ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET SESSION

 

MARCH 15, 2023

 

At an ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET SESSION of the Town Council and School Committee of the Town of South Kingstown, County of Washington, in the State of Rhode Island, held at the Town Hall, in and for said Town on the 15^th day of March 2023 at 6:35 PM.

 

PRESENT:     Town Council

Rory H. McEntee, President

Michael K. Marran, Vice President

Patricia A. Alley

Deborah D. Bergner

Jessica L. Rose

 

School Committee

Paula Whitford, Chairwoman

Michelle Brousseau, Vice Chairwoman

Melissa Boyd

Kate M. Macinanti

James L. Restivo

Carol A. Vetter

 

 

Also present: James M. Manni, Town Manager; Brian Silvia, Finance Director; Mark Prince, School Superintendent; and Raquel Pellerin, Chief Financial Officer, School Department.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance is given. The Land Acknowledgement Statement is read.

 

Mark Prince, School Superintendent begins a presentation of the School Budget by noting the review process required under the RI Education Accountability Act of 2019 that includes collaboration between the School Committee, Budget Subcommittee and Leadership Team. The Fiscal Management Goal is to use the community’s fiscal resources wisely, purposefully, and responsibly to maintain and enhance a high-quality education for all students. The budget development process took about 12 weeks to complete the organizational review. This included review of administrative and operational support systems by the Superintendent; review of fiscal planning, budgeting, and human resources by the CFO; review of delivery of student data, instructional services, and support systems for students by the Leadership Team; review of technology planning, systems and utilization by the Director of Technology; and review of operational areas such as food services, transportation, and facilities management by the Superintendent.

 

Mr. Prince reviews the latest student enrollment data that indicates there are a total of 2,489 “butts in the seat.” The RI Department of Education (RIDE) funding formula pulled today’s enrollment numbers at a total of 2,755, with 2,481 of those in district residency. The remainder are out of district students attending CTE, Charter or State Schools, Special Education placements and those receiving services. We are financially responsible for those students, at a cost of $4.9 million. Seventeen percent of our students receive free and reduced lunch, and 16 percent are Special Education students.

 

The Superintendent reviews their Programmatic Goals to align funding toward assessments drive improvements, building teacher knowledge, using competitive strategy and align structures to support student and teacher social and mental health.

 

The Superintendent reviews all categories, purposes and pending allocations of State, Federal and Local Restricted Funds. The Governor’s FY 2023-2024 Proposed Budget for State Aid for Education is discussed. Formula Aid is projected at $5,265,261, with High Cost Special Education Aid projected at $330,146. RIDE says these numbers will change, but funding for High Cost Special Education is not likely to be 100%.

 

Mr. Prince reviews the 10 year history of the Town appropriation for Education, noting there is no increase requested this year. Level funding is proposed at $55,994,773. Each year of level funding equates to a 2% budget reduction. It is noted that since 2008, staff have been reduced every year. Some reductions were due to early retirement incentives, some may be due to COVID.  

 

The Superintendent reviews the challenges facing the School Department, including lower enrollment, lower free and reduced lunch count, fluid State Aid, special education services, health care premiums, teacher and non-certified personnel raises and increase in steps, mandated curriculum upgrades, Charter, CTE and out-of-district tuitions, and transportation.

 

The total cost of unfunded mandates is $810,000 including the McKinney Vento Act at $63,000; personal literacy, math and behavior plans at $240,000; professional development at $59,000; high quality curriculum at $110,000; the Right to Read Act or the Science of Reading at $220,000; Basic Education Program at $94,000; and assessment system at $24,000. Rates for health and dental insurance are projected to increase 9.4%, a budget variance of $242,000.

 

Since the School Committee is asking for a zero percent budget increase, the Superintendent reviews the budgetary reduction scenarios. These include prioritizing purchases that support programmatic goals, delaying requests until other funding sources can be found, shifting staff and Special Education Tuition from the General Fund to grants, leveraging Fund Balance to support one time expenditures and capital plans, consider additional staff reductions, inventory control, review open positions, transportation, and review of ESSER guidelines and priorities for expenditure support.

 

The Superintendent reviews the Pre-School strategy to move the program from Wakefield Elementary School (WES) to Peace Dale Elementary School (PDES), and move the medically fragile Special Education students to Matunuck Elementary School. Wakefield School could be returned to the Town by December, and there would no longer be a need to add the Pre-School to the High School building project. It is anticipated that they will be out of Curtis Corner Middle School (CCMS) by mid-August. These savings will be used to offset the costs of the school facilities project.

 

Discussion ensues regarding moving the Pre-School to PDES, suitability of bathroom facilities and play structures.

 

Discussion ensues regarding efforts to increase participation in the free and reduced lunch program.

 

Discussion ensues relative to the Fund Balance. Raquel Pellerin, School CFO notes that $1.9 million was projected in the FY 2022-2023 budget, it is likely to be $1.1 million.

 

Discussion ensues concerning the cost of out of district students.

 

Discussion returns to promoting the free and reduced lunch program, and it is noted that there is proposed legislation to provide free lunch for all students. The Council could consider adopting a resolution in support of this bill.

 

Discussion ensues relative to the School’s plan to use savings to offset budgetary expenses.   

 

Council President McEntee invites residents to come forward with comments.

 

Taylor Ellis comments that House Bill 5639 addresses a universal breakfast and lunch program, and that sufficient funding is needed to address inequities.

 

Jim O’Neill comments that the Town Council needs to convince the public to support the High School building project, and on enrollment, staffing levels and loss of State Aid to Education.   

 

Dorald Beasley comments that a new High School is needed to entice students back into the system, and regarding staffing levels.

 

Laura Erban comments on grants and the need to invest in school facilities.

 

Bret Harrington comments on the need for the Town Council and School Committee to be on the same page to support the school facilities bond.

 

Jim O’Neill comments further on school staffing, budget request, transportation expenses, student/teacher ratio, Broad Rock Middle School costs, the closure of South Road School and the loss of student enrollment.

 

Dorald Beasley comments further on staffing levels and reduced enrollment, level funding in spite of the closure of 2 schools, and additional bonding for elementary school repairs.

 

Paula Whitford, School Committee Chair notes that they have submitted a budget request for level funding but costs are increasing, and they are trying to maintain School programs with the budget they are given.

 

Carol Vetter, School Committee member notes that comparing other school districts is not comparing apples to apples, costs are not shown in the same way, and the Committee’s budget is completely transparent.

 

Councilwoman Bergner asks that a resolution be drafted to support the House Bill for a free school lunch program.

 

Adjourn at 8:08 PM.   

 

Susan M. Flynn, CMC

Town Clerk