Dear School Committee Members,
Welcome to Central Berkshire’s 2023 fiscal year budget which has been developed with a focus on providing high quality educational student and staff learning opportunities while simultaneously carefully monitoring potential increases. As one can imagine, the ongoing challenges presented by the pandemic have had an impact on fiscal decision-making. As we navigate our objectives around unfinished learning and comprehensive educational resources, we remain cognizant of gauging both short and long term needs. I am confident that the budget we have developed, in collaboration with the Director of Finance and Operations and the administrative team, has met our goals and keeps at the forefront equitable educational opportunities for all Central Berkshire students.
Last year’s fiscal year 2022 budget prioritized a tiered learning infrastructure with a focus on supporting students that had experienced varied learning models. Educational resources, professional development, and instructional delivery (to include social and emotional learning) were adjusted to include flexible models of tiered student intervention around an accelerated instructional framework. The budget we currently have in place has allowed us to create and maintain systems and structures that are strategic and efficient towards inclusive instructional delivery and has kept us on the pathway of Universal Design for Learning and embedded Professional Development for teachers in the form of Instructional Coaching.
This period of time has been unique around allocation of resources due to the pandemic. We have been fortunate to receive COVID relief grant funding that has been delegated for resources to include upgrades to building HVAC systems, PPE supplies, health and safety resources, and additional teaching and learning support. It is our intention to ensure that our operational costs contain the essential components toward providing exceptional educational opportunities in order to plan for a fiscally responsible future in the absence of this grant funding.
Finally, on behalf of the administrative team, we appreciate the deep level of commitment and caring that you demonstrate for the students and staff of Central Berkshire Regional School District. We respectfully request support for a budget that we are confident will meet the needs of the whole child during these unique times.
Respectfully Submitted,
Leslie Blake-Davis