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FY2016 Budget Developement
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BPS presented the initial FY2016 budget to the Boston School Committee on February 4, 2015. Hearings will be held over the next six weeks, with a School Committee vote scheduled for March 25, 2015.
Budget timeline and Community Hearings- Monday, March 9
6 p.m. – Budget Hearing
Lilla G. Frederick Middle School, 270 Columbia Road, Dorchester - March 11
5:00 p.m. Budget Hearing
6:00 p.m. School Committee meeting
26 Court Street, Boston - March 19 - NEWLY ADDED
6 p.m. Budget Hearing
English High School
144 McBride St
Jamaica Plain, MA
- March 25
6 p.m. - Regular meeting and FY 16 Budget vote
26 Court Street, Boston
The FY’16 budget is notable on several fronts: Mayor Martin J. Walsh has again demonstrated his clear commitment to public education in Boston, aiming to increase the city’s allocations to the district between 3-4%. However, at the same time costs for the district are expected to rise by approximately $58 million, coupled with a $14 million decline in state and federal revenue.
Most notable however, are key strategies that go beyond fixing a financial gap, but rather are designed first and foremost to position the district to commit to closing gaps of achievement and opportunity.
The district’s budget goals reflect our intention to preserve current investments
that are already showing results…- Ensure a strong educator in every classroom, every day through the early hiring initiative
- Build a diverse workforce reflective of the cultural, racial, and linguistic diversity of our students
- Extend learning time for current and former turnaround schools
- Continue strategies that increase graduation rates and reduce drop-out rates
- Build cultural competency
- Prepare students for success in the 21st century, including implementation of the Common
- Core through Expeditionary Learning curriculum in grades 3-5
- Core through Expeditionary Learning curriculum in grades 3-5
- Increase support and accountability for all schools through the network model
- Increase the district’s capacity to intervene in underperforming schools
…and to build upon them through new investments that address opportunity and achievement gaps:
- Increase resources going directly to schools through Weighted Student Funding: +$20.6M
- Implement Extended Learning Time agreement: +$5M
- Expand access to K1 seats: +$1M
- Increase access to inclusive opportunities: +$620K
- Digital Academy pilot expansion: +$500K
- Human capital strategy; school leadership, compensation reform: +$340K
Even with increased funding, costs will continue to rise faster than revenue.
The district faces approximately $58 million in rising costs, mostly due to salaries, benefits and transportation.- There's also an additional $14 million decline in state and federal revenue.
- As of February 4, the budget gap stands between $42 million and $51 million.
We will address this challenge through three guiding principles- Maximize resources that go directly to schools through Weighted Student Funding
- Rethink central services to best serve the needs of students and schools
- Begin to tackle structural imbalances in three major areas:
1. School closures and classroom consolidations- Correct imbalances to allow the district to target resources to bolster all schools.
2. Transportation- Consider and plan for implementation of key policy decisions and efficiencies identified in last year’s budget process
3. Food offerings- Review Food and Nutrition Services operations and offerings in light of best practices from comparable district
The budget is a statement of our values
The annual budget exercise, at its core, is a statement of our values. This budget is a first step in a comprehensive assessment of strategies that must be considered for the long-term success of the Boston Public Schools. We are targeting our resources in more meaningful ways to ensure all students are supported by exemplary educators and staff, in every school, every day.
This year's budget recommendation builds on a plan that positions the Boston Public Schools to be stronger and to continue to serve as a national leader in urban public education.Resources- FY16 Budget Cover Memo
- FY16 Budget Recommendation Presentation to School Committee, Feb 4
- FY16 Budget Recommendations Update, March 4
- FY16 Budget Cover Memo, March 9
- FY16 Budget Recommendation, March 9
- FY16 Budget Recommendation, March 19
- FY16 Budget Recommendation, March 25
- FY16 WSF School by School Comparison
- FY16 Title 1 Allocation Analysis by School
- WSF Templates for all schools
- School level analysis 15v16
- Superintendent's Letter to Staff
- Allocation Tracker Schools
- Allocation Tracker Supplemental Details
- Poverty Methodology
- FY16 Budget Recommendation Update - March 19
- Superintendent's Updated Recommendation on School Closures Cover Memo - March 19
- FY16 Budget by Account Code - March 25
- Overview of Allocations and Budgets for ELLs - March 25
- FY16 Weight Change Explanation - March 25
- WSF Weight Yearly Comparison - ELL - March 25
- FY16 BPS weighted student funding budget template
- FY16 BPS weighted student funding school level analysis
- FY16 Allocations to schools
- FY16 Supplemental funding to schools
- FY16 Budget recommendation to City Council-April 16, 2015
- FY16 Capital budget presentation to City Council-April 16, 2015
- BPS External Funds Hearing BEDF-May 4, 2015
- BPS External Funds Hearing Food Services-May 4, 2015
- BPS External Funds Hearing Grants-May 4, 2015
- BPS External Funds Hearing Partnerships-May 4, 2015
- Monday, March 9
Contact Us
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Eleanor Laurans
Chief Financial Officer
elaurans@bostonpublicschools.orgNathan Kuder
Deputy Chief Financial Officer
nkuder@bostonpublicschools.orgDavid Bloom
Financial Analyst
cbeltre@bostonpublicschools.orgAfua Boampong
Financial Analyst
aboampong@bostonpublicschools.orgBenjamin Ivey
Senior Financial Analyst
bivey@bostonpublicschools.orgYvonne Macrae
Senior Financial Analyst
ymacrae@bostonpublicschools.orgChristopher Williams
Financial Analyst
cwilliams13@bostonpublicschools.orgLouna Agoro
Financial Analyst
bagoro@bostonpublicschools.orgAli Slate
Budget Coordinator
aslate@bostonpublicschools.org