Worcester School Committee on FY18 (round three)

I missed a few accounts, but came in just in time for Brian O'Connell's annual professed ignorance about the table of accounts (the "hidden administrators") speech. Mr. O'Connell, of course, is a school business manager.
Mr. O'Connell argues for and makes a motion to cut $150,000 from the central administration account.

Worcester Teacher Layoffs: Update as of 4/15

Having just received my weekly packet from the administration, I've got new and somewhat different numbers on layoffs. Here's what I now have:
 The administration is proposing layoffs of:

• 39 teachers: 27 elementary, 7 special education, and 5 secondary
• 51 IA's
• 5 parent liaisons (that's all that we have)

There is also a mention of reducing 12 positions under Finance and Operations (some of this has already started) by consolidating and outsourcing, which is projected to save $345,000.
There is also a "consolidation of administrative positions" but no mention of which or how much it might save.

I'll send out some questions this afternoon to see if I can clear some of this up. Add your questions in the comments or send me an email.

early retirement

participation in the early retirement incentive
potentially employers only need 20 years of service to participate
If we had 20 people take advantage of the early retirement incentive and used 30% backfill, we could save UP TO $546,420
we want to make sure that we don't end up with underserved schools
cap at 20, but SC can sort numbers (so many custodians, administrative clerical, school clerical, parent liaisons, those being the positions recommended for participation in early retirement)
SC recommends UP TO 6 positions each in custodians, administrative clerical, school clerical, and 2 parent liasons for the total of 20 positions
Allen: assuming that we will be at foundation next year, but we're STILL $10 million short heading into next year due to the loss of IDEA, ARRA funds. IF the economy doesn't improve and we AREN'T at foundation, we're going to be in worse shape than that.
This is a chance, thus, to save a half a million dollars and still be able to replace 30% of the salaries of the staff we lose
We aren't going to have that advantage next spring
recommendation that these moneys be used, then education jobs funds be forwarded to FY12
MOTION CARRIES

"underpromise and overdeliver"

O'Brien's comment regarding the plan..."we'd better be sure we do it!"

"is it the vision that the redesign team will include the stakeholders?"
various smaller groups, says the superintendent
"arms coming from redesign team...continue all that work"
"they (the stakeholders) have not disengaged at all"
O' Brien says he'd expect that the community members could still be involved
Boone agrees that it will be those folks as well as others

Will the new hires go forward for September? (the stakeholders have called for parent liasions, for example) Boone speaks of the applications for money...if we aren't fully funded, we may have to make adjustments to the plan.
O'Brien asks if we have to submit this with a budget. No, says the superintendent.
O'Brien says we're going to be held accountable for this plan (implicit, then, if we are not funded or funded fully, then how do we fulfill this plan?)

O'Brien asks Allen if we can have a list of what's going to be done this summer at these schools.
O'Brien asks how the $125,000 early implementation grant is being spent...professional development, largely, as flushed out by the principals.
(Note that $38,000 went to a $19,000 per principal stipend, over and above their salary.)

O'Brien speaks of the public concern that the money goes to the schools (not to consultants, not to DAB); asks for a budget breakdown of how the money is being spent

asks if the plan will go the state in fall? Yes, after it comes through School Committee
asks that the school communities get together before the plan goes to the Commissioner