February Board of Ed: budget!

 and about damn time!

back up for Bill Bell is here

Gov. has released budget; Legislature now up
Joint Committee on Ways and Means hearing on education aid in Greenfield this Friday
"have hit the eight billion mark in the Commonwealth" for aid
fourth year of six years of Student Opportunity Act
total increase $260M for Ch. 70; about 4%
other programs "meet statutory requirements for" programs
working with Legislature to ensure they understand reimbursement
Secretary's budget: $30M for early literacy
"actively working with staff at Executive Office" and staff of W&M so they understand what is behind those numbers
a multi-year initiative
new funding for social emotional 
additional early college funding
continued support for universal free school meals
expect House W&M budget just before April break
Senate W&M mid-May
"then we'd be looking to month of June to reconcile two bills"

Through January 
ESSER I and II have been obligated and expended
$1.2M of ESSER II in late liquidation being spent out
ESSER III: 52% of all funds claimed ($860M)
about 48% left 
would expect that a number of districts will want late liquidation authority
have to have obligated funds by end of September, but would have 18 months to spend out
"would expect late liquidation to be a little bit higher than on ESSER II"

Hills: does ch. 70 have "look back or make whole"? and how far back does it go?
Bell: it goes back to prior year
yes, Newton has been a hold harmless district

West: some new research on recovery from pandemic from Tom Kane
guidance and resources for districts in how they spend their money
"how we're serving districts that are serving low income students"