2015-03-05-AC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

03/05/15 AC Minutes Preparation for Committee Report to ATM and Special TownMeetings#1 and #2: 2. School Department Operating Budget: Dr. Ashstatedthat there are three main factors influencing the School Department’s operating budget: SC guidelines, legal mandates,and efforts to be effective and efficient.The proposed FY2016 budget reflectsa 6.9% increase over the FY2015 budget. Itincludes a 0.9% increase for benefits and approximately1.0% for program improvements. The balance is for legal mandates and to address staffing for enrollment increases.Dr. Ash added that the budget includes supportforlow income students, students with emotional needs, and special education students. There is an effort to keep special education students in Lexington rather than paying the costs of sending them out- of-district. Althougheducation costs are comparable whether in-district orout-of-district, the cost totransport students out-of-district is considerable. Ms. Dunn reported that over the past nine years, the Town has been spending approximately 50% of theamount budgeted as a reserve for unanticipated out-of-districtspecial needs tuition costs.In the FY2016 operating budget, the request is being reduced to better reflect experience. She noted that although there is some risk associated with this approach, there are some available resources to cover overruns for special needs programs if necessary, including the state’s Circuit Breaker program and the Town’s special education stabilization fund. Mr. Addelsonnotedthat the recent return by the School Department ofunusedfunds has provided an opportunity to fund the Capital Projects Stabilization Fund, which will be an important resource to mitigate the costs of upcoming school facility expansion requirements. In response to questions, Dr. Ash and Ms. Dunn stated that: Expanding the world language program into the elementary schools will not occur before FY2018 because of collective bargaining issues and the need for classroom space. Reducing teacher load (i.e., a teacher’s classroom responsibilities)at the high school would cost approximately $2.0 million; it would cost $8.0 million to reduce the teacher load system-wide. The teacher load in Lexington doesnot hinder the system’s ability to hire good teachers; teaching in Lexington is highly desirable. Although Dr. Ash, Ms. Dunn and TomPlati, Director of Educational Technology and Assessment, LPS, are leaving Lexington at the end of the year, no principals have reported plans to leave. There has been an increase in “high-end”special needs students so that some new programs are needed. The Governor’s proposed budget could negatively impactthe state funds Lexington receivesbut it is considered premature to basedecisions on that possibility. Mr. Addelson reported that Town Counsel is working on amotion for STM #1 Article 2: Appropriate for School Facilities Capital Projects. It will not include reference to the consensus document that has been agreed to by the BoS and the finance committees outlining a process for implementing this Article if it is approved. Pat Goddard, Director of Public Facilities, will incorporate language into aRequest for Proposals that allows the Town to proceed with the projects as intended. It was noted that it has not yet been determined whether prefabricated units should be installed at Fiske Elementary Schoolor whether less expensive, temporarymodular units should be used instead. 2