Superintendent's Recommended Budget Includes 3.32 Percent Increase

Westwood Superintendent John Antonucci and Assistant Superintendent Emily Parks have recommended a total budget increase of 3.32 percent for the Fiscal Year 2013.

“A realistic budget increase should be in the neighborhood of 3 and 5 percent,” Antonuccis said during a presentation to the Westwood School Committee Wednesday night. “It’s almost a guarantee.” 

Budget Increase Explained

The proposed budget is $34,837,805, an increase of $1,120,217, but Antonucci clarified to the School Committee that there would be no cuts to programs or services.

There would be a marginal increase to non-salary accounts, he added, and that there would be additional staff at and to address a rise in enrollment.

There will also be staff to enhance programming in Elementary Math and Technology Support, he said.

The Town of Westwood has actually recommended a 2.2 percent increase, Antonucci said, but added that this was not feasible, and said that the school department had engaged in a comprehensive and thoughtful budget process, as well as engaging the community and entertaining their concerns.

Over the last nine years, there had been an average increase of 2.33 percent, with the override year of 2009 excluded, Antonucci said. However, over the last three years, there has been an increase of only 1.25 percent. The district, he said, has been fortunate to be able to avoid major service reductions over the last five years.

“That said, when you fund the programs with inadequate amounts, our programs have been compromised,” said Antonucci. “They haven’t been cut, but they have been compromised.”

A realistic annual budget increase is in the range of 3.0 to 5.0 percent, he added, due to the fact that school budgets must support contractual obligations, which make up over 83 percent of the budget. Other factors include special education mandates, facilities, maintenance, transportation, utilities, inflation and enrollment increases.

“Our enrollment is skyrocketing and what that means is it will have a significant impact on class sizes,” Antonucci told the School Committee.

Student Enrollment Increasing

It is expected that by 2016 there will be 1,040 students enrolled at Westwood High School. Thurston Middle School is expected to peak out this coming year at about 800 students.

The addition of 2.9 Full Time Equivalent teachers improved class size. However, one area of concern was that 20 out of 42 English Language Arts and Reading classes have 25 students or more. Also, 11 out of 34 Math classes have 25 students or more, and eight out of 34 Social Studies classes have 25 students. One third of Physical Education classes have more than 30 students.

Parks presented what the new positions proposed in the budget would do for the district. At the elementary level, there would be a 2.2 FTE increase for Elementary Math Specialists in the areas of growth and program enhancement.

“We need our math specialists to play and important, crucial role in transitioning to Common Core Standards,” said Parks.

There would also be a 2.0 FTE reduction of classroom teachers due to declining enrollment at the elementary level.

At Thurston Middle School, there would be an increase of 2.9 FTE teachers to address increased enrollment in the areas of English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Art. There would also be a 1.0 FTE increase at the Adjustment Counselor position, also to address increase in enrollment. There is also a proposed increase of 0.2 FTE at the Middle School Math Coordination position.

“It’s purely driven by enrollment,” Parks told the School Committee. “Thurston’s enrollment continues to rise”

At the high school, there is a proposed increase of 1.0 FTE for a science teacher, as well as 0.4 FTE for a part-time nurse. Both are to address the increase in enrollment.

While the total Special Education budget actually decreased by $400,000, Antonucci proposed additional Special Education staff to meet individual student needs. The increase is offset by reductions in non-salary accounts. There will be a staff increase of 4.6 FTE.

In the area of technology, there will be an increase of 2.0 FTE for Technical Support Specialists.

While Wednesday's meeting posed as the initial stage in the budget process, Antonucci said he was confident that this was the correct budget.

“I know for a fact that Westwood residents want the kind of program that we are offering today,” Antonucci said.

To see the PowerPoint slides from the budget presentation, click here.