Cutting the proposed 2013 Rochester Memorial School budget to the level requested by town officials will mean program cuts and layoffs for at least four teachers, the School Committee was told last week.

Last month, the board's budget subcommittee presented a proposed 2012 budget that was $417,000 higher than 2012's to cover the costs of additional students attending a vocational school, more students in need of special education services, and higher utility costs in the recently expanded school building.

Those are costs the School Committee is obligated is pay, said committee Chair Tina Rood. Since January the projected increase in those costs has risen to $435,000.

But, in this tight budget year, town officials told the School Committee that it should budget no increase from 2012. So, on February 2,  the budget subcommittee presented a revised budget, taking the $435,000 increase in required costs out of the elementary school budget.

The level-funded budget will reduce the current teaching staff by at least four people, Rood said.

“While the last years were challenging, we are trying for this year not to be devastating,” she said.

Staffing cuts at Rochester Memorial could include instructors in the science labs and in the music department, kindergarten assistants, and two classroom teachers. No decisions will be made on the budget cuts until after the May Town Meeting vote.

Superintendent of School Doug White said all staff members who may be affected by the 2013 budget cuts have been made aware of the situation.  He said the School Committee and the superintendent’s office would keep them informed throughout the process.

He stressed that the budget is only in its preliminary stages and will not be finalized without input from the school community and residents.

The School Committee will hold a public hearing on the 2013 budget on March 1. All of the committee members said they hope the public will attend if they have concerns.

Committee member Robin Rounseville said it is important to have the school community feedback before any budget decisions are made.

“If you’re concerned, we need to hear from you,” Rounseville said. “Times are tough.”

Rood, who is also on the budget subcommittee, said that the subcommittee will be meeting before the public hearing in March to discuss other possibilities for the budget.

“We want to find ways this will least impact the kids,” Rood said. “We are very concerned.”

Another matter proving concerning to the Committee has been the current 2012 budget.

Remaining "unencumbered funds" for Rochester Memorial School are only $13,654 -- 0.25 percent of the year’s budget.

Katie Isernio, the school district’s business adminstrator, says that amount is “concerning.”

“We are at the point where we definitely have some budgetary concerns,” Isernio said. “We need to meet and tackle the budget for the current year as well as for next year. We knew it was coming, and now is the time.”

Isernio suggested that the budget subcommittee meet within the next week to discuss how to proceed with the 2012 budget.

The School Committee first discussed the lack of funds for 2012 back in December.

During the December 2 meeting, Isernio reported that the remaining unencumbered balance of the 2012 budget was $62,152.

In January, the balance dropped to $49,114.

“We are going to have to keep close eyes on everything,” Isernio said. “Except for needed spending, we need to maintain minimal spending at the school.”

The reasons for the strain on the 2012 budget are the same as in the 2013 budget, Rood said: increased costs for utilities in the larger Rochester Memorial School building and increased costs for special education.

The special education costs were high due to additional students needing services after the 2012 budget had been approved, she explained.

In order to minimize costs in the current year, as well as for the 2013, the School Committee will be looking into cutting utility costs.

Facilities Director Steve Murphy said he is already reviewing the maintenance apsects of the budget and hopes to be able to decrease spending in 2013.

White has also applied for a $500,000 Innovation Grant from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. If awarded the grant, White said the funds would be shared through the district for technology use and development, as well as for funding a technology director position.