Live from the Board of Ed: budget update

 Bill Bell to close things out 

Bell: House Ways and Means Committee came out with their version of the budget
builds on many of themes in Governor's budget
House is in full session debating now
14% of state budget is education
"no question the Commonwealth values investment in public education"
similar to Governor: Ch. 70 third year of SOA
$60 minimum per pupil
circuit breaker with two slight earmark changes
HW&M increased transportation reimbursements for regional and homeless students by a few million in each: designed at 100%
continued to support universal free school meal
think it's somewhat underfunded, but will have a better idea once FY23 closes
House appropriation of $166M might be a little bit light
"matter of what the right budget number needs to be"
continued investments in career and technical education arena
adult education programming
asking Department to oversee $100M green school infrastructure grant program
"it's not our wheelhouse to oversee" infrastructure" but the House seems to want us to oversee"
House chose not to fund some things; we'll see the Senate maybe making some different choices
House will complete work this week
expect Senate in about two weeks; second Wed in May
would expect conference committee then 

not much new on ESSER:
ESSER I is completed
70% complete on ESSER II; about $200M left to claim through March
27% claim of ESSER III as of March

no questions

Board moves into executive session:

• Family Freedom Endeavor, Inc. et al. v. Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education, et al., Hampden Superior Court Civil Action No. 2179CV00494; MA App. Ct. No. 21-J-599
• Frigon et al. v. Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education, et al., Suffolk Superior Court Civil Action No. 2284CV00344-E
• Open Meeting Law complaint filed April 3, 2023; review per 940 CMR 29.05(5)

END PUBLIC SESSION