final week, the Board of Finance voted on the Stamford Public faculties (SPS) price range for the 2023-2024 college 12 months. I wish to recognize the members of the Board of Finance, led via Board Chair Richard Freedman, for their partnership in the course of the funds method and ongoing commitment to our metropolis's public colleges.
The annual school price range building process is rigorous, comprehensive and at once aligned with the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan. As a huge, city school district with two-thirds of its students recognized as being high needs, we face an evolving and exciting set of opportunities and challenges. Superintendent Tamu Lucero and her management team constantly upward thrust to the event, which contains constructing the annual finances guided by means of our district's mission, publicly brought up desires, and information on both the wants of our distinct college physique and the evidenced primarily based practices and techniques greatest applicable to satisfy these needs.
The 2023-2024 district price range money owed for expected increases in health care, transportation, and special education prices without adding new programs or capabilities. It continues present ranges of programs and staffing and continues the work to put into effect the curriculum audit recommendations. it's fiscally dependable, supportive of our college students and personnel, and permits us to operate and hold our college amenities.
I are looking to thank the Board of Finance for recognizing this and limiting its reduction of the 2023-2024 finances to $1.25 million. while any cut will require a careful reexamination of the funds to reduce the affect in the lecture room, the superintendent and the Board of training will work diligently to discover easy methods to take up this reduction without negatively affecting the discovering journey of our college students.
After being scrutinized via both the Board of schooling and now Board of Finance, the finances now advances to the Board of Representatives for its consideration. it is our hope that the Board of Representatives will guide the budget as offered. Any extra savings to the faculty finances above the $1.25 million already cut by way of the Board of Finance will drive difficult selections, together with fewer classes for our excessive wants students and reduced alternatives to increase our curriculum work. With a fiscal cliff looming in 2024-2025 as federal COVID funding goes away, and an obvious refusal by means of the state to speed up utterly funding our ECS allocation, a hundred-plus positions are in jeopardy of being reduce. extra cuts to next year's finances will most effective exacerbate the issue.
we now have a whole lot to be pleased with in our schools. beneath Dr. Lucero's management we're seeing advancements in fulfillment, better operational efficiencies, and more advantageous partnerships with community groups that enrich and extend our student's getting to know beyond the classroom. we're headed within the appropriate route. The finances, as authorized with the aid of the Board of Finance, will proceed this wonderful work into the arrival 12 months.
Jackie Heftman is president of the Stamford Board of schooling
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