Hamden Public Schools

Superintendent’s2014-2015

Recommended Budget

Presented by Fran Rabinowitz,

Superintendent of Schools January 28, 2014

Hamden High School student Aakshi Agarwal (2nd to last row, 1st on right) met with President Obama at the White House, as a National finalist in the Broadcom MASTERS Science Competition in Washington, D.C.

Frances M. Rabinowitz, Superintendent of SchoolsChristopher Melillo, Assistant Superintendent

Michael Belden, Chief Operating Officer

January 28, 2014

Dear Board of Education Members,

It is my privilege to submit the 2014-2015 Superintendent’s proposed budget.  Again this year, it is very difficult to assemble an operating budget in light of continued current economic conditions at the national, state and local levels.  As an advocate for the educational needs of our children, I have done my best to acknowledge the continued fiscal challenges while seeking to move our district forward. I am proposing a 3.8% increase over last year’s budget, which is almost entirely comprised of contractual obligations. Only a very small portion of the requested increase is devoted to program needs, most notably, implementation of literacy curriculum aligned to Common Core State Standards.

Clearly, Hamden Public Schools has been operating on a very conservative budget.  Please keep in mind that in the last three (3) fiscal years, the budget increases have been 0.99%,1.5% and 1.37%.

Over the past 7 years, I have done my best to provide Hamden with fiscally responsible budgets, which have moved the district forward. However, it is also my responsibility to propose enhancements to our educational programs, some of which will require additional resources. For example, for all of our students to meet the requirements of the Common Core State Standards, we must provide them with new resources that target these standards and that our staff have additional skills and understanding to meet the diverse needs of our learners. It is imperative to the health of our community that Hamden be an educational leader, developing students who achieve to their highest potential.

The administration looks forward to responding to questions from the Board of Education and the public as we complete the 2014-2015 budget process.

John Keegan, Chairperson

Hamden Public Schools Board of Education Members

2014-2015

Adam Sendroff, SecretaryLynn CampoChristopher DaurJohn DeRosa

Christopher HonnenDavid PecoraroArturo Perez-CabellaValarie Stone

Goal: To eliminate the racial and socioeconomic disparities in achievement across all domains while significantly improving all students’ performance

Eliza Kanner & Jordan White, Student Representatives

Continuation of 2013 State Mandates

• Common Core Curriculum• Teacher Evaluation• State-Required

Computerized Assessments (SBAC) Replacing CMT/CAPT

• New Security Measures

Strategic savings help us to meet mandates with minimal increases in the budget

Strategic Savings• Continued Energy Cost Savings

– Fuel Cell, Building Automation Upgrades and Lighting System Upgrades

• Contract Negotiations• ERIP in 2012-13• Adding internal capacity for special education

services to reduce the number of costly out-of-district placements

• Changes to insurance platforms for teachers, clerical, paraprofessionals and administrators (savings of $1.2million annually)

Budget History

Adopted Budget 2011-2012

$79,115,000 0.99%

Adopted Budget 2012-2013

$80,300,000 1.5%

Adopted Budget 2013-2014

$81,400,000 1.37%

Proposed Budget 2014-2015

$84,492,879 3.8%

Non-Discretionary (3.3%)

$2,720,598

Discretionary (0.5%)

$372,281

Total Proposed Increase $3,092,879

Discretionary Budget Increases

Object Description Proposed

325 Curriculum Development $16,280

400 Property Services $25,000

411 Water $3000

432 Repair and Maintenance Bldgs

$2000

550 Printing $12,000

561 Tuition – Public Schools $18,692

563 Tuition – Non-Public $34,726

622 Electricity $63,000

623 Sewer Use Fees $2,200

641 Textbooks $182,680

644 Instructional Software $61,032

645 Non-Instructional Software $14,985

Other Misc. Lines $1,109

REDUCTIONS -$64,423

TOTAL $372,281

Note: All possible reductions were made across programs and line items, resulting in a $64,423 decrease and minimizing the total amount requested.

Non-Discretionary Budget Increases

Object Description Proposed

111 Central Office Salaries $99,987

112 Directors’ Salaries $7,121

114 Teachers’ Salaries $1,500,145

119 School Nurse Salaries $44,476

122 Clerical Salaries $79,199

123 Aide Salaries $593,041

124 Custodian Salaries $38,581

125 Maintenance Salaries $12,857

128 Lunch Aide Salaries $10,053

133 School Climate Advisors $54,000

140 Security/Residency/Attendance

$2,067

235 CMERS $190,000

225 FICA ER Expense $34,244

226 Medicare ER Expense $57,299

Note: All possible reductions were made across programs and line items, resulting in a 274,050 decrease and minimizing the total amount needed for non-discretionary expenses.

Non-Discretionary Budget Increases (continued)

Object Description Proposed

400 Property Services $95,000

510 Transportation Public $71,017

510 Transportation – Diesel Fuel

$14,072

511 Transportation - Non Public

$29,395

512 Transportation - Sp. Ed. $34,671

513 Other Sp. Ed. Transportation

$23,652

518 Transportation - Athletics $3,021

Other Misc. Lines $750

REDUCTIONS - $274,050

TOTAL $2,720,599

Note: All possible reductions were made across programs and line items, decrease and resulting in a 274,050 minimizing the total amount needed for non-discretionary expenses.

New and Expanded Initiatives

• K-6 Literacy Curriculum aligned to CCSS $248,000– Non-fiction books– Professional Development

• Open HCLC to Other Districts– Provide a regional alternative middle and

high school on a tuition basis to area districts

• Special Ed $150,000– Increases internal capacity, includes 2

special education teachers and 2 paraprofessionals

• NEASC $25,000 (plus capital funds)

District Priorities not Included in the Proposed Budget

• Textbooks for approved curricula in multiple subjects

• Security guard at entry to HMS • Nursing supervisor • World Language instruction at elementary level • Technology

– Additional devices to increase student access– Display devices for instruction– Inter-active boards

• Athletics– New weight-room equipment for HHS & HMS– New artificial turf field at HHS– Athletic trainer/strength coach

• Updated tests for PPS • Additional instructional materials – all schools• Data dashboard

Stresses on the Operating Budget• CMERS

• Common Core State Standards Implementation

• SBAC• Overcrowding at Spring Glen & Shepherd

Glen

Summary

• Proposed budget of $84,492,879 • Proposed budget reflects a 3.8% budget

increase from 2013-14 ($3,092,879)– Nearly all of this proposed increase is due to

contractual obligations, with only a small amount for programs (Implementation of CCSS in literacy, special education and NEASC)