Worcester school budget before City Council

Liveblogging from the City Council's hearing of the Worcester Public Schools' budget this afternoon at 4:30. Per the agenda, it looks like they've got the law department, property and casuality insurance, and court judgments up first, so it will probably be a bit.  Someone just said "They're going on first," so maybe it won't be a bit!
A few things of note: this is, of course, a hearing on the orange slice below, no matter what the City Manager may leading with on his page...

...the bulk of WPS spending comes from everywhere-other-than-the-city, and while I am sure (add it to your BINGO cards) someone will talk about "the biggest part of the budget being the Worcester Public Schools," neither the City Manager nor the City Council in any way can do anything with Ch. 70 save spend it on schools. 

I'd argue, in fact, that the Council tonight is really only talking about $4M, which is the amount the City Manager has allocated over the amount the city is required to spend on schools (within net school spending). As that's still just squeaking over 1%, let's not get out the ticker tape just yet. 

There are some councilors for whom this is the first WPS budget, so we'll have to see what Wally and Rose have to say. You can also watch for at least one question already being in the budget book, some back and forth about "working relationships," and district councilors somehow making this all about their districts. Even odds this morning's report on the enormous and expensive backlog of repairs of schools coming up; the capital budget isn't on tonight's agenda, but it should be on people's minds. Also, Councilor King did mention the amount of municipal contribution coming in as policing last week during the WPD hearing, so that may come up as well. 

4:36 and a quorum of Council is here, the Mayor just came in (and has to be back out in time for South High's graduation, as does the Superintendent, come to think of it)...

Petty: now we're going to talk about the budget questions and answer those first...how are we looking this year for teachers this year?
Allen: reallocation of teachers from elementary to secondary...if the Senate number is approved, it's about $3.3M for us, we'd restore those elementary positions and add additional positions as well

Binienda: and we'd add the tutors back as well

Petty asks Allen to review why the budget is not as expected

overall budget is up just over 2%, new contractual positions in elementary...biggest driver is state funding

"change in the way the state is providing funding for economically disadvantaged students shorted us $2M"

plus charter and circuit breaker underfunding shorts 55 teacher positions (worth)

Petty: includes funding for students from Puerto Rico

Allen: budget includes $2M for next year