Schools looking for 2.77% increase
By Shawn on Jan 25, 2010 in Schools
Approving a Draft Budget for the next fiscal year, the School Committee has approved a proposed budget of $28,610,390.00, an increase over last years budget (after paybacks and transfers back to the town) of 2.77%.
A significant issue, of course, is the stimulus money that cannot be depended upon for the future, as well as increases in transportation of over $100,000.00 and unknown amounts for special education.
Superintendent Mullin informed the School Board that Town Manager Dennis Piendak asked him to target a level funded anticipated appropriation.
“Current overreliance on stimulus spending is dangerous,” Mullin said, after explaining that the budget he was proposing was a “Carry Forward Budget” meant to show the costs as if “all current programs and services will be run, at their 2011 cost.”
He listed a number of budget assumptions, as well as the possible risks.
Stimulus funding now supports 9 full time teachers in our secondary education program, 7 at the elementary, 3 part time and one paraprofessional. The future of that funding is questionable.
He went on to discuss the issue that Dracut spends one of the lowest per-pupil spending amounts in the state, yet Mike Miles pointed out that we still send students to some of the best colleges and have a high rate of success. “And thats due to the teachers,” he said.
“Our kids are succeeding and doing well, ” Mullin replied, “with a shoestring budget.” The state average per pupil is $12,452 while Dracut spends on $9230 per student (according to Mass DOE reports).
Dr Mike McNamara summed up the key issue..
“If we could keep our special education costs level-funded we would have no problem level funding our entire budget, but that figure continues to rise.”
The Lowell Sun had an article today discussing the issue of using stimulus funds as well. They also reported some enrollment figures that sound questionable.. but the economy may have brought some students back to the district from private schools. that report will come from the state next month.
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Victor A. Olson | Jan 26, 2010 | Reply
FOUNDATION ENROLLMENTS:
Foundation Enrollment(number of Students as of Oct 1 each year) determines minimum Net School Spending Requirements required by state law.
If you don’t spend that amount in a particular year you must spend more the following year to make up the shortfall in spending or risk losing your Chapter 70 funding.
Source: MA DESE: “Each district’s foundation budget is updated each year to reflect inflation and changes in enrollment. Enrollment plays an important role not just because of the total number of pupils, but also because there are differences in the costs associated with various educational programs, grade levels, and student needs. Districts differ greatly in the percentages of their student population that fall(Oct 1 each year for every district) into these enrollment categories. As a result, when districts’ foundation budgets are presented in per pupil terms, there is considerable variation.”
The Dracut school district projections show an increase of 89 total student over the 3 years but the high school projections show an increase of over 150 students.
The Greater Lowell Tech district enrollments are also increasing. Actual historic numbers pupil from 2008 also show an actual increase of 81 students in the last 3 years from 305 to 386 students (27 percent increase). The largest increase this year from 346 to 386 (12 percent increase). Enrollments are also up around 5 percent across the District this year.
Minimum net school spending is based on number of pupils so I would expect minimum budget amounts to increase accordingly. Given the large increase in student participation and rough calculations I would say that the assessment would go up somewhere between 15 and 20 percent using minimum net school spending state requirements. I haven’t seen the numbers from the state yet but would expecto to see something before our next meeting.
Ive’ attached a link to Massachusetts Department Of Elementary and Secondary Education website where you can click on a pdf for an overview on “How the foundation budget is calculated” for more information.
Shawn | Jan 26, 2010 | Reply
That site is not a good indicator right now, as it still has the invalid end of year figures for your net school spending ..
http://finance1.doe.mass.edu/schfin/Chapter70/profile.aspx?ID=079