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On April 16, 2007, a financial update was presented to school leaders in Stillwater Area Public Schools. This report outlines historical revenue trends and budget reductions from the 2000-2001 school year to 2007-2008, totaling approximately $15.9 million. Key reductions included staff cuts, program eliminations, and budget freezes. Current reductions were also discussed, with a focus on the expiration of levy authority in November 2007. The necessity of renewing the levy to secure future funding for the 2008-2009 year was emphasized, highlighting the challenges faced by the district.
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District & Finance Update Presented to School Leaders Stillwater Area Public Schools April 16, 2007
District Update • Historical Revenue Trends • Historical Reductions • Current Reductions • Levy Expirations • Perspective of Possible Reductions • Spending Comparison Information
Historical Budget Reductions • Since 2000-01 • $15.9 million in budget reductions Including: 2001-02 • Eliminated Benefit Coordinator position • Eliminated Communications Coordinator position • Reduced supply & material budgets 10% • Shifted some expenses to other funding sources
Historical Budget Reductions 2002-03 • Eliminated activity buses • Reduced supply & material budgets • Eliminated mentorship program for teachers • Reduced 2 administrative positions • Changed length of school day • Shifted to staggered transportation system • Shifted some expenses to other funding sources
Historical Budget Reductions 2003-04 (adopted spring of 2003-04) • Reduced supply & material budgets by 3% • Shifted some expenses to other funding sources 2004-05 • Eliminated Belwin Science Program • Modified temperatures in buildings • Implemented energy efficiency program • Dropped district membership in Metro ECSU • Reduced Read with Me program by 1 teacher
Historical Budget Reductions 2004-05 (con’t) • Reduced special education staff development budget • Reduced district administration staffing 13% • Reduced custodial staffing 3% • Reduced teacher staffing (increased class size) • Reduced nurse staffing • Reduced special education paraprofessional staffing • Reduced counselors by 3%
Historical Budget Reductions 2004-05 (con’t) • Reduced clerical staffing by 2% • Reduced other support staffing by 4.6% • Reduced supply & material budgets by 5% • Shifted some expenses to other funding sources 2005-06 • Increased co-curricular participation fees • Increased student parking fees • Changed SAHS schedule reducing course opportunities
Historical Budget Reductions 2005-06 (con’t) • Reduced vocational education opportunities • Reduced transportation services to state law for secondary students and 1 mile for elementary students • Reduced clerical staffing • Reduced counselor staffing • Reduced media specialist staffing • Reduced paraprofessional staffing • Shifted custodial staffing allocations
Historical Budget Reductions 2005-06 (con’t) • Reduced supply & material budgets 5 to 15% • Reduced teacher staffing (increased class size) • Reduced special education teacher staffing (increased case loads) • Shifted some expenses to other funding sources
Historical Budget Reductions 2006-07 • Reduced fund balance target to 2.5% • Reduced teacher staffing (due to projected decline in enrollment) • Froze supply & material budgets at 2005-06 levels • Shifted some expenses to other funding sources
Current Reductions 2007-08 • People • Eliminated Assistant Principal on Special Assignment position • Reduced custodial staffing • Eliminated full time substitute position • Reduced teachers - secondary Industrial Technology staffing • Reduced Support staff • Reduced Technology support staff • Did not fill vacant Director of Instructional Support Services for remainder of 2006-07 and 2007-08 • Did not grant teacher sabbaticals
Current Reductions 2007-08 (con’t) • Program • Delayed Curriculum Revision Process • Career and Technical Education • Music and the Arts • Physical Education and Health • Reduced teacher staffing (increased class size) • Froze supply & material budgets at 2006-07 level with 5% reduction • Reduced energy conservation program
Current Reductions 2007-08 (con’t) • Service • Adjusted Fund Balance target from 3.4% to 3% • Increased co-curricular participation fees • Increased student parking fees • Increased field and facility rental fees • Shifted security expenses to other funding sources • Reduced paper expenses
Reductions Summary • Teacher reductions - class size increased on average 20+% • Supply & material budgets decreased approximately 22% • Support staff reductions • Clerical, counselors, paraprofessionals, media specialists, nurses, custodians, technology support, etc. • Programs • Mentorship, activity buses, Belwin Science, Metro ECSU, Read with Me, SAHS schedule, vocational education, transportation, etc. • Administrators • Benefit coordinator, communications coordinator, Assistant principal on special assignment, Director of Instructional Support, etc. • Fees • Student parking, clubs, athletics, facility rentals, etc.
Levy Expirations • Current levy referendum authority expires at the conclusion of 2007-08 school year • For revenue to be available for 2008-09 the authority must be renewed November 2007 • Current levy authority is $818 per pupil which generates $8,500,000 per year
Levy Expirations • Current capital projects levy authority expires at the conclusion of 2007-08 • For revenue to be available for 2008-09 the authority must be renewed November 2007 • Current amount is 0.9% net tax capacity which generates $680,000 per year (dependent on tax capacity)
Perspective of Reductions • $8.5 million is 11% of the budget and approximately 5 1/2 weeks of expenditures from the General Fund • Eliminate all supply and material budgets for non fixed costs is equivalent to $6,500,000 • 20% wage reductions of all employees is equivalent to $8,500,000
Perspective of Reductions • If reductions were all in teachers, the reduction would be over 134 teachers or increases in class size of 18-20 students • 134 teachers is equivalent to: • All teachers at SAHS and Lily Lake or; • All teachers at SJHS, OLJHS and Rutherford or; • 57% of all elementary teachers or; • All teachers at Afton Lakeland, Andersen, Lake Elmo, Marine, Oak Park and Withrow
Perspective of Reductions • On average this translates to all teachers hired after August of 2000 • However, by subject area could mean staff with 18-20 years of experience in Stillwater Area Public Schools • Loss of organizational memory and experience • Loss of future’s best and brightest staff • Competitive industry will provide staff opportunities to leave and pursue excellence elsewhere
Perspective of Reductions • Eliminating all administrative positions from the General Fund • Cabinet, building principals, assistant principals, assistant directors, supervisors and coordinators • Saves $3.2 million
Perspective of Reductions • Closing schools varies from $60,000 to $500,000 depending on the school • Transportation reduction for elementary students state requirement (living two miles or more from school) = $150,000 • Eliminating all of athletics and cocurriculars would save approximately $800,000 net of revenues; or • Fees would need to increase 175% to fully cover costs of cocurriculars
Perspective of Reductions • Phone system will fail at some point • Resources were reprioritized since 2002 levy • Network infrastructure needed to be completed • Additional technology needs funded at schools • 1-to-1 program at OLJHS • Laptops will be three years old at end of 2007-08 • Final lease payment Fall 2007 • Not feasible to continue or expand program within existing funding structure absent technology levy
Perspective of Reductions • Existing student and staff computers would be on a 8 to 10 year replacement cycle • Minimal expansion of intelligent classrooms • Smartboards, LCD projectors, digital microscopes, student response systems • Instructional technology support will not be sufficient for growth of technology integration • Technical support will not be sufficient for growth of technology integration
Perspective of Reductions • Capital resources are currently funding operational technology costs as budget reduction from 2003-04 • Capital items are not being replaced on an appropriate replacement schedule • student desks, chairs, cafeteria tables, other equipment
Spending Comparisons • Key points • Below average spending overall compared to statewide and metro. • Higher then average spending on classroom related areas (yellow highlights). • Below average spending on administration and operations (blue highlights).