Marion School Committee talks initial budget decisions

MARION — Superintendent Douglas White said that staffing would remain consistent at Sippican School, and the 2021 budget would focus on reintroducing a social worker, a fund for computers, and literacy training.

He presented a draft budget at a Jan. 15 meeting, and said that the enrollment is projected to stay very similar to present enrollment, with three classes at each grade level and 18 to 23 students per class.

“It’s good in its own right to stay consistent,” White said.

One area that the school wants to focus on is social emotional learning. Sippican School used to have a social worker, but eliminated the position a few years ago. White suggested to school committee members that they reinstate the position gradually, starting with a role that is slightly less than half time, and increasing its funding gradually.

The school’s computers were bought through a donation, but now must be funded through the budget, so White wants to allocate a portion of this year’s budget toward purchasing those.

Another main objective of the fiscal year 2021 budget was literacy training for teachers in grades Kindergarten to grade 3.

In formulating the school budget, the committee also pulled out line items that had to do with tuition and transportation to Bristol County Agricultural High School, at the request of the town. 

White could not present a final draft of the budget because the town is likely to get some money from the Student Opportunities Act, which will pay out money over a period of seven years to close the achievement gap between some students.

The school is expected to make a plan for those funds when they are released as part of the governor’s budget on Jan. 22.

“We’re excited. We don’t know what that [plan] is going to need,” White said.

After those adjustments, the school committee will hold a public hearing on the budget and vote on it in March.