The Portsmouth School Finance Subcommittee voted unanimously tonight to submit a preliminary budget for next year in the amount of $33,451,955. It will go to the full School Committee next week, and to the Town Council the week after. Getting the budget to this number, said Superintendent Lusi, was a team effort.

"Our first and foremost priority is teachers and students in the classroom," said Lusi, describing the rubric the team used to identify cuts. "Second, insuring a guaranteed and viable curriculum for every student. Third, effectively targeting district resources, and fourth, engaging parents and the community in achieving these results. The cuts may inconvenience adults, but not compromise teaching and learning."

While the proposed budget meets the 5.25% state cap and is technically balanced, some of the necessary cuts have not been finalized. Notwithstanding the committee's efforts, the bottom line on the expense side still comes out around 300K higher than the projected revenue.

But it was satisfactory to even Jamie Heaney, who said, "It is at the cap. We'll make the reductions in time." Give credit where it's due; he was a mensch tonight.

That didn't stop Lumpy Fussbudget of the late PCC from riding what has been his hobbled-horse issue of late, whether or not the loss of Medicaid revenue mandated by Judge Indeglia should count as an impact on the revenue side. But eventually, even he grudgingly voiced his admiration.

"Your committee worked hard," said Fitzmorris, "There are a lot of innovative ideas."

And there is out-of-box thinking in the budget. In addition to finding ways to cut 3.8 teaching FTEs, a mojor component is closing the Prudence Island school, but adjusting transportation to keep students in Portsmouth, avoiding the cost of tuition in Barrington. Savings: 75K.

The boldest proposal is to shift Grade 5 back to the elementary schools from the middle school. Pending final numbers on transportation, and the need to add some part-time clerical support, this should save another $74.6K.

With the space now available in PMS, Dr. Lusi's team suggested moving central admin there from the antiquated Middle Road location. The existing building, while charmingly antique, has seen better days. There was discussion of water in the basement when it rains, drafts in the second floor records area, and the need to constantly board up cracks to keep out birds. "It that something you do on your lunch hour?" Dick Carpender joked.

All told, with these big ticket items, plus reductions in clerical/support staff, and cuts to building maintenance, advertising, and supplies, Dr. Lusi's team identified $282K in savings.

Loudy had brought a hired gunslinger, Frank Texeira, a former superintendent and school committee member in MA. Texy lobbed a few questions, but if the Pretty Crispy Critters were paying him to find bodies under the crawl space, his spade work failed to deliver. Larry half-heartedly argued about whether the school committee had adjusted last year's budget in the time required by law, but you know what? As Dr. Lusi says, it's in the court record that they did. Not going to waste any more time arguing with the dead.