The high cost of heating oil may already be burning a hole in the School Department's fiscal '09 budget.
Interim school Superintendent John Moretti told the School Committee last night that the town's heating oil bids have come in and, based on calculations using the same amount of heating oil the school system used in fiscal '08, he is projecting a $197,000 deficit.
Moretti said the schools get heating oil from the town, which in turn, gets its oil through a regional consortium of other municipalities to get the best possible prices. But he said the new contract stipulates the schools will be paying $3.81 per gallon this year, which is $1.57 per gallon more than it paid last year.
The committee last night agreed to let Moretti write a letter and supply the calculations to both the Board of Selectmen and Finance Commission.
"I think we need to have a conversation with the Finance Commission on how they want us to proceed," Moretti said.
One option is to ask for the money at the next special Town Meeting, which typically is called in the fall.
Or the committee could wait to see how the winter goes and how much fuel the system burns.
School Committee member Dick Kief said it might also be worth exploring the contract to see if the price is fixed or whether there is room for possible savings if the prices should drop in the coming months.
"The last month or so the prices of gas have dropped dramatically," said Kief, who said he would also like to know whether town departments will be facing similar deficits.
Moretti said he will check with Town Hall, but said he is pretty sure the $3.81 per gallon cost is fixed.
The committee did get some good news on the energy conservation front, which will help reduce heating costs at the Coakley Middle school.
Moretti said the summer capital project to replace all the windows at the school has gone very well and is nearly complete. Moretti said the only items yet to be completed are some sealing and the installation of flashing around the windows to deflect rainwater.
"The new windows are very attractive and very efficient," said Moretti. "I personally went down there over the summer and was very impressed with the level of workmanship and craftsmanship."
Daily News staff writer Brian Falla can be reached at 781-433-8339 or bfalla@cnc.com
