"as money has become tighter...relationship loaded with more friction...some real problem with some of the demands being put on the city"
"money is limited"
Lukes: how many new positions added?
Boone: net is 30 new position
Lukes: how many new positions on the cityside? Zidelis say that it's less than 20
Query as to if that's counting new WFD and WPD classes
Lukes is not counting new safety classes: WHICH ARE NEW HIRES IN WFD AND WPD!!
Lukes: total amount received in federal grants?
$30 M in federal grants, $5 M in state grants
Lukes: asks how much counts towards net school spending
grants don't count towards net school spending because net school spending is a measure of how much a community spends on its own school system
"we have costs that aren't included in the formula"
speaks of eyes glazing over from people at home on talk of foundation budget
administrative costs and medicaid not counting
transportation doesn't count towards net school spending: Lukes asks that DelSignore walk us through his report again
DelSignore: "getting there and schools themselves don't count towards net school spending"
Lukes asks if we could save any money by vendoring out the transportation...DelSignore says that there are experts in that (and he isn't one)
cites Grafton which charges a fee to students beyond grade 6 who are not low income
one should perhaps point out that we are 73% low income
says she does not believe that students won't come if they don't have transportation
"if we have a real problem with kids (not coming without transportation)..."not being motivated
Boone: "we never blame our children for our underperforming"
"not required to provide transportation for our 7-12" but once we have the buses for K-6, the rest of the day is taken care of already
increase in requests from charter and private schools
"biting off our nose despite our face.." to cut transportation
putting a fee on those not on free and reduced lunch "middle class tax"
Lukes motion for legal inquiry into fees fails, 1-8
Showing posts with label DelSignore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DelSignore. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Joint Council/School Committee meeting: Finance & Operations and Education: finance
We've got a phone call going into DESE: Jeff Wulfson, Deputy Commissioner of Education; Jay Sullivan, Executive Director, School Finance and District Support Center; Roger Hatch, School Finance Programs Administrator are "here" by phone.
posting as we go...
posting as we go...
Three more things to add
- Kudos to Mr. DelSignore for working so hard to get up to speed on the foundation formula and Chapter 70 and school finance in general overnight. He was having to respond to questions last night that were well outside his purview, and I appreciate his making such an effort.
- If you want to have some (other) source for what happened last night around school funding, you're better off reading Mr. Foskett's Twitter feed during the meeting than the article from today. It looks to me as though the editors have once again played the "you need to get it all in and you'll not have enough space" thing again (which is always so disappointing, really).
And:
- No councilor made a motion for administration to come back with a plan to fully fund the schools.
Joint meeting this afternoon at 11!
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Coming in under suspension tonight: UPDATED
Coming in under suspension tonight at Worcester City Council is a report back from City Auditor James DelSignore with a cover memo that concludes that the city is currently $799,361 under required net school spending.
At Council. Liveblog to follow.
Why the different number? It turns out that the state had already made the adjustment for the charter school tuition (you'll remember that the city wasn't actually adding money to the WPS budget, but rather being sure we didn't lose funds), which we didn't expect. The $945,694 owed in NSS already included the $500,000 transferred by the city. Thus the $799,361 stands.
At Council. Liveblog to follow.
Why the different number? It turns out that the state had already made the adjustment for the charter school tuition (you'll remember that the city wasn't actually adding money to the WPS budget, but rather being sure we didn't lose funds), which we didn't expect. The $945,694 owed in NSS already included the $500,000 transferred by the city. Thus the $799,361 stands.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
City Auditor on actuarial benefits
Foley: increase in payments that are to our retirees?
What should we be aware of that's happening?
8% assumption on return, coming in much lower
Allen: the one account that seemed unclear to many, what the future looked like for the retirement account
"this is the assessment provided to us by the city...what the long-term projections would look like"
DelSignore: 2008 was a horrible year, it "could have increased 50%"
"assets moving" smoothing both gains and losses
anticipating investment income is going to be lower than it has been
formula based on when they were hire
"I wish I had good news for you, but I don't"
schedule comes out almost identical to last year, expect an 8% increase for this year (how much we have to make up)
28.25% of the City
"benefit increases have not gone on recently"
"we have one more year of smoothing to go...another $56 million to smooth out"
a couple of years of gains, another year of actuarial loss in 2011
whatever amount; over 8% or under 8%
Foley: is that 8% return a reasonable expectation?
DelSignore: city has always met its annual expectation
8% has historically been a reasonable number (not now)
others thought a discount rate of 4%; assessment rate would double
"should have faith in the markets"
problem with oversight agency; now has been resolved
alternative investments continue to do very well
"could already have been a lot worse if we didn't use assest smoothing"
$56 million to overcome...would have to earn 15% this year
probably going to increase 8% every year for awhile
impressed rating agencies were very impressed
stretched out the assessment, but you have to pay it sooner or later
"if the market recovers, does better, it won't"
What should we be aware of that's happening?
8% assumption on return, coming in much lower
Allen: the one account that seemed unclear to many, what the future looked like for the retirement account
"this is the assessment provided to us by the city...what the long-term projections would look like"
DelSignore: 2008 was a horrible year, it "could have increased 50%"
"assets moving" smoothing both gains and losses
anticipating investment income is going to be lower than it has been
formula based on when they were hire
"I wish I had good news for you, but I don't"
schedule comes out almost identical to last year, expect an 8% increase for this year (how much we have to make up)
28.25% of the City
"benefit increases have not gone on recently"
"we have one more year of smoothing to go...another $56 million to smooth out"
a couple of years of gains, another year of actuarial loss in 2011
whatever amount; over 8% or under 8%
Foley: is that 8% return a reasonable expectation?
DelSignore: city has always met its annual expectation
8% has historically been a reasonable number (not now)
others thought a discount rate of 4%; assessment rate would double
"should have faith in the markets"
problem with oversight agency; now has been resolved
alternative investments continue to do very well
"could already have been a lot worse if we didn't use assest smoothing"
$56 million to overcome...would have to earn 15% this year
probably going to increase 8% every year for awhile
impressed rating agencies were very impressed
stretched out the assessment, but you have to pay it sooner or later
"if the market recovers, does better, it won't"
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Cheryl Delsignore, EAW president
"present state of debate is very alarming"
economics plays a very great part in what we do every day
"Worcester's not the same as Lexington and Shrewsbury"
Worcester has funded their schools less than 1% above what they are required to; state average is 14%
devestating to let them go; it's a challenge
"we don't need...the teachers know what we need"
need more teachers, lower class sizes
to address poverty, homelessness
need a longer day
400 per guidance councilors; national average is 100
"we're cutting all of our business programs!"
"we need much more in our schools than math and reading"
"you need to step up and start acting...we've got to stop the flood of dollars going away from our schools"
"if your kids don't go to schools in the Worcester Public Schools, then why not?"
"we need the resources to make this the best public school system it can be"
enthusiastic applause
I should note as well that teachers rallied this afternoon on the Common before meeting with the legislative delegation.
economics plays a very great part in what we do every day
"Worcester's not the same as Lexington and Shrewsbury"
Worcester has funded their schools less than 1% above what they are required to; state average is 14%
devestating to let them go; it's a challenge
"we don't need...the teachers know what we need"
need more teachers, lower class sizes
to address poverty, homelessness
need a longer day
400 per guidance councilors; national average is 100
"we're cutting all of our business programs!"
"we need much more in our schools than math and reading"
"you need to step up and start acting...we've got to stop the flood of dollars going away from our schools"
"if your kids don't go to schools in the Worcester Public Schools, then why not?"
"we need the resources to make this the best public school system it can be"
enthusiastic applause
I should note as well that teachers rallied this afternoon on the Common before meeting with the legislative delegation.
Monday, March 15, 2010
School reorganization
We're doing what the admin is calling the "Strength Deployment Plan for Instructional Systems Improvement." (SDPISI? This is why I'm saying 'reorganization.')
"a description of what we are actually going to be doing and a timeline"
"pulling back on a whole redesign of the whole system" as the budget is in better shape than originally thought
For next year:
in high school, focusing on reducing class size in gr. 9, focus in high schools "more in-depth programming," phase in community partnerships (virtual and real-time) in various ways, flexible staff patterns for before and after school options (classes that run outside the traditional school day), community listening and learning
"teachers and parents and students have lots more ideas that make this a better plan"
readiness schools>>>>innovation schools, talking with Clark, South Quadrant already has partnership with Clark, and teacher "readiness" is there
Much more specific about the programs that we offer to do the things we need
"each innovation school will evolve in their own way"
Monfredo suggests an orientation program, and small learning academies, asks if the grade configuration would be different. Mulqueen says possibly, especially as Sullivan and South more or less share a campus. "Decisions made in conjunction with faculty and community"
Biancheria asks how many meetings they've had with staff, what was reaction: some early meetings in fall, suspended as shift went from readiness to innovation...faculty wants to know detail. "time is right to begin those meetings again...working out details around innovation schools" Asks if we have looked at what is available for those small learning communities (arts, health careers, etc),,, feeding them back into the community
"Not really for me to decide, not really for me to direct" says Mulqueen
district's decision to move forward with innovation schools is a structural issue done at School Committee, but how it plays out is done by teachers
Delsignore asks what the flex time means...is it optional? Innovation schools language (as in the law). Mulqueen would prefer optional, voluntary
When is the union going to be in the discussion? Now, more or less
Monfredo asks for models from across the country
Delsignore asks if there's any plan to eliminate extended day at the three elementary schools in the South Quadrant that have it. How to continue it without increasing the workday for the teacher? Dependant on state funding and WPS funding
Essential conditions of Level 4 schools: Commissioner requiring weighed budget dollars pulled out of FY11 budget...not sure how that would work yet, says Mulqueen
Schedule of proposed meeting times : as I typed up previously
Biancheria says she thought we'd agreed to two or three meetings at several sites. Short time frame, all held at a school...Mulqueen looks back at the motion...happy to do more...
Larger time frame needed to coordinate notices out to parents and staff
Mulqueen says that he thinks we're on the same page...initial introduction..
She asks for at least an additional meeting.."we have to work at partners and parents participation"
Looking at an additional meeting for at least the South Quadrant, possibly the others as well.
More nights, different days, clearer and more digestible presentations, 20 minutes of feedback isn't long enough (Novick)
Make sure that everyone gets the same information, "if it takes a little longer, that's necessary" says Monfredo
O'Connell says what if we do this first, then offer others, perhaps?
Suggestion from a parent that there might be a daytime meeting also those for whom that would be more easy to make
Biancheria: MOTION that we have a minimum of two meetings for each quadrant (both for innovation and for elementary/secondary redesign) "We're going to be making some changes here" wants to address questions..."has to be something that people are comfortable with"
for Level 4, figure out if an additional meeting is needed
"a description of what we are actually going to be doing and a timeline"
"pulling back on a whole redesign of the whole system" as the budget is in better shape than originally thought
For next year:
in high school, focusing on reducing class size in gr. 9, focus in high schools "more in-depth programming," phase in community partnerships (virtual and real-time) in various ways, flexible staff patterns for before and after school options (classes that run outside the traditional school day), community listening and learning
"teachers and parents and students have lots more ideas that make this a better plan"
readiness schools>>>>innovation schools, talking with Clark, South Quadrant already has partnership with Clark, and teacher "readiness" is there
Much more specific about the programs that we offer to do the things we need
"each innovation school will evolve in their own way"
Monfredo suggests an orientation program, and small learning academies, asks if the grade configuration would be different. Mulqueen says possibly, especially as Sullivan and South more or less share a campus. "Decisions made in conjunction with faculty and community"
Biancheria asks how many meetings they've had with staff, what was reaction: some early meetings in fall, suspended as shift went from readiness to innovation...faculty wants to know detail. "time is right to begin those meetings again...working out details around innovation schools" Asks if we have looked at what is available for those small learning communities (arts, health careers, etc),,, feeding them back into the community
"Not really for me to decide, not really for me to direct" says Mulqueen
district's decision to move forward with innovation schools is a structural issue done at School Committee, but how it plays out is done by teachers
Delsignore asks what the flex time means...is it optional? Innovation schools language (as in the law). Mulqueen would prefer optional, voluntary
When is the union going to be in the discussion? Now, more or less
Monfredo asks for models from across the country
Delsignore asks if there's any plan to eliminate extended day at the three elementary schools in the South Quadrant that have it. How to continue it without increasing the workday for the teacher? Dependant on state funding and WPS funding
Essential conditions of Level 4 schools: Commissioner requiring weighed budget dollars pulled out of FY11 budget...not sure how that would work yet, says Mulqueen
Schedule of proposed meeting times : as I typed up previously
Biancheria says she thought we'd agreed to two or three meetings at several sites. Short time frame, all held at a school...Mulqueen looks back at the motion...happy to do more...
Larger time frame needed to coordinate notices out to parents and staff
Mulqueen says that he thinks we're on the same page...initial introduction..
She asks for at least an additional meeting.."we have to work at partners and parents participation"
Looking at an additional meeting for at least the South Quadrant, possibly the others as well.
More nights, different days, clearer and more digestible presentations, 20 minutes of feedback isn't long enough (Novick)
Make sure that everyone gets the same information, "if it takes a little longer, that's necessary" says Monfredo
O'Connell says what if we do this first, then offer others, perhaps?
Suggestion from a parent that there might be a daytime meeting also those for whom that would be more easy to make
Biancheria: MOTION that we have a minimum of two meetings for each quadrant (both for innovation and for elementary/secondary redesign) "We're going to be making some changes here" wants to address questions..."has to be something that people are comfortable with"
for Level 4, figure out if an additional meeting is needed
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Clancy wants a list
Councilor Clancy is looking for a list of how much money Section 18 has saved the city.
He also quotes the EAW president as asking what good Section 19 would do if everyone is at 75/25.
He also quotes the EAW president as asking what good Section 19 would do if everyone is at 75/25.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
RTTT MOU: DelSignore
Cheryl DelSignore, president of the EAW (Worcester's teachers' union)
only union bringing it to a vote on Monday
since 2002, we have just made progress
"feel and take umbruge" at the name Race to the Top
no operational definitions
state has not given us the formula for the Level 4 and 5 schools
"coersion for money"
no one has seen the application (135 pages), and no one will
all three parties need to sign on (says the state); federal says that the union doesn't have to sign (weakens if they don't)
only union bringing it to a vote on Monday
since 2002, we have just made progress
"feel and take umbruge" at the name Race to the Top
no operational definitions
state has not given us the formula for the Level 4 and 5 schools
"coersion for money"
no one has seen the application (135 pages), and no one will
all three parties need to sign on (says the state); federal says that the union doesn't have to sign (weakens if they don't)
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
More questions from DelSignore
DelSignore: teacher performance tied to student performance
conversation of turning South into readiness schools (the entire quadrant)
Boone: timing of RTTT has trumped it
language at state has been somewhat muddied around readiness schools
still "on the forefront for us"
"would improve the opportunity"different directions to improvement
Readiness change to innovation schools: if we opt in, does it prevent state takeover?
Happens only at Level 5, restrictions at Level 4
conversation of turning South into readiness schools (the entire quadrant)
Boone: timing of RTTT has trumped it
language at state has been somewhat muddied around readiness schools
still "on the forefront for us"
"would improve the opportunity"different directions to improvement
Readiness change to innovation schools: if we opt in, does it prevent state takeover?
Happens only at Level 5, restrictions at Level 4
Not-so-liveblog:
DelSignore: passing of Ed Reform and how that will impact collective bargaining?
support to have more discussion only
state's final application has not been shared
teachers need to sit on committees to share what they think ought to happen
no state formula for what is a Level 4 or 5 school is
many unanswered questions
variable amount of money that could come to the city
union votes on MONDAY: 5-6:15 at Forest Grove
teacher certification issues
support to have more discussion only
state's final application has not been shared
teachers need to sit on committees to share what they think ought to happen
no state formula for what is a Level 4 or 5 school is
many unanswered questions
variable amount of money that could come to the city
union votes on MONDAY: 5-6:15 at Forest Grove
teacher certification issues
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