On Wednesday night, the Wellesley Public Schools Administration proposed the FY09 Operating Budget to School Committee. A summary of the proposed budget is below. For further detail, see the Administration's Presentation on the Operating Budget.
It
is
imperative
to
follow
the
budget
process
as
it
unfolds
over
the
coming
weeks.
Major
decisions
are
made
throughout
the
process
which
ultimately
impact
the
level
of
education
in
our
public
schools.
We
encourage
you
to
provide
your
feedback
to
School
Committee
as
the
budget
process
proceeds.
Thank
you
for
your
continued
interest
in
the
issues
which
affect
the
Wellesley
Public
Schools. For further information on
Committee
for
Education
in
the
21st
Century
(Committee
21),
please
go
to our website.
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FY09
Operating
Budget
Proposed
The WPS Administration presented the Operating Budget
for the
next
fiscal
year
(FY09)
which
runs
from
July 1,
2008 to
June 30,
2009.
The Administration proposed three budget tiers:
-
a
base
budget,
+
9.5%
over
FY08
-
a
sustaining
budget,
+
10.7%
-
an
advancing
budget,
+
11.1%
The budget which best reflects a
level
services
budget,
accounting
for
increasing
enrollment
and
associated
support
services,
is the
sustaining
budget
and is
a total
of $54.9
million.
The major components of the
sustaining
budget
increase
of 10.7%
are:
-
6.4%
-
costs
associated
with
the
delivery
of
education
as
it
is
currently
being
delivered.
This
portion
is
driven
primarily
by
teachers'
compensation
and increases
in
the
cost
of
Special
Education
Transportation
and
Tuition
(ST&T,
see
below).
-
1.5%
-
costs
due
to
enrollment
increases.
This
portion
is
driven
primarily
by
additional
classroom
teachers
and
supplies.
-
1.6%
-
FY08
deficit. Costs which are currently being incurred due
to
unanticipated
expenses
this
year
(primarily
increases
in
ST&T) and
which
are
expected
to
continue
into
FY09.
-
1.2%
-
Incremental
staffing
in
the
administration,
Special
Education
and
other
areas
required
to
support
the
increasing
enrollment. (These budget items are included in the
sustaining
budget,
but
not
the
base
budget.) These additional positions have been deferred
for
many
years
in
efforts
to
minimize
budget
increases.
-
(0.05%)
-
Cost
saving
measures.
The advancing
budget
outlined
specific
areas
which
offered
opportunities
to
enrich
or
improve
the
current
program.
The
total of
these
advancements
would be
an
additional
0.42%
($209,652).
We
applaud
the
Administration
and
School
Committee
for
looking
beyond
the
current
program,
looking
to the
future.
We urge
that
such
advancements
be added
to the
program
in the
near
future. |
Special
Education:
A
Major
Driver
With
every
budget
review,
there
is a
focus
on
the
major
drivers
of
cost
increase.
As
has
been
the
case
in
previous
years,
one
of
the
major
drivers
of
budget
increase
is
Special
Education,
in
both
the
services
provided
within
the
WPS
("in-district")
and
outside
of
the
WPS
("Special
Transportation
and
Tuition,"
for
those
students
whose
needs
cannot
be
met
within
district
schools). The services are mandated by the state, but
are
also
necessary
to
meet
WPS
standards. The associated costs are neither controllable
nor
reducible
within
the
constraints
of
our
current
facilities.
There are currently over 800 students in the
WPS who
receive
Special
Education
services,
which is
consistent
with the
state
average.
Of
these,
there
are 194
students
who
receive
services
under the
ST&T
budget,
of which
119 are
in the
in-district
inclusion
program
and 75
are
transported
and
tuitioned out-of-district.
It is no secret that keeping children "in-district"
is both
more
cost
effective
and more
educationally
effective
then
"out-placement"
when
appropriate
facilities
and
staff
are
available.
However,
in order
to best
serve
the
needs of
our
children,
some
students
must be
placed
outside
of
Wellesley.
The WPS
has done
a
commendable
job in
determining
the
optimal
balance
in
developing
in-district
programs
and
placing
students
in
out-of-district
facilities.
Even with this thoughtful balance, costs are rising. But these costs are mandated by the state and are
therefore
non-negotiable.
Without the increase in ST&T (3.55%), the sustaining
budget
reflects
an
increase
of 7.15%.
This
number
still
includes
the
rapidly
rising
costs of
Special
Education,
but it
better
reflects
the
reality
of
general
education
cost
increases
more
accurately
and is
reasonable
given
the rising
enrollment.
The Town of Wellesley is committed to providing an
excellent
education
to all
of our
children. The FY09 budget as presented reflects a
commitment
to the
needs of
both
Special
Education
students
and of
the
student
population
in
general.
Fo rmore
information
on
Speical
Education,
please
see the
summary,
Understanding
Special
Education
in
Wellesley. |
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Guidelines
and
Overrides
The Town Operating Budget is a compilation of
individual
department
budgets. The school budget comprises a major proportion of
the town
budget. Currently, all Town Departments are developing
FY09
Operating
Budgets
and will
work
collaboratively
to roll
them
into one
comprehensive
budget.
During budget development, the Wellesley Advisory
Committee
provides
guidelines
for
budget
increases.
The
guidelines
are
designed
to
provide
a
framework
for a
town
budget
which
will
fall
within
the
constraints
of
Proposition
2½ and
to
facilitate
discussion
of
expenses
which
will
necessitate
funding
by
overriding
these
constraints.
The guideline provided to the WPS for FY09 was
+4.87%. It
will be
necessary
in the
coming
weeks to
identify
those
budget
items
which
would be
eliminated
from the
sustaining
budget
in order
to meet
this
guideline.
This
will
enable
a thorough
evaluation
and
value
judgment
of the
proposed
budget.
The difference between the Advisory guideline and the
sustaining
budget
is a
total of
$2.9
million.
In order
to
fund this
budget
and
avoid
significant
cuts,
an override
of
Proposition
2½ would
likely
be
needed
for part
or all
of this
difference. This is ultimately determined by the Board of
Selectmen
following
the
discussions
and
decisions
of the
Annual
Town
Meeting
in
March.
We are of the strong opinion that the FY09 Operating
Budget
should
enable
the
delivery
of the
current
program
to the
projected
enrollment,
maintaining
current
class
size
guidelines
and
providing
necessary
support
services.
Any
reduction
in these
areas
will
significantly
impact
the
level of
educational
services
provided
to
Wellesley
students. Such a decision has immediate and long-lasting
impact
and,
therefore,
should
be made
by the
residents
at
large.
.
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Next Steps
There
will
be a
Public
Hearing
on
January
2nd
in
the
Wellesley
High
School
library.
This
will
be
the
primary
opportunity
for
the
public
to
express
opinions
about
the
budget
prior
to a
vote
by
School
Committee.
In the coming days, we anticipate that the Administration will provide a summary of what budget items will be eliminated if necessary to bring the increase down to the guideline provided by the Advisory Committee. We will forward this information when available.
We urge you to stay informed and voice your opinion as this process proceeds.
Additionally, there are a number a significant meetings scheduled in January. Please see the right column for details.
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Upcoming
Meetings
Wednesday, Jan 2
7:30 pm, WHS Library
PUBLIC HEARING on the FY09 Operating Budget
The public
has the
opportunity to
voice opinions
and comments on
the budget.
Following the
Public Hearing,
School Committee
will discuss and
ultimately vote
on a budget.
Thursday,
Jan 3
Monday,
Jan 7
7:30 pm, WHS
Library
Additional
nights
for
School
Committee
Meeting
and vote
on the
FY09
Operating
Budget
as
needed.
Tuesday, Jan
8
7:30 pm,
Town Hall
Sprague
Fields
Task
Force
PUBLIC
HEARING
Thursday,
Jan 10
7:30 pm,
Town
Hall
Permanent
Building
Committee
(PBC)
meeting
with
School
Building
Committee
On
the
agenda:
Asbestos
Policy
during
the
WHS
Building
Project
Saturday, Jan 12
9:00 am, Town Hall
School Building Committee
On the agenda: Green Charette. Discussion of the Sustainability Design Level of the WHS Project.
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Committee for Education in the 21st
Century
