SUPERINTENDENT’S FY 14 BUDGET MESSAGE
(Updated April 1, 2013)
Peter Sanchioni, Ph.D.
For the past five years the Natick Public Schools have experienced financial stability predicated on five extraordinary events: the passage of an operational override in the spring of 2008, the receipt of $1,733,013 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in the spring of 2009, the receipt of additional Chapter 70 funds from the State in the spring of 2010, the receipt of Federal Funds in the spring of 2011 in the form of an EDU Jobs Grant, $518,585 and the receipt of additional Chapter 70 funds in the spring of 2012. These additional funding sources were used to avoid major budget deficits that would have led to drastic cuts in personnel. Even with these additional revenues, several positions were eliminated in 2009 and 2010 including the District Curriculum Coordinator positions for Language Arts and Math, a maintenance position, and a custodial position. However, no direct teaching positions were ever lost. Advantageously, in FY 12 and 13 six teaching positions were added to address enrollment needs. Two at Wilson in FY 12 and two at Kennedy, one at Johnson and one at Ben Hem in FY 13. Without these added teachers, academic class sizes would have soared over 27 students. In the last five-years the Natick Public Schools have added 479 additional students.
Our financial and personnel stability has translated into district academic success highlighted by a continued high graduation rate at the high school accentuated by many students who received acceptance from the most competitive colleges in the nation. Other notable marks of accomplishment include:
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Continued strong MCAS Scores
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Opening the new Natick High School as one of the most technologically advanced schools in the Commonwealth
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Implementing a highly successful 1:1 program for grades 8-12
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Natick High School being named one of the top 50 high schools in the Commonwealth by Boston Magazine.
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