DECEMBER SCHOOL BOARD UPDATE – BETH FRANKLIN, CHAIR
LUNT PLAY AND LEARN:
Lunt Play and Learn, a new parent-funded childcare program, is up and running, serving 24 children in its first year of operation. Play and Learn is an enrichment program providing school day childcare services for kindergartners. Children who attend kindergarten on the Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday morning schedule can attend Play and Learn on Wednesday afternoons, Thursday, and Fridays, and vice versa. Programming is designed to build upon what is learned during the school day, with lots of opportunity for play and socialization. There will be a program evaluation presented at the February budget workshop, as this service will be under consideration for extension into the next school year.
END OF CALENDAR YEAR ACTIVITIES:
The School Board ended the 2010 calendar year with several important votes dealing with the use of the four classrooms at the front of the new elementary school that were generically labeled “pre-K classrooms.” The State required that any new school construction include space for pre-K in anticipation of future demands. Given that pre-K is not on our immediate horizon, Superintendent Powers brought forward two separate proposals for use of those rooms, both of which involve zero cost to taxpayers but bring important services into the new Falmouth Elementary School.
The first proposal would bring Child Development Services (CDS) programming into one of the classrooms. CDS is a the state agency that provides early intervention and special education programming for children through age five. The board’s action authorized the superintendent to negotiate a user’s agreement with CDS, with a final proposal review scheduled for the spring.
The second proposal was to provide self-funded childcare for the children of the members of the Falmouth school community, including students, faculty, and staff. Like this year’s Play and Learn program, this program would be completely self-funded by the participants and based on a fee structure designed to cover all associated costs of the program. The goals for this program include: 1) quality, affordable childcare for school community members; 2) the opportunity for high school students interested in child development to volunteer their time and energy working with young children; 3) the eventual opportunity to FHS to offer a dual enrollment course offering SMCC credit in child development, with the childcare program functioning as a lab school; and, 4) our increased ability to attract and retain the highest quality teaching staff possible. Again, the Board authorized the superintendent to proceed with the development of this program.
FY 12 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT:
For years, the school district has been anticipating the dreaded “cliff,” the time when federal stimulus funds would end. Given that the State counted these funds as part of their obligation to each community, we are now anticipating an $806,000 reduction in funding for FY 12, which starts on 7/1/11. On top of this reduction would be any increase in salaries, health care costs, texts and materials, etc.
At the January 3rd workshop, the Board received an update on the information provided last year on enrollment, anticipated class sizes and staffing, and student:teacher ratios. The presentation that includes complete staffing information can be found on the school website under the school board tab, workshop documents, or via the following link: http://www.falmouthschools.org/File/Board/Workshop_documents/Jan_3_2011_workshop_presentation.pdf. We also looked at those reductions we took last year, and the additional reductions that were offered but that were not adopted as the revenue picture improved. The reductions taken in the FY11 budget included:
Item
Reason
Cost
Grade 1 Teacher
strictly meets classroom size policy
($60,000)
Lunt RTI ed tech (0.5)
reduction tied to above
($12,500)
Grade 4 Teacher
strictly meets classroom size policy
($60,000)
Gr 1 World Language elim. (0.5 FTE Teacher)
World Language starts at Gr. 2
($30,000)
PM Planning Aide
reduction tied to above
($5,625)
PM Technology Teacher
redesign/reallocation with MS
($70,000)
MS Secretary
non-replacement of resignation
($32,500)
Sped Ed Techs (3 FTE)
program eval/staff demographics
($75,000)
MS World Language Teacher (0.5FTE)
enrollment in 7/8 French
($30,000)
Schedule C -Building teacher leadership
allocation reduced by 40%
($30,000)
District Teacher Leaders
reduction of contract days/sub costs
($15,000)
10% instructional supplies, texts & equipment
review inventory/no text purchases
($40,000)
Facilities/Transpo account reductions
supplies/materials/repair line redux
($25,000)
Pilates/Yoga program eliminations (HS)
incorporate/redesign of PE program
($8,000)
Wood chip heat savings vs. oil (HS)
Estimate of savings
($40,000)
Debt Service reduction
refinance of HS local const. bond
($58,000)
Debt Service reduction
annual interest expense reduction
($48,000)
Workers Comp premium savings
improved claim history
($30,000)
District co-curricular stipends
program reviews
($3,300)
HS co-curricular stipends
program reviews
($15,000)
MS co-curricular stipends
program reviews
($9,689)
Subtotal ($697,614)
Additional reductions were considered for FY11 but weren’t pursued as the federal government and state came through with additional funding, and the assessed property amounts increased. Unlike any of our neighboring communities, Falmouth kept a level mil rate which meant no increase in taxes (for the 2nd year in a row).
This year some of the reductions that are being considered will have a more direct impact on programming, particularly if we get to the level titled Tier II. They include:
Tier I List
Grade 2 Teacher
strictly meets class size policy
($60,000)
Grade 5 Teacher
strictly meets class size policy
($60,000)
Grade 7 Teacher
strictly meets class size policy
($60,000)
MS World Language (1.0 FTE)
schedule adjustment/class size
($60,000)
MS Music (0.5 FTE)
schedule adjustment/class size
($30,000)
MS special ed teacher (1.0 FTE)
enrollment/case review
($60,000)
Reduction to 35 hrs max. for Ed Techs
reduction of teacher contact time
($15,000)
HS admin support reduction (40 to 35 hrs/wk)
reduced services/reallocation ($15,000)
K-5 summer school (reg ed)
FY12 hiatus -new school move
($27,000)
MS/HS summer courses
student fee for materials/teachers
($3,000)
HS study hall monitor (1.5 FTE)
reallocate duties to HS staff
($36,000)
Business Office hrs/schedule adjustments
office hours/coverage reviews
($20,000)
MS Library ET hrs reduction (15 hrs)
reduction of services
($8,500)
HS Library ET hrs reduction (20/hrs per wk)
reduction of services
($13,700)
Grounds/mail run position elimination (1/2)
reduced services/reallocation
($22,000)
HS RTI Teacher (0.6 FTE)
schedule/enrollment
($30,000)
Subtotal ($520,000)
Tier II List
IEP coordinator summer school oversight
offset pay with comp time during year
($4,250)
District service learning prog. (1/3 reduction)
reduction of program services
($12,000)
Gr 2 World Language elim. (0.5 FTE Teacher)
World Language starts at Gr. 3
($30,000)
Gr 3-5 World Language (2.0 Teachers)
World Language starts at MS
($120,000)
District health services review
one-campus study
TBD*
Social Work/Behavior
one-campus study
TBD*
Sped out-of-district placement review
student needed
TBD*
HS schedule/additional sections review
Enrollment/student need
TBD*
Custodial services review
K-8 needs analysis
TBD*
Subtotal
($166,250)
TOTAL
($686,250)
*To be determined: studies are currently occurring to determine potential cost savings or efficients.
Obviously, all of these cuts don’t equal the anticipated funding reduction, much less any an increase to any budget line item.
So, the School Board is in full budget mode trying to assure that the quality of the education program we enjoy in Falmouth is not compromised. Our finance committee is working closely with the Town Council Finance Committee on how to move forward with a budget that can enjoy a wide level of support. To that end, the following is the calendar we will be following as we move toward a vote on the Budget Validation Referendum in June.
Jan 3, 2011 School Board Workshop –Budget Prep Information
Jan 18, 2011 Finance Committee Budget Update
Feb 7, 2011 School Board Workshop (Budget Priorities)
Feb 9, 2011 School/dept. budgets due to Supt. Office
Feb 15, 2011 Finance Committee Budget Update
March 7, 2011 Budget workshop and budget book distribution to School Board
March 10, 2011 Budget available on school website
March 12, 2011 FY12 Budget Rollout Presentation/All-Day Workshop
March 21, 2011 School Board Budget Review
March 30, 2011 Special Council meeting for budget presentations (School and Town)
April 4, 2011 School Board Workshop (possible budget approval date by School Board)
April 11, 2011 Town Council Budget Review (if necessary)
April 25, 2011 Town/School Budget public hearing -Budget order
May 18, 2011 School budget submittal to Town Council and Voters
May 25, 2011 Submit budget order to Town Council for approval
June 7, 2011 Election/School Budget Referendum vote
Public comment will be taken at every School Board workshop and meeting and will be taken at all Town Council meetings on March 30th, April 11th and 25th.
FEBRUARY 7TH WORKSHOP AGENDA:
The February 7th workshop will be largely devoted to reviewing the Tier II reduction proposals, as noted above. Additionally, the Board will be hearing an update from the kindergarten study committee on the different options for next year. This meeting will be held at the FHS Music Room at 7pm.
A REMINDER
If you are interested in student and staff updates, please visit the falmouthschools.org website. There is a regularly updated Message from the Superintendent as well as a highlights link that you may find very interesting that includes short write-ups and photos. Enjoy the great news from our schools!
