Marblehead Trims Proposed School Budget Following Coronavirus

MARBLEHEAD, MA — The Marblehead school committee is scheduled to discuss its $40.5 million budget proposal for the 2020-21 school year when it holds a virtual meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

While the budget is 2.2 percent higher than the current year's budget of $39.6 million, it is 2.3 percent lower than the $41.4 million budget originally proposed in February. Towns and school systems across Massachusetts have been forced to rework budget in the wake of the coronavirus as they project lower local tax revenues and state aid.

The budget proposal includes $36 million in salaries, up from $34.6 million this year, as well as $5.4 million in expenses. The school committee will vote on whether to recommend the budget for final approval by town meeting.

One potential wildcard in the budget process is last week's guidance from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. In addition to requiring school districts to purchase equipment to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, classes will be capped at 10 students per teacher. The department is also asking school systems to keep individual groups of students with one consistently assigned teacher.

Interim Superintendent William McAlduff Jr., who steps down at the end of the month, did not respond to a request for comment on how the guidance would impact the school budget.