Open Budget Hearing: FY14

Anticipated Revenue Mission: School and Community working in Unity Mission: School and Community working in Unity Core Values Promoting Student Growth and Achievement

 September – October:  Principals met with staff to discuss budget needs.  October – November:  Principals and Directors development school and departmental budgets.  December – January  Principals/Directors submit budgets  Budget reviews with Superintendent.  Budget presentations to the School Committee.

 January – Present:  District School Committee review and budget refinement.  March 13, 2013:  Budget Presentation – Open Hearing  March 20, 2013:  Adoption of FY14 Budget by Regional School Committee

 Provide a Level Services Budget  Support and Improve Student Achievement  Capture Savings and Reorganize for efficiency.  Work with Available Funds

 Salaries  Contracted Services  Special Education  Transportation  Health Care

 Initial Budget Requests: – No new services or programs – Allow for inflation for services and materials. – Acknowledge need for supplies and materials not paid for by FY13 budget  First Pass: (To meet Level Services) $24.9M – Review of budget resulted in cuts of about $1M Cuts to staff, supplies and materials.  Second Pass $23.9M

 Working with Administrators and Directors more cuts have been proposed. Making every effort to spare classroom services. – Some cuts proposed in Maintenance related line items. – Review of Student Services programs.  Presently FY14 Budget stands at $23.2M

Total Revenue$21,851,633$21,734,456($117,177)

FY 2014 Anticipated Revenue (All Sources) $21,734,456 FY 2014 Expenses $23,199,962 Present Shortfall: ($ 1,465,506)

 Referring back to our priorities – this is not a level service budget.  In order to achieve a balanced budget the following additional actions will need to occur: - Reduction of Professional and Support Staff. - Reduced Instructional Supplies - Reduced General Supplies - Decrease in Student Support Services - Increased User Fees

 Healthcare – Present Indications are a 10% increase in healthcare costs for Fy14 – Working with Insurance Advisor to understand options. Heath Care Deductible Health Care Carrier modification

($1,465,506)  Discussion with Bargaining Units underway.  Modifications Healthcare Services  Service Delivery Efficiencies

 Investigating changes to District Agreement to: – Facilitate Grade level consolidation. – Establishment of an Early Childhood Center. – Establishment of Intermediate Level Elementary. – Hosting Alternative Educational Programs

 Advantages: – Curriculum alignment – Efficient deployment of resources Elimination of duplication – Improved management of facilities and staff. – Class size parity – Equal delivery of services.

 District has not asked for an additional contribution from the member towns since  District has exhausted all methods at its’ disposal to mitigate shortfall.  District Budget is presently 1.5% over Net School Spending baseline – State average 15%.  Working with the Towns we must raise this contribution over the next few years

 Goals: Improve and expand programs for children. Providing students with 21 st Century skills. Student Centered Schools Raising Expectations – Students – Staff – Parents and Community.

 Vision: Increased Student Achievement Academic Rigor Programs to meet needs and challenge all students. Opportunities for all types of learners – Career Strategies – Higher Learning – Workforce training

– Promoting Services and Programs – Retaining students in our District – Providing outstanding opportunities to all of our students