Viccaro presents tiny increase in school budget of 2.91 percent
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Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 8:28am
Only the Board of Education and a few members of the public were present to hear District 13 Superintendent Susan Viccaro present the smallest increase in the school budget in a very long time – a mere 2.91 percent for a net bottom line of $31,948,410.
“I think it’s no surprise that we’re dealing with unprecedented times,” said Viccaro. “This is a short presentation because there’s not a lot in the budget.”
Though most of the budget reflected decreases, which Viccaro credited staff and administrators in helping achieve, there were increases in the salary account – up 4.5 percent, dues and fees – up 6.6 percent and benefits – up 13.3 percent. “Thirteen percent in health insurance is a huge increase,” she said, explaining that the number is based on actual claims, and there were a lot of illnesses and leaves factored in. “The biggest problems are contract obligations and health insurance.”
The type of funding the district will receive from the state and how the stimulus plan will affect the district are just two of the unknowns in the budget so far. Viccaro also said contracts under current negotiation with support staff, custodians and cafeteria workers and an expiring transportation contract are uncertain items.
Enrollment was one area of ambiguity that the board found unsettling. Kindergarten enrollment dropped 20-plus students over last year, which Viccaro said is “unusual.” Based on projections, she said, “over the next five years, we will be down 100 students.”
It’s also hard to predict where ninth graders are going. According to Viccaro, 54 eighth graders said they may not be attending Coginchaug High School. “We sent letters to parents asking them to let us know, and to date, seven are definitely going to Coginchaug, 17 are going to other schools, and the rest are not sure. These numbers will determine class sizes.”
Speaking of class sizes, within the budget, three elementary teacher positions were cut which will impact class sizes at the upper elementary level.
“The most difficult thing for a superintendent to do is make staffing decisions,” said Viccaro, adding that one and one-half support staff positions were cut as well, including one retiring support staff position who will not be replaced.
With the cuts, Viccaro anticipates third and fourth grade classes at John Lyman School and fourth grade classes at Korn School to increase to the 23-24 students range.
Another enrollment concern is there are 80 students in fourth grade in the Integrated Day program and only three fifth grade ID teachers at Memorial. This means class sizes will be 26, 27 and 27, explained Viccaro.
“Predicting enrollment is difficult,” she said. “And I’m not sure if the economy will affect students going to private schools, so most of it is unclear right now.”
Viccaro summarized that the budget supports new textbooks that were previously planned, maximized grant usage, and contains no new initiatives.
When all was said and done, BOE chairman Tom Hennick summed it up, “There’s still more work to do, but the number isn’t high in the sky.”
In general, board members were very pleased with the budget, and agreed that class size and health insurance were big issues. Middlefield First Selectmen Jon Brayshaw, who came to hear the superintendent’s budget presentation, said he is comfortable with the budget because the increase is lower than last year and Laura Francis of Durham agreed.
“It’s difficult to get to that number, and I appreciate the work they had to do to get it there,” she said. “Our goal together is to not raise taxes, and we’re close but not there yet.”
Committee Reports
Transportation Committee chair Bill Currlin said the committee met with Dattco to discuss the recommendations of Mark Walsh from Transportation Advisory Service.
“They gave us some numbers when we met with them this week, but we had additional questions,” he said. Dattco was asked to look at more items and will get back to the district in the next few weeks, at which point the committee will meet again.
Currlin, also chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee, met with the Project Graduation Committee to learn more about the fundraising tree they want to put up at Coginchaug. They requested to mount a tree in the hallway that leads to the cafeteria. The leaves would be brass and have students’ names engraved on them as a way to raise funds. There would be no cost to the district, and the lighting for this arrangement would be paid for by the Project Graduation Committee. The board voted in to allow the tree.
In his report, business manager Ron Melnik said the district could save $6,000 in annual fees by consolidating their Bank of America funds with Merrill Lynch, which the board also approved.
Board member Norm Hicks reported that the Magnet School Committee deliberated for several weeks on their budget and voted on a 3.05 percent increase. There are 755 students in the magnet school, 17 from District 13, and the state reimbursement to Durham and Middlefield is $7,440- up from $6,770 the year before. The increase plays a key role in the bottom line and means a $2,525 deduction in what District 13 pays to the magnet school next year.
Hicks also noted that there were significant reductions in textbooks, computer supplies, furniture and staff development. There was $15,000 cut from the student activities account, which Hicks said he made a motion to find ways to make up the money elsewhere, which was passed unanimously.
“The student activities account was slashed nearly in half so our number one priority is to find an economy of scale anywhere to bring that money back for student activities,” said Hicks.
