Quantcast

School budget first look: 2.74 percent increase

December 11, 2014
–
Mark Chapman

NORWALK, Conn. – Norwalk Public Schools salaries are going up 4.75 percent, but the overall school budget would increase by only 2.74 percent if Superintendent Manny Rivera’s proposed operating budget for 2015-2016 is accepted as is.

The Board of Education Finance Committee took a look at the proposal at a special meeting Wednesday night. Nancy on Norwalk was not at the meeting, but obtained a copy of the Power Point presentation.

According to the proposal, the bottom line in 2015-16 would be $170,987,857, an increase of $4,556,992 over the current year. That increase is less than the $5,016,507 salary hike mandated by prior negotiations. This was made possible by a decrease in benefit costs from $34,097,521 to $33,411,819, and a savings of $1,224,344 in professional and technical services.

More savings would be realized through major changes in the special education department. Rivera’s plan calls for developing more programs to serve the needs of special ed students so they don’t have to be sent elsewhere. The combined costs of developing the in-house program and savings realized by not sending students to other schools results in a $350,000 savings, according to the presentation. The proposed plan is outlined on the final page of the attached presentation.

The budget is based on certain revenue assumptions:

  • Proposed budget assumes a 2.74 percent increase from City of Norwalk.
  • State ECS funding remains at approximately 7 percent of total operating budget.
  • Carryover of all unencumbered Alliance funds.
  • Surplus Medicaid revenue is included.
  • Grant funding is slightly less than 2014-15 (decreases to $22 million).

According to the presentation summary, the 2015-16 recommended budget:

  • Maintains strong support for literacy, Common Core, other current initiatives
  • Invests in curriculum, technology expansion, facility improvements
  • Enhances Special Education services
  • Addresses needs for English Language Learners
  • Continues commitment to professional development, standards and accountability, recruitment
  • Advances design and development for new programs that will move NPS forward

Finance Committee FY 15-16 BUDGET PROPOSAL

More Stories

Comments

11 responses to “School budget first look: 2.74 percent increase”

  1. Karen

    Many assumptions in this proposal. What is it June when the state finalizes the state budget? Long way till June, especially with an interim or two.

    First impression is there seems to be missing elements and much speculation. Dr Rivera wont be here to implement or revise the proposal and numbers which is unfortunate and leaves the door wide open for more chaos.

    Don’t see anything about the proposal to relocate Briggs and it would be great to see more detail on the sp/ed plans to end outsourcing.

    In the end, feel snookered, kinda feels like Dr. Rivera just took us hook, line and sinker for nearly half a million in 18 months and hit the road, knowing whats ahead and the work and commitment it will take to get where we should already be.

  2. Donald Trump

    4.75% raises in an economy that is growing at 1%.

    Time to buy stock in real estate sign makers.

    You’re fired.

  3. Mike Barbis

    Karen,
    I don’t think your statements are fair to Rivera. There is more detail on the budget — this is just an overview via a Power Point presentation. There will be more detail in the budget books which will be released at next Tuesday’s full board meeting. There was discussion of Briggs and a possible move at the meeting last night as well as heavy duty detail on the plans for SPED (and this has been gone into at length in previous meetings as well). We also discussed CT State funding including ECS, Alliance and Priority Schools monies. NPS staff has been in touch with Hartford and used the recommendations they were given for future funding. This was a very comprehensive proposal. I note that not one member of the public was in attendance … just one reporter from the Hour.

  4. Mike Barbis

    Karen, check out the story in the Hour for more detail on the SPED plan

  5. EveT

    The opening sentence is what got me: “Norwalk Public Schools salaries are going up 4.75 percent.”
    Does this mean a couple more people will be hired and their salaries constitute the 4.75% increase on the aggregate budget line item for salaries? Or does it mean that the typical employee will get a 4.75% raise?
    If the latter, I have to ask, how many private sector workers have gotten that level of raises since the 2008 recession? The Social Security COLA from 2009 through 2014 averages just over 1.4% per year.
    http://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/colaseries.html

  6. Mike Lyons

    EveT, its the total salary line — it encompasses new hires, additional positions (particularly in special ed), and raises (which generally are in the 2-3% range, not 4.7%).

  7. Joanna Cooper

    Awesome well thought out comprehensive plan!!! Let’s hope it will pass without a lot of fighting and nonsense. The common core curriculum supports research based literacy and numeracy teaching for all and plan puts focus on early learners. I would like to see more supports in place for numeracy like more Co-teachers in Math classes. The key components to a comprehensive sound budget that addresses NPS unique student needs, teacher supports, system upgrades and cultural issues are proposed if you look at further details in the Power Point.

    Very happy to see proposed dramatic spending increase in SPED especially in behavioral supports. That will save the district a lot of money. Every child with Autism (now 1 in 68) should have some behavioral supports as Autism is a behavioral disorder. The use of behavioral supports is common practice in most districts. Many other students can benefit from behavioral supports as well. Behavioral therapy doesn’t just deal with remediating maladaptive behaviors but how to keep kids motivated and on task. Behavioral issues are often a teachers greatest challenge in the classroom.

  8. MarjorieM

    Will any positions be eliminated? We know of those being added.

  9. Bill

    How much of a salary increase will Mosby’s janitor brother get? Is he making $90k sweeping floors yet or still only $85k? I can’t wait to see the detailed numbers for all NPD employees #conflictofinterest

  10. MarjorieM

    So will any jobs (positions) be cut in the new budget? Still waiting for an answer.

  11. piberman

    Citizens living on social security won’t see a 2.74 percent increase. Property owners seeking relief from punitive taxes won’t see relief with this budget. Nor will stagnant property values rise. Norwalk will continue to have the 5th highest teacher salaries in CT and the only BOE whose members charge it with discrimination. Lucky us. It’s the “New Norwalk”.

Leave a Reply

Newsletter

Chalk Talk promo
Secret Link