Silver Lake Regional School District Braces for Potential Budget Crunch
Losses in state and federal funding could strain finances in coming year
KINGSTON - December 12 - The Silver Lake Regional School District may face significant budget challenges in the coming year due to potential losses in state and federal funding, officials warned at a recent school committee meeting.
Jason Fraser, a Silver Lake School Committee member from Plympton and Chair of Plympton’s School Committee, outlined several financial concerns on the horizon. The district could lose approximately $157,000 in annual rural aid funding after falling off the eligibility list following population shifts during the pandemic.
"Losing that is obviously devastating considering where we are financially," Fraser said.
He also cautioned that proposed changes to federal education funding could impact the district's access to key Title I, II and IV grants if allocations shift to a needs-based model.
"We could be losing out on federal funding like Title I, Title II, and Title IV, which are some of our biggest levers of federal dollars that we have," Fraser explained.
The potential funding losses come as the district grapples with existing budget pressures. Fraser noted that Plympton may need to consider a Proposition 2 1/2 override this spring to address budget overruns at the elementary level.
"We all got very close to the levy, some towns more than others, last year in the spring," he said. "It's really important for us to have that conversation at our January meeting with the towns when we all sit around that table for them to let us know where they are."
Adding to the uncertainty, state aid figures for next year remain unknown as the governor's budget has not yet been released.
The district is also weighing initiatives like transitioning to an eight-period schedule at the high school and adding staff to the business office to address compliance issues flagged by auditors.
"We have some work to do here. We do need to lean into our budget, but it's going to, again, come down to our neighbors, our fellow taxpayers, and the people who show up in town," Fraser said.
Committee member Paula Hatch emphasized the volatility of school finances, noting how quickly the district's position can change.
"Two years ago, we had extra money from the state. We were thrilled when we gave the towns a break, and we were in a good position," Hatch said. "Fast forward only two years, and we're very tight."
She added that it can be difficult to convey the full picture to taxpayers who don't closely follow the district's finances year-round.
"It's really difficult if the taxpayers don't follow us to understand the rollercoaster of finances that we ride over and over again," Hatch said.
The committee plans to begin preliminary budget discussions with member towns at a joint meeting in January. However, officials cautioned that the full financial picture won't be clear until later in the budget process.
In other business, the committee:
- Approved the 2025-26 school calendar, with classes starting Aug. 27.
- Heard an update on changes to MCAS testing requirements following the passage of Question 2.
- Received a report on new course proposals for next year, including additions to the Career and Technical Education program.
- Discussed ongoing facilities needs, including potential options for expanded administrative office space.
The next school committee meeting is scheduled for Jan. 9. Officials urged residents to stay engaged in the budget process as it unfolds in the coming months.