Cromwell Public Schools Placing Students First

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Cromwell Public SchoolsPlacing Students First

• Proposed Budget
• 2009-2010
• Dr. Matt A. Bisceglia
• Superintendent of Schools

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Cromwell Public SchoolsStrategic Plan 2009-2014

• The Cromwell Board of Education is developing
  a five-year Strategic Plan in an effort to
  improve the overall educational program for the
  children and students of Cromwell. As your
  elected council, they know full well the
  importance of public education and the
  correlation that exists between successful, high
  performing school districts and flourishing,
  dynamic communities. The following highlights
  from the five year plan further define the Board
  of Educations educational mission and beliefs.

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CROMWELL PUBLIC SCHOOLSMission Statement

• DRAFT
• The Cromwell Public Schools educate and
• inspire all students to apply the essential
• skills needed to become productive and
• responsible citizens in a rapidly changing
• world.

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CROMWELL BOARD OF EDUCATIONDISTRICT BELIEFS
2009-2014In pursuing their Mission, the Cromwell
Public School community believes that

• DRAFT
• All students are valued and deserve an education
  that addresses their academic, physical, and
  social/emotional needs.
• All members of the community have a right to a
  safe, supportive, and engaging learning
  environment.
• All members of the community value effective
  communication and the involvement of all partners
  in the educational process.
• All members of the community celebrate, respect,
  and appreciate diversity.
• All members of the community must uphold high
  expectations, be accountable, and demonstrate a
  commitment to excellence.

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Process and Timeline

• October Administrators begin budget development
  process with faculty,
  departments, support staff.
• November Administrators compose first drafts of
  their budgets, receive
  clarification and direction from
  central office on content and format.
• December Administrators discuss all budget
  proposals.
• January Administrators meet to revise budget
  requests. Recommended budget presented
  to the BOE.
• Jan/Feb 09-10 Budget proposal finalized by BOE.
• April Presentation of the BOE budget to the
  Board of Finance.

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Budget Process

• Consideration of all input from
• Board of Education
• Cromwell Teachers Association
• Leadership Team Administrators
• Building Level Teachers/Parents/Community

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Process and Timeline

• The Board of Education approved the
• Budget for 2009-2010
• After
• budget meetings and
• workshops had been conducted to review all
• aspects of the proposed financial plan.
• Revisions were made to the budget
• before approval by the Board of Education.

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Annual Factors Influencing the Budget Proposal
for 2009-2010

• The uncertain state of the economy on both the
  local and national levels
• State and federal mandates from the No Child Left
  Behind Law, to State mandated programs, to
  changes in health benefits
• Special Education Mandates
• Salary increases through negotiated settlements
  with employee groups
• Increasing competition for hiring
• Rising costs of essential goods and services

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Program Improvements 2008-2009

• Implementation of Developmental Reading
  Assessment-2nd Ed. (DRA 2) and continuation of
  Haskins Reading Initiative.
• Implementation of Connecticut Accountability for
  Learning Initiative (CALI) K 5.
• Creation of a K 5 standards based reporting and
  grading process
• Implementation of the Common Assessment
  Consortium Grades 2 12. Grade levels now have
  access to common assessments to better determine
  student progress.
• Implementation of Plugged into Reading support
  program at CMS.
• Implementation of Scientific Research Based
  Interventions (SRBI) across district.
• Participation in the Connecticut State Department
  of Education (CSDE) benchmark assessment pilot
  Grades 3 8.
• Development of the performance pathways data
  warehouse.

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Major Focus of 2009 2010

• Creation of a 6 8 standards based reporting and
  grading process
• Implementation of district wide positive behavior
  support system
• Revision of K 12 language arts curriculum
• Expansion of Plugged into Reading at CMS
• Implementation of Forensics course at CHS
• Development of electives in the 9 12 PE
  curriculum
• Implementation of CSDE benchmark assessments
• Implementation of the Performance Pathways data
  warehouse, K 12

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Personnel Changes 09-10

• Certified Staff
• PreK-5 Assistant Principal- ECS and WIS,
  (Cost Neutral)

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Personnel Changes (continued)

• Reduction in Force (RIF)
• Certified Staff
• 1 FTE Special Education Teacher _at_ CHS
  (64,700)
• Non-Certified Staff
• 1 FTE Special Education Paraprofessional _at_ CMS
  (28,488)

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Proposed Budget 2009-2010

• 2008-2009 Actual 24,952,222
• 2009-2010 Proposed 25,674,113
• Difference 721,891
• Increase 2.9

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School Requests

• January
• School Requested Increases/Decreases
  Accounts 330-810
• ECS WIS CMS
  CHS
• (1,050) 14,426 (32,953.)
  (3,556.)
• (0.75) 8.7
  (11.68) (0.6)

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Major Increases 09-10
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Summary of Projected Revenue from the State of
Connecticut

• These are estimates only. Actual entitlements
  are released to each
• municipality in mid-May for the coming fiscal
  year. This is information
• provided by the State Department of Education as
  of March 5, 2009.

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Projected Enrollment2009-2010

• School 2008-2009 2009-2010
  Change
• Actual Projected
• ECS 473 480 7
• (Capacity 500)
• WIS 494 489 -5
• (Capacity 600)
• CMS 460 465 5
• (Capacity 600)
• CHS 588 608 20
• (Capacity 600)

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COST SAVINGS INITIATIVES 2008-2009 Electricity
Contract The BOE/Town have committed to a
four-year firm electricity pricing (.098/kwh)
for the generation portion of our use for the
four schools beginning 1/08.  This is a .019/kwh
savings over the CLP standard offer price.
Because we are under contract, our estimated
six-month savings in 2009 should be about 22,800.
Heating With our ability to use oil or natural
gas at three of our schools, we are able to
secure fuels based upon the market
fluctuations.  In the current year we have
secured a 12-month contract for gas at 1.29/ccf
(1.74/gal oil equivalent).  The market price for
oil at the time we entered into our gas contract
9/07 was 3.05/gal. This provided a savings of
approximately 27,500 in the current budget.  We
cannot guarantee this same level of savings at
this time for next Fiscal Year.
Electricity Load Shedding The BOE initiated an
agreement through 12/11, to reduce a combined
total of 375 kwh of electricity at the
intermediate and high schools during peak
electrical use periods.  In return we receive
1,400/month for this standby availability. 
Should we fail to meet this goal, we lose any
future funds until the next event.  The first
year funds have been reallocated for consulting
services and probable improvements to enable us
to meet the demand reduction at the high school.
 These funds have not been calculated into the
utility budget as they are not guaranteed.  
Other Anticipated Savings 1) Innovative health
plan options negotiated in each new contract. The
HDHP/HSA has seen a reduction in health
benefit payments of approximately 102,000 this
year 2) Reduced use of legal services for
grievances, expulsion hearings, and unemployment
claims resulting in significant
savings  3) Creation of an early retirement
option for long-time Cromwell Public School
employees   4) Reduced electrical consumption
from 3 million KWH in the 05-06 school year to
2,750,00  in the 07-08 school year, an 8
reduction. Anticipate a similar reduced rate of
consumption over the next two years.
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PERSONNEL Possible Reductions for Consideration

• ECS Speech Teacher (Salary Benefits)
• CMS Reading Support Teacher (Salary Benefits)
• CHS and CMS Library Paras (Salary Benefits)
• CHS Reduced Guidance Days (From 51 to 30 Days)
• ECS Reading Teacher (Salary Benefits)
• WIS Reading Teacher (.4) (Salary Benefits)
• WIS and ECS Soc. St. Facilitators (Stipend)
• District-Wide Secretary (Salary Benefits)
• Increase Class Size

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Changes in Budget Request Since BOE Adoption on
01/27/2009

• Medical Benefits Savings
• October/Dec. Estimate _at_ 10.0
• March 31th Budgeted _at_ 2.5 245,036
  Savings
• Early Retirement Savings
• 5 Retirements _at_ the March 12th Deadline
  124,829 Savings
• Oil/Gas/Diesel Savings
• Dec. Mkt Price Oil _at_ 2.00 per gal. Diesel
  _at_ 2.25 per gal Gas _at_ 1.40 per ccf
• March Mkt Price Oil _at_ 1.63 per gal. Diesel _at_
  1.74 per gal Gas _at_ .97 per ccf
• 80, 000 Savings
• Proposed New Sewer Use Charge Formula
• 09-10 S/Y Mid-March 17, 000 Savings
• Systemwide Field Trips 10, 800
  Savings
• To be Grant funded
• Total New Savings 477,665

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Revised BOE Budget Request

• 2008-2009 Actual 24,952,222
• 2009-2010 Proposed 25,197,997
• Difference 245,775
• Increase .98
• The Administration and BOE have reduced
• our original budget proposal by 671,203 since
  01/27/09, i.e., from a 3.78 increase to a .98

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Goals and Objectives
Continuous Improvement For All Students Five
Year Strategic Plan
Providing Current Textbooks, Technology,
Software, Materials Supplies for All Students
Continuing Review and Revision of K-12 Curriculum
Offering Staff Relevant, District-wide
Professional Development
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Questions or Comments?