Newton Schools Won't Get Much More Money From New MA Budget

NEWTON, MA — Gov. Charlie Baker's proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year includes how much state aid school districts get, but Newton school officials don't expect to see much of a change.

"The government is recommending full funding of the Student Opportunity Act, and that really provides a lot of funding for the 35 districts of the highest number of disadvantaged students, and nothing could be more important," said Superintendent David Fleishman in a phone interview, particularly amid the pandemic, he added

Districts aren't seeing major cuts.

"It doesn’t really have impact in Newton." Fleishman said."We’re not going to see much of an increase, nor did we expect to, because we knew what the purpose of the student oportunity act was."

Baker's $45.6 billion FY22 budget includes $246.3 million in new funding for the Student Opportunity Act, increasing Chapter 70 aid by $197.7 million, or 3.7 percent.

That money is meant to help local districts with costs associated with low-income students, special education services, English language learners, guidance and psychological services and employee health benefits.

The law also requires districts to submit a plan to the state on how they would use the extra funds to help close opportunity gaps.

The increased Chapter 70 aid is significantly less than the $303 million proposed in Baker's FY21 budget — funding that never materialized as the pandemic put a strain on state revenues. This year's proposed number is lower because of lower inflation and a statewide enrollment decline of 3.26 percent, including a decline of more than 5 percent in 29 districts, the Department of Education said.

>> Schools Stand To Get Millions More In State Aid In Baker Budget

Even with fewer students attending public schools amid the pandemic, a provision in the formula assures districts will not receive less than they did in FY21 plus $30 per pupil.

According to state data Newton's foundational enrollment dropped by about 718 students from 2021 to 2022 and state Chapter 70 funding to Newton schools is $25,128,716 is going up slightly to $25,492,106 in fiscal year 2022.

Newton Schools only has about 12 percent of its budget funded from the state and will actually have an increase of a few hundred thousand from the government, which is helpful with city revenue down said Fleishman.

Newton is getting one time funding in federal aid through various stimulus packages, but that has gone toward technology and testing and ensuring districts can open in the fall.

"Funding for school districts to fund employees is what is needed," said Fleishman, "I think it is the staffing that is the greatest challenge."

The superintendent said the district is still working through its budget, which will be presented April 1, a month later than usual.

"We're still analyzing numbers, and looking at a lot of extra expenses because we ran both the remote academy at the elementary level and middle school level, covering for teachers who were teaching remotely," he said. "We still have to finish analyzing that impact on our budget."