FY19 WPS budget at CPPAC

It's possible that this is more or less what these notes are on from February...posting as we go...
Allen: waiting for the House budget to come out in the middle of April; that's what we use as the official numbers that go to the School Committee
"a snapshot of what we're using for planning purposes"
slight enrollment decline, modest inflation rate, two foundation budget changes
foundation budget going up $5.9M "a little lower than the historical increase"
city contribution based on required increase: "conversations are still ongoing"



total state Ch.70 up 2.2%; total of $4.85B
inflation factor is 2.64%, highest in some time

overall enrollment change was 134 (over 27,000 students)
Allen: "it seems we're always caught in this bad cycle...this year, enrollment's decreasing and the inflation factor is growing..." (aka we never seem to catch growing enrollment and inflation up a reasonable amount)
change to economically disadvantaged incremental funding makes "a fairly significant difference"
11% of FBRC recommendation ($72M state total increase)
"take nine or ten years to get to that full funding level" recommended by FBRC
student enrollment change is about a $700K
change in ED is a $1.8M decrease

"at its high point, Worcester had over 300 students" enrolled from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
parent Q: "Why aren't those kids in that formula?"
"how do you account for emergencies?"
Allen: once for the first time in the 25 years of the foundation budget, they're going to provide money for students enrolled after October 1
276 students enrolled an average of 70 days through March 1 (maximum number was 87)
state "will take another snapshot again between March 1 and the end of the school year"
funding coming for FY18; district will carry forward in FY19; likewise a snapshot with a prorated amount for FY19
"I'm calculating that the total amount we will receive is $2M between the two years"

enrollment: preschool down 40
K-6 down 122
7 and 8 up 50
9-12 down 22
...for the total of 134 students down
some schools increased as much as 28%, some decreased as much as 14%
"our enrollment is higher than it was back in 2004 when we closed eight schools"
eight classrooms at Y for Chandler Elementary planned again for next year

change from low income to economically disadvantaged (direct certification)
parent points out that having families that are "on the edge" and not signing up for services disadvantages school system (as they don't get included in the count)
state bumped up state per pupil amount in shift from low income from economically disadvantaged
with more students captured, state bumped amount back DOWN
and there's a list of FY17 winners and losers to FY19 
discussion here of how best to capture student information and ensure all are counted

.@worcesterpublic FY19 on one slide pic.twitter.com/IutygnjqoD

— Tracy O'Connell Novick (@TracyNovick) March 28, 2018

remarkably, health insurance is up only 3%
level service across the board is a 2.3% increase ($7.7M increase)
additional teachers needed for elementary preparation, more ESL teachers, secondary teachers needed for enrollment increases, five year leases are up "and won't be totally cost neutral"
district is running 10 of 95 big buses ourselves
PLUS allocation requests from schools and district
parent Q: why doesn't Worcester charge for bussing?
Allen: 77% or more students low income; attendance issue
"what kind of money would we get that would be worthwhile?"
including that "our total budget would only be going up 3.5%...that's not a crazy increase"
BUT we're not getting that
so everything there will result in a cut somewhere else

Legislative recommendations:
adjust the economocially disadvantaged per pupil to support highest concentration
full and immediate adoption of FBRC
"we're at a $70M gap between what we spend and what the foundation budget is based on" in just special education and health insurance

There was further discussion, led by School Committee member Dante Comparetto after Mr. Allen left. Dante noted that there have been several discussions at School Committee about joining Brockton, but that public action appears necessary to gain mometuum. The upcoming meeting on April 5, at which Brockton and Worcester will jointly present, is a good chance to make that happen (and an agenda item on FBRC opens that for public comment, as well). Those concerned also should note S.2325 in Senate Ways and Means and also advocate for the FY19 budget with state representatives and senators.