Regional School District # Proposed Budget 1 March 5, 2012

Mission Statement 2 The Mission Statement of the Regional School District #14 reads: We, the educational community of the Region 14 School District, are dedicated to creating a quality, dynamic learning environment so that each individual learner becomes a respected contributing member of the community with values, skills and resources that promote the advancement of society.

District Goals Regional School District 14 will provide a culture of academic excellence through leadership and adherence to systemic, cohesive Pre-K – 12 curriculum and instruction. Specifically, Regional School District 14 leaders and teachers will develop and implement a coherent approach to improving writing skills across the district. 3

Budget Objectives Enhance the instructional program in our schools in a cost- effective manner based on instructional best practices and research: Reduce fixed costs by continuing to apply rigorous bidding and contractual negotiations practices; Provide oversight and support in the areas of PreK – 12 curriculum and instruction, professional development and student assessment; Enhance instructional supports to meet all State and Federal mandates and initiatives, including SRBI, Common Core State Standards, Secondary School Reform, CAPSS Education Transformation Project and NEASC; Provide the resources necessary to ensure our school facilities are safe, clean and reflect the community’s pride in our schools. 4

Budget Guidelines  To maintain reasonable class sizes  To continue to provide all Region 14 students with a high quality education  To continue to provide support for teachers as well as instructional resources for enhanced teaching and learning  To continue to be as efficient as possible, through creative uses of resources, redeployment of staff, and reductions in certain areas.  To understand and be sensitive to the community’s inability to absorb significant tax increases. 5

Budget Guidelines (cont.)  To comply with federal and state education mandates  To maintain a safe, clean learning environment for all staff and students  To maintain fiscal responsibility by ensuring adequate funding for healthcare, utilities and pension liabilities  To maintain fiscal responsibility by examining current staffing, programs and enrollment, identifying cost avoidance measures, seeking efficiencies and analyzing historical budget data. 6

Budget Challenges  Increasing health insurance costs  Unsettled employment contracts  Current Economic Conditions  Decreasing State support  Taxpayer’s willingness/ability to pay  Town Demographic changes  Continuing and New Unfunded Mandates  Avoiding, as much as possible, direct impact to students’ programs and services 7

Budget Assumptions  Reduced State support  Limited and/or no growth in Grand Lists  No increase in interest rates  Pension rate increases  Enrollment decreases  No increase in Federal support 8

Enrollment History

Prowda CurrentProjectedVarianceProjection EnrollmentBirthsEnrollmentBirthsNov-07 for /1/11 Kindergarten Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade Total MES/BES Sixth Grade Seventh Grade Eighth Grade Total WMS Ninth Grade Tenth Grade Eleventh Grade Twelfth grade Total NHS Grand Total1,7931,7351, , Outgoing 12 grade147 Incoming Kindergarten103Difference-44 #s Above do not include tuition out/in students Special Ed students29 Total1,7641,702 Ag-Science Total1,9721,914 Projected Enrollment

BES Enrollment Projected Class Sizes 2011/12 (as of October 1 st ) 2012/13 PROJECTED Enrollment # of Sections Avg. Class SizeEnrollment # of Sections Avg. Class Size K K

MES Enrollment Projected Class Sizes 2011/12 (as of October 1 st ) 2012/13 PROJECTED Enrollment # of Sections Avg. Class SizeEnrollment # of Sections Avg. Class Size K K

WMS Current and Projected Enrollment Grade Enrollment (as of October 1 st ) Projected Enrollment Total421416

NHS Current and Projected Enrollment Grade Enrollment (as of October 1 st ) Projected Enrollment Total601583

Students Receiving Special Education Services Actual Projected Count of school-age students 5-21 years In district operated programs In other public school district programs 4 4 Private schools Total Other district contracted special education students: 4 4

PROPOSED BUDGET $31,329,022 Increase of $1,082,993 Or 3.58% 16

PROPOSED BUDGET – 2012$30,246, – 2013$31,329,022 Variance$1,082, % (Approved for %) (Approved for %) (Approved for %) (Approved for %)

18 Budget Components

Budget Components (cont.)

Expenditure Summary

Reductions from 1 st Budget Draft Building Improvements $387,000 Textbooks$ 35,095 Fuel Oil$ 42,999 Technology Equipment$253,942 New Staff Requests $197,394 Current Staff & Stipends$264,000 Transportation (Athletics)$ 15,725 PD/Curriculum Development$ 41,200 Furniture$ 10,000 Projected Cost of Health Insurance$ 70,000 Purchased Services$ 21,600 Total $1,338,955

Footer note22 Financial Considerations  1% Budget Increase - $302,460 (To achieve a 1% budget reduction, we would have to remove $302,460 from the proposed budget)

Revenue by Source

Budget Distribution by Town

Budget Effect on Mill Rate

Budget Statistics Proposed Budget $31,246,029 Budget-to-budget $ increase $1,082,993 Budget-to-budget % increase 3.58% Net Cost to Towns $28,913,270 Net Cost to Towns increase 5.71% Mill Rate-Woodbury $23.62 % increase over % Mill Rate-Bethlehem $21.02 % increase over % 26

Budget History Budget% Increase $27,674, % $28,950, % $29,498, % $29,755, % $29,723, % $30,246, % Proposed $31,329, % 27

KEY BUDGET DATES March 5 Supt. Proposed Budget March 14Budget Workshop – 6:00 p.m. (if necessary) March 19BOE Approval of Initial Budget March 26Budget Presentation to Town Boards of Finance and Selectmen – 6:00 p.m. April 2Public Hearing – 7:30 p.m. April 21Community/BOE Budget Discussion May 7 Budget Meeting May 8Budget Vote