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In the Race

Now, here, you see, it takes all the blogging I can do to keep in the same place.
If I want to get somewhere else, I must blog twice as fast as that!
You see, I'm in the Red Queen's Race...

Updated - Franklin School Board 06/04/08 Committee of the Whole

By Janet Evans
Thursday, Jun 5 2008, 11:45 AM


 

Draft #1 of the 2008-2009 Franklin Public Schools Budget


 

Jim Milzer presented the Budget Draft in the simplest terms possible at the meeting, and every member of the audience was presented with a copy of the draft.  The floor was open for comments and questions during the entire presentation.  Once again, the Board is keeping their communication with the public moving forward.

The main concern coming from the audience seemed to be over elementary teaching positions and whether there were staff cuts.  There seems to be confusion over this.  It doesn't appear there were "cuts," except for a Special Education position.  This was more shifting of positions, retirements, etc.


Staffing Explanation

(from my Personnel & Policy Committee Meeting and the Finance Committee Meetings report 04/09/08)


Elementary level lost 3.6 FTE (Full time equivalent)
Forest Park lost 1.0 FTE (Special Education teacher)
High School lost 2.10 FTE (retirement, P.E./Health 1/4, efficiency in sectioning math,
                                                                             stacking computer class)

For a total Projected Loss of 6.7 FTE
and a Projected gain of +.5 FTE (ESL Program at High School)

= 6.2 FTE Staffing Reduction in Budget Draft

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




From what I understand, the Business Department put this draft together with no input from the Board.  I believe this is standard procedure.  Next, the Board Finance Committee with go over the Draft on June 18th where they will consider any questions and comments from the Committee of the Whole meeting, along with anything else that may come up in the next two weeks.   It's not too late...if you couldn't make it to the meeting, give a Board member a call if you have any suggestions or comments before the Finance meeting.

The number of students in the District isn't determined until September and the amount of State aid isn't determined until October, therefore, the Budget is not finalized until fall. 

Changes in the Draft will continue to be made along the way.



Estimated Tax Levy Rates:


    2007-08   2008-09   $ Diff   % Diff
                 
                 
Total Assessed Tax Levy Rate   10.89   11.18   0.29   2.7%




Estimated Property Tax Implications of Proposed 2008-09 Budget
Franklin Public Schools Community Service
Additional Per Year Additional Per Year
Assessed Value of $100,000 28.35 0.43
Assessed Value of $200,000 56.71 0.85





Citizens were asked to come with ideas about the Budget.  I happened to come with some suggestions....some small, some large.  Several of these may be possible, maybe some of these aren't possible for our district.  But I think they are worth looking into.  Every dollar counts and I put thought into the ideas:


15-Plus Suggestions to the Franklin Public Schools
for Saving Tax Dollars in the 2008-09 SY Budget and Beyond
1. Every form used by the district should be put on the staff intranet in a
shared directory.  All old copies of forms should be destroyed.
Forms should be printed on an as-needed basis and updated yearly.
If a District employee does not know how to access staff intranet, provide mandatory training.
2. Spend less money on the District newsletter mailed out.  
They are glossy, they are pretty…but we are not hanging them up.
I can guarantee that many people are not even reading them.  
3. Ask and you shall receive….
Make sure all newsletters are being mailed and/or emailed to all Franklin businesses.
Include an insert with a list of special equipment needed by the District or schools.
4. Salaries/compensation are the main expenditures for the District.
Teachers are needed here every day.  Subs are an added cost.
Review the sub call-in program.  Is it automatic or manual?
Manual is more efficient.
Make sure subs are utilized as best as possible and if they are called 
for a full day they are actually subbing…not doing other tasks like
copying, stapling, sorting, busywork, etc.
5. The District should offer an incentive program with an attendance 
bonus to discourage excessive absences, for teachers with
perfect attendance, at the end of each quarter.  This may save on substitute costs.
6. Teachers should schedule training or conferences on days
when students are not present, and substitutes are not necessary, whenever possible.
Have Staff Development providers come to the District to provide training instead of teachers going out for training, whenever possible, to save
on expenses.  Use Administrators and as mentors to provide training
for Staff Development.
7. Issue "Golden Tickets" to seniors or retirement-age taxpayers in the 
District, giving them free admittance to student sporting events and drama events.  Record their attendance and recruit those active citizens as
volunteers in schools.
8. Hire a retired teacher to do Grant writing.  Make sure all timelines are met for Grants.  Make sure no Grant funds go unused.
9. Sell any of the land the District owns that we are positive we will
not use for development.  We will bring in revenue, and put the property back on the tax rolls.
10. Is there a payroll processing service /vendor capable of doing payroll for 
the District as well or better for a lower cost? Investigate.
11. Insist upon everyone...the Board, the Superintendent...everyone 
else in the District, giving receipts for every reimbursement.
12. Make sure every child who is eligible for free and reduced lunch is signed up for the program.
13. Review special education  transportation to ensure that only students who
are specifically required to be on special education busses are
riding them.  Perhaps a child in speech therapy may be assigned
to a special education bus in error and may be able to ride a regular
school bus.  Or, perhaps an IEP may have transportation written
under related services in error when the child should be riding a regular bus.
14. More students in the District means more money.
Plus, don't we want all of our students being educated?
Work harder on getting our truants back in school.  Must we 
work harder together with law enforcement?  Use our social workers?
15. Accidents cause the District money in Workers Compensation
claims.  Provide incentives to staff for accident/incident free periods of time.
Provide safety programs in areas that are high-risk such as 
maintenance and food service.  


Comments

Wag the Dog   

I have had time to digest the information that was presented to public in the first draft presentation

June 6, 2008 9:00 AM

In the Race   

A Franklin Citizen Questions the School Board

June 8, 2008 9:45 AM

In the Race   

Today I received a response from Mr. Jim Milzer regarding the questions and concerns (below) from a Franklin

June 17, 2008 10:31 PM

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