WEBSTER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Webster, NY Board of Education Budget Workshop Meeting Tuesday, March 28, 2023 Members present:
J. Richardson, L. Dioguardi, M. Alt, C. Barnabas, J. Birdsong-Ng, S. LaDelfa, C. Roods Administrators present: B. Neenan, B. Freeman, D. Swinson, E. Land, R. Chalwell Others present: CALL TO ORDER: President Richardson called the Tuesday, March 28, 2023 Budget Workshop #2 meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. at District Office, 119 South Avenue, Webster, NY in the 2 nd Floor Professional Development Center. L. Dioguardi motioned, S. LaDelfa seconded to call the workshop meeting to order. Vote: 7: Yes; 0: No. BUDGET WORKSHOP #2 Assistant Superintendent Freeman began with a state budget update and compared the assembly and senate budgets. Curriculum ThoughtExchange survey comments were shared and include a strong, forward-thinking curriculum and instruction. The salary line is up, BOCES costs are up and supplies have been added to assist with professional development materials. There is a proposed increase of 4.83% for the 2023-2024 budget. Instructional ThoughtExchange survey comments include high quality instruction and resources, support for teachers and students, and maintaining a strong curriculum using the best methods in instruction. 2023-24 has a fully funded formula allocation. A five year look back of building budgets was shown. ThoughtExchange survey comments regarding class size include students receive more support for emotional, behavioral and academic needs when the teacher to student ratio is smaller, more study skills and remediation centers to fill gaps and better quality education. The target is 20 or below for K-2 class size, 3-5 class size at 22 or below, 2.0 FTE is needed for that. Breaking sections is needed to bring down the 4th grade bubble while working within our current space availability. If further reductions are needed, several conversations need to take place. There is a proposed increase of 3.6% for the 2023-2024 budget. Special Education A few Thought Exchange survey comments were received and include spending more on intervention and smaller class sizes, intervention support is essential to fill gaps caused by COVID, more providers are needed to meet the growing needs of students for OT, PT, literacy, speech and mental health. We are proposing to add 6.0 FTE for program continuum K12, increases in support staff for programs, 2 ICT at elementary, 1 elementary 15:1, 1 middle school 15:1, 1 ICT at secondary and 1 support position for the special classes at elementary. There is a proposed increase of 7.01% for the 2023-2024 budget. Instructional Technology ThoughtExchange survey comments include positive benefits of Encore, other technology classes and keeping technology current. A senior network technician has been added due to the increase in network traffic. We will continue with our BOCES lease program, network upgrades, and cabling upgrades at every building. There is a proposed increase of 10.59% for the 2023-2024 budget.
Library Database and software products are increasing at a slower pace than last year. There are some changes to library supply and equipment lines as determined by principals. There is discretion to adjust funding with budget transfers throughout the year. As a whole, the district spends three times the amount of aid received from the state for library books/materials. There is a proposed increase of 1.2% for the 2023-2024 budget. Student Services ThoughtExchange survey comments include maintain academic rigor and expand preparation for post-graduation that is not institutional learning, more opportunities for students to explore not just a one time choice for BOCES, providing support, academic/mental health for students as they navigate this new environment. Student Services components are: Occupational Education (EMCC-Foreman Programs), Summer school programs, guidance, attendance, nursing services, psychologists, social workers. We will add additional slots for New Vision program. The CTE cost increase is one of BOCES’ higher rate increases. As a reminder, in previous budget cycles we have added 20 FTE for mental health. We are proposing to add 4.0 FTE in the general fund budget for nurses previously paid for by the federal stimulus grants. There is a proposed increase of 5.03% for the 2023-2024 budget. Athletics and Co-Curricular Thought Exchange comments include funding more extra-curricular opportunities for students. Athletics/Cocurricular is 1.67% of the total budget. Costs for PE are skyrocketing, officials’ contract is up 15%, contracts with facilities outside of our control for teams/PE are up, supply chain price increases are impacted here more than any other budget area. There is a proposed increase of 6.57% for the 2023-2024 budget. Community Education There is a reorganization of support staff, higher salary increases, increase in the returning rate for seasonal staff to keep up with market demand, special rates for large events, allows reinvigorating the programs offered. There is a proposed increase of 8.31%. A visual was shown of the instructional budget breakdown. The proposed total for budget workshop #1 was $92,905,285. The proposed total for budget workshop #2 was $111,533,445, and the combined total is $204,438,730, a 4.4% increase over 2022-2023. Next steps were reviewed and budget documents can be found on our website: www.websterschools.org/budget. Key dates: April 11 is budget workshop #3; April 18 is budget adoption; May 1 budget materials are published; May 2 is the budget hearing; May 16 is the annual vote, and July 1 begins the 2023-2024 fiscal year ADJOURNMENT S. LaDelfa motioned, C. Barnabas seconded to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 7:07p.m. Vote: 7: Yes; 0: No. Respectfully submitted,
Cynthia Cushman Cynthia Cushman, District Clerk
All documents that are duly made a part of these minutes are kept in a supplemental file that corresponds to the date of this meeting.