Welcome to Spring!  It’s the time of year for growth and new beginnings.  At Barnstable Public Schools, spring is a time when we are looking forward and planning for the next school year. Several initiatives are underway: the School Committee approved the 2018-2019 School Operating Budget, the Town Council has approved the school projects in the Capital Improvement Plan budget, and Barnstable Public Schools is currently searching for new principals at BWB and BUES and a new Executive Director of Special Education due to the upcoming retirement of Dr. Jane Jezard.

2018-2019 School Operating Budget

At the April 4^th School Committee Meeting, the School Committee approved the fiscal year 2019 operating budget.  The budget will now go to the Town Council for a vote.  The total operating budget request is $70,066,620.  The largest expense is salary and wages at $51,657,811. Other expenses include supplies, contracted services and one-time operating capital expenditures.  The sources that pay for these expenses come from appropriation, school choice fees, transportation fees, circuit breaker and the School Committee savings account.   

Capital Improvement Plan

At the April 5^th Town Council Meeting, the Town Council approved five projects for the School Department.  The largest of these projects is a $4.6 million Barnstable High School Sports Field Upgrade Projects which contributes to our district vision of educating the whole child.  The other projects include district wide communication, video surveillance and entry improvements, BHS and BIS roof top unit ventilator replacement, elementary school unit ventilator replacement and an emergency generator replacement at WVE.  

Principal and Executive Director of Special Education Searches

BPS currently has open positions for principals at BWB and BUES, as well as the Executive Director of Special Education.  The Executive Director of Special Education job posting has closed and a search committee consisting of administration, teachers, and parents is interviewing potential candidates.  The BUES principal job posting has closed and two finalist selected by central office are being vetted by the teachers, parents and staff at BUES. The BWB principal position is open to applicants.  Once the position closes, it will follow the same process at BUES with central office interviewing candidates before selecting finalists to be vetted by BWB teachers, parents and staff.

As the current school year winds down, we are well underway in planning for the 2018-2019 school year.  Our 2018-19 school year begins on August 27 for school staff and August 29 for all students in grades 1-12.  Our school year calendar can be found at www.barnstable.k12.ma.us.

Meg