TRANSPARENCY IN ACTION: Follow The Process As The 2020-2021 School Budget Is Put Together

WILMINGTON, MA — Last week, school officials announced its FY2021 budget calendar — a timeline detailing the formation of the budget for the 2020-2021 school year.

Assistant Superintendent Paul Ruggiero highlighted the following dates:

• September 2019 — Develop/Finalize School Budget Calendar
• October 2019 — School Committee discusses budget priorities.
• October 4, 2019 — FY21 Budget materials sent to Leadership Team.
• October 25, 2019 — FY21 Budget materials due to the Central Office.
• October 25, 2019 – November 5, 2019 — Materials reviewed and entered into the budget in the “FY21 Proposed Budget” column.
• November 6, 2019 — Central Office Review with Budget Managers: ELL, Middle School, High School, Athletics, Early Childhood, Elementary Schools, Intermediate Schools
• November 7, 2019 — Central Office Review with Budget Managers: Health Services, Music/Art/PE, PreK-5 Literacy Specialist, Assistant Superintendent, Technology & Student Support Services
• November 8, 2019 – December 11, 2019 — Budget presentation prepared for School Committee Budget Meeting on December 18
• December 18, 2019 — Preliminary Budget Presentation to the School Committee
• December 19, 2019 — Compile Facility Repair & Improvement Requests, Send To George Hooper, DPW & Jeff Hull
• December 2019 & January 2020 — Budget Deliberations with School Committee
• December 2019 & January 2020 — Create Warrant Articles for Capital Items
• January 2020 — Budget books completed & sent to Administrative Team
• January 2020 — Budget books & materials sent to School Committee
• January 2020 — Present Superintendent’s Recommended FY21 Budget to School Committee
• January 27, 2020 — Town Manager’s Budget Presentation
• February 2020 — School Committee Budget Deliberation
• February 12, 2020 — Public Hearing on the FY21 Budget at School Committee Meeting
• March 2020 — Meeting with Finance Committee
• May 2, 2020 — Annual Town Meeting

Dates in bold indicate opportunities for the public to provide input. The most important date for interested parties is the School Committee’s annual public hearing on the proposed budget, which is scheduled to take place next year on the evening of Wednesday, February 12, 2020.

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