on the budget...

The executive summary is here.
The full budget is here.
The Worcester School Committee meets in budget session for the first time at 4 pm on Thursday (there is a second session on June 16). Public comment on particular budget items and accounts is welcome, as is getting in touch with the School Committee regarding the budget.



A few things of note:

• much of the change in the budget is based on two things: changes in WPS enrollment--we're up 280 kids in total, 1316 kids IDed as ELL--and the loss of the stimulus funding (which, remember, was divided up amongs various commitments). That means the percentages on some particular budget accounts are screwy; be sure to read the narrative.
• this budget is PENDING THE TEACHERS' CONTRACT. The teachers are scheduled to vote on the proposed contract tomorrow; if the teachers approve (and the School Committee does so on Thursday), then the proposed numbers of teachers to be laid off would be smaller (24 teachers would come back). That would mean (this is for you, Charlie!), fewer than 10 classes over 27, rather than 71. Negotiations are ongoing with the instructional assistants, but the same would be true of that group ('though I don't have numbers).
• There's also proposed cuts of 7 special ed teachers and 5 secondary teachers, in both cases, I am assured, with no loss of services. The administration has also proposed cutting all parent liaisons.
• In addition to the classroom level cuts, there is also a cut of the School Plant Manager ($120,00), the consolidation of CVTE and Director of Technical Ed positions ($115,000), two clerical staff cuts in Finance and Operations, and a cut of 10 skilled trade positions.
• If you're interested, the budget spells out (pages 8 and 9) the capital expenditures of the year. This includes not only the annual round of replacing vehicles and upgrading technology (1000 refurbished computers! Excellent!), but also includes this year's building rehab projects. That's Sullivan Middle, Chandler Magnet, Rice Square, and Burncoat Middle for FY12.

More to come! Input most welcome!