Middletown City Schools Fiscal Planning Process Update

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Middletown City SchoolsFiscal Planning Process
Update
March 12, 2007
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Overview

• Middletown City Schools today
• The 2005 financial plan update
• Past and present cost containment measures
• History this issue in perspective
• Decisions that are necessary
• What does it mean?

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Our District Today

• The State Report card is improving
• The District improved to Continuous Improvement
• Middletown High School improved to Effective
• Rosedale Elementary School improved to
  Excellent
• Wildwood Elementary School improved to
  Effective
• Middletown High School was cited as a high
  performing school by the State Board of
  Education.
• New Rosa Parks, Highview, Creekview and renovated
  Amanda!!
• New Miller Ridge, Wildwood and Mayfield
  elementary schools are under construction and
  Rosedale renovation for Central Academy.
• Four elementary schools implemented all-day
  kindergarten programs. Plans are underway to
  expand these opportunities to all elementary
  schools.

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Why do schools ask for new funding?

• Emergency levies are Fixed Income
• Change in state law reduces local revenue from
  businesses
• Unfunded state and federal mandates
• Fiscal responsibility

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The 2005 Community Finance Committees
Recommendations

• Continue to reduce costs without negatively
  affecting programs for kids
• Ask for what you need, when you need it
• 2005 Renew a 1985 levy with an increase
• 2007 Renew a 1995 levy with small increase

These recommendations were approved by the Board
in 2005 and reaffirmed by the Community Finance
Committee in 2007
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Historical Review of Voted School Issues

• 40 years of Voted Changes in School Taxes
• 5 for operating costs like salaries and
  utilities
• 1 legally restricted to building maintenance and
  equipment
• 1 legally restricted to new buildings

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What is the Ballot Issue?
Renews 4 million of funding and adds 3 million
Without the issue, we need to cut 7 million
from the budget
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Recent Cost Containment (Level 1- DONE)

• Since 2005
• Eliminated 66 administrative, support and
  teaching positions DONE
• Negotiated new contracts for phones, copiers,
  property insurance and other operating expenses
  DONE
• Outsourced food operations to a private company
  DONE
• Eliminated the Garfield Alternative School
  Building DONE
• Total Over 1.5 million in reductions

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Process for Addressing Deficit Must 7 million
Core Required by law and/or not willing to
reduce Level 2 July 2007 cuts if levy fails
Level 1 Cuts that have occurred since 2005
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What Happens If It Doesnt Pass??

• 6 million cut from the annual budget
• (Level 2 - Cuts starting July 2007)
• 104.5 (teachers, administrators, support staff)
• More than 3,000 textbooks
• 85 per student for classroom supplies, equipment
  and services
• All high school bussing
• Bussing for elementary and middle school students
  living within 2 miles of their school

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What Happens If It Doesnt Pass??

• 6 million cut from the annual budget
• (Level 2 - Cuts starting July 2007)
• All extracurricular activities
• Gifted and Talented Enrichment program
• Middle School Foreign Language and most advanced
  Middle School classes
• Shortened student day
• Elementary 8 AM 130 PM, 
• Middle School and High School  730 130

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What Happens If It Doesnt Pass??

• An additional 1 million cut from the annual
  budget
• Cuts starting July 2008
• To be determined

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What Happens If It Passes?

• We can continue to offer programs that make
  Middletown strong
• Middle School Foreign Languages / M.S. Advanced
  courses
• Gifted And Talented Enrichment
• Extracurricular Activities
• Tutors who help struggling students
• Transportation for High School students
• Transportation for students outside of 1 mile
• We can continue to attract and keep good teachers
  and staff
• We can keep class sizes reasonable

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What Would This Mean?

• For students
• For staff
• For parents
• For business community
• For property values

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The Vision
The Middletown City School
District will be the first urban district to be
rated excellent