December 10, 2014
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Principles
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Build on our “Foundation”
Improve the learning environment for all students
and staff
Focus on implementation and delivering on our
objectives
Pursue Quality and Excellence
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From our Dec. 10, 2013 Finance Committee Meeting:
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Create a culture of accountability where high expectations and
standards are known, and guide our behavior and actions.
Build the knowledge, skills and capacity of teachers and school
leaders.
Assure that all students are “on track” to meet or exceed learning
expectations by the end of Grade 3.
Provide the necessary systems, structures and tools.
Create a new PreK through College and Career (Grade 14/16)
mindset.
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Norwalk Public Schools
The World Starts Here
Mission
To create a student-focused culture that motivates, challenges and supports every individual student to
his or her highest levels of achievement.
Vision
All students graduate prepared to reach their highest potential for college, career and life-long success in a
globally competitive society.
Overall Goal
To close the Achievement Gap by 2020 and ensure that all students, regardless of race, ethnicity or economic
circumstances, are meeting high standards.
Goals
 All children are ready to enter Kindergarten
 All students are “on track” to meet or exceed learning
expectations by the end of Grade 3
 Students are at or above grade level in 3rd Grade
reading
 Students demonstrate Mastery in CCSS Mathematics
 Students demonstrate Mastery in CCSS English
Language Arts
 ELL students meet or exceed State Annual Measurable
Achievement Objectives
 Special Ed students achieve Mastery on annual
individual goals and objectives
 Norwalk’s schools reach higher performance
 Norwalk students graduate “College and Career
Ready”
Focus Areas
Culture of Accountability
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Mission, Vision, Values
and Beliefs
School Quality Standards
Leadership Standards
Goals and Metrics
Quarterly Progress
Monitoring
Public Reporting
Build Knowledge, Skills
and Capacity
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Student Engagement
Common Core State
Standards: K-12
K-3 Literacy Emphasis
Personalized Learning
ELL & Special Education
Leadership
A New Learning
Environment for All
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School & Classroom
Culture
NEASC Accreditation for
NHS & BMHS
Briggs Turnaround
Expanded Use of
Technology
School Safety
New Programs: P-Tech
EC; IB program
Library Redesign
Systems, Structures,
and Support
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HR: Recruitment and
Hiring & Reorg
Finance & Resource
Management
Data Systems
Technology Training
School Master
Schedules
Facilities Utilization
Study
Partnership an a New
Pre-K to 16 Mindset
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Pre-K Quality Early
Learning & Access
Parent Engagement
Expand Access to Afterschool & Summer
Programs
Expand Access to
Mentors
Health
Rev. 10.23.1
Input and Decision Making
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Principal and Department Head budget
recommendations
Parent Forum recommendations
Budget “working group” recommendations
Superintendent Advisory Group
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1. Accountability and Standards
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2013-2014
Shared Mission, Vision &
Values
Goals & metrics
Professional standards
Publicly report on progress
Quality control &
implementation
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Essential for 2015-2016
Standards Initiative
◦ School quality standards
◦ Leadership standards
◦ Indicators & evidence
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Goals, Common Assessments
and Progress Monitoring
School Governance &
Improvement Teams in all
schools
District Data Dashboards
Align standards with
performance appraisal
systems
6
2. Build Knowledge, Skills & Capacity of Teachers & Leaders
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2013-2014
Common Core State
Standards
Personalized Learning
ELL
Special Education
Diversity
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Essential for 2015-2016
Conn. State Standards
◦ Literacy
◦ Math
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Curriculum & Instruction Site
Directors
Professional Development
Student Engagement
Literacy: K-3
Math
Special Education
Sheltered Instruction Observation
Protocol (SIOP) Training
◦ New Technologies & Tools
◦ Summer School
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Diversity
◦ Early recruitment, early hiring
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3. Transform the Learning Environment
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2013-2014
Library redesign
Briggs HS turnaround
NEASC accreditation
Expand use of technology
Design of new programs
Diversity
Essential for 2015-2016
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Focus on school culture, student
engagement, and student progress
monitoring and engagement
NEASC accreditation at NHS & BMHS
Continued design & development of
new programs:
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Norwalk Early College Academy
International Baccalaureate (IB) at BMHS
Performing Arts at NHS
K-8 expansion at Columbus Magnet
Norwalk International Academy
Norwalk Early Childhood Center
ELLI Pilot Program-PreK Model Expansion
Briggs Turnaround
Technology.., next phase
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4. Build Systems & Structures
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2013-2014
Human Resources
Financial & resource
management
Curriculum & Instruction
Data systems
School master schedule
enhancements
Facility Utilization Plan
Essential for 2015-2016
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Human Resources
◦ Diversity recruitment & hiring
◦ New policies & procedures
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Financial management
◦ Position control
◦ Enhanced oversight of SpEd & Grants
◦ Financial excellence (Audits/Surplus/Budget
management)
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Curriculum & Instruction
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K-5 Writing
Social Studies
Science
World Language
Facilities
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Long-term Facility Utilization Plan
District Building Management System (heat)
Building Specific Improvements
Paving
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5. Partnerships
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2013-2014
Access to quality Pre-K
Pursue new strategies to
engage parents, especially
PreK-3
Expand access to after-school
& summer learning
Expand access to mentors
Health
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Essential for 2015-2016
Pre-K: Partnership with
Norwalk ACTS to provide
greater access for more
children to quality programs
Parent engagement and
learning
Expand summer school
participation and student
learning
Increase number of mentors
Student health: physical,
social & emotional services
10
Enrollment
11,300
11,220
11,254
11,200
11,074
11,100
11,095
11,057
11,078
11,000
10,900
10,883
10,800
10,700
10,600
Enrollment based on 10/1 data
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Free & Reduced Lunch
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
39%
43%
45%
48%
49%
51%
Enrollment based on 10/1 data
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CONNECTICUT DISTRICT REFERENCE GROUP (DRG): H
DISTRICT
ANSONIA
DANBURY
DERBY
EAST HARTFORD
MERIDEN
NORWALK
NORWICH
STAMFORD
WEST HAVEN
10/01/2014
Enrollment
% Free &
Reduced Lunch
ECS Funding
ECS $ Per
Enrollment
14/15 Operating
Budget
ECS % of
Operating
Budget
2,355
10,549
1,501
6,456
8,118
11,220
3,463
15,908
5,952
67%
51%
54%
67%
70%
51%
76%
46%
59%
$16,106,868
$27,294,245
$7,535,221
$46,063,573
$57,915,330
$11,275,807
$34,694,767
$9,834,019
$44,209,129
$6,839
$2,587
$5,020
$7,135
$7,134
$1,005
$10,019
$618
$7,428
$28,000,000
$118,295,291
$16,163,663
$87,266,419
$99,608,340
$166,430,865
$70,535,212
$245,072,949
$85,134,756
58%
23%
47%
53%
58%
7%
49%
4%
52%
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Proposed budget assumes a 2.74% increase from City of
Norwalk.
State ECS funding remains at approximately 7% of total
operating budget.
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Carryover of all unencumbered Alliance funds.
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Surplus Medicaid revenue is included.
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Grant funding is slightly less than 2014-15 (decreases to $22
million).
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Salaries are in accordance with collective bargaining
agreements and less than projected a year ago.
All bargaining units transitioned into high-deductible health
plans.
Per Pupil Allocation to schools remains consistent with prior
years: $85 for HS, $74 for MS, $71 for Elementary
Projected expenses for out-of-district tuition and Special
Education OT/PT consulting services reflects a decrease of
$1.2 million.
Projected expenses for transportation limited to 2.5% annual
increase for “Type I” busses, plus 2 additional “Type II.”
(Contract set to go out to bid in 2015).
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Per Pupil Allocation
0%
Facilities Maintenance
Transportation
2%
4%
Special Ed Tuition &
HS Athletics
Utilities
2%
1%
Expenses
Other
2%
Salaries
Consulting Services
Benefits
4%
Special Ed Tuition & Consulting Services
Benefits
Transportation
20%
Utilities
Salaries
65%
Facilities Maintenance
HS Athletics
Per Pupil Allocation
Other
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Maintains low class sizes for K-5 students
Increases funding for HS Athletics, & takes a step toward greater
equity between Marching Band and Athletics
Increases funding for growing ELL enrollment at all school levels
Increases funding for personnel recruitment: Diversity Recruitment,
Early Retirement Incentive
Continues investment in Technology: elementary laptops, MS & HS
computer labs, projectors, etc.
Invests in new Curriculum: K-5 Writing, Social Studies, World
Languages
Bilingual receptionist at NHS & BMHS (pending Administrative Support
Efficiency Study)
Continues design and development: NECA, International
Baccalaureate, Performing Arts, Standards Initiative, K-8, Young
Scholars, Norwalk International Academy
Invests in our facilities: building management system, Facility
Utilization Study, etc.
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Aligns grant and foundation funding to:
◦ Early Literacy
◦ After-School and Summer Programs
◦ Parent Engagement and Learning
◦ Briggs HS
◦ Common Core State Standards
◦ Professional Development
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Reflects savings and startup expenses to establish quality and
more efficient services for Special Education students:
◦ Direct hiring of 22 Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) specialists &
3 BCBA (Board Certified Behavioral Analysts)
◦ Establish one SpEd therapeutic classroom at Middle School level
◦ Enhanced psychology services for resource rooms
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Reductions from 2014-15 one-time expenses,
such as the facility utilization study
Savings from contracted custodial services
Savings from multi-faceted plan to improve Special
Education services (in-district) and control costs
Savings from operational efficiencies
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Object
FY 14/15 Budget
FY 15/16
Recommend
Budget
% Increase
$105,554,233
$110,570,740
4.75%
$34,097,521
$33,411,819
-2.01%
Professional & Technical
Services (300)
$3,689,357
$2,465,013
-33.19%
Property Services (400)
$2,499,531
$2,608,536
4.36%
$14,295,059
$15,148,900
5.97%
$5,790,008
$6,011,6511
3.83%
Equipment (700)
$366,571
$628,011
71.32%
Other Objects (800)
$138,585
$143,188
3.32%
$166,430,865
$170,987,857
2.74%
Salaries (100)
Benefits (200)*
Other Services (500)
Supplies and Materials
(600)
Total Operating Expenses
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Increase to FY 14/15
NFT Salary Increase
$2.20M
Other Bargaining Group Increases
$1.60M
English Language Learners
$0.60M
Special Education Program Development
$(0.35)M
Strategic Initiatives
$0.53M
Class Size Investment
$0.30M
Transportation
$0.61K
Technology
$0.15K
Other
$0.21K
Reductions
$(1.3)M
Total
$4.55M
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The Superintendent’s recommended FY 2015-16 budget is
for an operating increase of 2.74%.
This budget builds on the foundation put in place over the
past year, in support of the Strategic Plan approved by the
Board in 2014-15.
The 2015-16 recommended budget:
◦ Maintains strong support for literacy, Common Core, other current
initiatives
◦ Invests in curriculum, technology expansion, facility improvements
◦ Enhances Special Education services
◦ Addresses needs for English Language Learners
◦ Continues commitment to professional development, standards and
accountability, recruitment
◦ Advances design and development for new programs that will move NPS
forward
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Curriculum & Instruction
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Textbooks needs, especially at middle school (Social Studies)
Impact of legislation that could change Kindergarten cut-off
Pre-K enrollment, registration, expansion
Academically Talented programs
Support for librarians and library resources
Expansion of World Languages to elementary
Common Core training, supported by teacher evaluations
Support for the arts
Importance of Curriculum & Instruction Site Directors
More guidance counselors and social workers
Class sizes and paraprofessional support
Funding for influx of new ESL students
Translation resources and support for ESL parents
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Facilities
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Repairs and upgrades to PA systems (e.g. Nathan Hale)
Transportation, sidewalk safety, traffic calming
Lack of crosswalk to Wheels bus stop (Briggs)
Basic maintenance and repair needs at schools
Need for blinds
Impact of new residential developments
Extracurriculars & After-School Programs
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HS band programs successful, but underfunded
Transportation and after-school programming
Need for physical activity, especially with younger students
Importance of athletic trainers
Success of Freshman Academies
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Other Topics
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Interest in continued expansion of ChromeBooks, including use at
after-school programs
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Student web access at home
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Keyboarding lessons
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ECS funding disparities
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HS scheduling issues, “flip” HS and elementary start times
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PTO and parent club communication needs
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Parent engagement, particularly at Middle Schools
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Shortages in adult mentors
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Proposed Actions
Current
Cost
Projected
Cost
1. Shift from “contracted services for students with Autism to
direct hiring of ABA therapists (applied behavior analysis) and
BCBAs (Board Certified Behavior Analyst)
$1,540,000
$1,419,041
2. Creation of a middle school therapeutic classroom at for 8
students with social/emotional behavior needs
$496,000
$299,233
3. Develop and initiate professional development in specialized
reading/math instruction for 28 people.
$0
$28,000
4. Creation of Norwalk Early Childhood Center at the Roosevelt
school to house initially 6 classrooms and eventually 8
classrooms for NPS integrated preschool classes (students with
special needs integrated with their typical peers)*
*Funded with surplus funding in prior year operating and
capital results.