Showing posts with label FY 2024. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FY 2024. Show all posts

Saturday, April 1, 2023

FPS Budget Subcommittee Meeting - April 4 at 5:30 PM

Franklin Public Schools Franklin School Committee
Budget Sub Committee 
April 4, 2023 - 5:30 PM
Municipal Building - 3rd Floor Training Room

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."


Call to Order
FY24 Budget
Adjournment

Agenda doc also contains remote participation info ->

FPS Budget Subcommittee Meeting - April 4 at 5:30 PM
FPS Budget Subcommittee Meeting - April 4 at 5:30 PM

Monday, March 27, 2023

What programs / positions were cut the School Budget in prior years? These are likely not coming back!

I recall viewing a more current version of this but haven't been able to locate it at this time. In the meantime, as the preparations for the School Budget Hearing on Tuesday are underway, this is an aspect of the budget information not regularly covered (one of the reasons I can't find a more current version).

From the budget prep for the 2017 school budget workshop comes this gem that summarizes programs cut since FY 2003. 

What? The Schools have been cutting since 2003? Yup, you see the listing here

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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

From the March 2018 Franklin Matters archives ->    https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/04/franklin-public-schools-summary-of.html


School Budget hearing Tuesday, March 28 at 7 PM
School Budget hearing Tuesday, March 28 at 7 PM

Friday, March 24, 2023

School Committee explores details on the FPS Superintendent's recommended budget for FY 2024 (audio & video)

FM #963 - 964 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 963 - 964 in the series. 


This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. The meeting was conducted in the Council Chambers with all seven members present. 


School Committee Chair Denise Spencer opens the meeting at 7:02 PM. 


Key items on the agenda

  • Recognition of several FHS students

  • Parmenter Elementary update & presentation

  • Superintendent's recommended budget for FY 2024

The show notes contain a link to the full agenda and to my notes & photos captured via Twitter during the meeting. 


The Committee entered Executive Session on a negotiation discussion and did return to public meeting. I did not capture that portion of the meeting.


The recording runs about three hours, thirty four minutes, so let’s listen to the Franklin School Committee on March 21, 2023.


I split the audio into two sections


  • #963 - Part 1 - covers the opening of meeting, FHS student recognitions, Parmenter presentation (less the musical audio segment - approx 5 minutes), and then the closing of the meeting after the budget presentation (net of 1 hour and 25 minutes)


  • #964 - Part 2 - the entirety of the budget presentation  (2 hours) 

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-964-fps-school-cmte-mtg-03-21-23-p2




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School Committee page -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee 


The agenda for this meeting can be found

 https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_3-21-23-rescheduled.pdf 


The Packet folder contains the documents released for this meeting.

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/march-21-2023-school-committee-meeting-packet-31423-was-canceled-due 


My notes captured via Twitter and compiled into one PDF doc ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M6IGtXDw0VLVnIMOjr4XvMpAguwCEGWg/view?usp=share_link


YouTube video link for this meeting -> https://youtu.be/h2SITbmEoG8


Presentation documents now available:


Photos from the meeting (mostly screen shots of the presentations not yet posted to the packet folder)  



--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial


This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

 

How can you help?

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

  • If you don't like something here, please let me know


Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

 

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/


If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com


The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.


I hope you enjoy!

------------------


You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"


School Committee explores details on the FPS Superintendent's recommended budget for FY 2024 (audio)
School Committee explores details on the FPS Superintendent's recommended budget for FY 2024 (audio)

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Franklin School Committee explores details within the Superintendent's recommended budget for FY 2024 (video)

The Franklin School Committee got their look into the details of the Superintendent's Recommended Budget for the FY 2024 fiscal year at their meeting on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. They also spent time just before the budget hearing updates from the Parmenter School which coincidentally highlighted some of the students needs some of which are planned for the budget some of which had not made the cut to get into the budget.

The formal budget hearing is scheduled for their next meeting Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

The Franklin TV video replay is available here ->   https://youtu.be/h2SITbmEoG8
(Video Link updated without licensed music)

My notes taken during the meeting are here. My full recap and the audio will be ready in a couple of days ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M6IGtXDw0VLVnIMOjr4XvMpAguwCEGWg/view?usp=share_link

Photos of the Parmenter presentation can be found in one album ->

Photos of the school budget presentation can be one found in one album ->

Franklin School Committee explores details within the Superintendent's recommended budget for FY 2024 (video)
Franklin School Committee explores details within the Superintendent's recommended budget for FY 2024 (video)


FPS Budget Subcommittee Meeting - March 24, 10 AM

Franklin Public Schools - Franklin School Committee
Budget Sub Committee
March 24, 2023 - 10:00 AM
Municipal Building - 3rd Floor Conference Room

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."
● Call to Order
● FY24 Budget
● Adjournment


 

FPS Budget Subcommittee Meeting - March 24, 10 AM
FPS Budget Subcommittee Meeting - March 24, 10 AM

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Quarterbacking Crossover with Talk Franklin: Friendly 40B, FY24 Town Budget (audio)

FM #961 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 961 in the series. 


This shares my conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. With the reschedule, we combined our normal Talk Franklin session with one of the series of conversations meant to provide a recap of the prior Council meeting. The combined session also ends abruptly but we’ll have more to talk about in future sessions.


Akin to one of the many sports post-game analysis broadcasts we are familiar with in New England, this would be a discussion focused on the Franklin Town Council meeting of Mar 15, 2023


  • ok, what just happened? 

  • What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?


We cover the following key topics

  • The ‘friendly 40b’ proposal that failed by a 4-5 vote

  • The Town budget as previewed during the Joint Budget Subcommittee


Links to the meeting agenda and associated documents released for this meeting are included in the show notes. 


Our conversation runs about 29 minutes. Let’s listen to this combined Talk Franklin and  Town Council Quarterbacking session recorded Mar 16, 2023


Audio file ->   
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/letstalkfranklin/episodes/Quarterbacking-Crossover-Talk-Friendly-40B--FY24-Town-Budget-e20rleg/a-a9hh3s1


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The complete agenda doc  ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_march_15_2023_0.pdf 

YouTube Video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGx3TPCumWw  

My notes and the audio of the meeting -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/03/town-council-ratifies-master-plan.html 

My quick notes and the meeting video -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/03/town-council-whiffs-on-easy-layup-to.html 


--------------


We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  


This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.


How can you help?

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

  • If you don't like something here, please let me know


Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.


For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com


The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.


I hope you enjoy!

------------------


You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"


Sunday, March 12, 2023

Joint Budget Subcommittee hears the Town is faced with resolving a $5.7M budget deficit (audio)

FM #956 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 956 in the series.

This session shares the Town of Franklin (MA) Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting held on Wednesday, Mar 8, 2023. The meeting was conducted in the Council Chambers. Remote participation was enabled for the public for this session. 


The Joint Budget Subcommittee is composed of the budget subcommittee of the Town Council, the Finance Committee and the School Committee.

  • Chair - Tom Mercer, Brian Chandler, Cobi Frongillo and Melanie Hamblen of the Town Council
  • George Conley, John Grace, Michael Hamilton, and Natalie Riley of the Finance Committee
  • David McNeill, David Callaghan and Meghan Whitmore (absent) of the School Committee

Quick recap

  • The Joint Budget Subcommittee met for almost 2 hours on Wednesday and has the task now of resolving the  $5.7M deficit between projected revenues and projected expenses for the FY 2024 budget. 

  • The recognition of the issue and some of the school budget cost drivers was where most of the time was spent. The next steps and strategy to resolve the deficit were not mentioned. 

  • Chair Mercer urged all present for this and future discussions to refrain from talking about 'sides'. We are one Franklin, we are all in this together. We can talk about the 'town part' or the 'school part' but it is our budget and needs to be worked collaboratively.

  • Councilor Frongillo did reference his rationale for increasing density with smart growth as one way to increase revenue without further burdening the expenses. The 'standard' option mentioned was reducing expenses (meaning reducing services) and since 70% of the budget is people would mean reductions somewhere.  There was also mention of 'finding other sources of revenue.' 

  • For those listening who have been through this before, there is no 'other source' of revenue to resolve such a deficit. There can be increases within the existing revenue streams and the key question is whether anyone is ready to have that discussion.

  • There was no 'next meeting' mentioned during the session to develop the strategy that is needed for the Town to have a sustainable budget.


The show notes contain a link to the agenda and to my notes.


The recording runs about 2 hours, so let’s listen to the Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting of Mar 8, 2023.

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-956-tof-joint-budget-subcmte-mtg-03-08-23


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Town Administrator Jamie Hellen highlights the expected revenue and expense items and summarizes them in the budget narrative. The budget narrative can be found here -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/03/fy-2024-budget-narrative-for-discussion.html 


The full agenda document and supporting docs can be found here ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/03/joint-budget-subcommittee-meeting.html 


Franklin TV/YouTube Video link ->  https://www.youtube.com/live/5RqRcDQCNuI?feature=share 


My notes captured via Twitter are combined in one PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1buX_DBa5Jz6m9osdAhNjxIAM5yY5tk7T/view?usp=share_link 


Joint Budget Subcommittee page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/joint-budget-subcommittee 



--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial


This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

 

How can you help?

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

  • If you don't like something here, please let me know


Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

 

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news/


If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com


The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.


I hope you enjoy!

------------------


You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"


Joint Budget Subcommittee hears the Town is faced with resolving a $5.7M budget deficit (audio)
Joint Budget Subcommittee hears the Town is faced with resolving a $5.7M budget deficit (audio)