Public comment:
Showing posts with label instructional assistants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label instructional assistants. Show all posts
Thursday, June 4, 2020
Friday, November 15, 2019
Finance and Operations meets Monday
It's the first quarter report! and more!
The agenda is here.
The first item on the agenda is the report closing FY19. First, note that on a $345M general fund budget, the district was left with a balance of $2312 at the year's close (that goes back to the city). That's a margin that is, well, stunning. Districts that are much much smaller don't manage their projections and budget lines that tightly.
The second thing of note (to me, anyway) is that over the course of the year, over $4M was transfered from salary lines to non-salary lines, with $1.6M going to Misc Educational OM, which I don't understand...as of May, $370K had been transfered into that line, so what happened since?
The second item is a response to the request for a walking path from St. Paul Street to Flagg Street School; the report notes that a pathway of 300 feet would cost between $25,000 to $30,000; there is a layout as the second page.
There is no report, because one was not requested, on if this is the greatest facility need of this level of cost, if there are other schools that likewise might need such access, and if this is the most equitable way of spending such funds.
The first quarter report of this fiscal year is on this agenda: the year thus far by cost center is here; the report with narrative is here. As always, I'd urge you to read it, but a few notes:
The agenda is here.
The first item on the agenda is the report closing FY19. First, note that on a $345M general fund budget, the district was left with a balance of $2312 at the year's close (that goes back to the city). That's a margin that is, well, stunning. Districts that are much much smaller don't manage their projections and budget lines that tightly.
The second thing of note (to me, anyway) is that over the course of the year, over $4M was transfered from salary lines to non-salary lines, with $1.6M going to Misc Educational OM, which I don't understand...as of May, $370K had been transfered into that line, so what happened since?
The second item is a response to the request for a walking path from St. Paul Street to Flagg Street School; the report notes that a pathway of 300 feet would cost between $25,000 to $30,000; there is a layout as the second page.
There is no report, because one was not requested, on if this is the greatest facility need of this level of cost, if there are other schools that likewise might need such access, and if this is the most equitable way of spending such funds.
The first quarter report of this fiscal year is on this agenda: the year thus far by cost center is here; the report with narrative is here. As always, I'd urge you to read it, but a few notes:
- part of the FY20 budget increase via the Senate was an increase in instructional assistants, focusing on kindergarten. That line is running higher that budgeted
...and I don't understand why from this description, to be honest.Ah, okay: if you read to the end of the report, this gets picked back up: Title I came in $158K lower than was budgeted, so instructional assistants are being shifted off of Title I to the general fund. - facilities ordinary maintenance is running higher than budgeted, because contracted services are having to pick up for unfilled positions.
- personnel services is running over almost entirely due to $184K in outside contractor professional development
- transporation over three lines is running nearly $500K, with almost half of that coming from the giveback negotiated by the superintendent and agreed to by the Committee in connection with their renewed contract with Durham. Some of the other lines are likewise Durham-related, though they are WPS spending: the overtime "to address vacant positions" is, I'd venture, at least in part due to the times WPS is having to pick up Durham routes when Durham doesn't have drivers. The district in total has added four routes--two WPS, two Durham, despite the issues there--and that's the increase in the salary line.
- I keep saying this:
...and it appears that part of the reason for the workers' comp line is that 10 of THOSE are for the prior fiscal year; what the heck is going on??Also, there’s a prior year payment on here for over $10K and it’s November and I keep wondering if anyone is going to bring these things up...— Tracy O'Connell Novick (@TracyNovick) November 7, 2019
- the salary line funding is all vacancies: maybe we should be asking why all of these positions are not managing to be filled?
There's also a report on how the grants came back (some lower, some higher) and what might be shifted there. And the proportionate share requirement--funding special education services at private schools--is included in the description.
Finally, there is a 73 page report on environmental management. That sounds like a lot (it is!), but it's also actually readable:
It reports out that environmental management has not only included specific departments, but has impacts districtwide, runnng to 600 staff having been involved. There's a focus on preventing issues, rather than fixing them after they occur. There are sections on legacy building issues (including lead in water, for those interested; I found it very reassuring, as the issues found have been dealt with and are undergoing retesting); usage (including indoor environmental quality! including:
Protexus Electrostatic Sprayer! (There are YouTube Videos!)
I feel as though someone should mention in here somewhere that this is, of course, just the WPS run buses, not Durham buses.
There are sections on preparing for emergency managment..
There are also some impressive references to operating protocols and training.
If this is of interest, I'd recommend it!
My plan is to be there for this, but I do have a meeting later that night, so I don't know that I'll make it all.
An EMS requires an organization to “Say what you do, Do what you say, and Prove it” as a way to ensure compliance and overall improvements.and uses parallel structure...
It reports out that environmental management has not only included specific departments, but has impacts districtwide, runnng to 600 staff having been involved. There's a focus on preventing issues, rather than fixing them after they occur. There are sections on legacy building issues (including lead in water, for those interested; I found it very reassuring, as the issues found have been dealt with and are undergoing retesting); usage (including indoor environmental quality! including:
The Facilities Department, the WPS EH&S Consultant, the WPS Nursing Department and the Worcester Department of Housing have worked together with a city-wide initiative, the Prevention Wellness Trust Fund (one of nine projects funded by DPH to reduce chronic disease, including pediatric asthma) to pilot EPA’s Tools for Schools program. It included classroom IEQ training and “walk-through” assessments. The goal of this component of this project was to identify conditions that could cause or trigger asthma.and toxic use reduction...and apparently we need a boiler somewhere?...working on Breakfast in the Classroom, types of waste disposal); a department by department review, with an interesting note coming from the art department:
The Art Department identified heavy reliance on donations that were not all certified for use in schools(another reason to fund the budget!), the end of the use of bleach by custodial staff, and a new term to use something in cleaning WPS buses:
I feel as though someone should mention in here somewhere that this is, of course, just the WPS run buses, not Durham buses.
There are sections on preparing for emergency managment..
There are also some impressive references to operating protocols and training.
If this is of interest, I'd recommend it!
My plan is to be there for this, but I do have a meeting later that night, so I don't know that I'll make it all.
Monday, October 17, 2016
Worcester School Committee meets Thursday October 20
You can find the agenda here.
Two things that are a carryover from the previous meeting: the PCB items, as they involve active litigation, were referred to executive session at 6 pm. The School Committee is also discussing contract negotiations with teachers and unit B (which is unionized administrators) and with IAs.
Also, the report of the superintendent on last year's standardized test scores was held over, so that is happening this week.
There was a Teaching, Learning, and Student Support meeting tonight; that agenda is here: AP scores, debate league, SkillsUSA, Playworks, and wifi.
There are a number of resignations, transfers, and appointments.
Much of the remainder of the agenda is reports requested by members: the state preschool expansion grant, discipline codes on SAGE (the online data system of the schools), content liaison information, a legislative breakfast schedule, MCAS appeals, goals assurances grant letter signing, site council meeting dates, services offered by Worcester Tech, and kindergarten classes of 25 or more that have no IA (there are none).
There is a request that donations to Heard Street School, to Belmont Street School (for the Healthy Kids and Family project from UMass), and to Burncoat High's day care be accepted.
Mr. O'Connell suggests that new schools have publicly accessible libraries and requests that Worcester Public Library events be shared with WPS students.
Mr. Monfredo wishes to congratulate Kevin Cox on his book being published, and principals on AP launches. He also would like students to learn the Smiley Face song. (yes, that is an item)
Miss Biancheria would like a report on the JROTC program, on the ALICE protocol, and on window replacements (as covered in the opening of school report, which does not appear to be online).
No live blog from me
Two things that are a carryover from the previous meeting: the PCB items, as they involve active litigation, were referred to executive session at 6 pm. The School Committee is also discussing contract negotiations with teachers and unit B (which is unionized administrators) and with IAs.
Also, the report of the superintendent on last year's standardized test scores was held over, so that is happening this week.
There was a Teaching, Learning, and Student Support meeting tonight; that agenda is here: AP scores, debate league, SkillsUSA, Playworks, and wifi.
There are a number of resignations, transfers, and appointments.
Much of the remainder of the agenda is reports requested by members: the state preschool expansion grant, discipline codes on SAGE (the online data system of the schools), content liaison information, a legislative breakfast schedule, MCAS appeals, goals assurances grant letter signing, site council meeting dates, services offered by Worcester Tech, and kindergarten classes of 25 or more that have no IA (there are none).
There is a request that donations to Heard Street School, to Belmont Street School (for the Healthy Kids and Family project from UMass), and to Burncoat High's day care be accepted.
Mr. O'Connell suggests that new schools have publicly accessible libraries and requests that Worcester Public Library events be shared with WPS students.
Mr. Monfredo wishes to congratulate Kevin Cox on his book being published, and principals on AP launches. He also would like students to learn the Smiley Face song. (yes, that is an item)
Miss Biancheria would like a report on the JROTC program, on the ALICE protocol, and on window replacements (as covered in the opening of school report, which does not appear to be online).
No live blog from me
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Worcester School Committee: Bastille Day edition
probably mostly notes on budget, once they get there.
Oh, hey, I'd missed that this is on here!
Allen "is an exemplary business official, as I'm sure you all know"
Worcester gave the best testimony to FBRC; hope for a resolution to bring a better resolution for Worcester
Oh, hey, I'd missed that this is on here!
To accept a donation in the amount of $2,500 for student scholarships from the Voya Foundation in recognition of the Worcester Public Schools being the 2016 recipient of the Donald Johnson Operational and Cost Efficiency Award from the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials.Verdolino (quoting Brian Allen): "we believe that this collaborative budget approach has brought millions of dollars" in cost efficiency
Allen "is an exemplary business official, as I'm sure you all know"
Worcester gave the best testimony to FBRC; hope for a resolution to bring a better resolution for Worcester
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Worcester Public Schools FY17 budget hearing (June 2)
The budget is here. The sequence in which they'll be taking accounts is here.
Updating as we go once they start...
Updating as we go once they start...
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Finance and Operations meets Monday at 5
You can find the agenda here.
It's time for the first quarter budget update. First, note that once the city does the tax recap, the School Committee will have to reduce the budget by half a million dollars.
And why?
Charter school reimbursement is underfunded. It was underfunded in the budget we passed, but it got worse, rather than better. I ranted about this briefly yesterday on Twitter, but to recap: A district that serves 25,000 students is going to have to cut their budget by half a million dollars in November/December, because the state can't get its act together enough to fulfill their basic LEGAL responsibilities on school funding. Don't talk to me about "stealing possible" when this is your funding pattern.
In other quarter one news:
It's time for the first quarter budget update. First, note that once the city does the tax recap, the School Committee will have to reduce the budget by half a million dollars.
And why?
Charter school reimbursement is underfunded. It was underfunded in the budget we passed, but it got worse, rather than better. I ranted about this briefly yesterday on Twitter, but to recap: A district that serves 25,000 students is going to have to cut their budget by half a million dollars in November/December, because the state can't get its act together enough to fulfill their basic LEGAL responsibilities on school funding. Don't talk to me about "stealing possible" when this is your funding pattern.
In other quarter one news:
- personal services is up quite a bit, as we continue to bring more special ed services back in house, as the Recovery High School tuition is up (good for other reasons, but tough here), and as translation services continue to rise. This is also the line item where the superintendent search is budgeted.
- workers' comp is already projected at a deficit. Again. We'll take Mr. O'Connell's item on a workers' comp update with the quarterly report, but the answer, again, is that we aren't budgeting enough here.
- nurses are also projected at a deficit, because we need subs when they're sick.
- and in a possible (I'll ask) "chickens coming home to roost," you might remember that we didn't replace school buses on the same schedule this year, because our city capital funding remains SO tight. Guess what's up? Contractual transportation services. If we don't pay for the capital expense, we'll pay for it in operational expenses.
Note also the that the Title I grant being up means that some IAs and preK teachers could be moved back to grant funding, which will assist with some of the above.
The full rundown on where accounts are currently projected is here.
In other "clearning the decks" items, we have the South High pool item, which is recommended to referral to the South High building committee (do we have a South High building committee?).
We have the request to see the bid on Lake View's asphalt repairs; the proposal is we get it in a Friday letter.
The ads on buses item is on with a recommendation that it be filed. It turns out that looking at an external object, like an ad, is more distracting than putting on makeup or dialing a phone when you're driving, which is dangerous enough. So putting a known danger on buses to make relatively little money...
We also have the conversation we started during budget on how much of security spending comes out of the facilities budget (which is funded at 61% of foundation).
The proposed 2016-17 and 2017-18 calendars are on here, along with comments from schools. Two notes: both years would start with a full five day week for students over the week that goes from August to September (with teachers coming in for two days the week before), followed by Labor Day (and thus a four day week); there is no change to vacations, though considerable interest expressed in a March break.
Finally, the Foundation Budget Review Commission's final report is on the agenda. More, I suspect, to come on that.
5 o'clock, 4th floor of the administration building or livestreamed on the web!
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Public comment: IAs in Kindergarten
Zalauskas, EAW president: speaking on behalf of parents at City View schools
recently experienced loss of IAs in kindergarten
what is the formula for assignment of IAs?
60 parents signed a petition about it
I should note that we have a chart on the number students in kindergarten classes, which is how IAs are assigned: larger classes get them first. City View's kindergarten are 20, 21,21; they have 1 assigned to the building. Borrowing Steve Foskett's photo:
parent: they do a great job there, but they only have one IA who goes from class to class each day
would be a very big help
parent: when we first enrolled her, we enrolled her in first grade and she had to roll back to kindergarten. IA was a huge help to assure her that she wasn't a baby and hadn't done something wrong. Why were they taken out of City View and put in a school...it's something I would like to see back.
Petty: we go through this every year; if we had our way, we'd put an IA in every kindergarten. Importance of early years
our state delegation put Kindergarten grant back in; 20 IAs
63 IAs; 90 kindergarten classes
Boone: "over time...grant has diminished"
state cut Quality K grant in March; do we lay off IAs to balance the books or do we take from elsewhere? Took from elsewhere
share concern
district would need an additional $750,000 to have an IA in every classroom (as well as keep Quality K grant)
challenge when we don't have an IA in every classroom, and try to maintain reasonable class sizes
currently five schools in same predicament with one shared IA
overall enrollment, class size, need of class
Petty offers to go over numbers with parents
recently experienced loss of IAs in kindergarten
what is the formula for assignment of IAs?
60 parents signed a petition about it
I should note that we have a chart on the number students in kindergarten classes, which is how IAs are assigned: larger classes get them first. City View's kindergarten are 20, 21,21; they have 1 assigned to the building. Borrowing Steve Foskett's photo:
parent: they do a great job there, but they only have one IA who goes from class to class each day
would be a very big help
parent: when we first enrolled her, we enrolled her in first grade and she had to roll back to kindergarten. IA was a huge help to assure her that she wasn't a baby and hadn't done something wrong. Why were they taken out of City View and put in a school...it's something I would like to see back.
Petty: we go through this every year; if we had our way, we'd put an IA in every kindergarten. Importance of early years
our state delegation put Kindergarten grant back in; 20 IAs
63 IAs; 90 kindergarten classes
Boone: "over time...grant has diminished"
state cut Quality K grant in March; do we lay off IAs to balance the books or do we take from elsewhere? Took from elsewhere
share concern
district would need an additional $750,000 to have an IA in every classroom (as well as keep Quality K grant)
challenge when we don't have an IA in every classroom, and try to maintain reasonable class sizes
currently five schools in same predicament with one shared IA
overall enrollment, class size, need of class
Petty offers to go over numbers with parents
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Our IA's have been SAVED
Unanimous House vote!
Thanks to all of those of you who joined me in advocacy, and thanks to our delegation who all voted for this! Advocacy works!
Friday, July 17, 2015
We have a budget-- and a VETO!
This afternoon, Governor Baker signed the FY16 state budget. He vetoed $162M in doing so, including $34M from education...which includes $17M of the Quality Kindergarten grant.
Right. So.
Worcester has 21 kindergarten instructional assistants back on the line again. Give your legislators a call!
UPDATE: Rep. David Linsky of Natick is circulating a letter to his House colleagues, calling for an override of this veto. More as I have it.
Right. So.
Worcester has 21 kindergarten instructional assistants back on the line again. Give your legislators a call!
UPDATE: Rep. David Linsky of Natick is circulating a letter to his House colleagues, calling for an override of this veto. More as I have it.
Friday, July 10, 2015
Not all good news on FY16
While we're still glad we've got our 21 IAs for this coming year, it's not all good news for FY16 coming out of the conference committee:
Watch the quarterly budget updates. We'll have to find it somewhere.While Worcester avoided a budget hole with its kindergarten aides, it’s now facing another sizeable deficit after a cherry sheet released by the state showed the city’s fiscal 2016 charter school reimbursement money came in roughly $650,000 below what local officials had estimated, according to Mr. Allen. While he said the district had budgeted about $350,000 extra next year with the expectation there would be at least some shortfall, that would still leave $300,000 they would have to make up.“That’s concerning,” he said, adding it was still too early as of Friday to say how the school department could close the gap.
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Budget account by account (round 2)
Starting with school nurses and posting as we go
Monfredo motion to approve
approved
personal services
O'Connell: principal mentor program part of personal services: not here?
Boone: not in FY15 either
O'Connell: what is admin doing?
Boone: network of principal support system
make sure they're connected with professional development
security guards: level funded
O'Connell asks if it should be revisit or expanded
Allen: that is one of the items that is in the RFP for school security assessment
O'Connell then we'll get a recommendation
Novick: curious if we need the security guards at all
39% decrease in special education expenses due to coming back in house
are we required to use Teachpoint?
Rodrigues: (not exactly) cataloging goals of teachers and the PD necessary to support them
Biancheria: partnerships?
Boone: Children's Friend no longer receiving grant to provide School-aged mothers program
United Way providing services this year; waiting to hear if they have a grant for next year
Biancheria: is there a night shift of security at Creamer?
Allen: yes, thus not listed under day program costs
translation: in different areas of the budget
have we continued to work with new ideas as others across the country?
Rodrigues: yes, we have
continue to absorb more and more families whose first language is not English
all information that goes home has to be translated into seven languages
IEPs into any language that a family speaks
large database of documents reused
have been working with community on translating and communicating with families
different ways that we can provide the services while not being redundant moving forward
Biancheria: have we discussed with other districts how they're handling it?
Rodrigues: yes, the reverse: Springfield has looked to us
Boston, Springfield, us largest in the network dealing with the issue
approve
administrative clerical salaries
O'Connell: change in system administration amount
Allen: all positions in account are contractually approved increases, longevity, step increase
O'Connell: is that due to upgrade in positions in superintendent offices?
Boone: there is no upgrade in those positions
O'Connell: change in salaries structure
Allen: same salary scheduled
No change
approve
non-instructional support
Biancheria: information system, concern that we have an additional 11.5 positions under various grants
Allen: no change in the number of positions in IT position
Boone: last year you asked for a specific report for internship opportunities
internships saves us in terms of the total salary piece
grant opportunity to fill the gap
Biancheria: motion to how we complete the department
have a number of employees that are being paid under grants
Allen: report that compares this year versus last year
approved
support overtime
O'Connell: in some accounts we've increased 2%; in this one, 5%
Allen: in other accounts there is vacancy or attritition to offset; there is none here
closer to align with actual expenditures
O'Connell: do you still anticipate underspending
Allen: no, traditionally underfunded
Monfredo: appears that this item is underfunded, in need of additional clerical help
administration needs to consider going forward
approve
administrative salaries
O'Connell: motion to reduce account by $200,000
message to reduce number of central adminstration
significant number of people under other accounts...number is significantly
"would be a maximum of two people"
Monfredo: believe Mr. O'Connell's heart is the right place
281 out of 320 district
nearly all district spend more
Petty: thought we were just talking about how to support principals, now you want to take them away?
roll call: fails, 5-2
Biancheria:
approve
Misc Ed OM
Biancheria looking for $25,000 to move $25,000 from Facilities OM
was approved at last discussion
"I think that we've had a very long year...would like to see $100,000 under school safety so we can do what we can prior to having a large report from an outside company"
asks to open the item again to move the money
Foley: think we're all on the same page in terms of our buildings
we talked about building repair dollars being insufficient last time
"I don't know that we gain a whole lot by moving $25,000 from one account to the other"
safety systems like fire alarms
prefer to keep it as it is
more than $25,000 that will be used over the summertime
O'Connell: support Biancheria's motion
"modest sum"
"drop in the bucket compared to what we will need to spend"
Petty: is $75,000 enough to what's needed?
Allen: it's a 50% increase from this year
not sure if I followed the direction of the discussion correctly: if the intent is simply move money from one to the other...
Petty: the money is there if needed
Bianchera; looking to have the hundred under school safety to provide the walkie talkies that are necessary
instead of blanket hope that it will go there
Boone: can provide to School Committee a report on support provided to security
Novick: $25000 per building from this account for repair: that isn't enough to keep up already
also provides for repair of heat, plumbing, electrical already
Ramirez: should have audit performed before increased investment in safety
"that could change everything that we're investing in today"
Foley: fully expect to be back here in six or eight months with a list of things from the safety audit
probably something over several years
Petty: waited until we had a report before shifting it over
roll call to move $25,000 from repair to safety: fails 4-3
approve Misc Ed OM without F
Foley recused
F (building and parking lot rentals): Biancheria, are we anticipating overcrowding at Chandler El?
Allen: third year of contract, still significantly overcrowded
Biancheria: gym at Y rented for $40,000?
Allen: ten month contract access
Biancheria: any work towards not renting parking lots but owning parking lots?
Allen: do you have a parking lot in mind?
Boone; Gates Lane sign off on shopping center, Chatham Street have been renting for some time
Biancheria: probaby purchasing is going to be more expensive, discussion is if there are any other options of purchase
Boone: parking is a premium particuarly in our older schools
would be interested in classroom space, if we had funds, than buying parking lot
motion to look at buying Chatham St
approve
Instructional Materials
Novick: looking at testing spending through testing audit via Accountability
can we clarify with city that funding us at zero brings us below due to charter tuition
O'Connell: do we know how much we can pull out of here?
Allen: wait til state budget is passed
this account has funding for Abby Kelley's transportation, as its undercalculated by that amount
O'Connell: asks for information from admin once we have them
Biancheria: recommened to fund $68 per pupil, not a change from FY15
why wasn't B spent down?
Allen: frozen during second quarter
Biancheria: that's a drastic dollar amount
Allen: difference is that it's being level $215,000; increase is for special education classroom
Biancheria: who didn't have money to do anything?
Boone: as monitor quarterly, froze some purchases across the district
Biancheria: we only alloted $60,000 for supplies?
Boone: either IAs or supplies after 9C cuts
Biancheria: look at this in the future, difference in the dollar amount
had some concerns with that
"hardship for us"
we went up $43,000 in student support services
Boone: requirements for psychological testing are very specific assessments; we're at least 3 versions behind the current assessments; needed to update those
approved
special education tutition
Novick: breakdown on how that works per student
O'Connell: full circuit breaker?
Allen: full being 75%
Instructional assistant salaries
Monfredo: anything on IAs grants
Allen: either going to be zero or what we budgeted?
hope work of House will prevail; budgeted House amount
approve
teacher salaries:
Monfredo: two more non-teaching department heads?
Rodrigues: positions are result of restructing in Child Study
one for 504s, the other for McKinney-Vento
both department heads for evaluation of personnel
evaluate school adjustment counselors
Monfredo: wouldn't we be better off hiring school adjustment counselors?
Rodrigues: will be working with student in 504s and in homelessness
deficit in supervision and oversight
used to have a PBIS coordinator, coordinator of Child Study (which was left vacant last year)
Biancheria: elementary PE and health: how is time determined for schools
Allen: liaison juggles how to deploy staff to all the schools
Boone: we have a requirement to provide PE to our students
Monfredo: how many adjustment counselors are we hiring?
Rodrigues: hiring 3 more
Monfredo: have 4 people doing 1 person's job
Rodrigues: no, had two department chairs, were already there
two new people will be doing the 504 and the McKinney-Vento
that's one of the roles they'll assume
approve
Child Nutrition
O'Connell: Fruits and Vegetables grant; 14 schools are participating in the program
Lombardi: are requirements for the grants
do apply for schools beyond those in the budget, but they are often not awarded
O'Connell: is there a reason?
Lombardi: it's USDA funds alloted on a state by state basis
state chooses which districts and which funds
O'Connell: is it based on free and reduced numbers?
Lombardi: it's at discresion of DESE
we received one of the highest of level of funding
O'Connell: is there any reason why we're not applying for all schools that are avaible
grants:
Novick: Title I; forecast of what's up
Barnes: so much circulating around, forecast is difficult
Boone: watching ESEA closely, will advocate and share as it comes up
Biancheria: vocational director: half funded at Perkins
vocational director for district at Tech
Biancheria: teachers coming off of Chapter 74 funding, not changed on budget
Boone: funding blended between local, state, and federal
still providing bus passes for internship? Yes
O'Connell: adult education: dollars decreased in materials and supplies?
Allen: grant continues to be level-funded, but salary increases, has to come from somewhere
$95,000 is from rest of budget
O'Connell: teachers and instructional coaches increased
Allen: sustainability of Level 4 schools and those coming off into
approve
back to utilities
report came back
O'Connell had made a motion to reduce oil by $5000
motion to take $15,000 from these accounts
look at trends and directions; reflect likely prices in this area
Boone: number two fuel oil is down but have factored in change in gas
Allen: have already assumed a natural gas savings, have not yet locked in
even half a cent difference would eat up difference
after summer months will have a better idea of actual prices
O'Connell: can we hold topic in July?
Foley: small dollars, don't know that we'll know in July
quarterly reports really do look at which accounts may be move or underspent or overspent
perhaps wait til first quarter report, can see what gas pricing then?
O'Connell: could transfer into another account for beginning of school year
Petty: we don't know what it's going to cost us for safety
motion to cut $15,000 fails 4-3
Biancheria: still averaging $245,000 in electrical between South and Sullivan
there's been a change, I don't see a change
Allen: now in MSBA, we'll see a change going forward
Martin: we are in process of design for solar panels at Sullivan, will reduce draw
Boone: city is contractor for that work
Martin: panels across parking lot of Sullivan this summer
Monfredo: any other schools that we're putting solar panels in
Martin: Burncoat High and Elm Park
approve
Motion to approve entire budget
budget approved 5-2
Monfredo motion to approve
approved
personal services
O'Connell: principal mentor program part of personal services: not here?
Boone: not in FY15 either
O'Connell: what is admin doing?
Boone: network of principal support system
make sure they're connected with professional development
security guards: level funded
O'Connell asks if it should be revisit or expanded
Allen: that is one of the items that is in the RFP for school security assessment
O'Connell then we'll get a recommendation
Novick: curious if we need the security guards at all
39% decrease in special education expenses due to coming back in house
are we required to use Teachpoint?
Rodrigues: (not exactly) cataloging goals of teachers and the PD necessary to support them
Biancheria: partnerships?
Boone: Children's Friend no longer receiving grant to provide School-aged mothers program
United Way providing services this year; waiting to hear if they have a grant for next year
Biancheria: is there a night shift of security at Creamer?
Allen: yes, thus not listed under day program costs
translation: in different areas of the budget
have we continued to work with new ideas as others across the country?
Rodrigues: yes, we have
continue to absorb more and more families whose first language is not English
all information that goes home has to be translated into seven languages
IEPs into any language that a family speaks
large database of documents reused
have been working with community on translating and communicating with families
different ways that we can provide the services while not being redundant moving forward
Biancheria: have we discussed with other districts how they're handling it?
Rodrigues: yes, the reverse: Springfield has looked to us
Boston, Springfield, us largest in the network dealing with the issue
approve
administrative clerical salaries
O'Connell: change in system administration amount
Allen: all positions in account are contractually approved increases, longevity, step increase
O'Connell: is that due to upgrade in positions in superintendent offices?
Boone: there is no upgrade in those positions
O'Connell: change in salaries structure
Allen: same salary scheduled
No change
approve
non-instructional support
Biancheria: information system, concern that we have an additional 11.5 positions under various grants
Allen: no change in the number of positions in IT position
Boone: last year you asked for a specific report for internship opportunities
internships saves us in terms of the total salary piece
grant opportunity to fill the gap
Biancheria: motion to how we complete the department
have a number of employees that are being paid under grants
Allen: report that compares this year versus last year
approved
support overtime
O'Connell: in some accounts we've increased 2%; in this one, 5%
Allen: in other accounts there is vacancy or attritition to offset; there is none here
closer to align with actual expenditures
O'Connell: do you still anticipate underspending
Allen: no, traditionally underfunded
Monfredo: appears that this item is underfunded, in need of additional clerical help
administration needs to consider going forward
approve
administrative salaries
O'Connell: motion to reduce account by $200,000
message to reduce number of central adminstration
significant number of people under other accounts...number is significantly
"would be a maximum of two people"
Monfredo: believe Mr. O'Connell's heart is the right place
281 out of 320 district
nearly all district spend more
Petty: thought we were just talking about how to support principals, now you want to take them away?
roll call: fails, 5-2
Biancheria:
approve
Misc Ed OM
Biancheria looking for $25,000 to move $25,000 from Facilities OM
was approved at last discussion
"I think that we've had a very long year...would like to see $100,000 under school safety so we can do what we can prior to having a large report from an outside company"
asks to open the item again to move the money
Foley: think we're all on the same page in terms of our buildings
we talked about building repair dollars being insufficient last time
"I don't know that we gain a whole lot by moving $25,000 from one account to the other"
safety systems like fire alarms
prefer to keep it as it is
more than $25,000 that will be used over the summertime
O'Connell: support Biancheria's motion
"modest sum"
"drop in the bucket compared to what we will need to spend"
Petty: is $75,000 enough to what's needed?
Allen: it's a 50% increase from this year
not sure if I followed the direction of the discussion correctly: if the intent is simply move money from one to the other...
Petty: the money is there if needed
Bianchera; looking to have the hundred under school safety to provide the walkie talkies that are necessary
instead of blanket hope that it will go there
Boone: can provide to School Committee a report on support provided to security
Novick: $25000 per building from this account for repair: that isn't enough to keep up already
also provides for repair of heat, plumbing, electrical already
Ramirez: should have audit performed before increased investment in safety
"that could change everything that we're investing in today"
Foley: fully expect to be back here in six or eight months with a list of things from the safety audit
probably something over several years
Petty: waited until we had a report before shifting it over
roll call to move $25,000 from repair to safety: fails 4-3
approve Misc Ed OM without F
Foley recused
F (building and parking lot rentals): Biancheria, are we anticipating overcrowding at Chandler El?
Allen: third year of contract, still significantly overcrowded
Biancheria: gym at Y rented for $40,000?
Allen: ten month contract access
Biancheria: any work towards not renting parking lots but owning parking lots?
Allen: do you have a parking lot in mind?
Boone; Gates Lane sign off on shopping center, Chatham Street have been renting for some time
Biancheria: probaby purchasing is going to be more expensive, discussion is if there are any other options of purchase
Boone: parking is a premium particuarly in our older schools
would be interested in classroom space, if we had funds, than buying parking lot
motion to look at buying Chatham St
approve
Instructional Materials
Novick: looking at testing spending through testing audit via Accountability
can we clarify with city that funding us at zero brings us below due to charter tuition
O'Connell: do we know how much we can pull out of here?
Allen: wait til state budget is passed
this account has funding for Abby Kelley's transportation, as its undercalculated by that amount
O'Connell: asks for information from admin once we have them
Biancheria: recommened to fund $68 per pupil, not a change from FY15
why wasn't B spent down?
Allen: frozen during second quarter
Biancheria: that's a drastic dollar amount
Allen: difference is that it's being level $215,000; increase is for special education classroom
Biancheria: who didn't have money to do anything?
Boone: as monitor quarterly, froze some purchases across the district
Biancheria: we only alloted $60,000 for supplies?
Boone: either IAs or supplies after 9C cuts
Biancheria: look at this in the future, difference in the dollar amount
had some concerns with that
"hardship for us"
we went up $43,000 in student support services
Boone: requirements for psychological testing are very specific assessments; we're at least 3 versions behind the current assessments; needed to update those
approved
special education tutition
Novick: breakdown on how that works per student
O'Connell: full circuit breaker?
Allen: full being 75%
Instructional assistant salaries
Monfredo: anything on IAs grants
Allen: either going to be zero or what we budgeted?
hope work of House will prevail; budgeted House amount
approve
teacher salaries:
Monfredo: two more non-teaching department heads?
Rodrigues: positions are result of restructing in Child Study
one for 504s, the other for McKinney-Vento
both department heads for evaluation of personnel
evaluate school adjustment counselors
Monfredo: wouldn't we be better off hiring school adjustment counselors?
Rodrigues: will be working with student in 504s and in homelessness
deficit in supervision and oversight
used to have a PBIS coordinator, coordinator of Child Study (which was left vacant last year)
Biancheria: elementary PE and health: how is time determined for schools
Allen: liaison juggles how to deploy staff to all the schools
Boone: we have a requirement to provide PE to our students
Monfredo: how many adjustment counselors are we hiring?
Rodrigues: hiring 3 more
Monfredo: have 4 people doing 1 person's job
Rodrigues: no, had two department chairs, were already there
two new people will be doing the 504 and the McKinney-Vento
that's one of the roles they'll assume
approve
Child Nutrition
O'Connell: Fruits and Vegetables grant; 14 schools are participating in the program
Lombardi: are requirements for the grants
do apply for schools beyond those in the budget, but they are often not awarded
O'Connell: is there a reason?
Lombardi: it's USDA funds alloted on a state by state basis
state chooses which districts and which funds
O'Connell: is it based on free and reduced numbers?
Lombardi: it's at discresion of DESE
we received one of the highest of level of funding
O'Connell: is there any reason why we're not applying for all schools that are avaible
grants:
Novick: Title I; forecast of what's up
Barnes: so much circulating around, forecast is difficult
Boone: watching ESEA closely, will advocate and share as it comes up
Biancheria: vocational director: half funded at Perkins
vocational director for district at Tech
Biancheria: teachers coming off of Chapter 74 funding, not changed on budget
Boone: funding blended between local, state, and federal
still providing bus passes for internship? Yes
O'Connell: adult education: dollars decreased in materials and supplies?
Allen: grant continues to be level-funded, but salary increases, has to come from somewhere
$95,000 is from rest of budget
O'Connell: teachers and instructional coaches increased
Allen: sustainability of Level 4 schools and those coming off into
approve
back to utilities
report came back
O'Connell had made a motion to reduce oil by $5000
motion to take $15,000 from these accounts
look at trends and directions; reflect likely prices in this area
Boone: number two fuel oil is down but have factored in change in gas
Allen: have already assumed a natural gas savings, have not yet locked in
even half a cent difference would eat up difference
after summer months will have a better idea of actual prices
O'Connell: can we hold topic in July?
Foley: small dollars, don't know that we'll know in July
quarterly reports really do look at which accounts may be move or underspent or overspent
perhaps wait til first quarter report, can see what gas pricing then?
O'Connell: could transfer into another account for beginning of school year
Petty: we don't know what it's going to cost us for safety
motion to cut $15,000 fails 4-3
Biancheria: still averaging $245,000 in electrical between South and Sullivan
there's been a change, I don't see a change
Allen: now in MSBA, we'll see a change going forward
Martin: we are in process of design for solar panels at Sullivan, will reduce draw
Boone: city is contractor for that work
Martin: panels across parking lot of Sullivan this summer
Monfredo: any other schools that we're putting solar panels in
Martin: Burncoat High and Elm Park
approve
Motion to approve entire budget
budget approved 5-2
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Worcester: can you make a quick call for kindergarten IAs, please?
The Massachusetts Senate FY16 budget was released today at noon. While I'll have more to come on this, there's one quick piece of advocacy Worcester parents and teachers could do that would help the Worcester Public Schools' FY16 budget.
The Massachusetts Senate budget, released today, funds the Quality Kindergarten grant at $1 million for the entire state. Last year, Worcester received $751,388, which paid for 21 instructional assistants in kindergartens across the city. That was with $18 million funding statewide.
More to come on the Senate budget when I have a chance.
The Massachusetts Senate budget, released today, funds the Quality Kindergarten grant at $1 million for the entire state. Last year, Worcester received $751,388, which paid for 21 instructional assistants in kindergartens across the city. That was with $18 million funding statewide.
We have in our current budget this same (level-funded) amount.
If you have seen the importance of IAs in kindergarten, please contact Senator Chandler and Senator Moore to ask that they work to amend this account (7030-1002).
Senator Chandler 617-722-1544
harriette.chandler@masenate.gov
Senator Moore 617-722-1485
Michael.moore@masenate.gov
And if this is important to you, and you're in another district, you can find your senator here! harriette.chandler@masenate.gov
Senator Moore 617-722-1485
Michael.moore@masenate.gov
More to come on the Senate budget when I have a chance.
Monday, March 16, 2015
Second quarter report
projected deficit of $221,110
have spent more than half a million on snow removal
have submitted for two storms $193,839 to FEMA for possible 75% (and reimbursement is not calculated in at this time)
state budget reductions: biggest impact on this report is Quality Kindergarten grant: equivalent of 15 IAs
all other reductions are elimination of services; Admin does not have a funding recommendation at this time
personnel services in deficit: transition in special ed services being brought in house over time (didn't happen right away)
If Quality K weren't cut, two would have offset each other.
Unemployment, workers comp
increase in out-of-town special education and McKinney-Vento
Balances in teachers (vacancy and attrition) custodial salaries (deficit in overtime)
retiree health insurance plan kicked in in January (so balance)
projected deficit has held two quarters; usually there is a change
need to take action now
$50,000 freeze EACH in technology, staff development, environmental management, curriculum supplies
second year in a row that schools don't get $10/pupil that is frozen at the beginning of the year; would usually be released now
Foley: sobering report; 9C cuts coming halfway through the year
two school based administrators on sick leave; need fill in
custodians on workers comp: issue? Martin working to reduce the numbers on workers' comp
looking at equipment being used, light duties for bringing people back, "not one particular issue"
Foley: is it snow removal? Martin: nothing long term
weather related costs: hoping we can get back from the fed; chances? hard to tell
difference from other year? Third party services for plowing and removing snow from roofs
number of storms: regular and overtime; much of it during regular hours
Foley: if school is closed and custodian comes in...? regular salary, unless day is extended
Ramirez: items frozen: what is environmental management?
Allen: agreement with DoJ and DEP, work continuing in future
safe managment of chemicals and the like
"because we've reached compliance, on a one time basis, we think we can freeze funds to address this"
Novick: praise facilities for their work over the winter and snow
did we see any damage from snow? Yes, on some roofs, repairing as we go
saving $12/ton on trash removal
request for Friday letter reporting on impact of freeze on technology, staff development, and student supplies
Not comfortable with freeze of student supplies; share that information with parents so at least they know why
transfers pass
have spent more than half a million on snow removal
have submitted for two storms $193,839 to FEMA for possible 75% (and reimbursement is not calculated in at this time)
state budget reductions: biggest impact on this report is Quality Kindergarten grant: equivalent of 15 IAs
all other reductions are elimination of services; Admin does not have a funding recommendation at this time
personnel services in deficit: transition in special ed services being brought in house over time (didn't happen right away)
If Quality K weren't cut, two would have offset each other.
Unemployment, workers comp
increase in out-of-town special education and McKinney-Vento
Balances in teachers (vacancy and attrition) custodial salaries (deficit in overtime)
retiree health insurance plan kicked in in January (so balance)
projected deficit has held two quarters; usually there is a change
need to take action now
$50,000 freeze EACH in technology, staff development, environmental management, curriculum supplies
second year in a row that schools don't get $10/pupil that is frozen at the beginning of the year; would usually be released now
Foley: sobering report; 9C cuts coming halfway through the year
two school based administrators on sick leave; need fill in
custodians on workers comp: issue? Martin working to reduce the numbers on workers' comp
looking at equipment being used, light duties for bringing people back, "not one particular issue"
Foley: is it snow removal? Martin: nothing long term
weather related costs: hoping we can get back from the fed; chances? hard to tell
difference from other year? Third party services for plowing and removing snow from roofs
number of storms: regular and overtime; much of it during regular hours
Foley: if school is closed and custodian comes in...? regular salary, unless day is extended
Ramirez: items frozen: what is environmental management?
Allen: agreement with DoJ and DEP, work continuing in future
safe managment of chemicals and the like
"because we've reached compliance, on a one time basis, we think we can freeze funds to address this"
Novick: praise facilities for their work over the winter and snow
did we see any damage from snow? Yes, on some roofs, repairing as we go
saving $12/ton on trash removal
request for Friday letter reporting on impact of freeze on technology, staff development, and student supplies
Not comfortable with freeze of student supplies; share that information with parents so at least they know why
transfers pass
Sunday, March 1, 2015
About those budget cuts
I quickly posted the chart with a link to the memo on Friday (as I was writing my testimony for yesterday). In total, the cuts are $495,602 for the Worcester Public Schools. A few notes:
- You may remember that back when these budget cuts were first announced, the Baker administration denied to T&G reporter Brad Petrishen that there would be any impact on Head Start. That surprised us. It also wasn't true: Our Head Start supplemental grant is getting a $51,030 cut. Also, see MassLive on this.
- While we're talking about early childhood, the $47,500 cut in the Community Family and Community Engagement grant cuts an early literacy coordinator. The push on third grade reading? The push on early childhood education? Nope. Cut.
- The biggest hit--and still in early childhood--is to the Quality Kindergarten Grant. That cut of $206,620 is the equivalent of 15 kindergarten instructional assistants for the rest of the year. This one you'll see turn up in our March 16 F&O meeting for the second quarter report. There's no magic answer on this one, 'though I don't think you'll see a recommendation that we cut IA's in March, either.
- The work we're doing on improving the graduation rate? Cuts of the entire Summer College-Community Connection program ($99,587), the MCAS Summer camp ($55,365), the Collaboratieve Partnership for Student Success ($21,859), and nearly the whole College and Career Readiness program (we're left with $2628) are not going to help that at all.
- Finally, we hear talk of innovative education, but even the innovation schools grant took a hit ($3128).
I get that the budget needs to be balanced, but every single one of these cuts is pennywise and pound foolish. You're creating expenses later with every single one of these cuts.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
The Worcester School Committee meets TOMORROW!
We have the July meeting of the Worcester School Committee tomorrow at 4 at City Hall. (Different time, same location) You can find the agenda here.
We have a two-fer on congratulating and thank the Ecotarium.
There is no report of the Superintendent; note that this means that we are not voting on next year's standardized test plans this month. I suspect this is because we have several members out for this meeting; I haven't heard yet when we will vote.
We have two reports from subcommittees: Accountability (my notes here and here) and our joint committee with City Council (notes here and here).
We have two reports coming back on instructional assistants: the number of hours per school that they work; and how they are paid when they cover a class.
We have two donations coming in for Worcester Tech.
We're being asked to accept a grant for $94,279 for machine shop equipment at Worcester Tech, and a grant for $10,000 for a writing program at Worcester Arts Magnet.
We have an item to work on the bids for transportation in Finance and Operations, as our transportation contracts are up this year.
We are being asked to amend the social media policy.
Mr. Monfredo is asking us to consider putting ads on school buses.
Mr. O'Connell is referring the changes in Erate (as previously discussed in F&O) be referred to F&O.
Mr. Monfredo is commending those responsible for the redone library at Worcester East Middle, and asking reminding us of World Smile Day (October 3).
Ms. Ramirez calls our attention to Jennifer Cordero for being selected for the Hispanic Youth Research and Leadership program at the University of New Mexico.
The city auditor is requesting that we pass the Misc Ed OM account again, specifying the three accounts into which it goes.
We have a two-fer on congratulating and thank the Ecotarium.
There is no report of the Superintendent; note that this means that we are not voting on next year's standardized test plans this month. I suspect this is because we have several members out for this meeting; I haven't heard yet when we will vote.
We have two reports from subcommittees: Accountability (my notes here and here) and our joint committee with City Council (notes here and here).
We have two reports coming back on instructional assistants: the number of hours per school that they work; and how they are paid when they cover a class.
We have two donations coming in for Worcester Tech.
We're being asked to accept a grant for $94,279 for machine shop equipment at Worcester Tech, and a grant for $10,000 for a writing program at Worcester Arts Magnet.
We have an item to work on the bids for transportation in Finance and Operations, as our transportation contracts are up this year.
We are being asked to amend the social media policy.
Mr. Monfredo is asking us to consider putting ads on school buses.
Mr. O'Connell is referring the changes in Erate (as previously discussed in F&O) be referred to F&O.
Mr. Monfredo is commending those responsible for the redone library at Worcester East Middle, and asking reminding us of World Smile Day (October 3).
Ms. Ramirez calls our attention to Jennifer Cordero for being selected for the Hispanic Youth Research and Leadership program at the University of New Mexico.
The city auditor is requesting that we pass the Misc Ed OM account again, specifying the three accounts into which it goes.
We have our usual "now that we've passed the budget, we might need to make transfers" item, heading to F&O.
Mr. O'Connell calls to the attention of our PTOs and such that there is a new way of being recognized as a 501(c)3.
He also wants to thank those who educated our students on solar energy.
It is time to appoint someone to represent us on the collaborative board (this tends to be the superintendent).
Miss Biancheria would like additional information on the new regs on explusion and suspension and its implementation.
She'd also like an update on the Worcester East Middle School science labs.
Mr. Monfredo wants to know if the attendance campaign last year worked.
I think we should talk to the state about the foundation formula (now that they have a committee considering it), the City Council about the capital budget, and the City Council about the city's investment in education.
I'm also sending the dress code (the student dress code, from the student handbook) to Governance, and I want to talk about implementation, too. More on that tomorrow.
And we have a prior year payment of $4,166.75 we're being asked to authorize.
There is NO executive session.
Tomorrow at 4!
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Budget hearing: account by account
posting as we go
Boone: figures identified in this document were approved by City Council, thus gives us a starting point
Monfredo: money we received is still a $2.1 million deficit that needs to be made up
Boone: FY15 meets minimum, FY14 balance
Allen notes that the number is on page 375 of the budget
Boone: figures identified in this document were approved by City Council, thus gives us a starting point
Monfredo: money we received is still a $2.1 million deficit that needs to be made up
Boone: FY15 meets minimum, FY14 balance
Allen notes that the number is on page 375 of the budget
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
We have a budget memo!
You can find the budget memo we received from Superintendent Boone yesterday here.
You can find last night's presentation to the City Council by City Manager Augustus here.
So, what's the story?
Bottom line is that the City Manager is recommending a WPS budget line of $305,201,911 to the Worcester City Council.
What that means for our budget is, first, that 15 elementary teaching positions that were up for a cut will not, now, be recommended to be cut. Good news.
Where does that leave the rest of the recommended budget?
As the City Manager said last night, state funding for schools has been growing at $9 to $10 million a year, but it's down to $670,000 in growth for FY15. That doesn't at all realistically represent our children's needs.
First, the bad news:
You can find last night's presentation to the City Council by City Manager Augustus here.
So, what's the story?
Bottom line is that the City Manager is recommending a WPS budget line of $305,201,911 to the Worcester City Council.
What that means for our budget is, first, that 15 elementary teaching positions that were up for a cut will not, now, be recommended to be cut. Good news.
Where does that leave the rest of the recommended budget?
As the City Manager said last night, state funding for schools has been growing at $9 to $10 million a year, but it's down to $670,000 in growth for FY15. That doesn't at all realistically represent our children's needs.
First, the bad news:
- 23 elementary teaching positions cut
- 24 secondary teaching positions cut
- 2 central administrators cut
- 7 central administrative clerical positions cut
- 11 MCAS tutors cut
- 5 reading tutors cut
- 1 credit recovery position cut
- 3 custodial positions cut
- 2 secondary school clerical positions cut
- 3 school-based parent liaison positions cut
...overall there is a reduction of 44 teaching positions from all funding sources. There are 94 positions being reduced in total.
In other news:
19 preschool teaching positions are recommended to be transferred from grant-funded to general fund funded.
In other news:
19 preschool teaching positions are recommended to be transferred from grant-funded to general fund funded.
We are receiving a recommendation to add (net) 30 Instructional Assistant positions (special education, for the autism program; 55 are being added from now contracted services, 16 current IAs are being converted to teaching positions, and 10 are being transferred from the general fund to grant funded).
We are receiving a recommendation to convert 16 English Language Learning IAs to teaching positions.
We are receiving a recommendation to add 2 school adjustment counselors.
We are receiving a recommendation to add 6 ESL positions.
We are receiving a recommendation to add 2 school adjustment counselors.
We are receiving a recommendation to add 6 ESL positions.
We are receiving a recommendation to add 2 energy management positions; currently this is privately managed (if I said that was to mixed reviews, I would be overly kind).
Athletics next year is recommended to be level-funded through school choice funds.
The following will be recommended to not be funded in FY15:
Clark Masters' Program
community schools
Future Teachers' Academy
Fast ForWord
Focus on Results
Pinpoint (from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
dual enrollment
(note that much, 'though not all, of the above were funded through Race to the Top funds)
Some more general notes:
This budget is an increase of 0.6% over last year's funding (when all funding is considered).
FY15 will have a nearly 10% reducing in central administrative staff; it will have a 2.2% decrease in teaching positions.
In all areas possible, FY14 open positions have been frozen to save money without laying people off (this doesn't, please realize, change the need for the position that's open),
This budget will see the phasing out of Race to the Top and our first round of School Redesign Grants.
AND--I've said it before, but I'll say it again--all of the above are administrative recommendations for the FY15 budget. There is no Worcester Public Schools budget until a bottom line is passed by the Worcester School Committee on June 19.
FULL BUDGET COMES OUT FRIDAY! And we'll have full details on all of the above then!
Some more general notes:
This budget is an increase of 0.6% over last year's funding (when all funding is considered).
FY15 will have a nearly 10% reducing in central administrative staff; it will have a 2.2% decrease in teaching positions.
In all areas possible, FY14 open positions have been frozen to save money without laying people off (this doesn't, please realize, change the need for the position that's open),
This budget will see the phasing out of Race to the Top and our first round of School Redesign Grants.
AND--I've said it before, but I'll say it again--all of the above are administrative recommendations for the FY15 budget. There is no Worcester Public Schools budget until a bottom line is passed by the Worcester School Committee on June 19.
FULL BUDGET COMES OUT FRIDAY! And we'll have full details on all of the above then!
as always, much more to come!
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Worcester School Committee: Approvals
Contract with the Instructional Assistants: approved
School choice for the 2014-15 school year: approved
School choice for the 2014-15 school year: approved
Thursday, April 3, 2014
WPS Teacher of the Year and IA of the Year
If you're in the WPS email system, you got an email on this!
If you're a parent, your principal has the forms!
And they'll be going up online on this page...in a bit.
Go nominate someone!
If you're a parent, your principal has the forms!
And they'll be going up online on this page...in a bit.
Go nominate someone!
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Finance and Operations: FY14 quarterly (updated with a bit from North)
second quarter:
Allen: through the second quarter, amount expended to date in relation to budget amount
pretty specific projections by account
still a place where we're using some trends and information from other departments
similar deficit to first quarter deficit
takes into account new money due to closure of Spirit of Knowledge
much larger deficit in contracted services for special education services
number of students that we had anticipated last year, as we built internal capacity to serve students with autism
number of students who are new to the district or newly identified
still spending $700,000 less than we did last year; entire increase is due to new students to district and newly identified students
there was something here about adding a position at North High which I completely missed. UPDATE: An assistant principal has been added at North High, as was a request, and has been funded through attrition and vacancy factor savings in other accounts.
overall bottom line deficit
using $309,000 instructional materials to balance the budget ($10/pupil); "because this deficit is larger than it was in the first quarter, it appears that we will have to keep those dollars frozen to balance the budget"
Seale (special education): students constantly being identified over time
significant growth nationwide: 1 out of 50 students diagnosed with autism
required to provide specific services to those students
46% growth from 2010 of students with autism
students with multiple disabilities may require Home Applied Behavioral Analysis in addition; 31 students need such services (cannot do that in house)
Feb 2013: 594 students requiring direct ABA services
Dec 2013: 722 students requiring direct ABA services
128 new students that needed this level of services provided
161 students new to district with disabilities "unanticipated cost" (not just ADA, speech and language, one to one IAs, etc)
12 students out of district tuition=estimated $60,000 each
DESE has found that we are fiscally responsible for these students
hard to capture costs when responding to services beyond our control
Allen: significant budget challenge for us this year; no budget impact to school aside from held aside per pupil funding
FY15 will increase internal capacity again; what the cost impact will be
entire new money recommended for special education (tomorrow night)
recommended transfers today as well
Foley: great savings in special education in past few years
raw numbers here make that impossible
administration look at where students are coming from, and why
"don't have a whole lot of options...too bad we can't use it elsewhere"
out of district bill
Novick: pleased that we did increase internal capacity last year; imagine how much this would be costing us otherwise
workers comp? report from past years
Allen: "time to budget it at what our expenses would be"
Ramirez asks for clarification of what account funds which positions
transfers pass as recommended
Allen: through the second quarter, amount expended to date in relation to budget amount
pretty specific projections by account
still a place where we're using some trends and information from other departments
similar deficit to first quarter deficit
takes into account new money due to closure of Spirit of Knowledge
much larger deficit in contracted services for special education services
number of students that we had anticipated last year, as we built internal capacity to serve students with autism
number of students who are new to the district or newly identified
still spending $700,000 less than we did last year; entire increase is due to new students to district and newly identified students
there was something here about adding a position at North High which I completely missed. UPDATE: An assistant principal has been added at North High, as was a request, and has been funded through attrition and vacancy factor savings in other accounts.
overall bottom line deficit
using $309,000 instructional materials to balance the budget ($10/pupil); "because this deficit is larger than it was in the first quarter, it appears that we will have to keep those dollars frozen to balance the budget"
Seale (special education): students constantly being identified over time
significant growth nationwide: 1 out of 50 students diagnosed with autism
required to provide specific services to those students
46% growth from 2010 of students with autism
students with multiple disabilities may require Home Applied Behavioral Analysis in addition; 31 students need such services (cannot do that in house)
Feb 2013: 594 students requiring direct ABA services
Dec 2013: 722 students requiring direct ABA services
128 new students that needed this level of services provided
161 students new to district with disabilities "unanticipated cost" (not just ADA, speech and language, one to one IAs, etc)
12 students out of district tuition=estimated $60,000 each
DESE has found that we are fiscally responsible for these students
hard to capture costs when responding to services beyond our control
Allen: significant budget challenge for us this year; no budget impact to school aside from held aside per pupil funding
FY15 will increase internal capacity again; what the cost impact will be
entire new money recommended for special education (tomorrow night)
recommended transfers today as well
Foley: great savings in special education in past few years
raw numbers here make that impossible
administration look at where students are coming from, and why
"don't have a whole lot of options...too bad we can't use it elsewhere"
out of district bill
Novick: pleased that we did increase internal capacity last year; imagine how much this would be costing us otherwise
workers comp? report from past years
Allen: "time to budget it at what our expenses would be"
Ramirez asks for clarification of what account funds which positions
transfers pass as recommended
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