Last modified: Monday, March 5, 2007 11:58 PM EST Attleboro, Norton schools face dark days BY JIM HAND SUN CHRONICLE STAFF Attleboro Superintendent Pia Durkin says there is a "triple-edge sword" hanging over her school system's finances. Norton Superintendent Patricia Ansay says she does not know where to cut her school spending after imposing layoffs and closing libraries this year. For communities like Attleboro and Norton that fall on the wrong side of the state's funding formula, there are hard times ahead. They are being mandated by the state and federal governments to add services to improve test scores, but they are being forced to cut because their funding increases do not even cover expenses. "It's one step forward and two steps back," Ansay said. Both systems would receive only 1 percent increases in state funding for next year under the formula that distributes Chapter 70 school aid. Salaries are going up about 3 percent and heating and others expenses are increasing by even more. Ansay said she needs a $900,000 increase just to cover expenses for existing services. Gov. Deval Patrick's proposed budget would give the Norton system only $180,000. Durkin said the triple-edge sword she is facing includes declining enrollment, a minimum increase from the state and a city tradition of funding schools at the lowest level allowed by law. "A 1 percent increase doesn't even touch our 3 percent salary increases," she said. Durkin said when she unveils her budget proposal later this month she will hold a series of meetings to inform the public and hopefully build support. Durkin said she understands the city has needs in the police and fire departments, but she wants to make the case that the city has to pick up more of the school budget. Attleboro spends $1,508 less per student than the state average, putting it in the bottom 22 percent of Massachusetts school systems, she said. At the same time, the schools are under pressure to raise scores and meet mandates of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. "That is not happening by spending the minimum school spending," she said, adding later, "The minimum contribution is not acceptable." Attleboro is scheduled to get a $300,000 increase from the state and Norton a $180,000 raise, while school systems such as Mansfield's get much more generous shares. Mansfield would get a $1.8 million increase in Chapter 70 money on top of $725,000 in what is known as additional assistance. Mansfield is a growing system and its aid figures reflect the expanding enrollment. Durkin said Attleboro is getting less because of its declining enrollment. She said there are 80 fewer students in the system this year than last. Ansay said Norton's problem is that the state has determined that the town can afford to pay for a greater share of the school budget. She said Norton receives 51 percent of its school funding from the state and the state wants to reduce that to 47 percent. However, Ansay said she met with the town manager Monday and he said he was aiming to level fund all town departments. She said Norton schools are already losing $140,000 to charter schools and getting a $100,000 increase in its regional vocational school costs. Patrick's budget plan calls for a $200 million increase in Chapter 70 aid. Legislators have said they would like to beef that up to $255 million. But, an extra $55 million statewide would not increase the shares going to Attleboro and Norton by significant amounts because of the way the distribution formula works. "I'm not feeling too optimistic," Ansay said.