Lexington

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Lexington Public Schools
Superintendents FY 07 Recommended Budget Dr.
Paul B. Ash Superintendent of Schools Ann
Giombetti Director of Finance and
Operations December 20, 2005
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Lexingtons children deserve the best possible
future!
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Lexington Continues its Vision of Excellence
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2005 Lexington Core PurposesSeptember 2005

• Academic Excellence
• Caring and Respectful Relationships
• Continuous Improvement

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LPS Budget Guidelines

• In developing the FY07 budget, the
  Superintendent will ensure that
• Legal mandates will be met.
• Professional staffing guidelines will be met.
  
• Unpredictable costs of special tuition and
  transportation mandated under Chapter 766 will
  not affect budgetary support for other
  programs.
• Faculty will have access to professional
  development programs and teaching materials
  necessary for them to provide high quality
  instruction that makes the core curriculum
  accessible to all students.
• Efforts will continue to identify alternatives
  which provide service in more cost-effective
  ways.
• Budget recommendations will be consistent with
  long-term goals of the Lexington Public School
  System.
• Capital assets will be maintained in order to
  support the instructional program, protect the
  physical assets of the Town of Lexington, and
  ensure the health and safety of our students.
• Approved by School Committee September 2005

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The Top 7 Challenges We Face

• Provide funds for
• 1. All legal and required services
• 2. A contingency account for special education
  out of district tuitions
• 3. Needed teacher and support positions
• 4. Adequate instructional expense budgets
• 5. A systematic K-12 curriculum review process
• 6. High quality professional development
• 7. A school building preventive maintenance
  program

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1. Legal and Required Services

• Collective bargaining obligations
• Large increases in health/dental insurance costs
  (23.5)
• Increases in utility costs
• Mandated costs - services for special education
  students and English Language Learners (ELL)
• No projected increases in state Ch. 70 funding
• Projected decreases in federal Title 1 - 5
  funding

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2. Establish a Special Education Out of District
Contingency Account

• The level service budget includes no funds for
  new out of district placements
• Without a source of funds, new placements may
  mean cuts in regular education programs or may
  require a supplemental appropriation
• The recommended budget includes 280,000 of
  unallocated funds to offset three unanticipated
  new placements (1 collaborative, 1 day, and 1
  residential)

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3. Provide Needed Teachers and Support Positions

• Additional K-12 staffing is needed to address
  some large class sizes, and to provide sections
  for students closed out of some high school
  courses
• Additional staffing is needed to clean and
  maintain schools buildings and repair computers
• Additional literacy and math positions are needed
  to close the achievement gap and increase
  proficiency for all students
• A small increase in staffing is needed to
  separate combined K-12 Directors into respective
  academic disciplines

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4. Provide Adequate Funds for Expense Budgets

• Since FY 03, instructional expense budgets have
  been significantly reduced
• Schools have insufficient funds to replace
  textbooks, and to purchase educational materials
  and supplies
• The school maintenance budget is inadequate to
  repair school facilities

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5. Provide funds for Systematic Curriculum Review
Process

• The last K-12 Curriculum Review Process in
  Lexington was in 1995
• A comprehensive curriculum review process is
  needed to provide a vertically articulated K-12
  curriculum and consistency between schools
• In 2006-2007, we plan to start the K-12 review
  process in three departments
• Funds are needed to provide summer workshops and
  curriculum leadership, as well as to purchase
  curriculum materials

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6. Establish a New Teacher Induction Program

• In the next five years, approximately 1/3 of
  Massachusetts teachers are expected to retire
• Research shows that providing strong support for
  new teachers in their first three years reduces
  burnout, increases teacher retention, and
  improves the quality of instruction
• The proposed program will
• Provide mentors and a job-embedded pedagogy
  course for all teachers new to Lexington
• Provide content coaches and curriculum-based
  courses for second year teachers new to the
  profession

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7. Establish a School Building Preventive
Maintenance Program

• Currently, there is no systematic program to
  maintain schools before things break
• Funds are needed to provide labor and material
  for planned, predictive maintenance
• Quality education requires facilities that work
  as designed
• Our schools will last longer if they are
  maintained
• Preventive maintenance programs will save
  taxpayers money in the long run

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The Top 7 Challenges We Face

• Provide funds for
• 1. All legal and required services
• 2. A contingency account for out of district
  tuitions
• 3. Needed teachers and support positions
• 4. Adequate instructional expense budgets
• 5. A systematic K-12 curriculum review process
• 6. High quality professional development
• 7. A preventive school building maintenance
  program

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We have the spirit
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We have the heart
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We have the Mind
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We have a bright future
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Their Future Is In Our Hands!

• Quality education for Lexingtons children
• Outstanding professional development for
  Lexingtons teachers and staff
• A long-range plan to maintain our facilities
• Keep Lexingtons schools strong!