—by Ridgefield Public Schools
The school administration is asking for a 3.34% increase in its budget for the 2014-2015 school year.
The bulk of the increase stems from salaries, which are up $1,787,385 from this year’s budget of $50,845,331 and make up 2.16% of the 3.34% increase requested.
Superintendent Deborah Low presented her 2014-2015 proposed budget at the Board of Education meeting Monday night, highlighting the district’s accomplishments and the costs associated with maintaining Ridgefield’s level of academic excellence.
“We didn’t see anything on there that we weren’t expecting,” said board chairman Austin Drukker. “When you look at that increase for salaries, you can see that’s the bulk of it.”
Ms. Low also presented a seven-year staffing overview, showing that since 2008-2009 the district has added 13 full-time equivalent staff members — a 2% rise, including increases in kindergarten teachers, technology and special education staff and nurses, with reductions in secretaries and custodians.
While staff salaries played a big part in the proposal — certified and non-certified make up 61.1% of the budget, there were other areas that would increase. Health benefits would rise by $381,416, or 3%, from this year. Health benefits, which make up 15.3% of the proposal, are the second largest component of the budget.
Transportation, staff turnover, textbooks, utilities, and “everything else” — which includes maintenance projects, special education services, and legal fees — make up the rest of the proposed increase and are all up from this year.
Compared to the 2013-2014 budget, which called for a 1.97% increase, the district is asking for more and with fewer students. Enrollment is projected to drop from the 5,269 students this year to 5,188 next year — an 81 student reduction.
But the current year’s enrollment of 5,269 — with 33 more students than the previous year, and 135 more than had been projected a year ago — defies an established trend of declining population.
Ms. Low’s presentation said that for budget-making, the 5,188 students projected for next year should be compared to the 5,134 students who were expected this fall, not the 5,269 who showed up.
“We use 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 projections for budgeting,” she said. “Comparing this year and next year’s projections, we increase 54.”
If the budget were approved, it would be the district’s largest increase since 2008-2009, when educators received a 4.58% jump.
The economic recession hit that year and the budget increases dropped to as low as 1% in 2009-2010 before growing slightly over the next three years to reach a 2.6% proposal in 2012-2013.
Despite the slow climb in the district’s budget increases, this year’s proposed increase is half of the 6.69% that was approved for the 2006-2007, the highest increase of the decade.
The Board of Education will review the budget request in three workshops that will be open to the public on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 27, at 7:30, and Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 7:30.
If necessary, a fourth budget workshop will take place Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 7:30.
The first of two public hearings will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8.
The second will be during the board’s meeting on Monday, Feb. 10, with the vote scheduled for Feb. 24.
Ms. Low said there are six components that go into the budget every year: class size, curriculum, collective bargaining, health and safety issues, federal and state mandates, and cost efficiencies.
In its district priorities, the Board of Education has called for some “improvement initiatives.”
For the coming 2014-2015 year those include increasing academic rigor, preparing students with 21st Century skills, and expanding health and wellness services
Staff at all three levels of the district — elementary, middle and high school — will receive training for the Common Core State Standards next year, in support of the district priority of increasing academic rigor.
As a result of this push, two reading paraprofessionals will become two full-time, certified reading teachers.
Also in pursuit of academic rigor are four new high school courses, including one in robotics, that were approved later in Monday’s meeting.
The district plans to have teacher training at all three levels to educate staff about how to use new equipment in the class room, as part of its 21st Century skills priority.
The district plans to add one “technology specialist,” who will support and train teachers.
Expanding mental health services and concluding the implementation of school security items are included in the health and wellness component.
The district plans to address mental health needs by adding a psychologist for the middle schools as well as one at the alternative high school.