MANCHESTER ESSEX REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT MERSD. FY18 Budget

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1 MANCHESTER ESSEX REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT MERSD FY18 Budget The Manchester Essex Regional School District is a high achieving community committed to educating all students, inspiring passion, instilling a love of learning, and developing local and global citizenship.

2 Summary Overview The Manchester Essex Regional School District is consistently and proudly among the highest performing districts in the state. MERSD is an inclusive school district; as such, we are a collaborative culture that welcomes all members into our learning community. Recognizing that students share more similarities than differences, our learning community respects each individual s unique contributions. It is expected that all adults share the responsibility for providing every student with access to and participation in high quality education. In addition to a robust core curriculum that balances high expectations for student achievement with the needs of the whole child, we offer specialty programming and a variety of twentyfirst century learning opportunities, such as: elementary foreign language; Integrated Pre Kindergarten; specialized learning programs for students with dyslexia, autism spectrum disorders, and developmental delays; STEM coursework in coding, engineering, project based environmental studies, FIRST Robotics, and Authentic Science Research (ASR); nationally recognized debate and DECA teams; Project Adventure; award winning arts and music programs; and, state champion athletic teams. Throughout the past year, MERSD continued to make progress in fulfilling its goals as outlined in the Strategic and District Improvement Plans. Highlights include: MERSD established the Memorial School Building Committee and received support from our communities to enter into a Feasibility Study with the Massachusetts School Building authority (MSBA). This phase of the project will investigate the question of whether to renovate or replace the Memorial School, and it will help determine the most cost effective path forward. MERSD hosted two educator delegations from Japan. o Singing Sands Sister City Delegation: Through Caroline Kennedy, the Memorial School was partnered with Kyotango, Japan. Both have a Singing Beach. Throughout the school year, the elementary schools exchanged letters and gifts. Over the summer, a delegation visited to learn more about our schools and community. o Special Education Research Visiting Team: On the recommendation of our colleagues at Landmark, a team of researchers and educators from Japan visited MERSD to observe classes and consult with teachers and administrators about inclusive practices and developing programs for students with dyslexia and social and emotional learning needs. MERHS recognized for outstanding student achievement. o MERHS ranked 14th in Boston Magazine Best High Schools edition. o MERHS nationally ranked as a Gold Medal School US News & World Report Best High Schools. o MERHS recognized as a commendation school by MA Department of Education. MERMS engaged in an all school review conducted by the New England League of Middle Schools (NELMS). This comprehensive assessment included: a two day site visit, school wide surveys of teachers, staff, and students, school wide meetings, observations of classroom instruction, and conferences with a wide variety of administrators, community members, parents, teachers and staff. MERSD s financial position remains stable due to careful fiscal management and the strong support of Manchester and Essex residents. In FY16, taxpayers provided a one time revenue correction to make up

3 for nearly a decade of enrollment growth that far exceeded the constraints of Proposition 2.5, which limits property tax increases. This assistance enables MERSD to maintain its educational program each year, without having to dip into reserve (aka rainy day ) funds, which are meant to protect taxpayers from unanticipated financial emergencies. For example, this past summer, MERSD repaired a costly water service line to the Memorial School, which burst unexpectedly while school was out of session, using reserve funds, thereby avoiding the need to request additional taxpayer support. Similarly, MERSD will use reserves in combination with grants from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, to reduce by 50% the cost to taxpayers of a Feasibility study for renovation or replacement of the Memorial Elementary School. MERSD has also leveraged its improved financial position to secure more favorable interest rates for long term debt associated with construction of the Middle High School. After refinancing this debt in the spring of 2016, MERSD will save taxpayers $95 100K annually through 2033, resulting in total taxpayer savings of $1.7 million over the remaining life of the bonds. Following the one time revenue correction from taxpayers in FY16, MERSD has committed to keeping annual operating increases within the levy limit for the foreseeable future. To that end, the FY17 and FY18 budgets are both level services or carry forward budgets, which are designed to maintain the same level of program currently in place. In keeping with practice for the past several years, MERSD looks for cost restructuring opportunities and other operational efficiencies to fund any needed programmatic investments in order to minimize requests for additional taxpayer funding. Over the past several years, MERSD has outsourced many operational services in order to generate savings and the need for internal staffing/management, including: evening custodial services, food service operations and transportation. MERSD has also taken significant steps to address long term financial liabilities, including the cost of mandated health insurance for retirees (known as Other Post Employment Benefits or OPEB). As a result of a collaborative effort with the Manchester Essex Teachers Association, which agreed to migrate staff to less costly plans, MERSD is now on a path to full funding, with $1.2 million budgeted for trust contributions through FY18, funded entirely by savings from employee benefits restructuring. The FY18 operating budget assumes spending growth of $784K, which is 3.3% more than FY17. On the revenue side, MERSD is expecting non town revenue growth of 4.1%, as it has increased State Aid estimates slightly, to align with current year actual funding. As a result, the assessment increase to the towns is 3.2% above FY17. Spending and town assessment growth rates in the FY 18 budget are below the estimates contained in MERSD s multi year operating budget, which MERSD uses to help the two towns plan for the future. Longer term, we continue to expect State Aid growth to be below the estimated % spending growth rate in our multi year budget projections. Charges to the towns for MERSD s capital budget, which pays for debt service related to construction of the Regional Middle High School, are expected to decline by $48K or 2.2% in FY18, compared to the prior year. These savings are in addition to savings generated by the refinancing referenced above.

4 MERSD FY18 Budget Highlights FY18 Operating Assessment = 3.20% Cost of increase to towns after deducting Other Revenue (e.g., State Aid) from spending needs Below multi year model assumption of 4.13%, Below FY17 Budget of 3.32% due to funding offset from growth in Other Revenue 1% 12% Other FY18 Level Services Budget = $24.47million 3.3% spending increase vs. FY 17 budget 31% 56% Chapter 70 Manchester Assessment FY18 Operating Assessment = 3.20% Essex = 2.28% Manchester = 3.71% FY18 Revenue Sources Essex Assessment FY18 Assessment growth is below multi year model projection of 41% Enrollment Key Driver in Assessment Differential Current Enrollment = 1,398 Essex = 496 Manchester = 838 School Choice = 64 5% 35% Essex Resident 60% Manchester Resident School Choice MERSD has earmarked $200,000 of reserves to fund the Memorial School Building Feasibility Study.

5 Memorial School Building Project Update In the Spring of 2016, MERSD established the Memorial School Building Committee (MSBC) and received support from our communities to enter into a Feasibility Study with the Massachusetts School Building authority (MSBA). The MSBA provides state matching funds for construction, and an oversight process to promote efficiency and effectiveness of local building projects. Through the Feasibility process, the MSBC will work to find fiscally responsible, forward thinking solutions for the Manchester elementary school building that meet the needs of the District s current and future curriculum program, are mindful of future maintenance and the impact on the environment, serve the school community, and are supported by voters in Manchester and Essex, as well as the MSBA. MERSD achieved financial support from our communities and from 31% MSBA matching funds to enter into a Feasibility Study to determine whether to renovate or replace the Memorial School. As one of its first tasks, the MSBC was charged with identifying an Owner s Project Manager (OPM) for the upcoming building project. The OPM, who will be with us for the duration of the project, works to oversee the building process and helps to safeguard the District s interests. On March 6th, the MSBA approved Memorial School Building Committee s recommendation of Dore & Whittier to serve as MERSD s OPM for the Memorial project. On March 28 th, Dore & Whittier will hold its first meeting with the Memorial Building Committee (MSBC) to begin the planning process for hiring a designer. That work will take place during April and May should be complete by the end of the fiscal year. As part of the planning process, we will be looking at a communications plan and preliminary project timelines. Understanding that facility needs of Memorial Elementary School have been prioritized by the MSBA process, MERSD has begun to turn its attention to interim measures to extend the useful life of Essex Elementary, which is more than fifty years old, but in better condition than Memorial. MERSD is currently working with the Town of Essex to leverage Green Community grant funding for potential energy saving improvements that can minimize the annual cost of operations. From a maintenance standpoint, Essex Elementary had a number of improvements in Most notably, the girls locker room was renovated and converted to accommodate two additional learning spaces that are needed to support in district special education programs. The new counseling room in the library was also converted from carpet to tile. The sidewalk in front of the school was re paved and wheelchair access was enhanced. The handicap accessible parking space was also improved to provide easier access. The Eagle s Nest play scape was completely power washed, sanded, and weatherproofed, and all swing chains and hardware have also been upgraded and replaced. The Essex courtyard underwent an extensive in house beautification project. Summer maintenance also included refinishing of the cafeteria and gymnasium floors, re staining the exterior of the portable classrooms, and painting classrooms and corridors. Learn More about the Memorial Building Project Background & Process MSBA Feasibility Phase MSBC Project Information

6 SECTION 2 Budget Detail

7 FY18 Operating Budget Detail Overview MERSD s operating budget request for 2018 is $24,466,844, up $783,888 or 3.31% from This budget represents a level services request, meaning the cost of continuing existing operations, with no additions to programming, allowing for contractual obligations. The main source of funding for the budget is town taxation, referred to as assessments, which are budgeted to grow $663,218, or 3.20% in 2018 from the prior year. The 2018 budget is funded entirely without the use of reserve or rainy day funds, which, since the budgetary correction in 2016, have not been used as a revenue source, putting MERSD on a more sustainable financial footing. MERSD is now better prepared to address unexpected costs related to its aging elementary facilities, which are now sixty six (Memorial) and sixty (Essex) years old and in need of significant upgrades. For example, major repairs, costing more than $300K, were made in the summer of 2016 to a ruptured water service line feeding the Memorial school using reserve funds thereby avoiding the need for new emergency taxation. The largest source of non town revenue is State Aid, which includes the Chapter 70 and Regional Transportation programs. Although MERSD s State Aid figures for 2018 will not be finalized until late June, the district has seen a dramatic slowdown in Chapter 70 funds over the past several years from highs of 33% and 25% annual increases in 2012 and 2013 to an average of 1.8% over the past three fiscal years. Additionally, revenues from the School Choice State Aid program are expected to be flat in the 2018 budget, as MERSD continues to accept fewer non resident students. Current School Choice enrollment of 64 students in 2017 has declined by 57% from a high point of 150 School Choice students in 2005 and from 111 students just five years ago. The cost to each town of MERSD depends on three factors: budget (the amount of spending approved by the School Committee), revenue (the amount of money the school district receives from sources other than the towns), and apportionment (the division of costs between the two towns). The chart on the next page shows the total impact of these three factors. Of note, faster enrollment growth among Manchester families in recent years has caused that town s assessment to rise more quickly than that of Essex.

8 2018 Revenue Sources FY17 FY18 $ Change % Change BUDGETED EXPENDITURES 24,007,956 24,791, , % Revenue other than Assessments Chapter 70 Aid 2,850,168 2,926,838 76, % State Transportation Aid 96, ,000 29, % School Choice Sending (60,000) (60,000) 0 0.0% School Choice Receiving* 325, , % Medicaid Reimbursement 20,000 35,000 15, % Bank Interest 5,000 5, % Parking/Transp. Fees 28,000 28, % Reserve Funds NM Total other Revenue 3,264,168 3,384, , % Operating Assessments Manchester 13,320,239 13,813, , % Essex 7,423,549 7,593, , % Total Operating Assessments: 20,743,788 21,407, , % TOTAL REVENUE 24,007,956 24,791, , % *School Choice (SC) receiving funds must be spent outside of the General Fund budget, per state regulations, but are included here to account for all major spending categories. Excluding SC funds of $325,000 in 2017 and 2018, the total General Fund budgeted expenditures for 2018 are $24,466,844, up $783,888 or 3.31% from $23,682,956 in 2017.

9 Operating Budget Detail Distribution of Expenditures As shown, the percentage of spending by category in the 2018 budget is very similar to Programs with Other Districts, which represent spending on special education tuition costs for sending students to programs outside of MERSD is up slightly as a percentage of total spending, offset by a slight decrease in the percentage of spending for Operations and Maintenance. Although out of district program costs have grown, spending in this area is similar to the most recently concluded fiscal year (2016) and down significantly from prior years. Operations and Maintenance continues to be level funded as MERSD has deferred significant capital investment in Manchester Memorial Elementary school temporarily, while it determines the best long term plan for the building through the Feasibility Study process, which is now underway. Summary of Expenditures FY17 % of Total FY18 % of Total Administration 1,027, % 1,072, % Instructional 14,671, % 15,160, % Transportation, Athletics & Activities 1,516, % 1,549, % Operation and Maintenance 1,682, % 1,685, % Insurance 3,907, % 4,032, % Programs with other Districts 786, % 873, % Contribution to OPEB Trust Fund 417, % 417, % Total Budgeted Expenditures 24,008, % 24,791, %

10 Administration includes district wide expenses such as professional and support staff salaries, supplies and materials for the School Committee, superintendent s office, and finance, dues, legal services, travel expenses, and administrative technology. Overall spending on administration is up $45,339 in 2018 or 4.41%, with a 2.7% increase in personnel costs including a cost of living increase, and increased operating expenses for legal fees ahead of negotiation in 2018 of a new three year contract with the Teachers Association. Administration Salaries $792,292 Expenses $280,083 Total $1,072,375 % Budget 4.33% % Growth 4.41% Transportation, Athletics & Activities includes regular transportation and transportation for students placed out of district for special education, athletics, health services, and student activities like band, debate, and DECA. Costs include professional and support salaries, contracted services, and materials. Spending is this category is expected to increase by $32,862 or 2.17% in 2018 with personnel costs increasing 2.63% or $19,862, and operating expenses growing $13,000 or 1.71%. Personnel cost increases include additional funding for Transportation, Athletics & Activities Salaries $775,091 Expenses $774,300 Total $1,549,391 % Budget 6.25% % Growth 2.17% nursing coverage district wide, as caseloads have risen in recent years. Operating expense growth includes funding a greater proportion of total athletic expenses (which are growing 2.7% in 2018), in the taxpayer funded budget, due to flat growth over the past few years in athletic user fees. Middle School activities costs are also budgeted to grow $5,000. These increases are budgeted to be offset by $10,000 savings in transportation to out of district special education programs.

11 Programs with other Districts is the cost of sending students from the district to programs outside the district. Tuition costs for special education students attending schools in other districts or private Programs with other Districts 2018 $873, $786,983 % Budget 3.52% % Change 11.00% or collaborative schools are examples in this category. Spending in 2018 is expected to increase by $86,564 or 11.0%, to $873,547. This increase brings the budget for this category in line with actual spending in 2016, but above the 2017 budget, which was atypically low due to forecasted graduations of out of district students from MERSD. Overall, annual costs in this area of the budget have declined by 36% or nearly $600K since a high point in Over the past few years, MERSD has seen significant benefits from its investment in program development, having used State grants to pilot programs for students with social/emotional and intensive reading/written language needs, among other areas. These programs have helped MERSD avoid significant spending on unnecessary out of district programs, and benefit MERSD students by enabling them to stay in their neighborhood schools. Programs w/other School Districts 3.5% Expenditures 2018

12 Operation and Maintenance of Plant is the cost of the buildings, grounds, and equipment. Some examples include custodial services, heat, utilities, building and grounds maintenance, and capital improvements. Costs include salaries, contracted services, natural gas, telephone, electricity, and equipment, and tools. Costs in this area are expected to remain essentially flat with the prior year, growing just $3,069 or 0.18% in Growth in personnel costs have become insulated in recent years by outsourcing of evening custodial Operation & Maintenance Salaries $388,765 Expenses $1,296,820 Total $1,685,585 % Budget 6.80% % Growth 0.18% services, which are now included in operating expense estimates. MERSD continues to project flat operating expenses in 2018, which include a level funding of the maintenance contingency account for unexpected capital repairs. This annual allotment of $100,000 was restored with the one time revenue correction from the towns in Keeping these funds in the budget has reduced reliance on rainy day reserve funds for recurring maintenance costs, allowing MERSD to keep those funds on hand instead for any unexpected, costly emergencies.

13 Instructional Services are direct costs of teaching students: salaries for teachers, principals, librarians, guidance counselors, psychologists, and classroom assistants, plus the costs of text books, curriculum materials, and professional development, stipends, contracted services, computer hardware, educational software, instructional equipment, dues, subscriptions, and testing materials. Consistent with prior years, Instructional Services are the primary area of spending need in Spending increases of $490K in this category account Instructional Services Salaries $14,099,494 Expenses $1,061,451 Total $15,160,945 % Budget 61.15% % Growth 3.34% for 63% of total increases in 2018, growing at 3.34% from 2017, which is in line with the overall spending growth rate for the entire budget. Reflecting a level services budget (i.e., the cost to maintain, but not grow MERSD s program), personnel costs are expected to rise 3.12% in 2018, including no new positions, and a 2.25% contractual cost of living adjustment, offset by absorption of losses in federal Title I and state Full Day Kindergarten grant funding. Operating expenses are expected to grow by $64K or 6.39%, including increased cost of special education contracted professional services and replenishing annual consumable materials associated with MERSD s science curriculum.

14 Insurance & OPEB Trust are retirement and insurance programs, including contributions to employee retirement systems, Medicare, unemployment insurance, employee and retiree health insurance (aka Other Post Employment Benefits, or OPEB), workers compensation, and property insurance. The 2018 budget for Insurance and OPEB is up 2.91% or $125,679 compared to fiscal Health insurance rates for the coming fiscal year are typically not finalized until after MERSD s budget has been set. Savings in the past two years compared to budget estimates has enabled MERSD to keep its 2018 budgetary growth low, while allowing for a rate increase of 9%, in line with medical trend. Active negotiations with insurance providers have helped MERSD to keep annual rate increases to an average of 3.3% over the past six years, well below medical trend. Eventually, however, a return to industry average rate increases is more likely. Insurance & OPEB Trust 2018 $4,450, $4,324,321 % Budget 17.9% % Growth 2.91% MERSD continues to execute on its road map to fully fund its OPEB obligation, with trust fund contributions of $417,059 budgeted for 2018, in line with MERSD has now budgeted total contributions of $1.2 million towards settling these long term obligations in just three years, funded entirely by negotiated changes to health insurance programs district wide, with no added costs to taxpayers. The negotiated agreement with the Manchester Essex Teachers Association (META) has been forecast by MERSD s actuary to reduce the unfunded annual portion of the OPEB liability by approximately 87% or $1.6 million per year. Changes include reducing the district contribution for health care premiums to 75% for active employees and 70% for new hires, from 80% previously. Additionally, the agreement migrates all employees to an insurance program with lower monthly premiums (which are split between MERSD and employees, based on contribution percentages referenced above) in exchange for higher co pays (which are paid by employees for each doctor s visit or procedure). The negotiated agreement stipulates that in return, all savings from these changes will be placed into an OPEB trust fund for the sole purpose of paying future OPEB costs. These trust funds have recently been invested in with the Pension Reserve Investment Management Board (PRIM) in the same diversified portfolio used for the State s pension system, the Massachusetts Teachers Retirement System, and the large majority of regional retirement systems as well, including Essex Regional Retirement System. By sending OPEB trust funds to PRIM, MERSD is able to outsource investment risk to specialized professionals with significant experience in long term investing. Earning a return on its OPEB trust fund investment can further reduce the contribution MERSD needs to make from budget funds each year, thereby reducing expense burden on the district, its employees, and taxpayers. Additional information about MERSD s OPEB and pension liabilities and the plan to achieve full funding over time can be found at by following the Quick Link for Budget and choosing the Unfunded Liabilities link, which contains MERSD s plans to address its liabilities, copies of actuarial reports, and other informational resources about this topic.

15 Multi Year Budget Strategy In 2014, MERSD initiated a multi year budgeting process to inform and improve collaborative funding discussions with the towns. Examining a range of five year budget scenarios over time with the town Finance Committees reinforced the urgent need to stop using reserves to fund recurring annual spending. Development of a multi year forecasting tool also helped MERSD to assess the impact that major budgetary inputs (e.g., State Aid, staffing levels, rates of pay, insurance, maintenance, etc.) will have on future town assessments. As a result of this process, MERSD can now establish more informed ranges of acceptable spending growth in order to ensure that future budgets stay within the tax levy limit. For example, to keep assessment increases at 3.5% in the future with no growth expected in State Aid, total spending would be able to increase no more than about 3.0% per year. FY 16* FY 17* FY 18 FY 19 FY 20 FY 21 FY 22 Personnel $14,771 $15,608 $16,076 $16,609 $17,161 $17,731 $18,230 Growth % 3.52% 4.52% 2.99% 3.32% 3.32% 3.32% 3.32% Expenses $8,117 $8,400 $8,716 $9,056 $9,398 $9,738 $10,094 Growth % 9.98% 0.27% 3.76% 3.90% 3.77% 3.63% 3.65% Total Spending $22,887 $24,008 $24,792 $25,665 $26,559 $27,469 $28,414 Growth % 5.72% 2.79% 3.26% 3.52% 3.48% 3.43% 3.44% State Aid $2,937 $2,886 $2,992 $3,037 $3,082 $3,129 $3,175 Fees & Other $90 $53 $68 $75 $75 $75 $82 School Choice: $400 $325 $325 $325 $325 $325 $325 Annual Revenue Reserves: $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Choice, E&D Town $20,078 $20,744 $21,407 $22,229 $23,077 $23,941 $24,831 Assessments Growth % 8.99% 3.32% 3.19% 3.84% 3.81% 3.75% 3.72% Total $23,507 $24,008 $24,792 $25,665 $26,559 $27,469 $28,414 Revenue Growth % 6.38% 2.79% 3.26% 3.52% 3.48% 3.43% 3.44% *FY16 = actual results. FY17 FY22 = budget. FY17 growth rates are vs. FY16 budget, not vs. FY16 actual.

16 Capital Budget Debt Repayment In addition to the Operating Budget discussed above, MERSD also maintains a separate, annual Capital Budget that summarizes debt payments due in the fiscal year, and apportions those expenses to the Towns in the form of a Capital Assessment following formulas from the Regional Agreement. MERSD s only debt relates to funding for the Middle High School facility. Voters in both towns voted to authorize borrowing of up to $49 million, and to exclude any borrowing from the limitations of Proposition 2.5. The final cost to taxpayers, however, was just $32 million as grants from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) of $17 million funded approximately 35% of the project budget. Additionally, borrowing rates have been significantly more favorable than originally anticipated resulting in a tax impact that is about half of what was predicted when the debt exclusion was voted in Last year, MERSD lowered the cost of this project to taxpayers even further by leveraging its strong financial position and excellent credit rating to refinance its outstanding debt. Savings from the refinancing total $1.7 million over the remaining life of the bonds, or $95 100K per year. Assessments to Manchester and Essex for debt service are expected to decrease by 2.2% compared to This decline is on top of refinancing savings described above, which are included in the 2017 budget as well Debt Payments Increase/(Decrease) $ % Principal Payments on Long Term Debt $1,575,000 $1,455,000 ($120,000) 7.6% Interest Payments on Long Term Debt $624,862 $701,188 $76, % Total Debt Expense $2,199,862 $2,156,188 ($43,675) 2.0% Manchester Capital Assessment $1,461,006 $1,428,956 ($32,050) 2.2% Essex Capital Assessment $723,584 $707,647 ($15,937) 2.2% Amortization of Issuance Premium $15,272 $19,585 $4, % Total Capital Budget Revenue $2,199,862 $2,156,188 ($43,674) 2.0%

17 Section 3 MERSD At A Glance

18 Enrollment 1,600 1,400 TE TE TE TE TE TE TE TE TE TE TE 1,200 1, MBTS MBTS MBTS MBTS MBTS MBTS MBTS MBTS MBTS MBTS MBTS Essex Essex Essex Essex Essex Essex Essex Essex Essex Essex Essex SC SC SC SC SC SC SC SC SC SC SC Enrollment MBTS Resident Essex Resident School Choice Non Resident Total Enrollment 1,315 1,360 1,382 1,457 1,518 1,551 1,563 1,532 1,507 1,441 1,398 % of Total MBTS 53% 53% 54% 55% 55% 56% 58% 58% 58% 59% 60% Essex 36% 36% 36% 36% 37% 36% 36% 37% 37% 36% 35% SC 11% 11% 10% 9% 8% 7% 6% 5% 5% 5% 5% TE 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

19 School Choice $1,000,000 $900,000 $800,000 $700,000 $600,000 $500,000 $400,000 $300,000 $200,000 $100,000 $0 School Choice Revenue Reserves $3,000,000 MERSD Reserves Over Time $2,500,000 $2,000,000 $1,500,000 $1,000,000 $500,000 $0 FY 08 FY 09 FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 FY 13 FY 14 FY 15 FY 16

20 PER Pupil Spending Cape Ann PPE 2016 Rockport $17,297 Hamilton Wenham $16,785 Gloucester $16,398 MERSD $16,327 High Performing Districts PPE 2016 Weston $23,899 Lincoln Sudbury $19,282 Wellesley $18,636 Newton $18,779 Bedford $18,120 Brookline $18,866 Lexington $18,069 Wayland $17,426 Hamilton Wenham $16,785 Westwood $16,713 Sharon $15,416 Harvard $16,216 Average $18,184 MERSD $16,327 Teacher Salaries Sample of Teacher Salary Rankings Boston Business Journal Masconomet 6 Topsfield 31 Lynnfield 66 Newburyport 82 Danvers 84 Triton 94 Amesbury 95 Boxford 114 Swampscott 116 Rockport 135 Winchester 142 Hamilton Wenham 155 Salem 162 Gloucester 172 MERSD 173 Beverly 195 Ipswich 229