This time of year is filled with Board of Education meetings and conversations about the Superintendent’s proposed 2017-2018 budget. The budget represents the work of the entire District Leadership Team. They have studied and implemented the process of strategic budgeting and labored as a team to propose a budget based on our District Improvement Plan and Individual School Improvement Plans, which focus on increasing student success.
The proposed 2017-2018 operating budget builds upon this year’s foundation of motivated and growth mindset teachers and students, a thriving Professional Development and Evaluation Committee, a revised Teacher Growth and Evaluation Plan, the beginnings of rigorous curriculum and benchmark assessments across all content areas, digital learning 2nd through 12th grade, professional development in the areas of social-emotional wellness, mathematics, special education, professional learning communities, and organizational health. The work of elementary and secondary curriculum leaders, as well as our elementary instructional coaches and a K -12 technology integrationist is building teacher capacity and providing engaging learning opportunities for students.
The focus of the Superintendent’s proposed 2017-2018 budget is to further increase teacher capacity to improve student learning and opportunities for student success. This budget invests in the growth of teachers because we know from research that the number one factor behind student achievement is a highly qualified teacher. Teacher and administrator growth equals student growth. The budget continues to support job-embedded personalized training and collaborative support to teachers. The budget expands our special education coaching and consultation program to meet the needs of students with significant disabilities Pre-K – 3. This programming has proven to be successful at meeting the needs of students and providing on-going training of teachers and paraprofessionals. There are increased costs for special education tuition that we hope to reduce over time as we continue to increase district capacity to serve students with complex profiles. This budget builds on our current math curriculum resources and provides professional development focused on training teachers and increasing student performance. The budget also provides resources to increase SHS math intervention services. The Superintendent’s proposed 2017-2018 budget reflects a strong investment in training, curriculum work, and instructional improvement.
A high performing school district in the 21st Century requires a strong infrastructure. The proposed budget provides for high quality staffing and resources, appropriate class sizes, compliance with federal and state mandates and delivery of necessary services in special education. While the continuous improvement of the district is vital, these are fiscally challenging times in Connecticut. I want to be clear that the district’s proposal for more collaboration time for teachers will not impact the budget. We are not proposing to increase the contractual day of teachers, nor reduce the contractual day of non-certified staff for this purpose. We appreciate the talents and efforts of our staff, yet reductions are inevitable as we shift resources to meet district goals and fiscal constraints in an environment of declining enrollment. This budget reduces non-certified academic support staff. There is the reduction of paraprofessionals and one teacher through attrition. Funding is allocated to continue the support of a reliable effective technology network and a 1:1 digital environment.
Budget drivers include increases for our current union contracts, an increase in health insurance, and an increase in tuition for special education outplacements.
The resulting budget is $35,140,770 which reflects an increase of $910,526 and represents a 2.66% year-to-year increase. Please visit our district website for detailed presentations http://www.suffield.org/page.cfm?p=666
This budget builds on a solid foundation to continuously improve by ensuring support and training for highly effective teachers who will deliver rigorous instruction as they prepare our students for success in the world of tomorrow.