Cutting School

PPH:

School officials said there is a chance they could
present a budget with no increase to taxpayers. They recently proposed a slate
of program cuts to that end, from trimming the number of assistant coaching
stipends for middle school sports to eliminating transportation, custodian and
guidance counseling positions. [Superintendent Stan] Sawyer said all but one of
the positions would be cut through attrition.

As it currently stands, the 2009-2010 fiscal year is up almost 8.3% when loan payments for the new middle school are considered, but not quite 1% when the loan fees are not included. The School Committee will vote on the proposed cuts tomorrow evening.

- John C.L. Morgan