Over two dozen residents packed into the Ira Allen Board Room at the Burlington School District central offices on Tuesday night for the school board finance committee meeting.
The agenda: presenting next year’s budget.
Superintendent Yaw Obeng and Business Manager Nathan Lavery began by explaining the expected revenue sources and expenditures for FY18.
Drivers Ed, ONTOP, and other programs will be added to the general fund, contributing to a $1.5 million increase.
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
The budget includes shifting revenue between funds, including driver’s education and ONTOP.
Lavery: "We expect to see some increased special ed revenue."
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
Superintendent Yaw Obeng now begins to explain potential reductions. #BTV pic.twitter.com/scsEOXfyP1
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
Obeng told the board and community members that he had difficulty receiving feedback on areas to make reductions. The only suggestion, he said, was central office expenditures.
3% reduction or $150,000 will be reduced from central office budget.
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
Obeng: District is saving money by negotiating deals for school supplies on a district-wide scale.
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
The district-wide supply negotiations include expensive items such as photocopiers, which were normally purchased by principals, Obeng said. The superintendent explained that this could greatly offset operation costs.
Many teachers, particularly at the high school have raised concerns about the need for more multilingual liaisons. In response to those requests, the district plans to increase funding for this program.
Lavery said that the district and school websites will be updated to create improved accessibility of information and transparency. $30,000 will be allocated for the redesign.
Additional expenditure increases include $80,000 for a school bus replacement, $22,000 for an expanded time clock system, $15,000 for projection equipment and $100,000 for debt service on $4 million of new debt.
One major concern in the budget development process has been the lack of full time librarians at the high school, the Sustainability Academy and the Integrated Arts Academy.
Yaw Obeng: "We want to add additional resources in the form of library specialists."
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
Budget has librarians listed as "librarian interventionists"
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
The district was not clear on the increase in library funding. The position title had been changed to librarian interventionists in the budget, and Obeng said he would like for library media specialists to spend more time focused on individual student academic support.
The board then moved on to present position increases at every education level in the district.
JUST IN: Burlington High School staff change: +2.0 FTE
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
Middle schools and elementary schools will have +1.0 FTE each.
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
Preliminary budget summary: pic.twitter.com/wSKcCEGafQ
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
The district was unable to provide tax estimates for the budget at the point in time.
Business Manager Nathan Lavery: No tax estimates yet, hopes to provide more info next meeting.
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
Preliminary budget increase will be $3.5 million, $73.37 million total budget.
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
The budget presentation was followed by the public comment period. Many community members expressed the need for the restoration of full-time librarians at every city school.
"I feel like my son is going to lag behind his peers if he doesn't have [library media] services," -magnet school parent
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
Sustainability Academy Teacher-librarian Sharon Hayes: "We absolutely need to be able to serve our students full time." #BTV #bsdvt
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
The need for social workers and increased class sizes were other concerns.
"Our principal is spending at least 50% of her time on disciplinary issues," -Joanna Grossman, Champlain parent on need for social workers
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
BSD parent Jeff Wick speaks about overcrowded classes at the high school, urges board to keep this in mind during budget process. #BTV #vted
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
Public comment period complete, budget discussion will now take place. pic.twitter.com/ppM8z2vJNt
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
The public comment period was followed by a budget discussion amongst board members, which lasted for one hour.
Board Member Brian Cina tells community members to advocate for issues in the state legislature.
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
Cina: "We need to be realistic about what we may face in terms of drastic cuts [at the federal level]."
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
Obeng: "Now we're shifting and talking about what we want to add to the system. That's a good conversation to have."
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
"Nothing is set in stone yet. From my standpoint the concern is the revenue expectation." -Board Member Miriam Stoll.
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
Board Member Mark Barlow questions Yaw Obeng about restoring APs and advanced offerings at BHS.
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
Obeng: Less students and increased staff will help restore advanced offerings at high school.
— BHS Register (@BHSRegister) December 21, 2016
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