Cohasset Public SchoolsFY21 Budget

May 12, 2020

1

Presentation – Key Slides

5/19/2020 2

COVID19 Response

Budget Priorities

Enrollment

Staffing

MCAS Scores

Key Assumptions

Requested Budget

Key Budget Areas

Tier 1 ‐ Budgeted

Tier 2–Not Budgeted

Tier 3–Not Budgeted

Context

Facility Needs

Future ConcernsBackground

COVID19 Response

• Awaiting guidance from government on how schools should be run in the fall. 

• It’s clear that some significant changes will be required.  • Leadership team preparing for FY21 school year but not possible to complete this work until we have guidance from the state. 

• So this budget does not reflect what school might look like in the Fall, however, it does include some items that we believe will be critical: additional 0.5FTE custodian and additional adjustment counselor. 

5/19/2020 3

• The Cohasset Public Schools is a district committed to excellence. We hold high expectations for all students and staff and provide the support and resources that enable all to meet or exceed those expectations. 

• We collaboratively support an academically challenging, safe, respectful, and student‐centered learning environment in preparing them to be responsible citizens of a global and digital twenty‐first century environment. (Strategic Plan, 2016‐2021)

• The annual budget is the financial expression of the educational program of the school department, and it mirrors the problems and difficulties that confront the school system. (CPS Annual Budget Policy)

• “This is important. You can do it. I won’t give up on you” (Saphier & Gower, 1997)

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FY21 Budget PrioritiesEarly numeracy recommendations are supported based on an on-going review of kindergarten to 5th grade curriculum and instruction by a cross-functional team.

Social emotional learning continues as a pillar of student centered learning. Our priorities for FY21 are to address tiered support needs and to increase cultural competency / proficiency within our instruction and curriculum. We are also looking to establish assessment tools that help determine SEL needs.

Our curriculum is being analyzed vertically and horizontally to determine programmatic changes that are required to improve our alignment and increase our instructional rigor. These changes include consideration of diverse learners, state learning standards and our expansion of co-teaching.

Ensure our buildings are safe, secure and well maintained. Including capital budget, facilities improvements, custodial and maintenance.

Elementary Numeracy

Curriculum Alignment & Rigor

Social Emotional Learning

Safety & Facilities

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Enrollment Overview

• The recent district enrollment peaked in FY16 at 1,646 students. At this point, the elementary and middle schools began a slow decline in numbers while the high school numbers increased, reaching a high of 482 in FY19.  

• FY21 will see an increase in Kindergarten enrollment. • The largest grades at the moment (FY20) are 5th, 6th and 11th.   The Middle School enrollment will increase when the current 5th grade moves up to join the current 6th grade. 

• The enrollment projection prepared by NESDEC shows that this increase in kindergarten enrollment is likely to be maintained through to the end of FY29.  This trend will reverse the falling numbers in the upper grades and cause the district enrollment to level off around the FY20 number over the next 5‐10 years. 

5/19/2020 6

Historic Enrollment (In District)

FY9 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21JOS 418 425 436 405 405 413 401 404 366 346 346 335 347

DHS 356 379 381 414 429 440 401 394 383 390 373 349 330

CMS 311 327 346 347 372 387 414 422 405 377 352 347 372

CHS 381 364 372 364 388 398 392 426 432 469 482 469 448

Total 1,466 1,495 1,535 1,530 1,594 1,638 1,608 1,646 1,586 1,582 1,553 1,500 1,497

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

No. Stude

nts

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Enrollment Projections (In District) 

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Forecasted Enrollment and Class Sizes2019 2020 2021 (Projected)

Oct 1st # of Classes Class Size Oct 1st # of Classes Class size Enrollment # of Classes Class SizeJOS 349 330 347Pre‐School 24 2 12.0  23 2 11.5 24 2 12.0 Kindergarten 101 5 20.2  102 5 20.4 115 6 19.2 01 106 5 21.2  102 5 20.4 103 5 20.6 02 118 6 19.7  103 5 20.6 105 5 21.0 DHS 375 350 33003 113 5 22.6  118 6 19.7 103 5 20.6 04 123 6 20.5  110 5 22.0 118 5 23.6 05 139 6 23.2  122 5 24.4 109 5 21.8 CMS 352 # ELA 351 # ELA 18.4 372 # ELA06 120 5 24.0  134 7 19.1 122 6 20.3 07 105 6 17.5  119 6 19.8 134 7 19.1 08 127 8 15.9  98 6 16.3 116 6 19.3 CHS 481 # ELA 475 # ELA 22.6 448 # ELA09 111 6 18.5  119 7 17.0 97 5 19.4 10 130 5 26.0  108 6 18.0 117 5 23.4 11 121 4 30.3  130 5 26.0 106 5 21.2 12 119 5 23.8  118 4 29.5 128 5 25.6 Grand Total 1557 1506 1497Change ‐25 ‐51 ‐9

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Special Education Enrollment – By Level of NeedMeeting the requirements of students’ IEPs is significant driver of the budget. 

There was a notable increase from 2017 to 2018.  Since then the number has levelled off at between 13 and 14% for the total district enrollment. 

This year, there has been a higher than normal rate of initial referrals since Oct 1st (the timing of this report).  The number of students with an IEP has now reached 220, 28 of whom are high need. 

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Special Education Enrollment – State Comparisons

2019PercentStudentswithDisabilities

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

• The district has a relatively low percentage of students with disabilities when compared to other districts within the state. 

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Staffing

5/19/2020 12

Staffing – State ComparisonsCohasset Public Schools has slightly lower than the average number of teachers per 100 students in the district. 

  Teachers Paraprofessionals

Vocational Specia l  edESL Not specia l  edSpecia l  edGeneral  ed

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FTEs/100

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FTEs/100

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5/19/2020 13

Staffing – State Comparisons

    Leadership       Student Support         Clerical/Technology Support

School  leaders   Specia l  Education           TechDistrict ins tructional  leaders    Not Specia l  Education           Clerica lDistrict administrators

FTEs/100

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5/19/2020 14

MCAS Results

School Progress Towards Targets Accountability Percentage

Cohasset Middle / High School

71% ‐ Substantial progress toward targets

88th

Deer Hill 60% ‐ Substantial progress toward targets

79th

Joseph Osgood No Data No Data

2015 ‐ 2019Gr3‐8NextGenMCAS%meet/exceedexpectations

 English language arts

 Mathematics

MedianStudentGrowthPercentiles(SGP)

 English language arts

 Mathematics

70.0 52.051.3

60.0 45.748.5

74%73%

73%62%

61%61%

Cohasset Public Schools is a high performing district.  However, the district has identified some areas for improvement, including early numeracy. 

5/19/2020 15

MCAS In Context

2019ELA:PctMeets/ExceedsExpectations*

* Grades 3‐8 Only0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2019Math:PctMeets/ExceedsExpectations*

* Grades 3‐8 Only0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Cohasset Public Schools consistently performs well when compared to state averages. 

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Key Assumptions

• Budget is based on level service budget that makes some changes as well as important incremental improvements in service.

• Salaries include all anticipated step, column changes and an assumption for contractual increases.

• Increase in Kindergarten Enrollment (& associated fee revenue).• Two Tier Busing for revised start and end times. • Revenue / Expenditure from other sources is neutral. • Increase in transportation fee.• Grant funding remains level.• Capital funding for critical capital needs, including bus lease. • A portion of the new Math Curriculum can be funded through town meeting free cash article.

• It is possible to replace staff retirements at a lower rate (Masters, step 3)

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Requested School BudgetFY2020 Appropriated Budget $20,337,135

Contractual Salary Obligations $519,735 2.6%

Special Education Out of District Tuition $84,867 0.4%

Transportation Services ($26,435) -0.1%

Heating ($16,225) -0.1%

Utilities (including electricity) ($57,418) -0.3%

Change in available offsets ($155,167) -0.8%

All Other ($20,675) -0.1%

Tier 1: Most Critical Needs $295,040 1.5%

Total Recommended Increase $623,721 3.1%

FY2021 Requested Budget $20,960,856

Town Manager Recommended Increase $623,721

Variance to Recommendation $0 5/19/2020 18

FY21 Staffing ChangesChange FTE Impact

Kindergarten Teacher & ESP +2

Two Tier Busing +1

7D van driver +1

Increase Math resource teacher from 0.6 to 0.8 +0.2

Increase Occupational Therapist from 0.8FTE to 1FTE +0.2

Adjustment Counselor (CHS/CMS) +1

Additional Custodian +0.5

Math Support Instructional ESP +0.4

DHS teacher retirement / not replaced ‐1

TOTAL   +5.3FTE

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Calculating the Full Cost of Staffing Changes

5/19/2020

20

Salary Pension @ 5.5% Health Ins rates Medicare (1.45%) 

WC Rate .09% FY17 Audit OPEB  liability Un‐employment Total EE Cost 

Total EE Benefits 

Calculating the Full Cost of Staffing Changes

21

Scenario Salary  Pension @ 5.5% 

Health Ins FY20 rates 

Medicare (1.45%) 

WC Rate .09% FY17 

Audit 

OPEB  liability 

Un‐employmen

t 

Total EE Cost 

Total EE Benefits 

Weighted Average Health Insurance $29,260  $1,609  $9,828  $424  $26  $6,000  $154  $47,301  $18,041 

No Health Insurance $29,260  $1,609  $0  $424  $26  $6,000  $154  $37,473  $8,213 Single Plan Health Insurance (lowest town contribution)

$29,260  $1,609  $5,734  $424  $26  $6,000  $154  $43,207  $13,947 

Family Plan Health insurance (highest town contribution)

$29,260  $1,609  $17,954  $424  $26  $6,000  $154  $55,427  $26,167 

FY21 Staffing Changes – Total Financial Impact

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Position FTE Impact

Salary Change Pension Health Ins Medicare WC Rate OPEB  

liability Un‐

employment Total EE Cost 

Kindergarten Teacher 1 $60,330 $3,318 $10,496 $875 $54 $6,000 $154 $81,228Kindergarten ESP 1 $21,568 $1,186 $10,496 $313 $19 $6,000 $154 $39,737Bus Driver 1 $28,889 $1,589 $10,496 $419 $26 $6,000 $154 $47,5737D van driver 1 $29,260 $1,609 $10,496 $424 $26 $6,000 $154 $47,970Increase Math Teacher 0.2 $15,309 $842 $222 $14 $16,387Increase OT 0.2 $17,729 $975 $257 $16 $18,977Adjustment Counselor 1 $75,000 $4,125 $10,496 $1,088 $68 $6,000 $154 $96,930Custodian 0.5 $25,000 $1,375 $10,496 $363 $23 $6,000 $154 $43,410Math ESP 0.4 $10,200 $561 $148 $9 $154 $11,072Technology Staff 0 $16,016 $881 $16,897DHS teacher retirement ‐1 ‐$96,708 ‐$5,319 ‐$10,496 ‐$1,402 ‐$87 ‐$6,000 ‐$154 ‐$120,167Known retirements 0 ‐$160,360 ‐$8,820 ‐$2,325 ‐$144 ‐$171,649TOTAL 5.30 $42,233 $2,323 $52,482 $380 $24 $30,000 $924 $128,365

Transportation and UtilitiesCategory FY20 FY21 ChangeTransportation (including priorities, staffing & offsets)

Regular Education $141,311 $177,784 $36,473

Special Education $323,640 $329,340 $5,700

Total $464,951 $507,124 $42,173

Utilities

Heating Of Building $304,573 $288,348 -$16,225

Electricity $396,886 $327,869 -$69,017

Other Utilities $165,700 $177,300 $11,600

Total $867,159 $793,517 ($73,642)

• Overall, there is a net increase in transportation due to the change from three tiers of transportation (CMHS, DHS and JOS) to two tier transportation (CMHS and DHS/JOS.  

• There is also a 7D driver included in special education transportation budget.

• Heating and Electricity have both been updated to better reflect expenditure.  

• Electricity costs are down due to the savings related to the solar energy agreement. 

5/19/2020 23

Special EducationCategory FY20 FY21 Change

Staffing (excluding transportation) $2,892,557 $3,066,838 $174,281

Out of District Tuition (including offsets) $1,142,744 $1,069,907 -$72,837

Medical Therapeutic Contract Services $112,500 $127,200 $14,700

Transportation (including staffing) $323,640 $329,340 $5,700

Other Sped Costs $138,253 $155,464 $17,211

TOTAL $4,609,694 $4,748,749 $139,055

The total cost of out of district tuition has increased, the offset from Circuit Breaker revenue increased by $157,704, leading to a net reduction.

Medical Therapeutic Contract Services which had more than doubled from FY19 to FY20 has stayed at a similar level, increasing by $14,700.Transportation costs reflect expected increases as well as savings from the purchase of a 7D vehicle. 

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Revolving FundsTransportation revenue is projected to increase due to an increase in the fee. In FY20, part of the kindergarten revenue surplus was used to offset costs which is why the total budgeted goes down despite the expected increase in revenue.

5/19/2020 25

GrantsThe biggest change in grants is the increase in circuit breaker due to the higher costs faced by the district in FY19.

5/19/2020 26

FY 21 Proposed Budget includes Tier 1: Most Critical Needs• The Tier 1 “Critical Needs Budget” includes those supports and services above the level service budget that are most critical in meeting the needs of all students. This budget includes:

• Teacher and ESP for additional kindergarten section.• Additional driver to support transition from 3 tier to 2 tier busing.• Purchase of new math curriculum for elementary grades. • Additional adjustment counselor to be shared between middle and high school.• Additional part‐time custodian at Middle / High School.• Increase in salary for technology staff.• Small increase to two critical positions: Occupational Therapist (additional 0.2FTE), Math specialist (additional 0.2FTE).

• 0.4FTE math instructional aide at DHS• An additional $295,040 is required over the level service budget to meet these critical needs. 

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Tier 1 : Most Critical NeedsBudget Item School FTE FY2021Kindergarten Teacher JOS 1 $60,330Additional Kindergarten ESP JOS 1 $21,568Move to two tier busing District 1 $28,889Math Curriculum (JOS)* JOS $50,000Math Curriculum (DHS)* DHS $50,000Increase Math resource teacher from 0.6 to 0.8 JOS 0.2 $15,309Increase Occupational Therapist from 0.8FTE to 1FTE JOS 0.2 $17,729Adjustment Counselor (shared with CHS) CMS 0.5 $37,500Adjustment Counselor (shared with CMS) CHS 0.5 $37,500Additional Custodian CMHS 0.5 $25,000Increase salaried for technology staff District 0 $16,016Math Support Instructional ESP DHS 0.4 $10,200

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Most Critical Need: Kindergarten Staff

Enrollment 2019-20

Class Size 2019-20

Projected Enrollment 2020-21

Projected Class Size 2020-21

Kindergarten 102 20.4 (5) 115 19.2 (6)Or

23 (5)

5/19/2020 29

Most Critical Need: Moving to Two Tier Busing• Currently busing provided in three tiers: 

• 1) Middle / High School, (2) Deer Hill School (3) Joseph Osgood School. 

• To accommodate new start times planned for SY20/21, busing will be provided in two tiers:  (1) Middle High School and (2) Deer Hill & Joseph Osgood. 

Number of  buses

T ier School s FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24

Tier 1 CMS & CHS 61 60 60 59Tier 2 JOS & DHS 85 85 85 89Tier 1 CMS & CHS 52 52 52 51Tier 2 JOS & DHS 73 73 73 76

6

7

5/19/2020 30

Most Critical Need: Math Curriculum & Staff

Subject Gr

Meeting or Exceeding

Exceeding Expectations

Meeting Expectations

Partially Meeting Expectations

Not Meeting Expectations

No. of Students Included

Avg. Scaled Score

Avg. SGP Included in Avg.SGP

District State District State District State District State District StateELA 3 64 56 6 10 58 46 34 36 2 8 112 507.3 N/A N/AMATH 3 53 49 7 9 46 40 42 38 5 13 112 501.7 N/A N/AELA 4 84 52 26 9 58 43 14 39 2 9 121 516.8 64.5 115MATH 4 70 50 8 8 62 41 26 39 3 12 122 507.6 52.5 117ELA 5 71 52 12 7 59 45 28 39 1 9 137 510.2 51.7 134MATH 5 56 48 1 6 54 43 40 42 4 10 136 499.7 42.3 133SCIENCE 5 64 49 9 8 55 40 34 39 2 12 137 505.8 N/A N/AELA 6 83 53 21 13 62 41 12 33 4 13 121 517.3 52.5 117MATH 6 74 52 13 10 60 41 23 38 3 10 121 511.0 56.5 117ELA 7 62 48 4 8 58 40 33 38 5 13 102 504.0 38.1 98MATH 7 57 48 4 11 53 37 40 39 3 13 102 501.1 42.4 97ELA 8 71 52 15 11 56 40 25 35 4 14 126 507.7 48.1 122MATH 8 58 46 7 10 51 37 35 41 7 12 126 503.3 48.7 123SCIENCE 8 56 46 4 8 52 38 41 41 2 13 126 502.5 N/A N/AELA 10 88 61 27 13 61 48 11 31 2 8 132 520.8 48.6 125MATH 10 85 59 13 13 73 45 13 33 2 9 131 515.4 55.4 121

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Most Critical Needs: Adjustment Counselor

• Social and Emotional Learning needs of all students. • Social and emotional processes have a significant positive effect on learning and on students’ behavior and relationships to their peers, their teachers, and their school.  SEL skills support the development of self‐regulation behaviors, perseverance, and motivation, all of which are linked to academic achievement 

(Aronson, 2002; cited in Durlak et.  al,. 2011; duckworth and Seligman, 2005; Elliot and dweck, 2005)

• Adjustment counselors provide services to students with and without IEPs. • There are approximately 100 students with IEPs that indicate Direct Services with a School Adjustment Counselor due to a Social Emotional Disability or areas that are impacted by a Disability

5/19/2020 32

Most Critical Need: CMHS Custodian

• Average area covered by each FTE is 36,138 square feet.• Level 3 cleaning dictates that a custodian be responsible for no more than 25,000 – 35,000 cleanable square feet per shift. 

Building Current FTE APPA Recommended

Current vs Recommended

Joseph Osgood School 2.6 3.0 (0.4)

Deer Hill School 2.5 3.0 (0.5)

Cohasset Middle High School 5.0 7.5 (2.5)

5/19/2020 33

Most Critical Needs: Technology Staff

• Wage and Classification (W&C) study revealed a need to adjust salaries in the technology team.

• Technology FY21 Budget recommended adoption of a salary schedule AND multi‐year plan to move positions to a competitive salary.

• Replacement of these technology specialist would likely require increased budget.

5/19/2020 34

Tier 2 : Highly Critical Needs (Not included in proposed budget)• The Tier 2 “Highly Critical Needs Budget” includes those supports and services above the level service budget with Tier 1 additions that are highly critical for meeting the needs of all students. This budget includes:

• Additional Guidance support at the Middle & High School.• Reading support for the Middle School. • An additional 0.5FTE custodian for the Middle / High School.

• A further $162,606 would be required for the Tier 2 Highly Critical Needs.  • Combined with the level service budget and the Tier 1 needs – this would be a total increase of $786,327 – 3.9%

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Tier 2 : Highly Critical Needs

Budget Item School FTE FY2021Guidance Counselor CMS 0.5 $32,578Guidance Counselor CHS 0.5 $32,578Guidance Director / Lead CHS 0 $12,120Reading Intervention Specialist CMS 1 $60,330Additional Custodian CMHS 0.5 $25,000

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Critical Need: Guidance Counselor

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Critical Need: CMS Reading Intervention Specialist

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Tier 3 Critical Needs (not included in proposed budget)• The Tier 3 “Critical Needs Budget” includes those supports and services above the level service budget with Tier 1&2 additions that are critical for meeting the needs of all students. This budget includes:

• Computer science teacher.• Data management position .• Computer integration specialist.• Additional Social Studies 0.5FTE.• Introduction of class advisors at all High School Grades• Much needed updates to Middle & High School textbooks. 

• A further $291,312 would be required for the Tier 3 Critical Needs.  • Combined with the level service budget and the Tier 1 and 2 needs – this would be a total increase of $1,077,639 – 5.3%

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Tier 3: Critical NeedsBudget Item School FTE Cost

Computers for Art Program CHS $15,000

Computer Science Teacher CHS 1 $63,885

Math ESP 1.0 FTE DHS 0.6 $21,295

Data Management Position District 1 $40,000

Social Studies Teacher CHS 0.5 $36,992

Instructional Technology Specialist CMHS 1 $63,885 New textbooks (MS Science, Accelerated Chemistry and Social Studies) $41,219

Class advisors and coordinator CHS 0 $9,036 5/19/2020 40

Historic Budget & Percent Changes 2014‐2021

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Expenditure – state comparisons2018ExpenditurePerIn‐districtPupil

$K

$5K

$10K

$15K

$20K

$25K

$30K

2018AverageTeacherSalary

$K

$20K

$40K

$60K

$80K

$100K

$120K

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Budget Summary Data

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Facility Needs

• There continue to be significant facilities needs throughout the district.  The district is seeking to resolve these through the Capital Planning Process.  

• Requests this year included: replacement of the High School gymnasium roof HVAC units, repairs to sidewalks and roads, hydration stations at all schools, window repairs at Deer Hill, floor tile replacement at Deer Hill and CMHS, painting at DHS and CMHS.

• School Committee has proposed reconstitution of the ‘School Building Facilities Committee’ to begin the process of long term planning for renovation, remodeling or replacement of CMHS.

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Future Budget Concerns

• COVID19 impact• Introduction of free kindergarten. • Development of new five year strategic plan. • Instructional Coaches. • Ongoing need to support Social Emotional Learning. • Enrollment trends. • Technology Integration.• Computer Science Curriculum. 

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