Franklin Public Schools: Summary of Reductions and Efficiencies (prior to FY 2019)

Summary of Reductions and Efficiencies

FY 2018
● Balance budget using revolving funds
● Depart from SC guidelines as to use of Circuit Breaker funds
○ Use funds in fiscal year rather than bank funds

FY 2017
● Balance budget using revolving funds
● Depart from SC guidelines as to use of Circuit Breaker funds
○ Use funds in fiscal year rather than bank funds

FY 2016
● Reduction of K-5 teachers due to declining enrollment
● Implement online payments of officials in athletic department
● Expand online ticket sales for athletic events
● Balance budget using revolving funds
● Depart from SC guidelines as to use of Circuit Breaker funds
o Use funds in fiscal year rather than bank funds

FY 2015
● Competitive bid pricing for purchase of devices / chrome books and laptops
● Implementation of breakfast program
● Reebok BOKS Program
● Transition to Tufts Insurance - same benefits at lower cost
● Copier/Printer solutions at FHS

FY 2014 Efficiencies
● Collective Bargaining Agreements with all support personnel/Sustainable
Agreements over three years
● Partnership with Hockomock YMCA - successful grants to support Wellness
● Partnerships with Dean College
● Hired Van Pool to take over special education transportation

FY 2013
Collective Bargaining Agreement with FEA - sustainable contract over four years

FY 2012
● Partnership with FHS and Dean College Fine Arts program
● DESE Educator Evaluation grant for professional development and HR audit

FY 2011
● Eliminated contractual services for OT/PT through a third party and hired
personnel
● MASBO Transportation audit
● Food Service- Privatized Management / WHITSONS

FY 2010 Reductions
● Eliminate K-12 Librarians 4 positions - no librarians at any school
● Eliminated 1 Assistant Principal HS
● Replaced 4 PE/Health Teacher’s with ELA, Math, Science, Sped Teachers
● Reduced Health /PE classes
● Stimulus Funds Used to supplement other positions
● HS schedule change from 7 period day to 6 period - impact students have fewer Course offerings- narrowed curriculum equates to less competitive academic program at HS
● Eliminated Latin at MS - all students take Spanish (could not find teachers
however it facilitated equitable scheduling across all three schools)

FY 2009 Reductions
● Eliminated 1 Assistant Principal at HS
● Eliminated 1 Administrator /Assistant Special Education Director
● Eliminated 45 Teaching Positions

• High School 17 positions
• Middle School 12.5 positions
• Elementary 15 positions and 4 specialist teachers reduced from Full -time to Part-time

● Reduced Extracurricular Clubs and activities by 1/3
● Increased Pay to Ride Bus Fee
● Increased Building Use Fees to offset administrative costs

FY 2008 Reductions
● Eight Custodians
● One HS Administrative Liaison
● 1.5 Educational Assistants (FHS and Brick School)
● Fourteen Professional Teaching Positions

• Three Technology Curriculum Integration Teachers
• Three MS Health/PE Teachers
• One MS School Adjustment Counselor
• Seven Elementary Teachers

● 1 Technology Administrator
● 1 Special Education Coordinator
● K-5 Coordinator Stipends (Tech, Science, Spanish)
● Eliminated Core Curriculum Teams
● Reduction of HS substitute teacher budget
● Reduction of Facilities cost / Brick School - grant funded
● Extracurricular Fees Implemented $25/student at HS and MS levels
● Increase HS Athletic Fee to $125
● Increase Pay to Ride Transportation Fee by $25
● NEASC Dues Elementary and Middle Schools – let accreditations lapse
● Reduction in general supply budget at all levels

FY 2007 Reductions
● Three Trades Personnel (Carpenter, Plumber and Electrician) transferred out of
School budget to Town budget
● One Educational Assistant position eliminated
● Supply budgets reduced at schools

FY 2006 Reductions
● Elimination of weekend security for all school facilities
● Elimination of Facilities summer job program for Franklin youth
● Two Central Office positions (Title I Coordinator, Assistant Director of Finance)
eliminated
● Two Custodial positions eliminated
● Elimination of French language instruction at Middle Schools
● Reduction of Professional Development budget

FY 2005 Reductions
● Reduction in general supplies and maintenance supplies for the schools
● Reduction in Professional Development
● Elimination of a Foreign Language position
● Assumed $100,000 in trash costs from the Town

FY 2004 Reductions
● Twenty-One Teaching Positions eliminated
● Limited public access to schools on weeknights and weekends
● Bus fees increased to older students and those living within 2 miles
● Reduction in Technology budget
● Increased student-athlete fees
● Increased school lunch cost to cover cost of health insurance for Cafeteria
Staff-had been paid for by Town
● Reduction in budget for materials and supplies
● Eliminate budget for purchase of textbooks (2004-Present textbooks purchased through Capital Funds voted by the town or from supply budgets)

FY 03 Reductions
● No additional staff hired – enrollment up 400 students
● Supply and equipment purchases curtailed
● MS guidance program eliminated
● Building Use fees implemented in 2003
● Athletic fees increased
● Pay-to-Ride Transportation initiated
● PCC’s funded more programs, athletics and extracurricular activities
● All Field Trips funded by PCC’s
● Six elementary positions in Health/PE in elementary cut
● Elementary Health eliminated from curriculum
● Elementary PE reduced from twice to once a week
● Six middle school positions eliminated, reducing that program by 1/3
● Two elementary Music positions eliminated
● Elimination of the 4th grade Instrumental Music Program
● One middle school Music position eliminated
● Two elementary Spanish positions eliminated
● Elementary Spanish instruction reduced from twice to once a week
● Two middle school Science specialist positions eliminated
● One 6th grade teaching position cut at Remington, increasing class size
● Five middle school Educational Assistant positions cut
● One HS Special Education Teacher eliminated, increasing class size
● One HS Reading/English Teacher eliminated

This listing was copied from the Budget Documents prepared for the October 10, 2017 School Committee budget workshop
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0wjbnXDBhczcTV2QldjaXg4bUdqaUlhUXkzbmI5UHJvUkxr

Franklin Public Schools: Summary of Reductions and Efficiencies (prior to FY 2019)

Franklin, MA: Executive Summary FY 2019 Budget

While fiscal challenges remain, our resolve to overcome them is relentless.

The FY 19 proposed budget will be balanced with use of approximately $1,500,000 from our Budget Stabilization Fund (Rainy Day account). While this will work for one year the FY 20 budget will require policy decisions on how to handle the budget shortfall.

We continue to face challenges in properly funding the annual operating budget, Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) and roads. We should continue to maintain the capital plan and debt capacity in the annual operating budget to fund capital improvements.

The Town’s property tax revenue (not including debt exclusions) will increase by 2½ % plus new growth, or about $2.65 million. Local receipts, which include the excise tax and permit and license fees, etc., will increase $300,000, mostly due to increased motor vehicle commitments. Net State Aid (based on the Governor’s budget) will increase by $206,000. The FY 19 “net” revenue increase is estimated at $3.2 million.

Proposed FY 19 Highlights

Treasurer Collector – The budget partially funds a Deputy Treasurer Collector in preparation of the retirement of the current Deputy Treasurer Collector in 2019.

Police – We are reviewing the options to staff the police department when the Dispatch center moves in the middle of the fiscal year.

Regional Dispatch – The target date to open the new center is January 2019. The building is currently under construction.

Franklin Schools – We have provided the largest year over year increase ($3,000,000) in school funding in a decade. This will help relief much of the pressure of the school use of revolving funds but will not resolve the long term funding issues the Town/school face.

The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School – The school is relocating to its new location on Washington Street in 2019. This may increase busing costs for the schools when they open.

DPW – We increased the snow and ice Budget by $50,000 for a total of $1,003,500. This is still below the five year rolling average.

Board of Health – The Health office is merging with the Inspectional services
This will eliminate a part time clerk while providing full office coverage for the Health Department. Further we will be contracting for percolation tests and septic inspections.

Library – The opening of the renovated/addition to the library requires additional staffing. Further we are trying to close the gap between our current funding and the Minimum Appropriation Requirement (MAR) of the State Library Board. If the budget is approved we will close the gap from .85% to 90% of the minimum. We would need an additional
$100,000 to meet the requirement. The last time we were in compliance was FY 09.

Employee Wages/Benefits –Wages are generally increasing 3%, Pension costs increased by about 10% or about $450,000, OPEB is funded at $550,000 and health insurance continues to be a challenge. Thanks once again to the employees for working together to constrain health insurance increases. This is critical to maintaining staffing levels.

Budget Overview
In compliance with Article Six, Sections 6-3-1 through 6-5-2 of the Franklin Town Charter, I am submitting the proposed FY 19 budget to the Town Council and Finance Committee.

Process
Each department is required to submit a proposed budget to the Town Administrator. The Town Administrator, the Comptroller, and the individual Department Heads review their budget request.

The Town Administrator also reviews the highlights of the Town’s fiscal plan with the budget subcommittee of the Town Council. Based on input and the meetings with the Department Head, the Town Administrator makes a budget recommendation to the Town Council and the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee reviews the Town Administrator’s proposed budget and forwards their recommendations to the Town Council. The Town Council holds two public hearings prior to adopting the budget.

Financial Policy Summary

While the budget process identifies issues and concerns that the Town will address on an annual basis, it also must do so based in a framework of sound financial management. The Town Council has adopted fiscal policies in the past and should continue to update and review them on a regular basis. Below is a summary of current policies:

Balanced Budget
 Annual costs funded from current revenues.
 Do not defer current costs to future years.

Current status 
– Whenever possible we refrain from using one time funds to balance the budget. FY19 is an exception due to extra challenges we face. We have not addressed our GASB 45 obligation (post-retirement health insurance) although this year we have budgeted $550,000 to continue to fund the obligation of about $70 million (2017 actuarial study).

Compensation and benefits
 Budget with current revenues
 Compensate at market rates

Current status 
– We have nine municipal unions. All unions have collective bargaining agreements through June 30, 2019.

Revenues
 Estimate annual revenues in detail and project for the following three years.
 Maintain full and fair market value of property assessments.
 Ensure fees charged cover costs incurred.

Current status 
– Future revenue projections are included in the budget. New growth and local receipts have been adjusted to reflect the trends in actual collections. Included in the projection are the enterprise funds direct and indirect charges that pay back the general fund for costs attributable to those funds. Again this year we are charging the water and sewer enterprise accounts for their OPEB obligation.

Financial Reserves
 Adequately fund and maintain reserves (Stabilization, Free Cash, Overlay Surplus)
 Maintain Stabilization account at $5 million or 5% of recurring general fund revenue (less debt exclusions and SBA reimbursement).
 Short-term revenue surpluses shall fund non-recurring projects.
 Free Cash will be used to fund the capital budget and for unforeseen expenses.
 Overlay surplus will be used for capital budgets and non-recurring expenses.

Current status 
- the General Stabilization fund balance is just about $5.1 million dollars which is slightly under the Town’s policy of 5% of general fund revenue.

Long-Term Debt - Proposed
 Reserved for large capital projects.
 Net general fund debt service (not including debt exclusions) shall be targeted at not more than 3.5% of recurring general fund revenue. We are currently well below that number.

Current Status 
- The FY 19 budget calls for a general fund debt service of$6,843,101. According to the independent bond rating agency Standard and Poor’s, our debt level is moderate and manageable. Our debt plan will help to obtain our goal of improving the infrastructure of the Town without the need for debt exclusions (except schools) while maintaining a reasonable debt level. We were recently upgraded to AA+ one grade below the highest rating of AAA.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1srWLWOHO81af4aQq8cNWIJcLAtImjRJG

Franklin, MA: Executive Summary FY 2019 Budget

Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - FY 2019 Budget Hearing #2 - April 18, 2018

Wednesday, April 18, 2018 

at 7:00 PM 

Franklin Town Hall

2^nd Floor Council Chambers

	AGENDA
1.    Call to Order 2.    Public Comments 3.    Approval of Minutes 4.    FY2019 Budget Presentations:	Dept.	Tab
Recreation	630	Culture and Recreation
Library	610	Culture and Recreation
Town Clerk	161	General Government
Elections	164	General Government
Fire	220	Public Safety
Police	210	Public Safety
Dispatch	225	Public Safety

This was shared from the Town of Franklin page
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/finance_committee_agenda_4-18-18_revised.pdf

The Town of Franklin Budget page  http://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget

Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - FY 2019 Budget Hearing #2 - April 18, 2018

Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - FY 2019 Budget Hearing #1 - April 17, 2018

Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at 7:00 PM Franklin Town Hall

2^nd Floor Council Chambers

1. Call to Order
2. Public Comments
3. Approval of Minutes
4. FY2019 Budget Presentations:	Dept.	Tab
Veterans	543	Human Services
Council on Aging	541	Human Services
Inspections	240	Public Safety
Health	510/525	Human Services
ZBA	176	General Government
Planning/Conservation	177	General Government
Assessors	141	General Government
Treasurer/Collector	147	General Government
Comptroller	135	General Government
Human Resources	152	General Government
Facilities	192	General Government
Street Lights	424	Public Works
DPW	440	Public Works
Enterprise	450	Enterprise
Tri-County	390	Education
Norfolk Aggie	395	Education
Employee Benefits	910	General Government
Liability Insurance	945	General Government
Debt Service	710/750	General Government
Town Council	111	General Government
Town Administrator	123	General Government
Finance Committee	131	General Government
Legal	151	General Government
Central Services	196	General Government
Animal Control	292	Public Safety
Historical Commission	691	Culture and Recreation
Memorial Day	692	Culture and Recreation
Cultural Council	695	Culture and Recreation
5. Adjournment

Trust Fund Balances Update as of 2/28/18

·         General Stabilization                                     $ 5,062,018

·         Recreation Fields                                                  156,802

·         Traffic Stabilization                                                    6,552

·         Open Space Acquisition                                   1,101,229

·         Budget Stabilization                                          1,848,663

·         Free Cash                                                               727,988

·         Fire Truck Stabilization                                        104,657

·         OPEB                                                                   4,537,521

·         Property Acquisition                                             260,620 

OPEB Obligation as of 6/30/17 (PAYGO):          $  69,295,796

This agenda can be found on the Town of Franklin page
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/finance_committee_agenda_4-17-18_revised.pdf

Finance Committee - FY 2019 Budget Hearing #1 - April 17, 2018

School Committee recap - March 27, 2018

The formal budget hearing for the Fiscal Year 2019 (FY 19) school budget was the primary topic on Tuesday night. The proposed budget was tweaked slightly to bring it into balance by using $900,000+ in additional funds from the schools revolving accounts. 

The budget totals to be appropriated as well as the total offset via the use of the revolving account funds can be seen here for FY 18 and FY 19:

FY18 and FY19 budget totals appropriated and revolving account use

Background on the variety and fund balances for the many revolving accounts can be found here
http://franklindistrict.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinDistrict_budget/23.%20Revolving%20Accounts.pdf

Additional info on the budget including the breakdown by school and across the district by department can be found here
http://franklindistrict.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinDistrict_budget/index

Aside from the items on the "consent agenda", there were two votes recorded. One to approve to continue the practice of not accepting school choice students. The second vote was to accept the Committee meeting calendar for the 2018-2019 school year.

My notes recorded live during the meeting can be found here:

• Live reporting: Information Matters through to clo...
• Live reporting: Discussion / Action Items - Mar 27...
• Live Reporting: School Committee - March 27, 2018
• 
  

Franklin boy scouts from Troop 99 reviewed the school budget book
during the School Committee meeting Tuesday, Mar 27

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Mar 27, 2018

Vision Statement

The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

A G E N D A

“The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.”

1. Routine Business
a. Review of Agenda
b. Citizen’s Comments
i. In the spirit of open communication, “the School Committee will hear public comment not related to an agenda item at the beginning of each regular School Committee Meeting. The Committee will listen to, but not respond to any comment made. A Committee member may add an agenda item to a future meeting as a result of a citizen comment” – from Policy BEDH
c. FHS Student Representative Comments
d. Superintendent’s Report

2. Guests / Presentations
a. FY19 Budget Hearing

Franklin Public Schools - FY19 Budget Hearing from Franklin Matters

3. Discussion / Action Items
a. School Choice Vote
I recommend that the School Committee not accept any new public school choice students for the 2018-2019 school year as discussed.
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinCom_Packets/q3-27-18%20SC%20Packet/Discussion%20ActionA-School%20Choice%20Vote.pdf

b. Draft 18-19 School Committee Schedule
I recommend that the School Committee approve of the 2018-19 School Committee meeting schedule as discussed.
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinCom_Packets/q3-27-18%20SC%20Packet/Discussion%20ActionB-SC%20Mtg%20Schedule%2018-19.pdf

4. Discussion Only Items

5. Information Matters
a. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports (e.g. Budget; Community Relations; Policy; Transportation; Public Schools Advocacy; Ad Hoc Superintendent’s Evaluation)
b. School Committee Liaison Reports (e.g. Joint PCC; Substance Abuse Task Force; School Wellness Advisory Council [SWAC]; MASC; School Start Times Advisory Committee)

6. New Business
a. To discuss any future agenda items

7. Consent Agenda
a. Keller Recurring Field Trip
I recommend approval of the request for a recurring field trip for Keller 5th Graders to Roger Williams Zoo, in Providence, RI on Friday, May 11, 2018 as detailed.
b. Jefferson Donation
I recommend acceptance of the donation of sporting equipment valued approximately at $300.00 from Dr. Maureen Sabolinski for supplemental supplies at Jefferson Elementary School.
c. Grant for Jefferson
I recommend acceptance of a check from Martin W. Richard Charitable Grant for $500.00 for supplemental supplies at Jefferson Elementary School as detailed.
d. FHS Senior Pilot
I recommend continued suspension of policy JH – Student Absences for the purposes of the late arrival/early release pilot for seniors at FHS on good standing during quarter 4.
e. Budget Transfers
I recommend Budget Transfers as detailed.

8. Payment of Bills 
Dr. Bergen

9. Payroll 
Mrs. Douglas

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION
pursuant to Purpose 7 (M.G.L. c 30A, Section 21(a)(7) ), to comply with or act under the authority of a general or special law when an open meeting would compromise the purpose for which the executive session is called, with the relevant citations of law being M.G.L. c. 71, §34D and 603 CMR 23.00 et. seq. and 20 U.S.C. § 1232g, which pertain to the confidentiality of student and education records, and to receive legal advice from counsel protected from disclosure under Massachusetts General Law with the relevant citations of law being M.G.L. c. 4, Section 7, clause twenty-sixth, MGL. c. 30A, s. 21 (a) (1), and M.G.L. c. 30A, Section 22 (f).

11. Adjournment


Other documents for the School Committee packet can be found online
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinCom_Packets/q3-27-18%20SC%20Packet/

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Mar 27, 2018