The words “difficult,” “storm” and “cuts” were scattered all over yesterday’s Upper Dublin School Board meeting. In fact, Upper Dublin Superintendent Michael Pladus sent a letter to parents on Friday informing them of the district’s “own version of the fiscal cliff.”
First, the budget.
The district’s proposed 2013-14 preliminary budget is up about $1.8 million over last year’s — a 2.1 percent increase — to $87.2 million. Revenue, according to the proposed preliminary budget, is slated to come in at $84.6 million. To cover the gap, the school district is proposing the use of $2.6 million in fund balance (which would leave just over $8,000 in fund balance at the end of the fiscal year) and a 3.04 percent real estate tax increase.
The current millage rate is 28.7847. With the proposed tax increase it will be 29.6597. In real terms, a homeowner with a house assessed at $150,000 would pay $4,449 annually, or $131 more than last year. A homeowner with a house assessed at $200,000 would pay $175 more per year.
Local revenue, about $71.2 million, accounts for about 84 percent of the 2013-14 proposed preliminary budget. The state chips in $13 million (about 15 percent) and the federal government contributes about $385,000. (Bray called the figure “paltry.”)
Bray said the biggest hurdle facing the district is its mandatory 16.93 percent contribution to the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System, which is up from last year's 12.36 percent. Bray added that the contribution will likely jump to 21 percent next year, and to 25.8 percent the following year. From the PSERS website:
Total employer contributions of $2.3 billion are estimated in FY 2013‐2014. The Commonwealth reimburses school employers for not less than 50 percent of the total employer contribution rate.
PSERS is also funded through investment earnings and mandatory member contributions. Next fiscal year, members of the pension fund are expected to contribute an average of 7.43 percent of their salary to help fund their retirement benefits. Total member contributions of over $1 billion are expected in FY 2013‐2014. See the whole press release here.
So the proposed preliminary budget is balanced by using $2.6 million in fund balance and calling for a 3 percent tax increase, right?
No. The proposed preliminary budget assumes the district can find $2.75 million worth of items to cut.
From Pladus’ presentation:
“…The school district is required to consider a number of cost reduction options for 2013-14. The criteria used in brining these options forward are, first and foremost, least impact on students, followed by least impact on overall faculty, administration, and staff. A conscious effort has been made to have reductions across the board so as to promote fairness and equity to the extent possible.”
Here is a list of items that could be cut, from Pladus’ presentation:
Elementary reduction options
- Reduce teaching assignments via demotions of all elementary specialist positions
- Eliminate (through furlough and/or reassignment) math coach positions
- Modify board policy on class size, eliminate (furlough) six to eight additional elementary school positions
Middle school reduction options
- Eliminate through furlough and/or reassignment, two writing lab positions
- Reduce through demotion teaching assignments in music to 0.8, with pending cuts in other special areas also under consideration
- Eliminate teaming in grades 6-8, resulting in the elimination of two sixth-grade positions through furlough and/or reassignment, and four full-time equivalent positions through furlough and/or demotion in grades 7/8
High school reduction options
- Eliminate driver’s ed. (Pladus said Upper Dublin is the only district in Montgomery County to still have the program.)
- Reduce teaching assignments in art, music, business technology and family and consumer sciences
- Reassign department heads to teaching full class loads, resulting in demotion of 0.2 in social studies, math, science, English and world language
- Reduction in elective classes to allow for an additional reduction of two to four full-time equivalent positions through furlough or demotion
- Modify board policy on class size to allow further demotions and furloughs.
Other reduction options
- Reduce after school extra-curricular spending by $100,000
- Eliminate or reduce current funding for the after school and evening SAT prep program.
- Investigate imposition of student activity fee, which would bring in an estimated $50,000
- Freeze the salaries of the superintendent and the assistant superintendent
“These items would be discussed possibly at the work session in February,” Bray said after the meeting, “and Dr. Pladus said we would work on them in March. I indicated that there may be additional meetings — all of which would be publicized.”
The next work session meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Cardinal Room.
I find it sad that our school board appears, according to their choices, to hold athletics in higher regard than classroom instruction. Let the kids interested in sports join one of the seemingly incalculable club teams that are accessible locally and let's get back to the job of educating students.
For example: This is the case with St. Mary's students. UD back charges the districts that the St. Mary's student is a resident. However UD can only back charge at state mandated levels. Since our cost per student is higher than the mandated level, we effectively pick up the tab (a few thousand dollars per student) that attends from St. Mary's Villa. As an added bonus, once the student is enrolled in UD schools, if the student needs to be removed and attend an "alternative education school", the Upper Dublin assumes the additional cost (Over $40,000 per student in some cases). These additional costs are not sent back to the "home district". UD also has to "float" the money for the student to attend, then charge the "home district" at the end of the school year. It is my understanding that Philadelphia currently owes UD HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS in overdue, delinquent payments!
I think all of the superintendent's cost-cutting options should be implemented.
Do this for everything: make them available, not free. Charge for guitar lessons, sports, etc.
I too am a proponent of school athletics, but the massive amount of money that goes to them aside from the stipends coaches are paid is staggering: 1) Bussing to games 2) Insurance for games, travel, etc. 3) maintenance of facilities as well as cleanup cost after normal hours ($50,000+ astroturf field they put in this year) 4) security / police / administrators on site for games 5) increased utility costs for lighting fields / gyms /bathrooms, etc. 6) Uniforms for athletes The list just goes on and on. We need these athlete's parents to help shoulder this burden at a minimum. Pay to play, boosters, etc are a MUST in this day and age!
Just for the record I am Pro music and arts As far as cost savings goes. How much does it cost to have the lights on at sparks fields? The other day they were on so a couple of kids could play soccer in the snow. Dave Plasket
Models and Dicks Sporting goods. D Plasket