Middletown Public Schools

Middletown, Rhode Island

 

Thursday, February 14, 2008

6:00 p.m.

 

MICHAEL S. PINTO CONFERENCE ROOM

 

BUDGET WORKSHOP

 

Members Present:                   Michael F. Crowley, Jr., Chairman

                                                Theresa M. Spengler, Vice-Chair

                                                Liana F. Fenton

 

Member Absent:                     William R. Coogan

                                                Edward K. Draper

 

Also Present:                          Rosemarie K. Kraeger, Superintendent of Schools

                                                Edward Collins, Director of Facilities

                                                Linda Savastano, Director of Technology Administration

 

 

The Budget Workshop was called to order at 6:04 p.m. by Chairman Michael Crowley.

 

Mrs. Kraeger announced that she will be recommending layoffs within in the next few weeks.  A cost analysis by cost and program, a breakdown of the numbers and how they are tracked was provided.

 

Budget meetings are minimized because of the limited dollars as a result of S3050.

 

In order to meet the S3050 challenges we must:

    • Get the message out to community and show how the shortfall has impacted our school programs
    • Literacy and math coaches are being reduced.  Programs we have worked hard to build will be reduced and/or eliminated.
    • Mrs. Kraeger and Mrs. McLeish met with the Budget Subcommittee and Town Council liaisons to review a rough draft of the budget.

 

(Minutes of February 14, 2008 School Committee Budget Meeting, Page Two)

 

            The Budget Goals for FY 2008-2009 are:

•       Provide a detailed cost analysis budget by school and by program.

•       Continue to work with members of the Budget Subcommittee, two School Committee and two Town Council

•       Meet the challenge of the Rhode Island Senate 3050 statute, 5.0% tax cap

•       Articulate to both the school community and community at large the specific expected shortfalls in local, State and Federal dollars and the impact on programs and personnel.

 

·         Total budget increase of 3.23%

o   3.1% teacher salary increase

o   6.5% Blue Cross premium increase

o   6+% Delta Dental premium increase

o   Bus rate increased by +4%

o   Regional Special Education increase of 15.33%

o   Teachers’ Retirement increased by 1.82%

 

Mrs. Spengler asked what the cost effectiveness of purchasing busses and hiring drivers would be if done through the Middletown Public Schools.  Mr. Collins stated it would not be cost effective, due to the liability insurance, etc.  He said there are possibilities of having bus companies employ their own monitors, which would be cost-effective.

 

As additional reductions may be needed, we will be looking at our sports programs.  We will be meeting with sports groups to work out a plan in the event the reductions are needed.  Mrs. Spengler suggested we contact legislators for changing the pay to play.  Mr. Crowley said he didn’t think anyone would touch this right now.  He said at the last school board executive board meeting there was a conversation about the possibility of charging for transportation for sports programs and extracurricular activities.  We currently spend 68K for sports transportation.  We are also looking at the participation rate for the freshman football program.  If we cut the program, students could still play on the JV team.

 

There is a scheduled meeting for the beginning of March with the sports group to discuss players paying for transportation due to the budget shortfall.

 

Mrs. Kraeger repeated that State Aid was level funded and that Impact Aid is level funded as well.

 

MOTION:  1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Lee Fenton.   To adjourn from the Budget Workshop at 6:43 p.m.  Unanimous vote.

 

                                                                        Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

                                                                        Rosemarie K. Kraeger, Clerk