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Arlington's FY2009 shortfall will be $1.2 Million -- the 7th year since SPOT began that Arlington Public Schools have had to increase fees and reduce staffing.  Without the 2004 override, reductions would have been much worse. So why the shortfall?  Mandated  special education costs have grown,  the schools are absorbing increases in special education transportation costs, and there are smaller, unpredicted increases in other structural costs such as heat and electricity.   State Aid did not return to the level as outlined in the plan, and health care costs are above 7% increase as in the plan.

To manage future costs, Arlington community needs to consider long-term strategies that require everyone's cooperation such as

  • Work with the town's unions to look into joining the state's health plan
  • Develop energy plans that encourage conservation of energy and recycling
  • Work with Stand for Children and with local leaders to insist that Arlington get a fair share of state aid. $800,000 in additional state aid for our schools would bring the state's contribution back to 2002 levels.
  • Find a more cooperative path for special education that meets students needs so more staff time and budget can build programs and deliver services

In 2002, when SPOT started, APS faced a $900,000 shortfall. In FY2008, the shortfall in $850,000.   In FY 2009, the shortfall will be $1.2Million.  In the past 2 years, budget cuts have come close to $2.2 Million with a serious impact on services like school libraries, equipment, programs, and staffing.

Let's all pull together as one system to educate all our children  and solve this persistent problem so schools have a consistent revenue. 

 

 Follow this link to find our archives: http://www.thinkofourkids.org/SchoolCommittee/SC-archive.htm

FY2009 Budget will include some combination of increased fees and reductions in staffing. Other funding will come from using reserves. update Feb. 2009  

  Budget FY2008 Final Changes

  • Increased fees for facilities ($170,000 in revenue increase)

  • Athletic Fee Structure changed so that students pay by sport. Students who play one sport will have a reduction in fees. Family Cap set at $675

  • $50 Charge for any student who participates in extra-curricular activities k-12

  • 13.5 Staff reductions, including 5 High School Teachers, 2.5 at Middle School, and 1 Secretary. The Middle School electives cut include 8th grade drama and .4 Music teacher.

  • Reduction of Special Ed Reserve Fund

  • Social Worker Added to High School Staff

  • Director of Social Studies position, cut in FY2007 budget, restored!

  • A new position, Director of Purchasing and Cost Containment, was created

<update as of May 10, 2007>

We have also posted the  Superintendent Accountability Grid. We have information about the O'Neil formula and the override plan on  School Funding page.

 

 

On Jan 29, 2007, Superintendent Nate Levenson discussed some of the options being considered at that time, in addition to cuts. at that time were:

  • Increasing fees for programs including All Day Kindergarten, Instrumental Music, Athletic Programs at the High School

  • Reorganizing High School classes based on enrollment

  • Hiring purchasing manager to centralize  and reduce purchasing costs

  • Improved financial management such as recovering Medicaid reimbursements

  • Changing fee structure for rental of school facilities such as fields and classrooms

  • Bringing limited special education services in-house instead of out-of-district

   Look at the latest data from Arlington Town Finance Committee (FinCom)  and review Superintendent Nate Levenson's Budget Presentation from Jan.  29, 2007.   

 (Summary updated 2/14/2007)

 About SPOT

SPOT is a group of elementary through high school parents and community members, created in March, 2002 when Arlington Public Schools faced a $900,000 school budget deficit. SPOT believes community involvement helps make the best decisions for our children. SPOT actively monitors school budgets to ensure that budget decisions are equitably distributed system-wide to benefit all children and works to share this information.  Our past activities have included:

  • Prior to override vote in 2005, SPOT documented the loss of services in Arlington Public Schools since 2002. Take a look at the our Table of Losses and compare it to current services.

  • We conducted a brainstorming session with forty parents. Here are the results:

  • We sponsored a forum on school with our state legislators and local officials in 2003.

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  • We began our website in Summer, 2002.  SPOT will be 5 years old in March, 2007.

 To read more, go to Contact Us or send an email to contact@thinkofourkids.org

     

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