Board of Ed for May: budget update

 memo here, though there is also a presentation

Hills: not the Board purview for how the resources are allocated (except in some ways it is, which is why the submit a budget request)

Bell: Senate Ways and Means has released its version of the FY27 budget; in formal session now deliberating
continues many of same themes of earlier drafts
committed to working with everyone on issues facing rural districts of which they are aware

happy to entertain questions

Martinez asks steps in the budget process, as it is his first time through
Bell: have seen some headlines on Legislature being committed to earlier process
once through Senate, conference committee formed, deliberates, releases budget that is then passed by both chambers
Smidy asks about how advocating works from Board members
Hills directs to Secretary and Commissioner
Zrike: "we think we do that together in tandem"
would love to talk to Board members about that
met with collaborative members in Northampton: hearing concerns from across the state
"coming on later in the budget process"
"data and information to bring back to the budget process"
"learning this process now"
"very productive conversations with the Legislature"

Board goes into executive session for  Doe et al. v. Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Mass. Superior Court, C.A. No. 2481-CV-00994. State House News has this as to why: 

 The case, filed in Middlesex Superior Court in 2024, is a class action suit alleging that the department fails to fulfill its statutory duty to provide special education services to incarcerated students with disabilities. Mass. Lawyers Weekly reported last month that the class action survived a motion to dismiss it in Superior Court, with a judge ruling DESE has a non-delegable duty to provide special education in jails

They will not return to open session 

Board of Ed for January: budget update

Martinez: not going to share detailed numbers, as Governor releases budget tomorrow
will give a detailed memo shortly after the Governor's budget, so overview of process today
hint, hint: RELEASE THAT PUBLICLY PLEASE

 Bill Bell: a day early, if it were Thursday, we'd be able to roll through
"continued investment"
will have details out to shortly
Governor files with House clerk; goes to House Ways and Means committee; then repeats itself in the Senate
Joint Ways and Means hearing sometime in March; Commissioners and Secretary will present and will take testimony from professional organizations
tomorrow Governor will release her proposed budget, which starts the process

Board of Ed for November: budget priorities

 There is a printed memo here which is NOT ONLINE which is annoying. 

Commissioner describe the budget process
"highly structured timeline"
he should have a nice little flowchart like some of us do when we explain this

May Board of Ed: budget

 Bill Bell: quick update on federal and state financial resources
Senate today is debating its version of the FY26 budget proposal
$8.6B K-12 funding; bulk is the same as House 1 and House budgets
year 2 of further supports for Literacy Launch $20M
$25M for high dosage tutoring
affirms commitment to student nutrition; some differences in appropriation levels
"but that will get itself worked out"
"that's all based on claims; do our best to work that out"
social-emotional supports for students

Federal side: federal budget for this coming fiscal year (which is FY25 for fed)
have received major entitlement awards
still awaiting for adult education and Titles II, III, and IV
think it is about OMB working out final details; expect to see in next month or so
watching next federal fiscal year budget FY26, which would impact next fiscal year for state (FY27)

And ADJOURNED
Next meeting June 24 back in Everett

March Board of Ed: FY24

there's a memo

Bell: "we're full on right now"
hearing with W&M
K-12 sector and overall; significant piece of state budget
13.9% of gross state spending
chapter 70: $6.6B, a "new record"
puts at midpoint of implementation of SOA; three year mark of six year schedule
"has been some dialogue, discourse"
districts that are seeing their contributions increase
notes that though balance is set at 41% state contribution, 59% local
state contribution is actually 47% this year
variety of districts seeing local required contribution going up; administration has requested $10M reserve for that
circuit breaker has hit the half a billion dollar mark
"I'm rounding up to the nearest million"
issue that has come up as budget development has unfolded
over two years ago, state committed that the approved special education schools, issue with hiring and retention
state used federal funds ($210M grant funding) to provide grants to those schools to help with hiring and retention
FY24 plan to continue that was developed through tuition pricing process
14% tuition increase
that doesn't immediately translate to circuit breaker claims: $20M reserve for such increases
traditionally reimburse at $5M or less; $20M for this coming budget year
supplemental budget for $75M for contingent reserve if there are claims beyond the $20M
three transportation reimbursement programs at new highs
90% regional projection; non-resident vocational transportation 90% 
100% of homeless reimbursement
lots of investment in the early college world

federal ESSER spending
three levels of funding have been received
ESSER I (CARES): have fully expended those funds; use expired last September
ESSER II: use of funds expire this coming September; 71% claim or expenditure rate
"We feel that districts are properly paying attention" using funding
ESSER III: good til 9/30/24
running at about 25% claims rate
"still feel good that districts are actively managing those funds and using them"
schools are availing themselves for maintenance, thus little bit of a lag there 
Stewart: is there a requirement for continued spending for districts
Bill: we are not overseeing how districts balance budgets
"a lot of advisory related information there"
Hills asks about timeline
"a year from now...we'll see if people have planned accordingly"
West: do districts have the flexibility to put state aid into reserve for future years?
Bell: the short answer is not presently
districts still have to meet their net school spending
there's some language in budget designed to allow for something