December 17,

BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PARAMETERS AREAS OF FOCUS CATALOGUE

2009

During the Board of Education’s Budget Work Session held on December 14, 2009 the Board agreed to ask the
administration to focus on the areas documented here for further evaluation in the development of Budget
Parameters. Each Item has been catalogued with a number to which the administration can cross reference
materials prepared for Board review in that area. As much as possible the administration should be making
recommendations supported by identifiable logic, educational best practices, but also cognizant of budget
realities. Avoid extraneous information or that which lacks discernible synthesis.

Staff Utilization Utility Analysis and Related Areas

The administration has provided some detail on staffing decision rationale, but not enough rational has been
provided in several critical areas. The following positions require specific and immediate staffing rationale. Use
specifics in these reports, not generalities. What means do we have in place to verify the staffing level required.

Item 2009-10 Staff

Position Comments
FTE’s
General Ed. Classroom Assistants 43.26 Need specific detail on circumstances under which
1
each is deployed
Special Ed. Classroom Assistants 77.5 Need specific detail on circumstances under which
2
each is deployed.
3 Special Ed. Teachers 67.4 Provide documentation supporting this staffing level
Speech Therapists 18.90 We appear to have more than double the resources
4 of what are funded. Why are we hiring beyond what
is funded?
Psychologists 10.8 Distinct funding sources only half of these resources.
5
Why are we hiring beyond that?
Social Workers 9.5 Only roughly 1/3 have a funding source. Why are we
6
hiring beyond that?
Hall Monitors/Parking Lot 5.6 (North) What accounts for the discrepancy between the
7 Attendant/Non-Musical Parapros (high 12.4 (South) schools? Why can’t South operate at North’s staffing
schools) levels?
Special Educ. Co-Directors 2.0 What is the rationale for having two and what are
8 plans relative to vacancy in Executive Director of
Special Ed.?
Asst. Superintendent-Curriculum and 2.0 Both positions are in “contractor” condition. What
9
Exec. Dir. – Curriculum are plans for 2010-11 and beyond?
Secretaries 52.20 Board will require justification and rationale for all
10
secretary positions.
All Hourly Staff Provide detail on every hourly staff position that has
11 traditionally worked in the summer months and
justify why this is done
Building Administration (Principals and 23.0 Provide rationale for allocation of all Building
12
Asst. Principals) Administration at all levels.

1 Submitted by: Brendan Walsh and Fred Minturn (as approved by Board of
Education)
December 17,
BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PARAMETERS AREAS OF FOCUS CATALOGUE
2009

General Education – Class Size Guidelines

Item Class Size Class Size
Level Comments
Minimum Maximum
Elementary K-3 Provide guidelines on proposed
13
Elementary 4-5 minimum and maximum class sizes at
Middle School (Core) all levels. Break out in whatever detail
14 Middle School you deem necessary. For MS and HS
(Encore) provide also a target aggregate class
High School (Core) size that comprehends all subjects.
15
High School (Encore)
Provide statement of position on
whether administration supports split
16 Split Class Option
grade level classes (distinct from
Magnet and Trombly 1-2-3)

Special Program Designations

The Board will exempt the following classes for class size specific requirements or will otherwise guarantee their
existence in 2010-11:
Item Special Program Designations: The following were suggestions made at the December Board
meeting. Please add others the administration may recommend that may require variance from the
above recommended class size guidelines. However, the student enrollment in these courses should
be comprehended in aggregate class size calculations.
A. Support Classes
B. Sequential Classes
17 C. One AP course in each of the 5 core HS content areas
D. Magnet (elementary)
E. Multi-Age Course (elementary)

2 Submitted by: Brendan Walsh and Fred Minturn (as approved by Board of
Education)
December 17,
BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PARAMETERS AREAS OF FOCUS CATALOGUE
2009

Other Areas of Focus

The Board would like more specific information and rationale for the following 2010-11 projected investments as
well as any possible “in-year” 2009-10 cost containment strategies:

Item Area of Focus Projected Request, Comment or Questions

2010-11
Budget
Substitute Teacher $1.8 million Break out by sick days, personal days, in-service or
18 Costs training days and by employee type. Verify budget
number is accurate.
19 Teaching Supplies $803,000 Provide specific budget, details on request process
Capital Expenses – $1.08 million Provide specific budget request
20
Technology
Repairs and $1.84 million Provide specific budget, details on request process. Also
21
Maintenance need to evaluate vis-a-vis Sinking Fund options
22 Athletics EPED Please provide specific budget request
23 Non-Athletics EPED Please provide specific budget request
Athletics Capital Provide line item detail with dollar values of what will be
24
Expense Budget requested
All Back Office Administration should investigate shared services options
25 Services with other school districts or potentially even
municipalities
Fixed percentage Please combine all costs and provide bottom figure. We
allocation to all Extra- can then compare that total and view as a percentage of
26
curricular and Co- the 2009-10 budget. Supporting Board members may
Curricular Programs then formulate their proposal.

3 Submitted by: Brendan Walsh and Fred Minturn (as approved by Board of
Education)
December 17,
BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PARAMETERS AREAS OF FOCUS CATALOGUE
2009

Health Care Report Analysis and Requests

Item Area of Focus Request

A wide variance in employee contributions to health This is an area where the Board has
care exists. Currently all employee bargaining units requested administrative attention
and other employees contribute at least 5% to their in negotiations.
health care costs with the notable exception of the
Teacher bargaining unit (GPEA) who pay nothing.
The Custodians’ Bargaining unit contributes
27 proportionally more, as much as 4 times more than
other bargaining units, plus they operate on a lower
cost per contract than all other employees.
On-going negotiations must account for this inequity
and be cognizant of ever-increasing health are costs
with absolutely no offset in any revenue source.

Administration should continue to

pursue dialog with health care
providers to evaluate provider
28 Plan design changes (non-negotiated) options and sub-insurance options
(e.g. Stop Loss and Aggregate Stop
Loss) for plan design modifications
to yield cost reduction.

Fund Equity Position

Item Description Request

The Board has already authorized $2.6 million of General The Board should take a position on
Fund Equity to be appropriated for the 2009-10 budget in the authorization of Fund Equity for
29
response to the unanticipated state cuts of October 2009. the development of the 2010-11
budget.

4 Submitted by: Brendan Walsh and Fred Minturn (as approved by Board of
Education)