Barnstable School Committee Opens Public Hearing on $76.8 Million FY23 Budget

BARNSTABLE -- March 16, 2022, Barnstable School Committee held its FY23 budget public hearing with no public speakers, advancing a $76,781,611 proposal toward an April 6 adoption vote. Deputy Finance Director Gareth Markwell presented the budget, which represents a 4.44 percent increase over FY22 and adds 19.7 full-time equivalent positions, growing district staffing to 805.4 FTEs; 81 percent of spending goes to salary and wages, and the budget draws no free cash. The committee also approved a $70,000 employment contract for new Family and Community Engagement Center Coordinator Maura Bunge and backed $1,710,000 in school district savings for the FY23 capital improvement plan. A separate facilities discussion revealed that portable classroom plans at Hyannis West Elementary are more complex and costly than expected because any bathrooms must be permanently connected to sewer and plumbing; Facilities Director Mike Lambros said an architect's estimate was expected by mid-week. Chair Mike Judge and members pressed Lambros to return with multiple size options, with Judge warning, "I don't want to have this discussion again next year because High West is already outbuilt there." Superintendent Meg Milne Brown noted the district has spent nearly $10 million on piecemeal space fixes since a 2014 study recommended a $20 million consolidated elementary school.