Proposed Itemized Estimate of Expenditures

2021 - 2022

STRATFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

STRATFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION 1000 EAST BROADWAY STRATFORD CT 06615

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Allison DelBene, Chairperson Amy Wiltsie, Vice Chair

Vinny Faggella, Secretary Andrea Corcoran

Janice Cupee Bob DeLorenzo

Karen Rodia

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Janet M. Robinson, Superintendent of Schools

Linda Gejda, Assistant Superintendent & Director of Curriculum / Instruction Heather Borges, Director of Special Education and Pupil Personnel Services

Pam Mangini, Chief Operating Officer Susan Nicholson, Director of Finance

Richard Ruggiero, Director of Facilities Ed Molloy, Director of Information Technology Cortney Brown, Director of Human Resources

Yvonne Temple, Assistant Director of Human Resources Teresa Lycoudes, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF (Continued)

Nancy Dowling, Principal at Bunnell High School Jack Dellapiano, Principal at Stratford High School

Greg Grigas, Principal at Flood Middle School Bryan Darcy, Principal at Wooster Middle School

Carla Armistead, Principal at Chapel Elementary School Eric Conrad, Principal at Franklin Elementary School

Kate Murphy, Principal at Lordship Elementary School Diana DiIorio, Principal at Nichols Elementary School

Dan Hicks, Principal at Second Hill Lane Elementary School Victoria Florek, Principal at Eli Whitney Elementary School Noelle Guerini, Principal at Wilcoxson Elementary School

Koren Paul, Principal at Victoria Soto School (Stratford Academy) Kathy McNeil, Principal at Johnson House (Stratford Academy)

Kate Mascia, Administrator (ALPHA)

Snapshot of Stratford Public Schools Stratford is in DRG (District Reference Group) “G”

Elementary Schools 1. Chapel

2. Franklin

3. Victoria Soto School

4. Johnson House

5. Lordship

6. Nichols

7. Second Hill Lane

8. Eli Whitney

9. Wilcoxson

Middle Schools 1. Flood MS

2. Wooster MS

High Schools 1. Bunnell HS

2. Stratford HS

3. ALPHA (Alternative School)

❑ 13 Schools + Alternative Program

❑ 8,188 Students (All Inclusive – Private, Magnet, Tech Schools, Outplaced, etc.)

❑All students at present are receiving for free breakfast and lunch (through June 30 , 20 21)

❑66.5% Minority Students ❑ Elementary – 69% ❑ Secondary – 64%

❑ 6% ELL (English Language Learners) – Approx. 450 students. (10 8 on two year Monitor Status)

• # of languages spoken in our schools = 41 (with the majority being Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Arabic, Creole-Haitian, French, Urdu, Vietnamese, Mandarin, and Albanian). Note: 588 students’ primary language is Spanish.

❑ 15% or 1,211 students identified as needing special education services including students placed out of district.

Languages in Stratford Public Schools • Top Ten (10) Languages Spoken Other than English

• Spanish LY-51.56% Current-55.67% • Portuguese LY-7.79% Current-6.86% • Polish LY-6.49% Current-6.04% • Arabic LY-6.10% Current-4.77% • Creole-Haitian LY-4.81% Current-5.83% • French LY-3.12% Current-2.29% • Urdu LY-2.73% Current-2.39% • Vietnamese LY-2.34% Current-2.84% • Mandarin LY-1.43% Current-1.97% • Albanian LY-1.3% Current-1.56%

Languages in Stratford Public Schools • Other languages include:

• Laotian, Russian, Tamil, Greek, Kurdish, Slovak, Bengali, Thai, Cantonese, Hindi, Korean, Rumanian, Ukrainian, Bangla, GA, Italian, Khmer/Cambodian, Malay/Indonesian, Pilipino (Fillipino), Tagalog, Telugu, Turkish, Visayan, Bemba, Creole-Cape Verdean, Creole-Jaotoam, Czech, German, Hmong, Hungarian, Igbo, Kamba, Pashto, Patois, Persian, Punjabi, Ushto, Swahili, and Twi/Fante.

District Snapshot Over the Years

1211 15.0%

Snapshot of Stratford Public Schools High Schools 1. Bunnell HS

2. Stratford HS

❑ Stratford has two (2) high schools. 52% of the student population is male; while 48% is female.

Graduation Statistics - Stratford Public High Schools

School Graduation Rate Continues on to a higher education:

Ivy League Schools

Bunnell High School 100% 57.6%/4 year college

Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth,

UPENN, Columbia, Cornell and Brown

Universities Bunnell High School 24.1% / 2 year college

Stratford High School 98.3% 60.3% / 4 year college Yale, Harvard and Cornell

Stratford High School 20.1% / 2 year college

Snapshot of Stratford Public Schools High Schools

1. Bunnell High School

Graduation Statistics - Stratford Public High Schools

School Graduation Rate Continues on to a higher education:

Ivy League Schools

Bunnell High School 100% 57.6%/4 year college

Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth,

UPENN, Columbia, Cornell and Brown

Universities Bunnell High School 24.1% / 2 year college

Bunnell High School

Grade SPED Min ESOL Total

9 37 164 7 276

10 30 158 5 247

11 43 147 6 263

12 24 162 6 270

Total 134 631 24 1056 13% 60% 2%

Snapshot of Stratford Public Schools High Schools 2. Stratford High School

Graduation Statistics - Stratford Public High Schools

School Graduation Rate Continues on to a higher education:

Ivy League Schools

Stratford High School 98.3% 60.3% / 4 year college Yale, Harvard and Cornell

Stratford High School 20.1% / 2 year college

Stratford High School

Grade SPED Min ESOL Total

9 47 180 8 286

10 31 189 15 270

11 39 161 7 242

12 26 155 18 267

Total 143 685 48 1065

13% 64% 5%

School / Staff Recognitions

• Bunnell High School – Dr. Nancy Dowling named CT High School Principal of the Year by CAS (Connecticut Association of Schools)

• Stratford Teacher of the Year – 2020-2021 • Kim Cody (Victoria Soto Elementary School)

• Wooster Middle School – Presidential Award was awarded to Chris Newlan (Instructor)

• Final Section slated to open at Stratford High School • Remote/Distance Learning went into effect March 2020 • Historic First Virtual Meeting of the Stratford Board of

Education (April 27, 2020) • And many other student accomplishments

Action Teams (Strategic Plan) • Family and Community Partnerships

• We will strengthen family and community partnerships to ensure that every student has access to real world learning and career opportunities.

• Mastery Based Learning • We will implement mastery based learning including high quality

instructional strategies and engaging content that reflects the diversity of all students.

• 21st Century Skills • We will integrate 21st century skills into all classrooms supported by

a comprehensive assessment system.

• Social Emotional Curriculum • We will implement a rigorous social curriculum

to promote character development, social emotional wellness, and positive behaviors.

Strategic Plan – adopted by the SBOE June 26, 2017

Portrait of a Graduate • Stratford Public Schools

• Examine graduates’ readiness for college and career

• Review existing student outcomes frameworks

• Identify knowledge and skills all community graduates will attain

• Develop an action plan for using a portrait of a graduate to advance student outcomes

Social Emotional Learning The need for Social Emotional Learning continues now more than ever as we maneuver our way through this present day pandemic known as COVID-19. Last school year we implemented a rigorous social curriculum to promote character development, social emotional wellness, and positive behaviors. Many of our students were already experiencing major traumatic experiences which results in highly disruptive behaviors across the District. This has only escalated through the COVID-19 pandemic with a new set of traumatic experiences for staff and students alike.

• Programs Currently in Place (necessary now more than ever): • Restorative Practice • School Based Health Clinics at Secondary Schools • Stratford Attendance Review Board (SARB) • Responsive Classroom • Training in Trauma sensitive classrooms

The Coronavirus Pandemic COVID-19

Stratford Public Schools

• 2020 was like no other year beginning in March 2020 and continuing to our present point in time.

• Districts were in lockdown with schools closed.

• Remote learning came about in what seemed like overnight.

• Expenses for equipment and supplies sky rocketed – and not budgeted for.

• Social Distancing protocols were put in place.

• Endless need for PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

• A new way of learning and thinking outside the box.

The Coronavirus Pandemic COVID-19

Stratford Public Schools

• What should education look like after this experience?

• Classrooms were redesigned. • Survival Mode • Planning for a return to “In Person”

learning

Virtual Classrooms

Stratford is in DRG “G” – Area 6

Stratford spends $468 less than the average per pupil expenditures in our DRG (DRG G) and $2436 less than the average State of CT per pupil expenditures.

October 2020 Data

$17,354

Per Pupil Expenditure

15500

16000

16500

17000

17500

18000

18500

19000

19500

20000

1 2 3

Series1

$17354 $16886 $19322

Stratford

State of CT

DRG “G” Avg.

District Per Pupil Expenditure DRG PopulationBLOOMFIELD 22,139.00$ G 2335

WINCHESTER 20,821.00$ G 1105

HAMDEN 19,983.00$ G 6362

MIDDLETOWN 18,988.00$ G 4823

KILLINGLY 18,232.00$ G 2211

TORRINGTON 17,933.00$ G 4232

PUTNAM 17,892.00$ G 1124

VERNON 17,215.00$ G 3370

*STRATFORD 16,886.00$ G 7103

MANCHESTER 16,833.00$ G 7583

GROTON 16,481.00$ G 4681

EAST HAVEN 16,070.00$ G 3248

BRISTOL 15,961.00$ G 8165

PLAINFIELD 15,409.00$ G 2150

NAUGATUCK 15,250.00$ G 4617

DRG G Average 17,739.53$

Surounding Districts Per Pupil Expenditure DRG PopulationMilford 21,157.00$ D 5595

Fairfield 19,160.00$ B 9669

Trumbull 17,078.00$ B 6615*Stratford 16,886.00$ G 7103Bridgeport 15,329.00$ I 19882Shelton 15,112.00$ D 4839

PER PUPIL EXPENDITURE AND POPULATION IN DRG G AND TOWNS CLOSE BY

Proposed: 2021 - 2022 Itemized Estimate of

Expenditures Summary

Stratford Public Schools 2021 – 2022 Proposed

Itemized Estimate of Expenditures Dear Stratford Board of Education: Welcome to the 2021-2022 Itemized Estimate of Expenditures. This document represents our PROPOSED fiscal year 2021-2022 Itemized Estimate of Expenditures. It reflects the hard work, commitment, and dedication of the Board of Education staff who have contributed to the creation of this budget. The procedure to adopt an education budget is established in Connecticut General Statute § 10-222. The requirement is for the Board of Education to prepare an itemized estimate of expenses for operating the school district for the subsequent fiscal year. The estimate is then presented to the Mayor and Town Council for their consideration.

The total proposed budget is $122,226,184 which represents an increase of $4,686,489 or 3.99% over the previous fiscal year.

The budget is divided into several Object Categories: Salaries, Benefits, Purchased Professional Services, Property Services, Utilities, Transportation, Tuition, and Other Purchased Services. Instructional Supplies, Textbooks, Books & Periodicals, Other Supplies, Instructional Equipment, Other Equipment, Dues / Fees / Other and Contingency are included under Other.

The Board’s Goals, in turn, drive our priorities. All items in the proposed Itemized Estimate of Expenditures for 2021-2022 are connected to those goals and our ongoing efforts at continuous improvement in student achievement and reducing the achievement gap. As always, our overall goal is the academic success of each and every Stratford student. My staff and I welcome your comments and/or suggestions.

Stratford Public Schools 2021 – 2022 Proposed

Itemized Estimate of Expenditures 2021 - 2022

OBJECT OBJECT DESCRIPTIONPROPOSED

BUDGET% of

Budget

100 SALARIES 74,602,248 61.04%

200 BENEFITS 19,283,760 15.78%

300 PURCHASED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 3,913,044 3.20%

400 PROPERTY SERVICES 1,182,436 0.97%

400/690 UTILITIES 2,482,400 2.03%

510 TRANSPORTATION 5,086,351 4.16%

560 TUITION 10,247,906 8.38%

590 OTHER PURCHASED SERVICES 2,568,844 2.10%

** OTHER 2,859,195 2.34%

TOTAL ITEMIZED ESTIMATED EXPENSES 122,226,184 100.00%

Percentage of Budget allocated to Object Categories

Budget Drivers • 1.9% increase in Salaries in the proposed 2021-22 Budget,

with a 4.48% increase in Benefits.

• Special Education services 1211 internal and externally placed students in need of services. This is 15% - up 2% from last year’s 13%.

• Legal Costs increased anticipated with 2 contracts to be negotiated.

FY21 Budget Process

Formula for Excess Cost

• The Formula is: 4.5 x PPE(Per Pupil Expenditure) = Threshold

• Reimbursement is approximately

70% of the amount > Threshold (The percentage may vary. The % is determined by the State of CT)

Example: 4.5 x $16,886 = $75,987 $75,987 is the district’s basic contribution. Reimbursement would be approximately 70% over the threshold amount of $75,987.

Among the factors driving up special educations costs are the following:

• Mandated Services. • Increase in the number of

identified special education students by

• Increase in students requiring Out of District Placements.

Special Education Cost Increase

Budget Drivers

Non-Lapsing Account – Happened for the first time. The Board of Education was and remains unable to utilize the FY20 carryover funds for operating expenses. A temporary spending freeze on discretionary accounts was implemented as the BOE budget 2020-21 that reflects a deficit of $577,653 (as a result of funds left over at year end and Non-Lapsing account).

Reductions Impacting Staff for 2021-2022

Stratford Public Schools 2021 – 2022 Proposed Budget

SUMMARY

2018 - 2019 2019 - 2020 2020 - 2021 2021 - 2022

OBJECT OBJECT DESCRIPTIONACTUAL

EXPENDITURESACTUAL

EXPENDITURESADOPTED BUDGET

PROPOSED BUDGET DIFFERENCE % CHANGE

100 SALARIES 67,445,983 70,811,329 73,209,704 74,602,248 1,392,544 1.90%

200 BENEFITS 17,585,466 17,610,291 18,457,747 19,283,760 826,013 4.48%

300 PURCHASED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 4,714,986 3,769,568 3,847,499 3,913,044 65,545 1.70%

400 PROPERTY SERVICES 977,973 813,378 984,177 1,182,436 198,259 20.14%

400/690 UTILITIES 2,293,307 2,087,236 2,285,500 2,482,400 196,900 8.62%

510 TRANSPORTATION 4,466,009 4,493,087 4,936,419 5,086,351 149,932 3.04%

560 TUITION 8,419,995 9,735,044 9,383,196 10,247,906 864,710 9.22%

590 OTHER PURCHASED SERVICES 2,689,296 2,480,750 2,529,351 2,568,844 39,493 1.56%

611 INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPLIES 864,424 585,876 810,682 639,122 (171,560) -21.16%

640 WORKBOOKS - - - 147,498 147,498 100.00%

641 TEXTBOOKS 145,222 94,840 133,062 209,248 76,186 57.26%

642 BOOKS AND PERIODICALS 62,958 53,797 63,120 65,899 2,779 4.40%

690 OTHER SUPPLIES 951,058 796,351 907,108 1,101,598 194,490 21.44%

730 INSTRUCTIONAL EQUIPMENT 500,036 190,474 254,400 246,900 (7,500) -2.95%

739 OTHER EQUIPMENT 53,658 61,255 40,425 37,025 (3,400) -8.41%

800 DUES / FEES / OTHER 377,018 291,999 274,915 271,905 (3,010) -1.09%

900 CONTINGENCY 325,150 576 (577,610) 140,000 717,610 124.24%

TOTAL ITEMIZED ESTIMATED EXPENSES 111,872,539 113,875,851 117,539,695 122,226,184 4,686,489 3.99%

UNFUNDED MANDATES

Magnet School Tuition

Student Success

Plans

Rigorous Standardized

Testing

Staff Upgrades:

Staff & Building

Student Centered

Personalized Learning

Budget Dollars

Stratford Public Schools

Unfunded Mandates – Education Reform

Required Training for Staff

Special Services

Counseling

School Climate

High School Reform

Connecticut Core

Standards for

Learning

Teacher & Administrator

Evaluation Program

Technology & Digital Learning

In School Suspension

SEL