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Needham School Committee

December 7, 2021

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Superintendent’s

FY23 School Operating Budget Request

Portrait of a Needham Graduate

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A challenging time…

… to develop a budget plan.

• Health and safety needs continue to dominate planning

• The increased needs of students, especially the most vulnerable, will remain long after the pandemic has ended

• School enrollment is down by about 180 students but student needs have been exacerbated by the pandemic

• School building renovation, construction and maintenance needs require significant and ongoing attention, funding, and management

• Maintaining the Portrait of a Needham Graduate strategic priorities while emphasizing equity, inclusion, and anti-racist efforts are essential to our students’ futures

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  • It ensures students are learning in classrooms with a talented and increasingly diverse faculty & staff, and it maintains a student-to-teacher ratio in Grades K-12 of about 1 to 18-20.

  • It provides targeted support for English Language Learner students and students requiring math and literacy assistance.

  • It ensures all students have access to learning and co-curricular activities that are inclusive, emphasize parity and do not require the payment of additional fees to participate.

  • It provides the materials, technology tools, and counseling resources students require to achieve and grow.

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At a high level, what will the proposed FY23 Budget accomplish to benefit students?

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  • Implement Portrait of a Needham Graduate Strategic Priorities.

  • Provide resources to address learning and social & emotional health needs of all students.

  • Ensure targeted interventions at elementary/middle levels combined with consistent time on learning in elementary classrooms supports all learners.

  • Continue the ongoing refinement of curriculum, instruction and assessment practices.

  • Develop and maintain educational resources and a technology infrastructure that supports student learning and meets District goals.

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FY23 Budget Priorities

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Portrait of a Needham Graduate Strategic Priorities 2020-2025

PRIORITY #1

ALL STUDENTS ARE DRIVERS

OF THEIR OWN

LEARNING

PRIORITY #2

ALL STUDENTS EXPERIENCE INTEGRATIVE TEACHING AND LEARNING

PRIORITY #3

ALL STUDENTS LEARN & GROW

WITHIN ADAPTABLE ENVIRONMENTS

PRIORITY #4 INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORTS

NEEDS OF

ALL STUDENTS

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$1,858,890

$0,704,587 $1,126,062

$3,597,165 *

  • Contractual Salary Increases*
  • Level Service*
  • Program Improvements

PlFY23 Budget Request:

* Opens the door to a similar or “level” service for students, families & staff

* Reflects $92,374 in reductions to existing FY22 resources

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FY23 Budget Proposed Increases

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  • Teachers 14.93 FTE*
  • Administration 00.60 FTE
  • Teacher Assistants 06.69 FTE
  • Support Staff 02.60 FTE

FY23 Budget Request: 24.82 FTE

* Full Time Equivalent

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FY23 Budget Proposed Increases

Staff Increases

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FY23 Budget Context: Enrollment

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FY23 Budget Context: Enrollment

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FY23 Budget: Student/Teacher Ratio

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FY23 Budget Context: Special Education Enrollment

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FY23 Budget Context: Special Education Out Of District Students

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FY22: $83,603,397

FY23: $87,200,560

Increase:

$3,597,163

4.3% over FY22

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FY23 Budget Overview

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FY23 Budget Overview

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  • Maintaining class size - 3.35 FTE
  • Special Education - 4.50 FTE
  • English Language Learner - 0.20 FTE
  • Counseling - 1.40 FTE
  • Nursing - 1.00 FTE
  • Math/Literacy Intervention - 2.35 FTE

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FY23 Budget Requests

Focus on K-12 Targeted Interventions & Equity and Inclusion

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  • Special Education - 3.00 FTE
  • Counseling - 1.40 FTE
  • Specialists for Improved Schedule - 1.60 FTE
  • Math/Literacy Intervention

(Newman, Mitchell & Eliot) - 1.65 FTE

  • General Ed. Teacher Assistants - 5.00 FTE
  • Summer Bridges Program - $37,740

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Elementary Level: Focus on Targeted Interventions & Support

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  • Counseling/Nursing - 1.20 FTE
  • Math/Literacy Intervention - 0.90 FTE
  • Online Math Program “IXL” - $6,013
  • Stipends to support equity, inclusion, and anti-racist efforts - $7,487

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Middle School Level: Focus on Targeted Interventions & Support

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  • Special Education Teachers - 2.00 FTE
  • English Language Learner - 0.20 FTE
  • Stipends to support equity, inclusion, & anti-racist efforts $05,614
  • Athletic Coaching Parity (Girls’ Golf, Rugby, Varsity Coaching) - $10,811
  • No Student Fee for STAMP (Seal of Biliteracy Program) - $06,965

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High School Level: Focus on Student Support & Equity Efforts

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  • Athletic Subsidy to avoid fee increase
  • Operations Coordinator for Fine & Performing Arts (.50 FTE)
  • Instructional Coach to support K-12 World Languages (.40 FTE)
  • Curriculum and Professional Development funds for K-5 social studies and world languages
  • Funds to support technology replacement & purchase budget software
  • Funds to retain & support bus drivers

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Strengthening Student Learning & Support in the Needham Public Schools

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  • Additional teachers in special areas at Pollard and NHS; strengthen interdisciplinary options
  • Resources to deepen professional development and learning for staff
  • Consider subsidy to avoid fee increases and ensure program sustainability in transportation & athletics
  • Continue to strengthen in district special education programs
  • Support development of appropriate student math & literacy interventions
  • Funds to support technology replacement and tools
  • Resources to recruit, develop & support a talented and diverse staff
  • Ensure key student support staff positions remain competitive

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A Look Ahead to FY24 Needs

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“The moral character of a school is of vital importance; mental culture at the expense of the cultivation of the heart, is a curse rather than a blessing. Not the more knowing and the more scientific, but rather the more virtuous the child, the man, or the people, the more happy and the more useful. Intellectual worth, combined with purity of purpose and action, is what elevates the character of the child, the man, and the nation. These are facts that never should be lost sight of in our common schools, which are made up of children of every class and character.”

Needham School Committee

April 4, 1859

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“We believe that even though their future is uncertain, our students will be prepared. We envision them as Creative Thinkers and Problem Solvers, Communicators and Collaborators, Socially and Culturally Responsive Contributors, Responsible and Resilient Individuals, and Empowered Learners. Our vision, the Portrait of a Needham Graduate, is a framework for equity, achievement, and growth for all children in our schools.”

Needham School Committee

May 7, 2019

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Superintendent’s FY23 Operating Budget Request: Next Steps

Needham Public Schools

Portrait of a Needham Graduate

  • December/January - Finance Committee, School Committee & School Administration Review Budget
  • December 8 – Finance Committee/School Committee budget workshop
  • January 4 - Town Manager consults with School Committee
  • January 12 - Finance Committee Reviews School Budget
  • January 18 - Public Hearing on School

Budget

  • January 25 - School Committee

Votes School Budget