School Supplies Budget Maintained at Prior Year Level Amid Spending Pressures and Utility Shortfall Concerns-September 14, 1978

NORWOOD — Superintendent Louis J. Taris informed the school committee last night that while the instructional supplies budget for kindergarten through grade 12 has been trimmed from $209,000 to $190,000, the allocation remains adequate to maintain per-pupil material allowances at previous-year levels.

Budget Adjustments and Utility Funding Outlook

Addressing community concerns over town meeting spending cuts, Taris explained that classroom supply allocations for basic per-pupil materials (excluding specialized art, music, physical education, and audio-visual accounts) match the previous fiscal year’s per-pupil rate. “It’s the same per-pupil amount we had in the previous fiscal year. It is tight, but we can do it,” Taris stated, noting that any localized shortages might necessitate internal transfers where feasible.

However, observers noted that town meeting also reduced the school utilities budget by $35,000—a shortfall Taris acknowledged will likely prove inadequate for the heating and power needs of district facilities. While acknowledging the prospective deficit, Taris firmly rejected seeking supplemental appropriations: “I do not intend to go back for more money. I will try to make it using the entire amount appropriated in the school budget.” Under municipal regulations, the school committee is authorized to transfer funds from non-salary accounts provided the finance commission concurs and unencumbered funds remain available.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger