Danvers Superintendent Proposes 3.76 Percent School Budget Hike

DANVERS, MA — Superintendent Lisa Dana proposed a $43.9 million budget for Danvers Public Schools to the school committee Monday, up 3.76 percent from $42.3 million this year.

The budget represents the biggest annual percentage increase since the 2015-16 school year, when the budget increased 3.82 percent. But the new budget calls for fewer teachers and other cuts as Danvers faces higher contractual and special education costs.

Special education costs account for 11 percent of the total budget before teacher salaries. Next year's budget calls for adding the equivalent of a full-time special education elementary teacher at a cost of $75,000. The district is also facing an increase of $435,528, or 15 percent, in the amount it pays in tuition to send special education students to schools outside of the district.

The budget cuts one elementary and three high school teaching positions. The budget calls for eliminating two teaching positions at Thorpe School while adding one teacher at Smith School to reflect enrollment changes. At the high school, the budget cuts one social studies, one health and one world language teacher.

"Over recent years, the High School has seen enrollment decline from approximately 1,000 students to approximately 900 students," Dana said in the budget presentation to the school committee. "As a result, a decrease of 3.0 teachers can be seen while maintaining appropriate class sizes and class offerings."

The budget also calls for a six percent decrease on technology spending and a three percent decrease in spending on student activities.

After approval by the school committee in March, the budget goes to selectmen and the town finance committee before final approval at town meeting on May 15.