Those Who Dare to Lead Must Seek to Serve First: A Study of Servant Leadership at the Superintendent

1
CLINTON PULBIC SCHOOL CPS
Balancing the SY 2009 - 2010 School Budget
2
The Budget Process

• Compilation of Wish Lists based upon BOE
  adopted goals and objectives - making our budgets
  does not come top-down it comes staff to
  principal to superintendent
• Meetings to determine needs v. wants - aligning
  each expenditure with a goal or mission of the
  school
• Living in the realities of the current economic
  climate
• Preparation of many drafts - each modification
  requires a series of changes to our detailed
  budget
• Numerous meetings with community to review
  necessary cuts to bring the budget into balance
  and compliance
• Review of budget via community forums and
  feedback sessions
• Staff input and assessment to assist us in
  keeping teachers involved and aware - they are in
  the classroom where it all happens!

3
Whats New In The New Budget

• Addition of a full-time LMC (Library/Media
  Center) Aide to allow for staff member to assume
  key aspects of the Enrichment position
• Addition of .5 Resource Room teacher as per
  student IEPs
• New Social Studies Texts grades 5-8 (must be
  addressed)
• Funds for sorely needed curricular
  review/alignment projects (almost all curriculum
  guides not aligned to the 2004 NJ CCCS. Should
  be done on a five year cycle
• Funds for continued staff development in literacy
  in accordance with our aggressive three-year plan
• Increased funds for LMC Materials only an extra
  5,500 - we need your help on this one!
• Slight increase in the area of building
  maintenance only touches the surface of all that
  truly needs to be done

4
What Did We Want Need But Could Not Have

• Full-time enrichment teacher to replace a
  retiring superstar
• Additional .5 guidance counselor for primary-age
  children
• Funds for major expansion of Library/Media Center
  collection
• Funds for massive building maintenance needs to
  be proactive
• Funds to increase services to at-risk students
• Technology infrastructure and hardware growth on
  a one-year pause.

5
What Had To Be Cut From The Budget

• Retention of a full-time enrichment teacher
• One section of next years grade 2
• One section of another elementary - next years
  grade 3 or grade 4 - based upon enrollment _TBD
  in June
• Special area teachers time adjustment - no
  instructional impact for related arts periods
• .1 Reduction of the Strings Program (1/2 day of
  teacher)
• F/T Administrative Assistant scaled back to P/T
• Initial reduction of Supervision for Special
  Education Department
• Reduction of Academic Assistance Club
• Reduction of a two other clubs (cooking crafts)
• BOE paid 5 per student for field trips, no longer

6
Have You Been Able to Restore Anything Yet?

• YES, we have tried! After each BOE meeting, we
  have gone over it from scratch and looked to
  address the overarching concerns
• Elimination of photocopying Dear Parents allowed
  for the restoration of two clubs Debate
  Volleyball
• We reassigned funds to hire a full-time LMC Aide
  to allow the LMC Specialist to continue the
  Enrichment position
• Still have zero activity fee for sports and clubs
• Always looking for ways to enrich the learning
  culture of CPS

7
You Must Have Some Padding, Right?

• NO, this is a bare bones budget!
• Many districts take the approach of padding the
  budget in case it fails. Given the depth of
  cuts, it would be irresponsible unconscionable
  to knowingly have extra money when you are
  talking about the depth of our cuts. We also
  feel that such a practice is not in keeping with
  the values of this school community.

8
However

• In past few weeks, we (the Administrative Team
  the BOE) have been the beneficiaries of an
  unprecedented level of feedback and productive
  input from all facets of the CPS community.
  Based upon all that we have learned, and we have
  truly listened to each and every concern
• We represent the community in service to the
  students, thus YOU have helped us to define CPSs
  priorities

9
Thus, We Propose the Following Ideas

• Eliminate the current model of Special Education
  Supervision and replace with an in-house model
  (some from current staff) with the same benefits
  (Saves an additional 10,000)
• Reduce all administrative salaries from the
  budgeted amount of 4.35 to a flat 3 (Saves
  5,000)
• Formally explore the benefits and realities of
  implementing a Wrap-Around Kindergarten Program
  (provides a community service and dollars could
  be used for program restoration).
• Consider increasing ChildCare time offerings to
  meet the needs of the CPS community (i.e.,
  summer)

10
Take that 17,000

• Create an instructional aide position dedicated
  to assisting the class during the teacher of core
  content for whichever grade level (next years
  3rd or 4th) has the larger class size.
• Restore the former academic assistance
• Add a component of Enrichment to the Summer
  School Program

11
What Happens if the Budget Fails on April 21st?

• The budget is then turned over to the Clinton
  Town Council
• They have the legal right to reduce the budget by
  any amount in any way they see fit. This is no
  reflection of our TCs commitment to CPS, we have
  wonderful folks there, but this is about the
  process set forth by the State.

12
What Would You Cut?

• It would depend upon the size of the cut.
  However, the following is a possible list of
  draconian options
• Reduction of a another grade level homeroom
  section.
• Reduction of sports, clubs, activities and
  special events.
• Reduction of specials including vocal music,
  instrumental music, and/or art.
• Reduction of the entire enrichment position.
• Reduction in supplies, teaching materials, staff
  development, and/or textbooks.

13
Myths Misunderstandings

• MYTH If a grade level is reduced by a section
  that section will never be restored
• FACT No, each year, we assess class size on its
  own merits, it is one year at-a-time.

14
Myths Misunderstandings

• MYTH You already know which grade level you are
  going to reduce.
• FACT No one has made a decision about which
  grade level, we plan to make that decision in
  June when we have information which is closest to
  what the actual enrollment and needs will be.

15
What Can I Do Next?

• Stay involved and informed
• Help us to petition the State for aid which is
  more in alignment with our needs
• Ask questions of us, give us the chance to answer
  you
• Continue to establish key communicators to keep
  the flow of accurate information alive
• Check our website everyday
• Please go out VOTE on April 21st. While no
  budget is perfect, this is a budget which we feel
  is fiscally conservative, responsible, accurate
  of our BOE goals, and one that lessens the impact
  as much as possible. We have tried to reflect
  our goals, your beliefs, and the needs of a great
  bunch of kids in this budget!

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CLINTON PUBLIC SCHOOL CPS

• Balancing the SY 2009 - 2010
• School Budget

17
2009-2010 Budget Summary

• The range of increases in the past 4 years is
  4.1 to 6.4.
• State Aid has grown by only 25,000 since 2004.

18
Revenue Realities of 2009/2010

• 38 of revenue supporting our general expense
  budget is decreasing by 2.5 or 69,830.
• 62 of revenue comes from local taxes, increasing
  by 187,813 (4.6), or 3.72 when including the
  debt fund.
• 1.7 State maximum increase, or 117,983 on
  6,945,238. Our range of increases in the last 5
  years has been 4.1-6.4.

19
Loss of Revenue

• Tuition from sources other than Glen
  Gardner has actually increased by over 100,000
  in the past two years, offsetting the Glen
  Gardner tuition losses
  from declining enrollment.

20
Salary Benefits

• 84 of our budget is Salary and Benefits.
• 4.18 Average Salary increase - 215,000 cost.
• 15 or 163,000 budgeted for Employee Benefits.
• We are waiting on actual renewal of health plan,
  and will compare alternate vendors including
  State Plan. Our rate increases in the past three
  years have been 3, 0, and 6. We have not been
  over 10 since 2003.

21
Other Cost Increases

• 44,000 - Year 2 of a 36 month Technology Lease -
  Increased for full year payment. Included
  network infrastructure, computers, and copiers.
• 9,000 - Facility Costs maintained at a 1.7
  increase, and include necessary and responsible
  preventative maintenance and Consortiums for
  energy purchasing.
• 20,500 - Library Media Aid for enrichment plan.

22
Classroom Initiatives

• 10,000 Increased for Social Studies Adoption
  for grades 5-8.
• 13,000 - Literacy initiatives to be prioritized
  by teacher committee.
• 13,803 - Professional Development fully funded
  by NCLB.
• 6,000 - Local Budget includes Rutgers Literacy.
• 15,000 Increased Curriculum Writing

23
Cost Reductions in 2009/2010

• 280,000 - Salary and Benefit.
• 85,000 - Tuition placements out of district.
• 15,000 - Transportation
• 15,000 - OT/PT funded by IDEA Grant
• 3,000 Field Trips Fees
• 398,000 - Total Major Reductions

24
School Tax Impact

• Taxes are increasing by 139 on a 373,163
  average assessed home in Clinton.
• Formula Assessment/100 x Tax Rate
• Example 373,163/100 x 1.1099 4,142
• Tax rate is increasing from 1.0727 to 1.1099 or
  3.72 cents. No major change in assessments.
• We would need to cut our budget 85,000 to affect
  the tax rate by one cent- Town collects ½ of
  08/09 and ½ of 09/10 tax levy in 2009.

25
Facility Budget

• Routine Maintenance plans for Roof and HVAC
  Systems.
• Required repairs on boilers, roof soffit, and
  HVAC dampers.
• Capital Reserve Deposit (40-50 of actual need)
  toward replacement of 2nd Floor Roof- funded by
  surplus.
• Energy Projects identified in Energy Audit are
  under review along with current debt refinance
  and recent legislation to minimize future tax
  impact.

26
Progress for our Roof

• 1996 Main Rubber Roof had a major warranty
  overhaul this fall Facility Manager convinced
  Manufacturer of premature failure. Estimated
  good for another 7 years in line with debt
  maturity, and deferring the 500,000 cost to
  replace when it can be accomplished without
  increased debt taxes.
• 2nd Floor Roof was repaired in the fall, with no
  leaks to date. Good for another year, but needs
  replacement. State Facility Grant awarded - 40
  reimbursement from State upon completion.
• West side of Gym Roof recently replaced by
  insurance claim for wind damage.

27
Delayed Facility Projects

• Resurfacing of gym floor and Stage
• Classroom Tile in rooms 33 and 36
• Kitchen Oven Hood
• 2nd Floor Classroom Doors
• Gym Hot Water Heater
• New Windows for 2nd Floor
• Classroom Speakers and Clocks
• 2 Water Fountains
• Resealing of Parking Lot