Regional School District # Proposed Budget 1 Public Hearing April 2, 2012

Footer note2 Financial Considerations 1% Budget Increase - $302,460 (To achieve a 1% budget reduction, we would have to remove $302,460 from the proposed budget) 1.2% of the Budget increase was to make up for underfunded non-discretionary accounts (fuel oil, electric, health insurance…) No increase in Budget would require a cut of $1,050,037 Order of Magnitude: -About 15 staff positions ($1,050,037) -Extracurricular Activities ($165,000) -Professional Development ($95,000) -Sports ($470,000)

Mission Statement 3 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. 4

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. 5

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. 6

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. 7

Addressing the Following Areas of Need: Develop a coherent K-12 curriculum ensuring all students are exposed to consistently high levels of instruction; Continue building our current strings program initiated through the Music Foundation’s generous support; Ensure all students have appropriate levels of support to proactively address matters related to bullying, drug and alcohol abuse, and school climate; Provide adequate levels of professional development to ensure all teachers have the current skills and strategies to improve their instructional practices;

Addressing the Following Areas of Need (cont.) Ensure our students have the appropriate levels of technology to support their research, communication, and other 21 st Century Skills development; Provide adequate levels of supervision, organization and support to our athletic program; Provide appropriate levels of support to ensure our buildings are clean and maintained; Ensure our buildings are warmed with the most cost- effective energy available.

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 10

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 11

The Vision Gain support for the initiatives supported in this budget proposal; Attend to the maintenance needs deferred over the past several years; Finalize plans that address the urgent need to renovate Mitchell Elementary School, Nonnewaug High School and its fields.

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 Kindergarten88Difference-59 #s Above do not include tuition out/in students Special Ed students29 Total1,7641,687 Ag-Science Total1,9721,899 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

PROPOSED BUDGET $31,296,066 Increase of $1,050,037 Or 3.47% 20

PROPOSED BUDGET – 2012$30,246, – 2013$31,296,066 Variance$1,050, % (Approved for %) (Approved for %) (Approved for %) (Approved for %)

22 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 $232,695 Current Staff & Stipends$224,536 Transportation (Athletics)$ 15,725 PD/Curriculum Development$ 41,200 Furniture$ 10,000 Projected Cost of Health Insurance$ 70,000 Purchased Services$ 45,954 Enrollment Allocation (elem.)$ 12,765 Total $1,371,911

Footer note26 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 $31,296,066 Budget-to-budget $ increase $1,050,037 Budget-to-budget % increase 3.47% Net Cost to Towns $28,880,314 Net Cost to Towns increase 5.59% Mill Rate-Woodbury $23.55 % increase over % Mill Rate-Bethlehem $21.14 % increase over % 30

Last Three Budgets

Budget History Budget% Increase $27,674, % $28,950, % $29,498, % $29,755, % $29,723, % $30,246, % Proposed $31,296, % 32

Potential Maintenance Bond Projects NHS Elevator $150,000 MES Asbestos Removal $350,000 Miscellaneous Systems $156,000 Sub Total: $656,000 Contingency: $164,000 TOTAL: $820,000

KEY BUDGET DATES April 2Public Hearing – 7:30 p.m. May 7 District Meeting May 8Budget Vote