Tiverton School Budget Funds Full-Time Resource Officer

The Tiverton School Committee voted to fund a full-time resource officer position in its recommended 2013-14 budget, despite facing reductions in federal aid.

The $70,000-per-year salary would be partially paid for by the School District to reflect the 180 days per year. The school would pay 75 percent, of $50,400 annually, the remainder will be paid for by the town as the officer will be handing town duties.

Thanks to a $179,020 reduction in health care expenses over the next fiscal year, the school district's Director of Business and Finance Douglas Fiore said the district could easily cover the costs of a school resource officer as well as offset cuts in federal aid due to sequestration.

"It would more than offset any additional expense." said Fiore, who explained that Tiverton Schools should be prepared to make up for about 5 percent - or $38,918 - of the $768,000 it receives annually should the sequester come into play. 

The funding supports four mandated programs throughout the district:

• Title I: The program goal is to improve the academic achievement of disadvantaged youth.ov
• Title II: The program goal is to increase academic achievement by improving teacher and principal quality.
• IDEA Part B: The program goal is to ensure that children receiving special education services are provided a Free Appropriate Public Education that prepares them for further employment, education and independent living.
• IDEA Preschool: The program goal is to provide preschool programs for students with disabilities ages 3-5.

"These are things we get federal dollars for that we don't need to ask the town for," said Deborah Pallasch, School Committeewoman. 

"It's not like without the money we can cut the program," Pallasch added. "Nor would I want to."

The School Committee presented it's recommended budget for the 2013-14 year of $28,575, 739 to the Budget Committee on Tuesday after it's own regular business meeting.

As it stands, next year's budget represents a 3 percent increase in expenditures over the current year. The levy increase to the taxpayers, however, would be at 2.1 percent because the state Department of Education transferred more money than was expected into Tiverton's schools.