Sue Flicop

FY112 Budget Presentation, March 4th, 2010

Overall, the Superintendent discussed the centrality of the classroom as a guide in creating the budget. In particular, the budget is based on five main areas of focus:

1. maintain FY10 class size
2. keep strong commitment to maintaining breadth of programming
3. continue initiatives
4. build on efficiencies and restructure operations for savings
5. have an innovative approach

The Superintendent and his staff started the process by looking at the School Committee’s budget guidelines and collaborating with the Mayor. They developed plans at several different revenue levels, considered enrollment trends, and prioritized system needs that focused on classroom teaching, teaching support and professional development.

In defining the magnitude of the problem, the Superintendent said that a maintenance of effort budget–doing the same thing this year as last year–would require a $7.4 million increase over last year’s budget. This is made up entirely of mandated costs–contracted staff costs and benefits, as well as increases in SPED tuition and transportation costs. However, the additional allocation from the Mayor was only $1.7 million. The Superintendent could not get to a budget that served the children of Newton with only $1.7 million more than last year. After meeting with the Mayor and his staff, they found a one-time reduction in the cost of health insurance that totaled $1.4 million. This new total of $3.1 million was the number that the proposed budget was built on–a 2.1% increase over FY10.

This leaves a gap of $4.3 million, of which $2.5 million will be found through efficiencies, new fees, some restructuring, and program initiatives. The remaining $1.8 million gap will hopefully be covered by state funding. If this amount is not received from the state, more revision of the budget will need to be made, meaning cuts in remaining areas. At the back of the budget book are changes that were already considered and rejected.

The Superintendent went through the list of proposed changes–I would add a link here, but I can’t seem to find the document online yet. In general, the savings at the elementary and high schools were from administrative reductions–mainly building aides at the elementary level, and reductions in assistant principals and executive secretaries at the high schools. There are small shifts in staff at the elementary and middle schools to reflect enrollment changes. The math coach program is being expanded at both the elementary and middle schools.

Regarding student services, 10 SPED aides and 3.5 Pre-K aides were cut, but the integrated program was expanded. Social workers and the Lesley University intern program were increased as well. There were many other changes in SPED, which will be discussed at the Thursday, March 11th, meeting.

Three fee programs were discussed: the increased use of school buildings for the international language schools; the increased fees for the 4th grade instrumental music program; and a new fee-based program called Early Morning Drop Off, where for $8 per student per day, parents can drop off their child at 7:30 am at their school. This last program is budgeted to bring in $189,000 next year.

Changes to the food service program leading to approximately $500,000 in savings were predicted. The Superintendent warned that reliance on these savings, as well as the income from the Early Morning Drop Off program, both of which are only estimates, is risky. If these numbers change, it is possible that more cuts will be necessary.

Liz and I will keep you updated as the School Committee reviews every aspect of the budget in far greater detail.