Lexington Public Schools

1. Lexington Public Schools Superintendent’s FY ‘07 Recommended Budget Dr. Paul B. Ash Superintendent of Schools Ann Giombetti Director of Finance and Operations December 20, 2005

2. Lexington’s children deserve the best possible future!

3. Lexington Continues its Vision of Excellence

4. 2005 Lexington Core PurposesSeptember 2005 • Academic Excellence • Caring and Respectful Relationships • Continuous Improvement

5. LPS Budget Guidelines In developing the FY’07 budget, the Superintendent will ensure that: • Legal mandates will be met. • Professional staffing guidelines will be met. • Unpredictable costs of special tuition and transportation mandated under Chapter 766 will not affect budgetary support for other programs. • Faculty will have access to professional development programs and teaching materials necessary for them to provide high quality instruction that makes the core curriculum accessible to all students. • Efforts will continue to identify alternatives which provide service in more cost-effective ways. • Budget recommendations will be consistent with long-term goals of the Lexington Public School System. • Capital assets will be maintained in order to support the instructional program, protect the physical assets of the Town of Lexington, and ensure the health and safety of our students. Approved by School Committee: September 2005

6. The Top 7 Challenges We Face Provide funds for: 1. All legal and required services 2. A contingency account for special education out of district tuitions 3. Needed teacher and support positions 4. Adequate instructional expense budgets 5. A systematic K-12 curriculum review process 6. High quality professional development 7. A school building preventive maintenance program

7. 1. Legal and Required Services • Collective bargaining obligations • Large increases in health/dental insurance costs (23.5%) • Increases in utility costs • Mandated costs - services for special education students and English Language Learners (ELL) • No projected increases in state Ch. 70 funding • Projected decreases in federal Title 1 - 5 funding

12. 2. Establish a Special Education Out of District Contingency Account • The level service budget includes no funds for new out of district placements • Without a source of funds, new placements may mean cuts in regular education programs or may require a supplemental appropriation • The recommended budget includes $280,000 of unallocated funds to offset three unanticipated new placements (1 collaborative, 1 day, and 1 residential)

13. 3. Provide Needed Teachers and Support Positions • Additional K-12 staffing is needed to address some large class sizes, and to provide sections for students closed out of some high school courses • Additional staffing is needed to clean and maintain schools buildings and repair computers • Additional literacy and math positions are needed to close the achievement gap and increase proficiency for all students • A small increase in staffing is needed to separate combined K-12 Directors into respective academic disciplines

16. 4. Provide Adequate Funds for Expense Budgets • Since FY 03, instructional expense budgets have been significantly reduced • Schools have insufficient funds to replace textbooks, and to purchase educational materials and supplies • The school maintenance budget is inadequate to repair school facilities

17. 5. Provide funds for Systematic Curriculum Review Process • The last K-12 Curriculum Review Process in Lexington was in 1995 • A comprehensive curriculum review process is needed to provide a vertically articulated K-12 curriculum and consistency between schools • In 2006-2007, we plan to start the K-12 review process in three departments • Funds are needed to provide summer workshops and curriculum leadership, as well as to purchase curriculum materials

18. 6. Establish a New Teacher Induction Program • In the next five years, approximately 1/3 of Massachusetts teachers are expected to retire • Research shows that providing strong support for new teachers in their first three years reduces burnout, increases teacher retention, and improves the quality of instruction • The proposed program will: • Provide mentors and a job-embedded pedagogy course for all teachers new to Lexington • Provide content coaches and curriculum-based courses for second year teachers new to the profession

19. 7. Establish a School Building Preventive Maintenance Program • Currently, there is no systematic program to maintain schools before things break • Funds are needed to provide labor and material for planned, predictive maintenance • Quality education requires facilities that work as designed • Our schools will last longer if they are maintained • Preventive maintenance programs will save taxpayers money in the long run

20. The Top 7 Challenges We Face Provide funds for: 1. All legal and required services 2. A contingency account for out of district tuitions 3. Needed teachers and support positions 4. Adequate instructional expense budgets 5. A systematic K-12 curriculum review process 6. High quality professional development 7. A preventive school building maintenance program

21. We have the spirit

22. We have the heart

23. We have the Mind

24. We have a bright future …

25. Their Future Is In Our Hands! • Quality education for Lexington’s children • Outstanding professional development for Lexington’s teachers and staff • A long-range plan to maintain our facilities • Keep Lexington’s schools strong!