Boston School Committee Scrutinizes $81 Million Budget Increase as ESSER Relief Ends

BOSTON — March 4, 2024 — Boston School Committee holds second FY25 budget hearing as $160 million in federal relief funding expires. Interim CFO David Bloom presented an $81 million general fund increase for fiscal year 2025 at the March 4 virtual hearing, while warning that the all-funds budget actually reflects roughly an $84 million decrease once expiring ESSER pandemic relief is counted. The district has identified approximately $17 million in central office efficiencies and $4.6 million in additional offsets, with major cost pressures in transportation — up $12 million before a $5 million internal offset — and facilities maintenance, up $11 million. Budget Director Serena LaRocque clarified that what appears in the program tables as a loss of 108 bilingual-coded positions represents roughly 63 actual bilingual teacher FTEs, of which only 13 were eliminated due to low-enrollment classroom consolidations. Cambridge education advocate John Mudd demanded the committee "require a clear explanation of the budget and job cuts and their projected impact" on English learners and students with disabilities, a concern echoed by multiple committee members. The final revised budget is due March 20, with a full committee vote scheduled for March 27.