Community Newsletter
BSD Budget Update
Earlier this week, the Department of Education released updated and final ED 279 reports for School Administrative Units (SAUs). These final reports reflect a lower mil rate of 6.97, which means more funding for Brunswick School Department.
The Department of Education issues preliminary ED 279 reports in January as School Districts prepare to undergo your local budgeting processes. After releasing these preliminary reports, the Department undertakes a rigorous review of the reports to ensure accuracy before finalizing them.
This week, that ongoing review identified a duplicative data entry in the algorithm that generates the funding estimates in the reports. The duplicative data entry inaccurately inflated the mill rate in the preliminary reports. The Department removed the duplicative data entry, and the subsequent calculation produced a lower mil rate of 6.97. This lower mil rate change resulted in increased state subsidy and a reduction in the Local Required Share of $836,933.
With the increase in taxable valuation from 1% to 1.5% that the Town notified us of this week, the revised proposed taxation impact for the budget that the School Board voted on is estimated at 4.79%. Therefore, I am attaching a revised impact spreadsheet showing the changes.
Click here to view the revised impact spreadsheet.
KFS Principal Announcement
Dear Staff, Parents and Community Members:
After an exhaustive search process that included two interview teams and a formal presentation by the two finalists to the Kate Furbish Elementary School staff, I am excited to announce that the Brunswick School Board voted unanimously by those members present to approve Mrs. Annie Young as the next Kate Furbish Elementary School Principal.
Mrs. Young emerged from a robust applicant pool of twelve individuals. I believe Mrs. Young is a great fit for Kate Furbish Elementary School and will serve our students, parents, staff, and community well. Most importantly, Mrs. Young’s deep understanding of what it takes to create a safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environment will lead Kate Furbish Elementary to new heights. She has an obvious passion for all students and extensive experience with multilingual learners, a population that is growing in Brunswick.
Please join me in welcoming Mrs. Young as our Kate Furbish Elementary School Principal!
Sincerely,
Phillip J. Potenziano, Ed.D
Superintendent of Schools
New District Translation Lines
In our continued effort to be as accessible to all families and community members as possible, Brunswick School Department has created direct lines of communication via interpreters. If you would like to contact Brunswick School Department, please dial the number corresponding to your preferred language to be connected to an interpreter and a school representative.
Portuguese: 1-833-806-0705
Spanish:1-844-447-2180
French:1-844-447-2180
Mandarin Chinese:1-844-447-2180
These numbers will also be available on our website at www.brunswicksd.org
Brunswick Community Support Fund
In support of the 60 New Mainer families arriving in Brunswick this summer, the town has reopened the Brunswick Community Support Fund. Money raised for this fund will go towards furniture, household items, and other basic necessities for these families. Once our newest residents are settled, the fund will remain open to further support local families in need. All donations are tax-deductible; the link includes contact information for anyone with further questions and also a sign-up for those interested in donating their time.
The Brunswick Community Support Fund link is up - this is where we'll be raising money to outfit the 60 apartments. There is also a link to sign up to volunteer for people who ask about that. Please share widely:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/zemnc3-brunswick-community-support-fund
Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides eligible households a discount of up to $30 per month off their internet bills as well as a one-time discount of up to $100 off an eligible connected device like a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet. In many cases, households can get high-speed internet without paying a dime by choosing a fully covered internet plan.
A household is eligible to participate in the ACP if it qualifies for free or reduced-price school meals.
Households can learn more and apply for the ACP at
Catherine Schillinger
Ed Tech 3, Kate Furbish Elementary School
Catherine grew up in Richmond and attended the University of New Hampshire for her undergraduate degree.
What makes you proud to work in Brunswick? #BSDProud
I'm proud to work with a dedicated team with a shared goal to do our best for our students.
What do you like to do outside of work for fun?
Swimming in ice cold lakes and rivers, going on short hikes with great views, growing my own salads and raising monarch butterflies.
Favorite line from a movie?
"Just keep swimming" - Finding Nemo
If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet?
I would meet with my grandmother, who was a teacher and one of the people who inspired me. I have so many questions I wish I had asked her.
What is something you learned in the last week?
How good the pastries are at Wild Oats!
