Officials from Wareham's schools have identified their budget needs for the next school year, but will have to wait a bit to see what they’re working with.

Staffing, class sizes, transportation, professional development, curriculum alignment, technology, staff evaluations, and creativity when budgeting were among various “non-negotiables” addressed by each of Wareham’ principals, the School Committee, Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Shaver-Hood, and other administration at a special budgeting workshop held Wednesday evening.

On January 5, the School Committee will present a budget proposal from the schools to the Town Administrator. Currently, Shaver-Hood, Finance Manager Michael MacMillan, and other school officials are planning the budget, and Shaver-Hood organized the workshop in order to see what the schools’ biggest priorities are.

Several present identified staffing as one of the main areas of concern.

This school year alone, 32 positions were cut from within Wareham’s schools, and Wareham High School Principal Scott Palladino said that in the last five years, 22 full time employees have been cut at the high school.

“(We have) at least three periods where we do not have a class to put (students) in,” said Palladino, adding that often times, students can’t get the classes that they need or want because they lack the staff.

“We are to the bone,” said Decas Elementary Principal Donna Noonan. “We had to take one class and break it apart to get students to art, music, and PE (physical education).”

Several officials also spoke about the need to continue to provide transportation for students.

“This is not something we can fool with,” said Committee member Melvin Lazarus, to which Palladino agreed.

“We have to transport our students,” said Palladino. “We have a tremendous attendance issue without transportation.”

Others focused on the importance of utilizing professional development days, aligning teachers to the schools’ curriculums, and evaluating teachers as part of the process.

"We could have the best curriculum in the entire world . . . but if we don’t have the measures . . . it’s all for naught,” said Committee Chair Cliff Sylvia.

School Committee member Rhonda Veugen suggested an "outside the box" approach to addressing the non-negotiables.

Veugen said the creative thinking started last year with the realignment of some of Wareham’s schools, and she’d like to see that trend continue.

“We have this conversation every year,” said Veugen of the budget talks. “Every single year, we’re disappointed. Let’s think differently about the budget cycle this year.”

Shaver-Hood expressed approval of Veugen's push towards creative planning, and said she and others are currently exploring more unconventional areas where money can be saved.

“This has been very helpful,” she said, saying they’d take the suggestions of the group into account when forming the budget over the next month-and-a-half or so. “You’ve given the administrators the ability to be creative.”

According to MacMillan's timeline, the Superintendent's Budget Advisory Committee will receive a first draft of the schools' budget workbook on Nov. 24, with the presentation to town officials to follow other scheduled budgetary planning sessions on Jan. 5 as previously mentioned. Residents will vote on the town's budget, which includes the schools' budget, on April 27 at Spring Town Meeting.