2008-2009 Budget Information
Dear OMS Families,
I wanted to provide you with some updated information regarding next year’s
school budget.
• The Board of Selectmen have placed a $1.5 million override question
on the ballot for the Tuesday, May 6 town election. $1 million of the revenue
generated should the override pass would be divided between various municipal
government departments and the School Department. The additional $500,000 would
go towards eliminating school activity fees, eliminating or reducing the athletic
fee at SHS, and reducing the transportation fee for buses.
• The School Committee has indicated that, should the override not pass,
several teaching positions at the elementary and middle school levels would
be eliminated from the budget for next year. The impact at OMS would be to eliminate
two team teaching positions, which would raise class size to an average of 27
or 28 students per class in one of the two grades, depending which positions
are eliminated. Currently it appears the impact would be creating an average
of 28 students in Grade 7.
• For more specific information on the municipal or school budgets, you
can find several documents online at www.shrewsbury-ma.gov. The town manager’s
most recent budget update is available at http://www.shrewsbury-ma.gov/manager/pdf/fiscalyear2009budget032608.pdf,
while several school budget documents can be found under the FY09 budget link
at http://www.shrewsbury-ma.gov/Schools/Central/Finance/index.htm
I encourage you to learn more about the budget so that you are prepared to cast
an informed vote on May 6. If you have any questions for me, please don’t
hesitate to contact me at 508-841-1200 or jsawyer@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us.
Please click on the link below for information from the School Department regarding
the potential impact of the override regarding School Department cuts and the
elimination and reduction of parent fees. Thank you.
Respectfully,
Joe Sawyer