Blackstone-Millville RSD FY 15 Budget Hearing

Blackstone-Millville RSDFY 15 Budget Hearing March 12, 2014 7:00 PM Molony-Sullivan Auditorium Blackstone-Millville HS

Perry P. Davis, Ed.DInterim Superintendent of Schools • Mission, Vision and Core Values • School Committee Budget Assumptions and Goals • Student Learning Needs • Budget Background Data • Building Based Budgets • Budget Drivers and Savings • Budget Increase FY 14 to FY 15 • State Aid and District Revenues

Blackstone-Millville RSD • Mission: • Our mission is to challenge students in a safe and stimulating environment where ideas are shared and change is embraced, good citizenship, and self-worth by providing flexible, supportive, and responsive learning environment characterized by high expectations. We are committed to the academic, social/emotional, and physical well-being of all.

Blackstone-Millville RSD • Vision: • The Blackstone-Millville Regional School District embodies an appreciation of life-long learning; excellence in individual and educational programs; and shared accountability among students, staff, parents and citizens of the community. Everyone works together in an environment founded upon Trust, Integrity, Fairness, open-ended communication and the belief that all individuals can learn.

Blackstone-Millville RSD • Core Values: • Academic Standards and Expectations • Leadership • Teaching and Professional Development • Climate and Learning Environment • Family and Community • Collaboration and Communication

School Committee Budget Assumptions and Priorities • Mission, Vision and Core Values • Need for highly qualified teachers and staff and to maintain current student to teacher ratios • Refinement of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment practices • Maintain educational resources and technology that supports student learning • Increase student achievement

School Committee Budget Development Goals • Operating budget based on data to identify financial trends • Operating budget build based on student learning needs • DRAFT operating budget information shared with Blackstone and Millville asking for questions and feedback during the budget development process • Operating budget development that is transparent with full disclosure of fiscal information

Student Learning Needs • A budget is the financial articulation of student learning needs • Curriculum – What we teach? • Instruction – How we teach it? • Assessment – How do we know students are learning and showing mastery of the content?

Student Learning Needs • Mastery of English language arts, reading, math, science, social studies, world languages, arts, physical education/health and technology • Focus on student development in three domains • Cognitive – Thinking • Affective – Social and Emotional • Psycho-Motor – Physical Development • Safe and supportive learning environment

Budget Background Data • Student enrollment • NESDEC student enrollment – 10 year projections • Impact of school choice students leaving and entering BMRSD • Student to teacher ratios (class size) • History of budget expenditures • Reviewed three years of expenditure data • Budget increases and decreases

Budget Background Data • Fiscal challenges • New mandates for student services without direct funding • ELL Learners and Homeless Students • Increasing special education population with more moderate learning needs • School Choice and loss of Chapter 70 Aid • Fixed costs • Personnel contracts • Benefits - insurance • Building costs – heat, electricity, maintenance and grounds • Student transportation • Student safety and building security

Budget Background Data • Fiscal opportunities • Rental of space to BICO Collaborative • Expanding special education services in the District to reduce transportation costs • Balancing student learning needs with fiscal realities in Blackstone and Millville • Chapter 70 Aid • Regional Transportation • School Choice ( + and – of Chapter 70 Aid) • Out of District Special Education placements • Out of District Vocational Education

Building Based Budgets • High School • New personnel • 2.4 FTE – World Language, Information/Library and Physical Education (athletics) • Textbooks and Instructional supplies • NEASC Accreditation Process • Middle School • Commitment to Middle School Concept – Teacher Teams • Textbooks and Instructional supplies

Building Based Budgets • JFK/AFM – Blackstone • Literacy Professional Development • Textbooks and Supplies • Maintain current class size ratios • Millville Elementary • Literacy Professional Development • Textbooks and Supplies • Maintain current class size ratios

Building Based Budgets • Student Services • New Personnel • 1.6 new teachers (.6 High School and 1.0 Elementary) • Out of district placements • Tuitions – (Applied SPED Circuit Breaker Aid) • Transportation • Out of district transportation • Contracted services • Specialized services to meet the needs of students • Support Staff • Applied Federal Special Education Grant Funds

Building Based Budget • Professional Development • Literacy Initiative – 2nd of a 3 year program • Tuition reimbursement for teacher licensure • Instructional strategies to improve student learning • Technology • Maintain current level of technology support and infrastructure • Replace technology, as needed • No new major Technology Initiatives

Budget Drivers • Contracted Salaries • Student Services • New Teaching Positions • Textbooks and Instructional Supplies • Information Technology • Athletics • Building Maintenance

Budget Savings • Heat and Electricity – (3 yr. average expenses) • Employee Benefits – Health Insurance • Networking – Telecommunications • No new major initiates in FY 15

DRAFT FY 15 Budget Compared to FY 14 Budget • Regular Education • FY 14 - $17,378,246 • FY 15 - $17,837,834 • Difference - $459,588 (2.6%) • Student Services • FY 14 - $3,987,004 • FY 15 - $4,253,145 • Difference - $266,141 (6.7%)

Draft FY 15 BudgetCompared to FY 14 Budget • Total FY 15 Budget • $22,090,979 from $21,365,250 • $725,729 • 3.4% increase

Estimated FY 15 State Aid

FY 15 Estimated District Revenue

District Funds • Certified E&D Fund 529,044 • MGL allows up to 5% of the budget to be in the E&D • BMRSD currently is at 2.5% of the FY 14 budget in E&D • E&D Fund is to provide for unanticipated or emergency expenses during the FY • E&D Fund is used to establish a bond rating along with the towns

Expenses Vs. Revenue • Operating Budget • 3.4% increase (725,729) • State Aid • 10,802,974 increase of 130,103 • District Revenue • Decrease of (- 655,693) • Revenue Deficit • (- 525,590)

Capital Costs • Middle School Bond • Sewer Bond • JFK/AFM Roof Bond • High School Roof Bond

FY 15 Assessment Deficit • Proposed FY 15 Budget 22,090,979 • Less State Aid 10,802,974 • Less Community Contributions 9,657,337 • Less District Funds - 164,000 • Assessment Deficit -1, 466,668

FY 15 Assessment Deficit • No funds in the E&D account to lower the assessment to the Towns • Loss of Chapter 70 Aid for school choice students • Increased cost in student services (mandated)

FY 15 Impact on Students • Reductions in teaching and support staff positions • Reductions in instructional supplies • Reductions in professional development

FY 15 Budget Dilemma • The proposed operating budget, revenue deficit and its impact on the Regional Assessments? • It is all about the Assessment number. • How to fund the modest increase in the operating budget? • How to deal with the major deficit in District revenue to balance the FY 15 budget?

FY 15 Budget Dilemma • What staff and programs will be reduced to address the revenue deficit and its impact on the Regional Assessment to each Town? • What funding options need to be discussed with Blackstone and Millville? • How to develop a long term plan to address the District Revenue Deficit?

FY 15 Budget Decisions • How to balance the operating budget to assessments to Blackstone and Millville? • What budget reductions need to be discussed and considered? • What is the impact on student learning?

Blackstone-Millville RSD FY 15 Budget Hearing