JOINT MEETING OF

1
CHELMSFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLSJANUARY 10, 2008

• JOINT MEETING OF
• BOARD OF SELECTMEN
• SCHOOL COMMITTEE
• FINANCE COMMITTEE

2
Budget Reductions Since 2002

• Expenses FY02 FY08 Chg.
• Textbooks 328,472 160,169 (51.2)
• Science Equip. 18,076 7,850
  (56.5)
• Libraries 135,776 72,849 (46.3)
• Tech. Hardware 206,099 40,315
  (80.4)
• Software 63,100 16,820
  (73.3)
• Curriculum/Staff
• Development 132,000
  82,000 (38.0)
• Classroom Supplies 634,577 439,692
  (30.7)

3
Budget Reductions Since 2002

• Teaching Staff (Full-Time Equivalents) FTEs
• Elementary 6.9
• Librarian (0.8), Art Teacher (.7),
• Music Teacher (1.0),
• Classroom Teachers (3.0), Adaptive
• Physical Ed. (.4), Technology Integration
• Specialist (1.0)
• (Routinely increased class-size to 28
  students violating district class-size policy)

4
Budget Reductions Since 2002

• Teaching Staff FTEs
• Middle Schools 11.0
• Guidance Counselor (1.0), Reading Specialists
  (2.0), 5th and 6th Grade Teachers (4.0), Learning
  Strategies Program (2.0), Home Economics Program
  (2.0)
• (Routinely increased class-size to 28 students
  violating district class-size policy)

5
Budget Reductions Since 2002

• Teaching Staff FTEs
• High School 7.4
• English Teachers (2.2),Social Studies
  Teachers (2.0),
• Business (1.2), Foreign Language (1.0),
• Consumer Science (1.0)
• Administrative Staff
  2.6
• Elementary Instructional Specialist (1.0),
• Middle School Instructional Specialist (1.0),
• Business Department Head (0.4), Health/ P.E.
  Coordinator (0.2)

6
Budget Reductions Since 2002

• Support Staff FTEs
• District-Wide 15.5
• Secretaries (1.0), PSPs (4.0), IPSPs (6.0),
  and Custodians (4.5)
• Total Staff Reductions 43.4

7
FY 2009 Fixed Budget Increases

• Contracted Salaries 3
• 1,050,000
• Contractual Step and Degree increases
• 750,000
• Special Education Tuitions increase 10
• 
  546,000

8

• Utilities increase 10 164,000
• Computer Equipment absorbed into the operating
  budget from Capital Fund
  250,000
• Transportation increases 5 168,000
• Other Miscellaneous 29,000
• Subtotal 2,957,000

9
One-Time Budget Offsets

• Special Education Circuit Breaker Monies 694,000
• Out-Of-Town Tuitions 166,000
• Subtotal 860,000

10
Savings

• Teacher Retirement/Replacement Savings 55,000
• Child Care 17,000
• Subtotal 72,000

11
Total Increases to FY 2009 Budget

• Total Fixed Budget Increases 2,957,000
• Total One-Time Budget Offsets 860,000
• Subtotal 3,817,000
• Savings -72,000
• Total FY 2009 Budget Increase
  3,745,000

12
Budget Reduction Plans

• Three different plans involve all or a
  combination of the following to achieve a 5
  reduction (2,345,000)
• Technology Reductions
• Fee Increases
• Reorganization/Downsizing
• Redistricting/ Consolidation
• Staff Reductions

13
Budget Reductions Plan 1

• Expenses Est. Reduction
• Classroom Technology 100,000
• IMPACT
• Reduce acquisition of computers for students and
  staff

14
Budget Reductions Plan 1

• Fees Est. Reduction
• Transportation 350,000
• Institute transportation fee of 200 per student
  for Kindergarten through Grade 6 students living
  outside state free transportation distance
  guidelines and for all students Grades 7 through
  12.
• Eliminate two buses 100,000
• Decreased bus ridership since some parents will
  transport their own children to save on
  transportation fee.
• IMPACT
• Increased traffic congestion and reduce safety
  student safety around each school at starting and
  dismissal times. Increased financial burden on
  parents.

15
Budget Reductions Plan 1

• Fees Est. Reduction
• Increase Athletics Activities Fees
  150,000
• 2008
  2009
• Sports 1st Sport 200 300
• 2nd Sport 150 250
• 3rd Sport 100 200
• Activities Middle 80 100
• CHS 100 125
• IMPACT Reduces number of students in sports and
  clubs because families will unlikely be able to
  afford the cost of multiple activities

16
Budget Reductions Plan 1

• Reorganization/Downsizing Est. Reduction
• Support services
  265,000 (Health Ins.)
• 160,000 (Budget)
• 425,000
• Food Service
• IMPACT School lunch prices dramatically
  increased.
• Custodial
• IMPACT School security and access to school
  buildings dramatically reduced for students,
  staff, and outside groups cleaning, mowing, snow
  removal services reduced again

17
Budget Reductions Plan 1

• Redistricting Consolidation Est.
  Reduction
• Redistrict all elementary 975,000
  (Budget)
• and middle schools. Consolidate 150,000
  (Health Ins.)
• five elementary schools into four. 1,125,000
• Elementary staff reductions (21.8 FTEs)
  Principal (1.0), Secretary (1.0), Classroom
  Teachers (5.5), Reading specialists (2.0), Prof.
  Support Personnel (5.0), Computer Lab PSP (1.0),
  Librarian PSP (1.0), Counselor (1.0), Nurse
  (1.0), Custodians (2.0), Art, Music,
• P. E. Specialists (1.3)
• IMPACT Raises class size, makes all elementary
  schools larger impacting the effectiveness of
  service, requires redistricting of 7 schools,
  limits potential for future full-day kindergarten
  program

18
Budget Reductions Plan 1

• Additional Staff Reductions Est.
  Reduction
• Eliminate 7.0 FTE 80,000 (Budget)
• staff positions 15,000 (Health
  Ins.)
• 95,000
• Support Staff Kindergarten PSPs (Professional
  Support Personnel) (5.0), Clerical (2.0)
• IMPACT Reduces kindergarten classroom support
  and clerical support for school curriculum.

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Summary of Budget Reductions Plan 1

• Budget Health
  FTEs
• Technology Equipment 100,000
• Transportation Fee 350,000
• Buses 100,000
• Athletic Activity Fees 150,000
• Reorganization/Downsizing 160,000 265,000
  4.0
• Redistrict/ Consolidation 975,000
  150,000 21.8
• Other Staff Reductions 80,000
  15,000 7.0
• Subtotal 1,915,000 430,000
  32.8
• TOTAL Reductions 2,345,000

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Budget Reductions Plan 2

• Expenses Est. Reduction
• Classroom Technology 100,000
• IMPACT
• Reduce acquisition of computers for students and
  staff

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Budget Reductions Plan 2

• Fees Est. Reduction
• Athletics Activities Fees 430,000
• 2008
  2009
• Sports 1st Sport 200 500
• 2nd Sport 150 450
• 3rd Sport 100 400
• Activities Middle 80 200
• CHS 100 250
• Increase Athletics and Activities Fees to make
  these areas 100 self-supporting.
• IMPACT Reduces number of students in sports and
  clubs because families will unlikely be able to
  afford the cost of multiple activities

22
Budget Reductions Plan 2

• Reorganization/Downsizing Est. Reduction
• Support services
  265,000 (Health Ins.)
• 160,000 (Budget)
• 425,000
• Food Service
• IMPACT School lunch prices dramatically
  increased.
• Custodial
• IMPACT School security and access to school
  buildings dramatically reduced for students,
  staff, and outside groups cleaning, mowing, snow
  removal services reduced again

23
Budget Reduction Plan 2

• Redistrict Consolidation
  Est. Reduction
• Redistrict all elementary 975,000
  (Budget)
• and middle schools. Consolidate 150,000
  (Health Ins.)
• five elementary schools into four. 1,125,000
• Elementary staff reductions (21.8 FTEs)
  Principal (1.0), Secretary (1.0), Classroom
  Teachers (5.5), Reading specialists (2.0), Prof.
  Support Personnel (5.0), Computer Lab PSP (1.0),
  Librarian PSP (1.0), Counselor (1.0), Nurse
  (1.0), Custodians (2.0), Art, Music,
• P. E. Specialists (1.3)
• IMPACT Raises class size, makes all elementary
  schools larger impacting the effectiveness of
  service, requires redistricting of 7 schools,
  limits potential for future full-day kindergarten
  program

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Budget Reductions Plan 2

• Staff Reductions Est.
  Reduction
• Eliminate 11.0 FTE 230,000 (Budget)
• staff positions 35,000 (Health
  Ins.)
• 265,000
• Teaching Staff Middle School Tech. Integration
  Specialist (1.0), CHS Foreign Language
  Teacher (1.0), Art (1.0), Music (1.0)
• Support Staff Kindergarten PSPs (Professional
  Support Personnel) (5.0), Clerical (2.0)
• IMPACT Raises class size, reduces programs for
  students, and reduces specialist support for
  teachers and classes.

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Summary of Budget Reductions Plan 2

• Budget Health
  FTEs
• Technology Equipment 100,000
• Transportation Fee
• Buses
• Athletic Activity Fees 430,000
• Reorganization/Downsizing 160,000
  265,000 4.0
• Redistrict/ Consolidation 975,000
  150,000 21.8
• Other Staff Reductions 230,000
  35,000 11.0
• Subtotal 1,895,000
  450,000 36.8
• TOTAL Reductions 2,345,000

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Budget Reductions Plan 3

• Expenses Est. Reduction
• Classroom Technology 100,000
• IMPACT
• Reduce acquisition of computers for students and
  staff

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Budget Reductions Plan 3(No Consolidation of
Schools)

• Fees Est. Reduction
• Athletics Activities Fees
  430,000
• 2008
  2009
• Sports 1st Sport 200 500
• 2nd Sport 150 450
• 3rd Sport 100 400
• Activities Middle 80 200
• CHS 100 250
• Increase Athletics and Activities Fees to make
  these areas 100 self-supporting.
• IMPACT Reduces number of students in sports and
  clubs because families will unlikely be able to
  afford the cost of multiple activities

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Budget Reductions Plan 3

• Privatization/ Reorganization Est.
  Reduction
• Support services
  265,000 (Health Ins.)
• 160,000 (Budget)
• 425,000
• Food Service
• IMPACT School lunch prices dramatically
  increased.
• Custodial
• IMPACT School security and access to school
  buildings dramatically reduced for students,
  staff, and outside groups cleaning, mowing, snow
  removal services reduced again

29
Budget Reductions Plan 3

• Staff Reductions Est.
  Reduction
• Eliminate 34.0 FTE 1,165,000 (Budget)
• staff positions 225,000 (Health
  Ins.)
• 1,390,000
• Elementary Classroom Teachers (11.0),
  Kindergarten PSPs (Professional Support
  Personnel) (5.0), Clerical (2.0)
• Middle Classroom Teachers (6.0)
• High School Classroom Teachers (9.0)
• Central Office Secretary (1.0)
• See Notebook
• IMPACT Dramatically raises class size (30 to
  32), reduces programs for students, and reduces
  specialist support for teachers and classes.

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Summary of Budget Reductions Plan 3

• Budget Health
  FTEs
• Technology Equipment 100,000
• Transportation Fee 0
• Buses 0
• Athletic Activity Fees 430,000
• Privatization/ Reorg. 160,000 265,000
  4.0
• Redistrict/ Consolidation 0
• Other Staff Reductions 1,165,000
  225,000 34.0
• Subtotal 1,855,000 490,000
  38.0
• TOTAL Reductions 2,345,000

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Summary of Budget Reductions

• Plan 1 Plan 2
  Plan 3
• Technology Equipment 100,000 100,000
  100,000
• Transportation Fee 350,000
  0 0
• Buses 100,000 0
  0
• Athletic Activity Fees 150,000
  430,000 430,000
• Privatization/ Reorg. 425,000
  425,000 425,000
• Redistrict/ Consolidation 1,125,000 1,125,000
  0
• Staff Reductions 95,000
  265,000 1,390,000
• Total 2,345,000 2,345,000
  2,345,000

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Smart School Districts Know How to Improve

• Our districts strategic efforts have resulted in
  success over many years improving learning and
  support for students

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• Targeting the right improvement goals
• Providing the right professional leadership and
  coordination to ensure improvement of student
  achievement
• Using professional collaboration to develop new
  strategies and solve problems in all curricular
  areas

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• Carefully assessing student needs and accurately
  targeting instruction to achieve greater student
  success
• A commitment by professional and support staff to
  do whatever it takes to help more kids succeed
  every day

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IMPACTS OF REDUCTIONS ON STUDENTS AND THEIR
INSTRUCTION

• Large class sizes mean less effective learning
  and less attention to students
• Large class sizes undermine federally-mandated
  special education inclusion
• Larger elementary schools reduce service to
  students

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• Redistricting seven schools disrupts students and
  families
• Redistricting closes the possibility of
  considering full-day kindergarten
• Further reductions in the arts mean our students
  have less art and music instruction and develop
  less skill and less proficiency

37

• Reductions in Physical Education classes mean we
  are cutting physical activity at the same time
  national research shows an increase in adolescent
  obesity
• Reductions in teachers mean increased numbers of
  unscheduled high school students who have no
  class available

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• Staff are not supported for improvement efforts
  with adequate materials, equipment, and training

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• Reductions in custodial services reduce the
  cleanliness of restrooms, classrooms, and the
  general school environment and reduces security
• The District has been making cuts and improving
  efficiencies for years. To make additional cuts
  pulls the rug out from under our Districts long
  history of improvement efforts

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Summary

• As a superintendent new to the community I find
  the services now offered to be appropriate.
• After many years of cuts, I find it unacceptable
  to reduce services.
• While some efficiencies can be made, the
  magnitude discussed here tonight is unacceptable.

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• The link between an educated citizenry, economic
  prosperity, and quality of life is undeniable.
• Children are our best hope for the future.
• As the new Superintendent in this community, I
  hope to be able to work to improve our programs
  and services to children, not dismantle and
  destroy them.