FY11 budget working session: questions to Allen

Mr. Monfredo: what are the chances of any of the state changes being made?
freezing special ed tuition is going through: could be $500,000 in savings
pension schedule adjustment we might have a chance at
Superintendent says "don't hold out hope" that the new charters won't go through (reminder: write in to the DoE about Worcester charter applications!); moving fast in January

Mr. Foley says "not that logic should ever play into this whole thing"...asks why the inflation rate applied to out-of-district tuition should be different than that applied to the foundation formula (this is recognized as a rhetorical quesiton by Allen)

Allen says any new charter school requires 100% funding from state; that's a danger; the state may not fully fund the 100% reimbursement rate (this is ch. 46 reimbursement, BTW)

Mrs. Mullaney wants a bottom of the range that we're in danger of being in the red--best case scenario: $10 million deficit
That's the best case scenario (Let's say that again--the BEST case scenario)

the Mayor wants to know his "drop dead date" for having a budget
priority session with students, central office, principals, now with School Committee (did anyone ask the teachers?)
the Mayor points out the teachers' contract is being negotiated; how does that work out?
the budget was based on status quo in health insurance and zero percent raise (60% of those covered by health insurance in WPS are at 75/25; not having the other 40% at 75/25 costs $3.3 million)

Mr. O'Connell asks about Race to the Top funding: are we going after it? how are we spending it? do we need time to approve?
the superintendent mentions at the Dec. 17 meeting, there will be a draft MOU; intial presentation to School Committee then (though the mayor has already seen it, as has the president of the teachers' union, in a "state-led" meeting)
state will file an application under the 4 areas; if MA gets it, the districts have 90 days for a specific plan to access money; currently have general plans for how Worcester would use money, not specific