As required by City Charter, Jeannine Nota-Masse, Superintendent of Cranston Public Schools, presented her proposed budget for the school year 2017-2018 to the Cranston School Committee and members of the public at a recent meeting on Tuesday, January 17 at Western Hills Middle School. Nota-Masse is pleased with the budget she presented.

"I think it is fair, it is reasonable, and it is in line with us continuing to be a highly regarded district and maintaining high standards for all of our students," she said.

According to Chief Operating Officer Ray Votto, there are 1,441 full-time employees in the district, 203 part-time. Of those employees, 1,369 belong to a union. Central Administration includes secretaries and custodians, 29 employees. The upcoming budget, including state aid, federal through the state, city appropriations and other sources of revenue, comes to $155,772,730. For school year 2017-2018, there is an increase to Cranston funding from the state's Fair-Funding Formula in the amount of $3,493,013.

"This is the last year for the funding formula as it stands now," said Chief Financial Officer, Joe Balducci.

Nota-Masse is for a 1.8 percent increase from the city, which amounted to $1,720,489. The overall increase in the budget is $5,161,502. The district is still working on filling Hope Highlands Middle School with staff for the next school year as the school changes from two grades to three. The increase in the cost is $1,067,344.

"A big change for the district this year is we are no longer allowed to charge for summer school or remediation courses if a student fails. This was a directive from RIDE," said Not-Masse. This is a loss of approximately $52,000.

"We have to revise the program and make it for high school juniors and seniors who need the credits for graduation requirements," said Nota-Masse.

The district will face over $800,000 in tuition costs for students to attend charter schools and "pathway" programs outside of the city.

One area that has always been difficult to budget for is Special Education. "It is difficult to anticipate students qualifying for services as well as the number of students that will move into the district that already have an IEP," said Balducci.

Districts are required per RIDE regulations to identify students with special education needs and provide those services, for example nursing and speech at private parochial schools. Nota-Masse stands by her requests for the increases.

"We have been touted time and again as a top 50 city to live in, in the country. Our schools are a major reason for that. This is a tight budget that is student focused and hopefully the city will continue to support us," she said.

To view the proposed budget, and schedule of budget meetings go to www.cpsed.net.