Hamden Public Schools Superintendents 2014 2015 Recommended Budget

Hamden Public Schools Superintendent’s 2014 -2015 Recommended Budget Hamden High School student Aakshi Agarwal (2 nd to last row, 1 st on right) met with President Obama at the White House, as a National finalist in the Broadcom MASTERS Science Competition in Washington, D. C. Presented by Fran Rabinowitz, Superintendent of Schools January 28, 2014

Frances M. Rabinowitz, Superintendent of Schools Christopher Melillo, Assistant Superintendent Michael Belden, Chief Operating Officer January 28, 2014 Dear Board of Education Members, It is my privilege to submit the 2014 -2015 Superintendent’s proposed budget. Again this year, it is very difficult to assemble an operating budget in light of continued current economic conditions at the national, state and local levels. As an advocate for the educational needs of our children, I have done my best to acknowledge the continued fiscal challenges while seeking to move our district forward. I am proposing a 3. 8% increase over last year’s budget, which is almost entirely comprised of contractual obligations. Only a very small portion of the requested increase is devoted to program needs, most notably, implementation of literacy curriculum aligned to Common Core State Standards. Clearly, Hamden Public Schools has been operating on a very conservative budget. Please keep in mind that in the last three (3) fiscal years, the budget increases have been 0. 99%, 1. 5% and 1. 37%. Over the past 7 years, I have done my best to provide Hamden with fiscally responsible budgets, which have moved the district forward. However, it is also my responsibility to propose enhancements to our educational programs, some of which will require additional resources. For example, for all of our students to meet the requirements of the Common Core State Standards, we must provide them with new resources that target these standards and that our staff have additional skills and understanding to meet the diverse needs of our learners. It is imperative to the health of our community that Hamden be an educational leader, developing students who achieve to their highest potential. The administration looks forward to responding to questions from the Board of Education and the public as we complete the 2014 -2015 budget process.

Hamden Public Schools Board of Education Members 2014 -2015 John Keegan, Chairperson Adam Sendroff, Secretary Lynn Campo Christopher Daur John De. Rosa Christopher Honnen David Pecoraro Arturo Perez-Cabella Valarie Stone Eliza Kanner & Jordan White, Student Representatives Goal: To eliminate the racial and socioeconomic disparities in achievement across all domains while significantly improving all students’ performance

Continuation of 2013 State Mandates • Common Core Curriculum • Teacher Evaluation • State-Required Computerized Assessments (SBAC) Replacing CMT/CAPT • New Security Measures

Strategic savings help us to meet mandates with minimal increases in the budget Strategic Savings • Continued Energy Cost Savings – Fuel Cell, Building Automation Upgrades and Lighting System Upgrades • Contract Negotiations • ERIP in 2012 -13 • Adding internal capacity for special education services to reduce the number of costly out-of-district placements • Changes to insurance platforms for teachers, clerical, paraprofessionals and administrators (savings of $1. 2 million annually)

Budget History Adopted Budget 2011 -2012 $79, 115, 000 0. 99% Adopted Budget 2012 -2013 Adopted Budget 2013 -2014 $80, 300, 000 $81, 400, 000 1. 5% 1. 37% Proposed Budget 2014 -2015 $84, 492, 879 3. 8% Non-Discretionary (3. 3%) $2, 720, 598 Discretionary (0. 5%) Total Proposed Increase $372, 281 $3, 092, 879

Discretionary Budget Increases Object Description Proposed 325 Curriculum Development $16, 280 400 Property Services $25, 000 411 Water $3000 432 Repair and Maintenance Bldgs $2000 550 Printing $12, 000 561 Tuition – Public Schools $18, 692 563 Tuition – Non-Public $34, 726 622 Electricity $63, 000 623 Sewer Use Fees 641 Textbooks 644 Instructional Software $61, 032 645 Non-Instructional Software $14, 985 $182, 680 Other Misc. Lines REDUCTIONS TOTAL $2, 200 $1, 109 -$64, 423 $372, 281 Note: All possible reductions were made across programs and line items, resulting in a $64, 423 decrease and minimizing the total amount requested.

Non-Discretionary Budget Increases Object Description Proposed 111 Central Office Salaries $99, 987 112 Directors’ Salaries $7, 121 114 Teachers’ Salaries $1, 500, 145 119 School Nurse Salaries $44, 476 122 Clerical Salaries $79, 199 123 Aide Salaries 124 Custodian Salaries $38, 581 125 Maintenance Salaries $12, 857 128 Lunch Aide Salaries $10, 053 133 School Climate Advisors $54, 000 140 Security/Residency/Attendance 235 CMERS 225 FICA ER Expense $34, 244 226 Medicare ER Expense $57, 299 $593, 041 $2, 067 $190, 000 Note: All possible reductions were made across programs and line items, resulting in a 274, 050 decrease and minimizing the total amount needed for non-discretionary expenses.

Non-Discretionary Budget Increases (continued) Object Description Proposed 400 Property Services $95, 000 510 Transportation Public $71, 017 510 Transportation – Diesel Fuel $14, 072 511 Transportation - Non Public $29, 395 512 Transportation - Sp. Ed. $34, 671 513 Other Sp. Ed. Transportation $23, 652 518 Transportation - Athletics Other Misc. Lines REDUCTIONS TOTAL $3, 021 $750 - $274, 050 $2, 720, 599 Note: All possible reductions were made across programs and line items, decrease and resulting in a 274, 050 minimizing the total amount needed for non-discretionary expenses.

New and Expanded Initiatives • K-6 Literacy Curriculum aligned to CCSS $248, 000 – Non-fiction books – Professional Development • Open HCLC to Other Districts – Provide a regional alternative middle and high school on a tuition basis to area districts • Special Ed $150, 000 – Increases internal capacity, includes 2 special education teachers and 2 paraprofessionals • NEASC $25, 000 (plus capital funds)

District Priorities not Included in the Proposed Budget • • • Textbooks for approved curricula in multiple subjects Security guard at entry to HMS Nursing supervisor World Language instruction at elementary level Technology – Additional devices to increase student access – Display devices for instruction – Inter-active boards • Athletics – New weight-room equipment for HHS & HMS – New artificial turf field at HHS – Athletic trainer/strength coach • Updated tests for PPS • Additional instructional materials – all schools • Data dashboard

Stresses on the Operating Budget • CMERS • Common Core State Standards Implementation • SBAC • Overcrowding at Spring Glen & Shepherd Glen

Summary • Proposed budget of $84, 492, 879 • Proposed budget reflects a 3. 8% budget increase from 2013 -14 ($3, 092, 879) – Nearly all of this proposed increase is due to contractual obligations, with only a small amount for programs (Implementation of CCSS in literacy, special education and NEASC)