School Board Proposed Budget
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School Board Proposed Budget Newport News, Virginia 23606 July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022 College, Career and Citizen-Ready! Executive Summary Section This Meritorious Budget Award is presented to NEWPORT NEWS PUBLIC SCHOOLS for excellence in the preparation and issuance of its budget for the Fiscal Year 2019–2020. The budget adheres to the principles and standards of ASBO International’s Meritorious Budget Award criteria. Thomas E. Wohlleber, CSRM David J. Lewis President Executive Director 1 Office of the Superintendent ⬧ Dr. George Parker III, Superintendent 12465 Warwick Boulevard, Newport News, VA 23606-3041 ⬧ phone: 757-591-4502 March 31, 2021 Mayor Price and the Members of the Newport News City Council: On behalf of the School Board, I am presenting the FY 2022 proposed operating budget of $336.8 million for Newport News Public Schools. This spending plan is based on the final state budget. In light of our current operational challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic in this budget cycle, the school division is working to maintain fiscal responsibility. The most significant budget driver is student success; however, the number of students we are serving determines our revenue and costs. State Direct Aid funding is based on average daily membership enrollment projections. The pandemic has had a significant impact on student enrollment. Based on the district’s fall membership report, Newport News Public Schools’ enrollment for FY 2021 is 1,182 fewer students than last year. FY 2022 revenue projections indicate a modest reversal in this trend by projecting the return of 652 of those students. The operating budget, however, is not simply driven by the number of students we educate; it is also shaped by academic and social/emotional needs. The pandemic has highlighted the need for additional mental health services in our schools. The state budget includes funding three specialized student support positions per 1,000 students. These positions include school social workers, school psychologists, school nurses, licensed behavior analysts, licensed assistant behavior analysts, and other similar professionals. To support student wellness and mental health services, this funding plan includes the addition of five guidance counselors, two licensed clinical social workers and two psychologists. Additional staffing changes are also necessary to ensure student college and career readiness. First, we propose adding a central office position to coordinate and leverage the work performed by our college and career specialists. This position will assist with creating partnerships with businesses across the city that can provide our students with internship and mentoring opportunities. At present, there is a part-time college and career specialist in each high school; this budget proposal includes making those five positions full- time. Secondly, for building level support, this spending plan includes the addition of five administrative positions for schools that need additional support and an assistant principal for Huntington Middle School as another grade is added. To assure continued academic success, this budget emphasizes the retention and recruitment of expert staff. I am proposing that we continue to address compression in our teacher scales. This spending plan includes funding to increase starting pay for new teachers as well as additional adjustments to address compression for our current teaching staff. Additional adjustments include Bus driver and Nursing positions moving up on the general grade scale. For benefit plan year 2022, increases in claims and administrative costs necessitate increasing both employer and employee health care premiums to stabilize the health insurance fund. 2 The advanced age of many NNPS buildings, coupled with inadequate capital funding, necessitates spending operating funds to ensure timely building maintenance and replacement of equipment, which ensures safety and efficient operation of our facilities for as long as possible before replacement of these buildings or major building systems becomes necessary. This spending plan includes an additional $1.4 to address ongoing maintenance needs. The FY 2022 budget continues to fund the replacement of school public announcement and clock systems and security cameras and fire and intrusion systems. Technology needs in next year’s budget include replacement of high school teacher computers and administrator computers along with some network infrastructure and educational materials The FY 2022 funding plan includes $1 million to support and maintain this technology. Our focus on student achievement, advancement and youth development will continue. Investing in our students is vital to ensure that they graduate college, career and citizen-ready. This budget is a responsible spending plan that will advance student success and retain and support employees while ensuring financial resiliency. Sincerely, Douglas C. Brown, Chairman Newport News School Board 3 NEWPORT NEWS PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEWPORT NEWS PUBLIC SCHOOLS Newport News Public Schools is preparing students to graduate college, career and citizen-ready! The 2021-2022 proposed operating budget of $336.8 million represents 3.7% increase over this year’s spending plan. Funding for the budget is based on the final state budget and the City of Newport News’ proposed contribution. Revenue Change Category FY 2021 FY 2022 from FY 2021 State $206.3 $218.4 $12.1 City $113.4 $113.4 $0.0 Federal $3.1 $3.1 $0.0 Other $1.9 $1.9 $0.0 Total $324.7 $336.8 $12.1 Revenue millon millon millon The proposed budget continues funding for all current initiatives and departments and is aligned with Journey 2025, the NNPS strategic plan. The retention and recruitment of skilled, professional staff continues to be a priority. • Funding is included to continue addressing compression in teacher salary scales and provide a 3% salary increase for all full-time employees. • To address rising health care claims, an additional $2.4 million will be added to the health fund. The school board’s contribution will increase $2.1 million and the employee premium increase will cover the balance of $300,000. Employee premium increases will range from $1.64 to $33.12 a month. The proposed budget also focuses on staffing needs in three areas: student wellness and mental health services, college and career readiness, and school administrator support. • Meeting our students’ mental health needs is a team effort. The proposed budget includes the addition of five guidance counselors, two licensed clinical social workers and two psychologists. • Additional staffing changes are also necessary to ensure student college and career readiness. The proposed budget includes a central office position to coordinate and leverage the work performed by the high school college and career specialists. Funding is also included to make the five college and career specialist positions full-time. • For building level support, this spending plan includes the addition of five administrative positions for schools that need additional support and an assistant principal for Huntington Middle School as another grade level is added. The proposed spending plan includes funding to address some technology upgrades and building maintenance. • The proposed budget continues to fund the replacement of school public announcement and clock systems, security cameras and fire and intrusion systems. • Funding is included for technology needs including some network infrastructure and educational materials. • To address growing capital needs, funding is also allocated for building maintenance and the replacement of equipment. 4 JOURNEY 2025 Student Success Student & Staff Wellness Employee Expertise Enhanced Partnerships Stewardship of Resources Newport News Public Schools Strategic Plan 2020-2025 Newport News Public Schools’ Strategic Plan was developed to support the ongoing mission: ensuring all students graduate cleg, crr n c-eady. To advance the school division, the strategic plan is organized around five strategic goals: student success, student and staff wellness, employee expertise, enhanced partnerships and stewardship of resources. Newport News Public Schools is committed to ensuring the success of every student, thus there is an equitable approach to each of the strategic goals which will require NNPS to examine data for disparities by race, ethnicity, gender, language, different-ableness and other distinguishing characteristics. The strategic supports are the action steps that NNPS will take to ensure that the goals are implemented with success. Journey 2025, Newport News Public Schools’ Strategic Plan, sets a clear, forward-looking vision through 2025, and the first ever NNPS Profile of a Learner. College, Career, and Citizen-Ready! 5 NNPS PROFILE OF A LEARNER As Resilient learners, we are: • Responsive to Challenges JOURNEY 2025 • Self-Directed • Persistent As Academically-Prepared • Adaptive As iNnovators, learners, we are: we are: A Strategic Plan to College, Career and Citizen-Readine! • Literate • Deliberate • Appliers of our Knowledge • Curious • Workforce-Minded • Entrepreneurial NNPS Mission: We ensure that all students graduate • Accountable • Problem-Finders college, career and citizen-ready. • Intrinsically Motivated • Divergent Thinkers NNPS Vision: • Digitally Confident The Newport News Public Schools community commits to ensuring all graduates will be: • College-Ready - Whether it be in college or the workplace, graduates of NNPS will understand the importance