Safe Harbor. - Stratford Board of Education

FUNDING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Stratford Board of Education
Investing for the Future
Itemized Estimate of Expenditures
Fiscal Year 2011-2012
2012

Outline of Presentation
Overview of the District
Accomplishments
FY 2011-2012 Request
Mayor’s Proposed Budget
Questions/Answers

Overview of the District

Snapshot of the District
13 Schools
7,374 Students (3/1/11)
2,767 students eligible for free or reduced
lunch (37.52%)
9.5% of students have been identified as
needing special education services
(SEDAC October 1, 2010 / K-12 Prevalence Data.)
115 special education students are outplaced
– 21 are DCF students
Chapel
Franklin
Honeyspot House
Johnson House
Lordship
Nichols
Second Hill Lane
Eli Whitney
Wilcoxson
Flood MS
Wooster MS
Bunnell HS
Stratford HS

Goals
MISSION STATEMENT
To develop a community of learners in which ALL students acquire the
knowledge, skills, and confidence to meet the challenges of a changing
and increasingly diverse 21st century society.
Goal 1. The Stratford Public Schools shall improve the academic achievement of
every student in its diverse, evolving community.
Goal 2. The Stratford Public Schools shall create an educational environment
based on the Six Pillars of Character.
Goal 3. The Stratford Public Schools shall develop an ongoing partnership with
the community.
Goal 4. The Stratford Public Schools shall prioritize its resources to support the
academic goals of the district.

Strategic Alignment

District Reference Group G
District Reference Groups (DRGs) is a classification
system in which districts that have public school
students with similar socioeconomic status and
need are group together. Grouping like districts
together is useful in order to make legitimate
comparisons among districts.
Variables Used to Form DRGs:
• Income
• Education
• Occupation
• Family Structure
• Poverty
• Home Improvement
• District Enrollment
1. Bloomfield
2. Bristol
3. East Haven
4. Groton
5. Hamden
6. Killingly
7. Manchester
8. Middletown
9. Naugatuck
10. Plainfield
11. Putnam
12. Stonington
13. Vernon
14. Voluntown
15. Winchester
16. Stratford

Net Current Expenditures per Pupil (NCEP) for
CT District Reference Group – G
B
L
O
O
M
F
I
E
L
D
N
A
U
G
A
T
U
C
K
B
R
I
S
T
O
L
S
T
O
N
I
N
G
T
O
N
S
T
R
A
T
F
O
R
D
V
E
R
N
O
N
P
L
A
I
N
F
I
E
L
D
M
I
D
D
L
E
T
O
W
N
E
A
S
T
H
A
V
E
N
M
A
N
C
H
E
S
T
E
R
K
I
L
L
I
N
G
L
Y
G
R
O
T
O
N
P
U
T
N
A
M
V
O
L
U
N
T
O
W
N
W
I
N
C
H
E
S
T
E
R
H
A
M
D
E
N
0.00
2,000.00
4,000.00
6,000.00
8,000.00
10,000.00
12,000.00
14,000.00
16,000.00
18,000.00
Average = $13,614
$12,473
$16,431

Accomplishments

Accomplishments
Kristen Record
• 2011 Connecticut Teacher of the Year
• Presidential Award for Teaching in Math/Science
Second Hill Lane
• Lone Pine Foundation
In 2010, nine of the ten Stratford schools taking the CMT were either
at AYP or achieved “Safe Harbor.”
• This is the best performance we have achieved to date. In 2006, only
four of ten were either AYP or Safe Harbor.

Accomplishments
Stratford’s rate of improvement exceeded the rates of improvement by
other districts in DRG G as demonstrated by our pre and post DRG
rankings listed below. In 2010, Stratford was first in the DRG in
Reading, Writing, and Overall.
DRG Math Rankings (Grades 3-4-5-6-7-8), 2006 Versus 2010
Year Scale Score Pct Goal Pct Proficient
2006 7 9 9
2010 2 4 3
DRG Reading Rankings (Grades 3-4-5-6-7-8). 2006 Versus 2010
Year Scale Score Pct Goal Pct Proficient
2006 6 6 8
2010 1* 1* 1*
* First place

Accomplishments
Continued..
DRG Writing Rankings (Grades 3-4-5-6-7-8). 2006 Versus 2010
Year Scale Score Pct Goal Pct Proficient
2006 3 3 2
2010 1* 1* 1*
DRG Overall Rankings (Grades 3-4-5-6-7-8). 2006 Versus 2010
Year Scale Score Pct Goal Pct Proficient
2006 5 5 6
2010 1* 1* 1*
* First Place

Accomplishments
Technological Advancements
• Redesigned BOE web site with the focus on providing more content to parents and community members
• Implemented the PowerSchool Parent Portal allowing students and parents access to current grades
• Implemented distance learning initiatives using the Internet to communicate with teachers outside of a school
114 Mentors
83 Student Internships (Sikorsky, St. Vincents, Parents’ Place)
289 Students involved in Career Shadowing (Lincoln Tech, St. Vincents,
University of New Haven, The Pet Hospital, Fairfield Superior Court)
The following pathways have been created
83 involved in Health and Medical Careers / 68 students involved in Pre
Engineering / 90 students involved in Pre Teaching/Social Service .
Streamlined Operations
• Reduction of Administrative Staff from 2004 to Present

AYP Progress Results
Preliminary
School 2006 Status 2007 Status 2008 Status 2009 Status 2010 Status Progress
Chapel Safe Harbor AYP - Yes AYP - No Safe Harbor AYP - No -
*Franklin AYP - No Safe Harbor AYP - No Safe Harbor Safe Harbor +
Lordship AYP - Yes AYP - No AYP - Yes AYP - Yes AYP - Yes +
*Nichols AYP - Yes AYP - No Safe Harbor Safe Harbor Safe Harbor +
Second Hill Lane AYP - No Safe Harbor AYP - No Safe Harbor Safe Harbor +
*Stratford Academy Safe Harbor Safe Harbor Safe Harbor Safe Harbor AYP - Yes +
Eli Whitney AYP - No AYP - No Safe Harbor AYP - Yes AYP - Yes +
Wilcoxson AYP - No AYP - Yes AYP - Yes AYP - No Safe Harbor +
Flood AYP - No AYP - No Safe Harbor AYP - No Safe Harbor +
*Wooster AYP - No AYP - Yes Safe Harbor AYP - No Safe Harbor +
Bunnell AYP - Yes AYP - Yes AYP - No AYP - No Safe Harbor +
Stratford High Safe Harbor AYP - No AYP - No AYP - No Safe Harbor +
* Title I School

Itemized Estimate of Expenditures

Board of Education
Proposed Itemized Estimate of Expenditures for 2011 - 2012
$94,033,473
Increase of $1,631,291
Or 1.77%

Historical Funding
Fiscal Year
Percent Increase
Historical Funding
2004-05 5.00%
2005-06 4.25%
6.00%
5.00%
56.2% increase
in Health Ins.
Premium
2006-07 5.40%
4.00%
2007-08 5.45%
3.00%
2008-09 4.08%
2009-10 1.70%
2.52%
2010-11 4.09%
Ave.
2011-12 1.77%
2.00%
1.00%
0.00%
With a 12%
Premium
Increase
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
Fiscal Year

Major Components
FY 10-11 FY 11-12 $ Change % Change
SALARIES $ 45,030,659 $ 44,676,230 $ (354,429) -0.79%
BENEFITS $ 16,539,558 $ 17,478,857 $ 939,299 5.68%
CLASSROOM SUPPORT $ 2,362,451 $ 2,278,477 $ (83,974) -3.55%
PLANT OPERATIONS $ 4,076,858 $ 4,204,345 $ 127,487 3.13%
TRANSPORTATION $ 4,097,025 $ 4,226,829 $ 129,804 3.17%
SPECIAL EDUCATION $ 18,738,822 $ 19,531,922 $ 793,100 4.23%
GENERAL SERVICES $ 1,389,770 $ 1,436,813 $ 47,043 3.38%
CONTINGENCY $ 167,039 $ 200,000 $ 32,961 19.73%
TOTAL $ 92,402,182 $ 94,033,473 $ 1,631,291 1.77%

SALARIES
46000000
$45,594,702
45500000
45000000
$44,975,333
$45,030,659
$44,676,230
44500000
44000000
43500000
$43,327,272
43000000
42500000
42000000
SALARIES 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012

Health Insurance
Insurance Carrier - ConnectiCare
Projected increase 8.5%
Health Plan – High Deductible Savings Account (H.S.A)
$3,000 Family/2 Person - $1,500 Single
Shift from a fully funded H.S.A to a % share from the employee.

SPECIAL EDUCATION
Special Education
$20,000,000.00
$19,500,000.00
Increase offset through
“inhouse” initiatives
$419K
$19,000,000.00
$18,500,000.00
$18,000,000.00
$17,500,000.00
$17,000,000.00
$16,500,000.00
$16,000,000.00
$15,500,000.00
FY 2007-2008 FY 2008-2009 FY 2009-2010 FY 2010-2011 FY 2011-2012

TRANSPORTATION
Transportation
$4,300,000
$4,200,000
3.17%
INCREASE
$4,100,000
$4,000,000
$3,900,000
$3,800,000
$3,700,000
$3,600,000
$3,500,000
$3,400,000
FY 2007-2008 FY 2008-2009 FY 2009-2010 FY 2010-2011 FY 2011-2012

Major Components
Eliminated the lead science teacher position (pages 1-2) / Savings of $56,867.
Eliminated a library media coordinator position (pages 1-2) / Savings of $115,000.
Eliminated an admin/asst position at the Elementary Level (pages 3-4) / Savings of
$85,977.
Increased class size at elementary level (pages 4-5) / Savings $303,384.

Major Components
Eliminated .8 Bunnell High School Phys Ed Teacher (pages 7-8) / Savings of $45,494.
Eliminated .6 Stratford High School Social Studies Teacher (pages 9-10) / Savings of
$56,867
Eliminated a WMS Reading Teacher (pages 9-10) / Savings of $56,867.
Increased funding for facilities modification in order to meet health requirements at all
food service locations by properly installing grease traps (pages 55-56) / Increase of
$105,000.
Built capacity to provide applied behavioral analysis service internally for special
education. (pages 65-66; 73-74) / Savings of $133,230.

Major Components
Created an ‘in-house’ occupational and physical therapy program for special education.
(pages 73-74) / Savings of $286,750.
Implemented an early departure incentive program (EDIP) for teachers for a savings of
$632,359.

Part of the Solution
Board of Education is part of the solution…
Teachers Zero Percent (0) increase for Fiscal Year 2010-11
Paraprofessionals Zero Percent (0) increase for Fiscal Year 2010-11
Administrators Zero Percent (0) increase for Fiscal Year 2011-12
Non Union Zero Percent (0) increase for Fiscal Year 2009-10
Zero Percent (0) increase for Fiscal Year 2011-12
Custodians Zero Percent (0) increase for Fiscal Year 2009-10
Increased employee copay % share
Increased employee contribution to H.S.A.s

Part of the Solution
Board of Education is part of the solution…
Eliminated longevity payouts
(Custodians, Teachers, Nurses, Administrators, Paraprofessionals)
Eliminated sick day payouts
(Custodians, Teachers, Nurses, Secretaries, Administrators, Paraprofessionals)
Administrators volunteered to “offset” H.S.A by contributing $550 in 2009-10.
Secretaries volunteered to “offset” H.S.A by contribution $550 in 2009-10.

Part of the Solution
Board of Education is part of the solution…
Implemented an early departure incentive program (EDIP) for teachers.
28 teachers will be retiring at the end of the fiscal year.
Estimated savings of $632,360.

Part of the Solution
Board of Education is part of the solution…
BOE has received more than $2.9 million in grants for energy conservation
measures.
US Department of Energy - $1.5 million
United Illuminating Company - $1.4 million
This results in an annual net savings of more than $400,000 in avoided energy
costs.
Since 2006 the Board has completed the following projects:
• Solar Panels at Flood
• Refurbished two heating plants at Wooster and Johnson Academy
• Biofuel Generator at Flood
• Lighting retrofits / occupancy sensors – district wide.
• Building control systems at Wooster, Johnson and Chapel.

Mayor’s Recommended Budget

Board of Education Budget Gap
Board of Education Proposed $94,033,473
Mayor’s Proposed Budget $93,402,182
Budget Gap $ 631,291
Percent increase over previous fiscal year
1.08%

How to Balance the Budget
Possibilities
Implement “Pay to Participate”
Program Reduction / Elimination
World Language at the Elementary Level
Explore Union Concessions
Reduce Contingency Budget
Review Class Size/Staffing Levels
Review Utility Accounts

Questions