Blackstone/Millville Regional School District

1. Blackstone/Millville Regional School District Open Budget Hearing: FY14

2. Anticipated Revenue FY14 Budget Based Upon Promoting Student Growth and Achievement Mission: School and Community working in Unity Core Values

3. Budget Development Process • September – October: • Principals met with staff to discuss budget needs. • October – November: • Principals and Directors development school and departmental budgets. • December – January • Principals/Directors submit budgets • Budget reviews with Superintendent. • Budget presentations to the School Committee.

4. Budget Development Continued • January – Present: • District School Committee review and budget refinement. • March 13, 2013: • Budget Presentation – Open Hearing • March 20, 2013: • Adoption of FY14 Budget by Regional School Committee

5. Our major Priorities • Provide a Level Services Budget • Support and Improve Student Achievement • Capture Savings and Reorganize for efficiency. • Work with Available Funds

6. FY14 Budget Drivers • Salaries • Contracted Services • Special Education • Transportation • Health Care

7. FY14 Budget Development • Initial Budget Requests: • No new services or programs • Allow for inflation for services and materials. • Acknowledge need for supplies and materials not paid for by FY13 budget • First Pass: (To meet Level Services) $24.9M • Review of budget resulted in cuts of about $1M • Cuts to staff, supplies and materials. • Second Pass $23.9M

8. FY14 Budget Development • Working with Administrators and Directors more cuts have been proposed. Making every effort to spare classroom services. • Some cuts proposed in Maintenance related line items. • Review of Student Services programs. • Presently FY14 Budget stands at $23.2M

9. FY 14 Revenue

10. FY14 Budget

11. FY14 Budget • Referring back to our priorities – this is not a level servicebudget. • In order to achieve a balanced budget the following additional actions will need to occur: - Reduction of Professional and Support Staff. - Reduced Instructional Supplies - Reduced General Supplies - Decrease in Student Support Services - Increased User Fees

12. Continuing Examination of the Budget • Healthcare • Present Indications are a 10% increase in healthcare costs for Fy14 • Working with Insurance Advisor to understand options. • Heath Care Deductible • Health Care Carrier modification

13. FY14 Realities ($1,465,506) • Discussion with Bargaining Units underway. • Modifications Healthcare Services • Service Delivery Efficiencies

14. Regional Reorganization • Investigating changes to District Agreement to: • Facilitate Grade level consolidation. • Establishment of an Early Childhood Center. • Establishment of Intermediate Level Elementary. • Hosting Alternative Educational Programs

15. Regional Reorganization • Advantages: • Curriculum alignment • Efficient deployment of resources • Elimination of duplication • Improved management of facilities and staff. • Class size parity • Equal delivery of services.

16. Working in Unity • District has not asked for an additional contribution from the member towns since 2009. • District has exhausted all methods at its’ disposal to mitigate shortfall. • District Budget is presently 1.5% over Net School Spending baseline – State average 15%. • Working with the Towns we must raise this contribution over the next few years

17. Working in Unity • Goals: • Improve and expand programs for children. • Providing students with 21st Century skills. • Student Centered Schools • Raising Expectations – Students – Staff – Parents and Community.

18. Working in Unity • Vision: • Increased Student Achievement • Academic Rigor • Programs to meet needs and challenge all students. • Opportunities for all types of learners • Career Strategies • Higher Learning • Workforce training

19. Working in Unity • Promoting Services and Programs • Retaining students in our District • Providing outstanding opportunities to all of our students

20. Questions and Comments