Hamden Public Schools Superintendents 2015 2016 Recommended Budget

Hamden Public Schools Superintendent’s 2015 -2016 Recommended Budget

Jody Goeler, Superintendent of Schools Christopher Melillo, Assistant Superintendent Michael Belden, Chief Operating Officer January 28, 2015 Dear Board of Education Members: It is my privilege to submit the 2015 -2016 Superintendent’s proposed budget. As an advocate for the educational needs of our children, I have done my best to acknowledge our continued fiscal challenges while seeking to move Hamden Public Schools forward. I am proposing a 3. 97% increase over last year’s budget, which is almost entirely comprised of contractual obligations. Only a small portion of the requested increase is devoted to program needs, most notably, implementation of literacy curriculum aligned to Common Core State Standards, adding STEM offerings at Hamden High School, and meeting the goals of our Alliance funding. In recent history, Hamden Public Schools has been operating on a very conservative budget. Please keep in mind that in the last three (3) fiscal years, our operating budget increases have been 1. 5%, 1. 37% and 0. 31%. In addition to the efficiencies we continue to operationalize, my budget proposal seeks to balance a significant reduction in staff in response to declining enrollment, while adding dollars to shore up underfunded non-discretionary accounts. The proposed increase supports curriculum initiatives essential to our district’s commitment to providing all students the opportunity to succeed beyond high school. Since the recession of 2008, the budget allotted to our public schools has not kept up with salaries and other nondiscretionary increases, despite reductions of staff and other attempts at curbing fixed costs, thus putting a squeeze on discretionary cost lines designated to support efforts towards improving instruction and supporting our diverse student body and their families. As a result, over 45% of our Alliance funding has been designated to support positions, materials, and initiatives previously funded through the LEA. This results in our having to allocate significantly less to meet the goals of the Alliance grant, for which we remain accountable to the State of Connecticut. We embrace the opportunity to ensure Hamden Public Schools becomes an educational leader in ensuring all students achieve their highest potential. The administration looks forward to responding to questions from the Board of Education and the public as we complete the 2015 -2016 budget process. Sincerely, Jody Ian Goeler

Hamden Public Schools Board of Education Members 2015 -2016 John Keegan, Chairperson Adam Sendroff, Secretary Lynn Campo Christopher Daur John De. Rosa Christopher Honnen David Pecoraro Arturo Perez-Cabella Valarie Stone Sara Courtemanche & Jordan White, Student Representatives Goal: To eliminate the racial and socioeconomic disparities in achievement across all domains while significantly improving all students’ performance

Hamden is Changing Year Total Enrollment # of students Free/ Reduced ELL Spec. Ed. # of students % of students 2008 -09 6065 1, 987 33% 205 3% 735 12% 2014 -15 5631 2, 372 42% 268 5% 831 15% Although our enrollment has decreased, the percentage of free/reduced, ELL and Special Education students has increased

2015 -2016 Budget Drivers

2015 -2016 Budget Distribution

Realigning Accounts Based on Budget Actuals Proposing Sufficient Funding for: • Employee Contractual Increases • Utility Costs • Transportation Contracts

Budget Cuts and Reductions • Staffing • Efficiency • Board/Town Collaboration

Budget Cuts and Reductions Total Staffing Reductions 17 FTE Teaching Positions – – 7 teachers at elementary schools 4 teachers at middle school 4 teachers at high school 2 teachers at Alice Peck Pre-School 2 FTE Paraprofessional Positions – 2 paraprofessionals at Alice Peck 1 FTE Clerical Position – 1 clerical No impact on quality of instruction

Budget Additions - Staff Total Staffing Additions 2 FTE Teaching Positions – 1 SPED teacher at elementary level – 1 SPED teacher at Hamden High School 1 FTE Security Guard (HCLC)

Budget Cuts and Reductions Efficiencies • Implementation of substitute custodians has reduced the overtime costs in all buildings. • Approval by the Board of Education for the use of Cenergistics, Inc. to reduce utility costs (pending further review with Mayor/Legislative Council). • Entered into 5 -year Xerox lease agreement for 53 multi-functional devices providing predictable costs and reducing overages. • Entered into print managed services contract with Xerox to reduce costs per print.

Budget Cuts and Reductions Board/Town Collaboration • Evaluating the possibility of moving Central Office to Government Center • Negotiating joint contracts • Examining needs and encouraging additional collective purchasing (currently utilizing Board/Town consortium to purchase diesel gas, electricity, natural gas)

Strategic Savings • • Continued Energy Cost Savings – Fuel Cell, Solar Panels, and Cenergistics, Inc. (pending further review with Mayor/Leg. Council) Contract Negotiations Adding internal capacity for special education services to reduce the number of costly out-of-district placements. Additionally, opening HCLC to out-of-district students on a tuition-basis provides funds to offset program costs Savings on insurance platforms for teachers, custodians and administrators.

Advancing Student Learning: Proposed Budget Additions • Restructuring District Leadership • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) – 21 st Century Curriculum Expansion at HHS • Online Learning – Advanced course opportunities • Internal Capacity for Special Education – Increased number of students with IEP’s educated in-district

Alliance Grant 2014 -15: $3, 987, 286 The “substantial majority” of funds must be spent for the purpose of dramatically increasing student outcomes and closing achievement gaps by pursuing bold and innovative reforms. However, due to LEA budget shortfalls, the district appropriated $1, 728, 557 of Alliance funds to cover existing LEA expenses, including: • Teacher salaries ($959, 471) • Basic instructional supplies ($77, 275) • Textbooks ($265, 582) • Instructional Equipment ($195, 050) • Non-Instructional Equipment ($50, 000) • Other ($181, 179)

Budget History Adopted Budget 2009 -2010 -2011 -2012 Amount $77, 500, 000 $78, 336, 250 $79, 115, 000 % Increase 0. 08% 1. 08% 0. 99% 2012 -2013 -2014 $80, 300, 000 $81, 400, 000 1. 50% 1. 37%

Budget History 2014 -2015 LEA Approved Budget $81, 650, 000 Elimination of CMERS Expense $625, 000 Additional Capital Appropriation Net FY 2014 -15 Budget Increase $300, 000 $1, 175, 000 Proposed Budget 2015 -2016 $84, 891, 505 Total Proposed Increase $3, 241, 505 0. 31% 1. 44% 3. 97%

Budget Proposal 2015 -2016 Proposed Budget 2015 -2016 $84, 891, 505 3. 97% $166, 696 0. 20% $2, 283, 429 2. 80% Budget Adjustment – Alliance $637, 499 0. 78% Budget Adjustment - Capital $153, 879 0. 19% $3, 241, 505* 3. 97% Discretionary Increase Non-Discretionary Increase Total Proposed Increase *difference in total due to rounding

Discretionary Budget Changes Object Description Proposed Changes 140 Security / Residency / Attendance 240 Clothing Allowance 431 Repair & Maintenance Equipment $7, 750 532 Postage $3, 200 590 Student Activities $49, 550 612 Maintenance Supplies $25, 000 613 Other Supplies / Materials $22, 342 642 / 643 Library Books / Periodicals $6, 300 811 Ice Rink TOTAL $34, 574 ($3, 020) $21, 000 $166, 696

Non-Discretionary Budget Changes Object Description Proposed Changes 111 Central Office Salaries 112 Director Salaries $6, 283 113 Principal Salaries $57, 044 114 Teacher Salaries $1, 191, 078 115 Substitute Salaries $23, 937 119 School Nurse Salaries $31, 831 122 Clerical Salaries $80, 966 123 Aide Salaries $71, 127 124 Custodian Salaries 125 Maintenance Salaries 128 Lunch Aide Salaries 140 Security / Residency / Attendance Sub-Total – All Salaries $115, 186 $132, 552 $25, 498 $8, 722 $11, 811 $1, 756, 035

Non-Discretionary Budget Changes Object Description Proposed Changes 215 Life Insurance $10, 780 220 FICA/Employer Expense $52, 554 226 Medicare Employer Expense $37, 986 270 Annuities $12, 200 340 Technical Services $20, 000 411 Water $12, 668 510 Transportation-Public 511 Transportation-Non-Public $18, 078 512 Transportation-Sp. Ed. $21, 323 513 Transportation-Other Sp. Ed. $14, 546 518 Transportation-Athletics 521 Liability Insurance 561 Tuition Public - Wintergreen 561 Tuition Public - ECA ($28, 435) $1, 858 $100, 000 $44, 517 $2, 014

Non-Discretionary Budget Changes Object Description Proposed Changes 561 Tuition- Public School 561 Tuition – Sound School $6, 780 561 Tuition – Lyman Hall $3, 325 563 Tuition – Non-Public Schools $34, 723 623 Sewer Use Fees $10, 000 645 Non-Instructional Software $25, 587 TOTAL $126, 890 $2, 283, 429

Budget Adjustment - Alliance Object Description Proposed Changes 116 Tutors / Adult Ed. Instruction $80, 630 320 Professional Development $95, 000 325 Curriculum Development $7, 350 330 Professional Services $64, 175 611 Instructional Supplies $172, 823 641 Textbooks $156, 489 644 Instructional Software TOTAL $61, 032 $637, 499

Budget Adjustment - Capital Object Description 644 Instructional Software 734 Instructional Equipment 735 Non-Instructional Equipment TOTAL Proposed Changes $24, 892 $116, 137 $12, 850 $153, 879

Summary • Proposed budget of $84, 891, 505 • Proposed budget reflects a 3. 97% budget increase from 2014 -15 ($3, 241, 505) • Majority of proposed increases are contractual and based on actual operational expenses. • Elimination of 17 FTE teaching positions, 2 paraprofessionals, 1 clerical position