WPS FY12 budget

...at the Worcester City Council.
Boone: "This Friday, I will be releasing the second of balanced budgets in very difficult financial times..with no cut in essential services..aligning the resources to...advance student achievement."
students, principals, parents, businesses, teachers, community
Clear priorities: "high quality teaching and learning, reasonable class sizes, elective course offerings, 21st century technology and professional development..."
all course offerings are preserved
technology level funded
"Budget does NOT include any savings from a settled teachers' contract"
"very difficult choices as we close a seven million dollar stimulus cliff"
administrative savings, reduction in trades and operations
"very little expansion in services other than in cutting of other programs"


reminds Council of $26 million gap in NEED: gifted and talented, expanded voc/tech, librarians, MassCore






Rushton: "being a consumer of the Worcester Public Schools...concerned about laying off people within special education"
if the proposed budget goes through, $1.9 million in savings: will that bring people back?
Boone: absolutely, that is the plan
Rushton: how many non-teacher positions are being cut?
Allen: 12 in Finance and Operations
Rushton: 58 in teaching..how many can come back?
Boone: 24 elementary, 5 secondary, sped assistants
Boone: not arbitrary cuts...sped review...a comprehension direction and vision for special education moving forward to be presented to special education
Rushton: "consultants always want to come up with recommendations, that's how they can paid...is that how you decided?"
Boone: no, made prior
Rushton: knows School Committee looks long and hard at these issues.."I'm very proud of my public schools"

Lukes: "learning under fire...with her first appointment as a superintendent..so far most of us are impressed"
June 15 deadline for layoffs
Grants: has the fees issue been resolved?
Boone: have worked on agreement for stimulus funds...held at 1%
rest remains at 3%
Lukes: how much money have we lost in federal grants over the past few years?
Allen: several million dollars, function of enrollment shifts in the country
planning for reduction in federal grants already...

Mayor O'Brien: reminds that there is money coming in both ways: capital money

Petty: the other high schools..one factor is facilities...many parents take advantage of sending their children to schools outside the city
"priority of mine to get Doherty done...Burncoat, South High School...Nelson Place on the list...playgrounds for the students are falling apart...do we have any plans for that for the future?"
Boone: looking at costs for a rehab of the other high schools, from a School Committee item
update on two significant playground opportunities at Gates Lane and Quinsigamond
also looking at condition of our schoolyards as part of our recess policy
Mayor O'Brien: list of ten schools that will get work this summer
Boone: work will begin on the 24, once school is done on the 23rd
Petty: maintenance issues on school practice fields

Haller: "I have gotten more involved on the school side of things in the work on the Promise Neighborhood...impressed by the level of professionalism by the teachers and others on that..."
looking forward to capital spending report
enrollment trends?
Boone: enrollment getting close to where it was in 2006-07
increase of 280 students, most in elementary, this year
most elementary schools at or over capacity
10 classes over 27, once all is shaken out...Haller asks for a list on where those classes are
School choice? Mayor O'Brien says it's impacting us "surprisingly well"
Allen: receiving half a million a year in tuition, saving positions
fairly consistent level of participation
school safety?
Boone: no reductions or shifts in school safety, bullying plan implemented
"it's been a pleasure working with the superintendent and her staff..."
Thanks Lukes for bringing in Boone as superintendent

MOTION TO APPROVE: approved