Closure of the East Wareham Early Childhood Center, reconfiguring Minot Forest Elementary and Decas Elementary schools, 16 layoffs and a reduction in supplies are all included as a part of the proposed Wareham Public School’s budget for fiscal year 2015.

Superintendent Kimberly Shaver-Hood made the budget’s first presentation at the School Committee meeting on Jan. 8.

“It costs us more each year to provide the same level of services for our students,” said Shaver-Hood.

The beginning budget for the 2015 fiscal year was $28,469,721. This was an increase of 5.9 percent from fiscal year 2014. The budget Shaver-Hood presented to the School Committee was $27,704,474, a 3 percent increase from the 2014 budget.

“We knew we needed to make reductions,” Shaver-Hood said.

Closing the East Wareham Early Childhood Center and moving the pre-school program to Minot Forest was among these proposed reductions.

“We looked at how we could reduce costs, still maintain services – even if it had to be in a different location,” said Shaver-Hood.

“Once we sat down as an administrative team with the different ideas, that’s really how we came up with it… not great… not excited about closing the Early Childhood Center, but we’re able to maintain services and eliminate the costs,” said Shaver-Hood.

The reconfiguration would result in Minot Forest educating pre-school, kindergarten and first grade students. Decas would hold Grades 2 through 4. Fifth graders would all attend Wareham Middle School, which already houses fifth graders from the Decas district.

“This consolidation allows several things to occur: Class sizes will remain in the low-to-mid 20s through all grade levels, there will be no increase in transportation costs, both schools will have the opportunity to have unified grades in one building… opportunity for small-group instruction,” said Shaver-Hood. “Estimated savings would be about $324,000. This will include - in the 16 positions -- a reduction of seven positions.”

“An elementary school student might be going to a different school. But beyond that, is there anything a parent or student would feel that was different as result of the cuts that you are proposing?” member Geoffrey Swett asked.

“At this time, we’ve worked incredibly hard to keep the impact to students the least amount that we possibly can,” Shaver-Hood responded. “There would be very little impact felt in a classroom other than a change of location, possibly less pencils, paper, etcetera, but other than that, we have maintained staffing.”

Proposing the closure the Early Childhood Center and reconfiguring elementary schools were concepts Shaver-Hood attributed to being new.

“I think being new, it has given us a different set of eyes,” Shaver-Hood said. “So, we were able to ask some questions, get some answers, and that’s when the creative juices started flowing.”

Regarding the other cost-cutting measures, there would be layoffs and cuts to supplies and materials.

“We are recommending reductions of 16 [full time equivalents] or 13.8 positions,” Shaver-Hood said. “This will come from administrators, teachers, clerical, paraprofessionals and custodians.

These layoffs would save the schools $662,038, according to Shaver-Hood.

The reductions in supplies and materials will come from all schools and central offices. Shaver-Hood said these reductions would save the schools $103,209.

This budget and its proposed cuts are not final. Shaver-Hood urged the public to ask questions regarding the budget and its cuts.

“I know anxiety levels will go up in our schools. I know rumors will start throughout the community. The advice I have… please ask questions,” Shaver-Hood said. “Come to the source. The source would be the… principal, the school committee or myself.”

Chair Rhonda Veugen added that this was the first presentation of the budget, and on Jan. 15 there will be a public hearing on the matter featuring Town Administrator Derek Sullivan, Selectmen and the Finance Committee.

“We have a revenue problem in the town of Wareham, and we cannot, in good conscience, continue to solve the revenue problem on the expense side of the ledger,” member Cliff Sylvia said.

The budget will be approved by the committee on Jan. 29.