Delight, with reservations, on school aid

Education activists rallied on Boston Common last April for more state aid to school districts. Governor Deval Patrick is proposing a 6 percent increase for the 2009 fiscal year. (Mark Wilson/Globe Staff/file 2007)

News of a possible 6 percent increase in state aid for school districts has delighted local superintendents, who have struggled with exploding costs in everything from healthcare to utilities.

Some worried, however, about how the money would be distributed, and critics wondered where the state would find the money.

Governor Deval Patrick on Wednesday is expected to unveil a budget proposal to increase spending for schools by $223 million. The overall appropriation from the state in Chapter 70 money, which is spent on local schools, would total about $3.9 billion. Patrick has named education a top priority.

The proposal will kick-start a budget debate with the Legislature. Patrick's total proposed budget for fiscal 2009 will be about $28 billion, with roughly a $1.3 billion shortfall. Fiscal 2009 starts on July 1.

"This is wonderful news," said Carver Superintendent Elizabeth Sorrell. "The problem is, would it be distributed equally? . . . Or does it mean a few towns get 22 percent and smaller, rural towns suffer another loss?"

Since fiscal 2000, the amount of state aid the town has received has ranged from a 2 percent cut to a 5.1 percent increase - a financial "roller-coaster" that makes it difficult to plan, she said.

At this point, the 162-teacher system faces the elimination of positions to help balance its $20 million budget, although hopefully not on the scale of 2004, when 19 jobs were lost, she said. What was once a $3.5 million stabilization fund is now down to about $1 million, she said.

"Our pot of reserve money is gone," she said.

Middleborough Superintendent Robert Sullivan said the governor's proposal would be great, but barely keeps the 3,500-student system ahead financially.

"An increase would be appreciated," he said. "It's hard times across the state and in our community." But 6 percent doesn't seem like a lot when so many bills, such as healthcare and utilities, are climbing faster than that, he noted.

The budget this year is about $24 million, down about $340,000. The school system last year cut 30 positions and an override failed.

Patrick's proposal includes several targeted areas: The amount proposed to be spent on extended school programs doubles for the second year in a row to $26 million; an additional $23 million is offered to create more prekindergarten classrooms and expand half-day kindergarten classes to a full day; and $2 million is included for tutoring students with low MCAS scores.

Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, wondered where the money was coming from and whether Patrick was counting on revenues from casinos, which have not been approved.

"I need to see the whole budget," he said. "The budget will be exceedingly tight."

He also noted that the money given to schools by the state, when calculated counting inflation, is still slightly below the amount given in 2001.

The possible budget increase sounded good to John D'Auria, superintendent in Canton, where some elementary classes have up to 35 children, after an override failed last year.

The override failure led to cuts of $1.4 million, he said, which meant cuts in enrichment programs, such as music.

In the middle school, some children have study hall sitting on the floor of the gym, instead of taking an enrichment program.

"It's the first piece of budgeting news that's good that I've heard in a long time," he said, adding, "I want to see the details before I allow myself to embrace it fully."

Mark R. Mason, superintendent in Scituate, said the system may have to make cuts, the economy is so flat. The gains from a $2.8 million override passed last year may be lost, he said. For next fiscal year, he is seeking a budget of $28.3 million, up about 4.7 percent from last year.

Matt Carroll can be reached at mcarroll@globe.com.