FY12 budget update

the superintendent turns it over to Brian Allen (You'll find the presentation here.)
review of the FY11 budget
71% of our budget is spent on salaries and health insurance, if you include charter schools; if you exclude charter schools, it's 78%
50% of our budget is for fixed costs; Mr. Allen points out that this 50% rate has been a part of the presentation since 2005 (aka, it shouldn't surprise anyone).
Spending history since 1994: all growth since 2002 has been in charter assessment, tuition assessment, and health insurance (slide 10; worth a look)

2000-07: ch. 70 rose by $700 million, while employee benefit spending rose by over $1 billion
same period: adjusted for inflation per pupil spending fell by 11.3% (you saw this; from the Boston Foundation study)
in spite of a $5 billion increase in education funding 1996-2007, there has been almost no increase in the number of teachers and average class size is no smaller
actual costs of running schools exceeded the foundation budget by 16%
21% below foundation in 1993
came within 3% in 2000
back down to 16% for 2010

FY12:  estimate of 10% increase on health insurance $4.7 million
salaries (with no raises) will increase $2.8 million
charter school tuition expected to go up by $471,000
sped tuition up by $1 million
transportation up by $712,000
note that every 1% of raise = $1.2 million

enrollment up by 280
inflation fact (right now) of 1.85%
our deficit this past year was entirely attributable to the negative inflation factor


assumes ch.70 will be fully funded
that's $221 million for FY11 plus $75 million for inflation factor plus enrollment growth for the state
Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation estimates the state will face a $2.1 billion gap; estimate a 5-10% cut in local aid
each percent change in ch.70 is $1.97 million for WPS

circuit breaker is funded at 40% BECAUSE OF THE STIMULUS FUNDING
(state is now facing some maintenance of effort issues from the federal government)
quality kindergarten grant, funds most of our kindergarten aides ($1 million)
charter school reimbursement is $4.4 million
other state grants of $5.8 million

expect foundation to grow by $9.8 million next year (between inflation and student growth)

$8.2 million gap as of now: that's 164 positions, or 5%  of the WPS workforce (note that this is smaller than the $10.2 projection due to education jobs funds the administration recommended setting aside for FY12)
"anticipate reductions in ch.70 aid in communities" that are funded over foundation
approving new charter schools requires 100% reimbursement; more money there
elimination of non-funded transportation requirements

adequacy of foundation budget (estimation of $8 billion that the state is underfunded)
Mass Association of School Superintendents is having a paper on this out next month
Student centered budget