Dear Belmont Parents and Community Members,

Now is the time to take action on the 2024 budget or devastating cuts will be made to teaching and learning in Belmont. Please contact the Select Board and join us at the next Budget Meeting at Town Hall (455 Concord Ave) on March 20th at 7 pm. The Select Board is considering cutting $2.1 million from the Belmont Public Schools (BPS) budget instead of appropriately funding our schools. Please call and/or email Select Board members Mark A. Paolillo (Chair), Adam Dash (Vice-Chair), Roy Epstein to let them know you support additional school funding. Your participation is needed now.

The future for Belmont students is dim due to the budget cuts proposed by the Warrant Committee. As Belmont children make their way through the BPS their experience will be much different from their older siblings. When they enter kindergarten they may only have one adult in the room, unlike

older children who had a teacher and a dedicated classroom assistant. Opportunities to participate in elementary school music lessons, like 4th grade strings, will no longer be an option. By the time they reach the 6th grade, children won’t be learning World Languages. Students who are in the METCO program will not receive the support services that they deserve, and neither will children who require Special Education services. With fewer educators and larger class sizes, all students will get less time with their teachers. Is this the future you want for the children of Belmont? Proposed cuts include eliminating 29.7 BPS educator positions.

This directly impacts your child/children resulting in:

● No consistent coverage of building substitutes & reducing daily coverage

● No dedicated supports for METCO students at BHS and Chenery

● Decreased supports for special education students at all levels

● No World Language program at the 6th grade

● Less student access to elective opportunities and increased study halls

● Core subject teachers BHS & MS half teams which will increase class size

● Fewer elementary teachers at grade K, 1, and 3 = larger class sizes

● 2 Kindergarten assistants split between 4 classes in each elementary school

● Elimination of 4th grade strings across the district

Belmont needs to invest in our students to ensure academic growth and social emotional well being.

We recognize that budgeting is tight in the town of Belmont, but Belmont can use an additional $2.1 million from Free Cash and/or other measures that are available to fully fund our schools.

Thank you for your partnership in support of students,

Belmont Education Association (BEA)

The unsuccessful April 2021 override poses substantial budgetary challenges for the town. Even without that additional revenue, Belmont has three main pathways available to fully fund our schools over the next year. Some avenues of additional revenue include:

● Certified Free Cash: Belmont currently has over $15 million in certified free cash, an increase of 175% between FY18 and FY23, leaving the town with a substantial rainy day fund.

● Group Insurance Commission: Conservative estimates of moving to the GIC would be a $2.4 million savings for the town. This does not include substantial one time funds of drawing down the health insurance trust or reduction to Other Post Employment

Benefits (OPEB) savings from moving to GIC.

● Chapter 70 Increase: Governor Healey is recommending an increase of almost $1.7 million in state educational aid for Belmont next year

● Email or call (617) 993-2610 Select Board members- When you reach out, let them know you support an additional 2.1 million to fund all of the positions necessary for the Special Education, academic recovery, and social-emotional learning needs of our students.

- Mark A. Paolillo (Chair): mpaolillo@belmont-ma.gov

- Adam Dash (Vice-Chair): adash@belmont-ma.gov

- Roy Epstein: repstein@belmont-ma.gov

● Attend the next budget meeting on March 20 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall (455 Concord Ave) - It will require parental and community support to prevent these cuts.