02/07/09
Superintendent submits 2-percent spending increase budget proposal for School Board review
Superintendent Alan Hawkins has submitted his proposed budget for 2009-10, a $20 million spending plan that represents a 2-percent increase over this year's budget.
The 2-percent increase target was directed by the School Board.
The board will begin formal review of the budget proposal in public workshop sessions Feb. 12, 24 and 26, 2009, at the High School library. All sessions begin at 7 p.m. (Click here for budget review schedule)
The proposed budget would add 50 cents to the current $12.34 tax rate for school services, an increase of 4 percent.
Anticipating a $421,000 reduction in state subsidy, already announced by the state Department of Education, the proposed budget includes $1.2 million in increases, primarily in salaries and benefits, offset by more than $800,000 in reductions, including approximately $300,000 in staff reductions.
All three schools will experience staff reductions under the proposed budget.
At the High School, elimination of a full-time executive skills teacher (half-time in regular instruction and half-time at the school's Achievement Center) is being proposed by principal Jeff Shedd. "This proposal is particularly painful," said Shedd in his budget narrative. "It impacts an area that we have previously identified as an important area for focus. We know from our work discussing students through the Student Support Team that executive skills weaknesses and reading weaknesses are the two areas that lay behind a great many of the problems of students who are at risk of failure or performing poorly in school," he said.
Other staff cuts recommended for the High School include a half-time substance abuse counselor, 1/10-time choral music teacher, 2/10-time Latin instruction and 2/10-time math instruction. The Latin teacher is not a proposal to eliminate Latin at the High School, Shedd said, but it is a proposal to limit it to one class.
At Pond Cove School, Principal Tom Eismeier is proposing the elimination of one second-grade teacher, and cuts to summer school and Student Study Team stipends. The second-grade staff reduction reflects a decline in enrollment.
Staff reductions proposed for the Middle School include a 4/10-time technology teacher; 3/10-time seventh- and eighth-grade social studies and language arts teacher; a full-time educational technician; a half-time library ed tech and a half-time technology ed tech; and, co-curricular stipends for Student Study Team, outdoor experience and other activities.
"While a 2% budget increase will severely hamper our progress, the community still will expect the best education in the state for Cape Elizabeth children," said Middle School Principal Steve Connolly, in his budget narrative. "The talented and dedicated middle school staff has been able to continue to make progress but will now be faced with its most challenging time. Our doors will be open in September, children will come, but education at CEMS will not look the same," he said.
As in recent years, administrators from each of the schools, as well as directors of athletics, instructional support and other areas, submitted extensive narratives and explanations along with their budget proposals.
In his budget message, Hawkins outlined the criteria guiding administrators in their budget decisions, drawing upon the School Department's goals of meeting the learning needs of all students; and, attracting and retaining the best possible staff for Cape Elizabeth schools.
To that end, Hawkins stressed the importance of curriculum development and assessment.
On a more positive note, Hawkins reported an anticipated reduction in energy costs for 2009-10. "Based on the hard work of (Facilities Manager) Ernie MacVane and (Business Manager) Pauline Aportria we have been able to sign a commitment for heating oil for 2009-2010 at $1.94 per gallon which is a $179,800 savings from 2008-09," Hawkins said in his budget message. The School Department is also anticipating a $6,200 savings in electricity. Anticipated changes in the formula for health insurance and possible funding from the town for some capital projects are cost savings the School Department officials are monitoring, Hawkins said.
In a year of staff reductions, there is one staff addition in this year's budget proposal. "Although we have worked carefully to avoid additions to the budget, one change, based on the criteria of decision making, has been 0.25 nursing position at the high school," he said. The additional staff is needed to address a growing number of students with serious medical needs, and brings the number of full-time registered nurses to one for each school.
For more information about this year's municipal and school budgets, please see the budget section on this Web site.
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