SCHOOL BOARD VOWS SETH BOYDEN HELP AT BUDGET MEETING, IF YOU COULD WATCH IT

If you were trying to watch the special Board of Education budget meeting last night, which was essentially held to update the public and allow inquiries, you had a tough time on television.

The broadcast on SOMATV was interrupted at least five times with other programming that went on for minutes during some of the most informational discussions.

During the meeting, the district offered another presentation of its current proposed $123 million budget, with $112 million coming from property taxes. The spending plan, expected to be adopted at Monday's board meeting, also may include a tax increase above the 2% state limit, with the average Maplewood home seeing a $121 increase.

Business Administrator Cheryl Schneider emphasized that the tax increase is only an estimate at this point and may change with county taxes still being determined and other revenue.

Schneider said that the initial plan to cut one reading intervention position has been reversed and that staffer will remain. However, the district still plans to cut the three elementary school foreign language positions as it discussed last week.

There is also a plan to reduce one assistant superintendent position once the new superintendent is hired. That would probably be done with the expected retirement of Acting Superintendent James Memoli.

She also pointed out that the district's health care costs are actually down in the proposed budget compared to this year, from $14.1 million to $13.7 million, as teachers take up more of the health care premium costs. But the district is still in contract talks with the union, whose contract ends in June.

During the public comment portion, several Seth Boyden School parents mentioned their long-running effort to get more district funding, an issue that was brought up during a previous board meeting last month.

Some mentioned that their ability to raise funds through the PTA from families is limited because of the number of low-income students at the school.

Board members said they will make an effort to seek more funding for the Seth Boyden programs.

"I feel like we at the board have only recently discussed what the need is at Seth Boyden," said Board Member Madhu Pai. "I do want to make sure that we have considered that number."

Board Member Stephanie Lawson-Muhammad added, "This board is committed to addressing concerns, we are talking to administrators there and we hear the parents."

Board Member Beth Daugherty said more money can be given to Seth Boyden even if it means reductions at other schools: "At the end of the day it might mean taking from others that are more advantaged and giving to Seth Boyden, which is less-advantaged and more needy."

Board Member Maureen Jones agreed, "When we take from one to help another, it doesn't mean that we're reducing something else -- by lifting up one group we lift up the community as a whole."

Memoli said Seth Boyden already receives $6,000 to $8,000 more annually for programs such as field trips and other activities compared to other district schools.