted to swap the meeting days of its full committee meeting on April 25 and its financial sub-committee meeting on April 27 so that the sub-committee would be able to discuss the budget thoroughly before it is brought to the full committee.