APS Budget Update #5

APS Superintendent Presents the FY 2011 Proposed Budget

Today, Arlington Superintendent Dr. Pat Murphy presented his proposed budget for FY 2011 to fund the 2010-11 school year operations. Murphy said, “Every school division's budget process offers an opportunity for educational leaders to fashion a blueprint for change and progress. Despite some austere economic forecasts, I believe that this year's budget journey has led us to a new way of engaging the community and collaborating, leading us all to a greater shared understanding of our aspirations for public education in Arlington. As a result, this year's budget belongs to all of us.”

Components of the FY 2011 Proposed Budget:

The FY 2011 proposed budget, which totals $442.1 million, is the initial phase of this long-term work. In future years, school leaders have said they will continue their work to identify additional cost-saving measures through efficiencies and realignment. That work will need to continue so that operations and management costs can be further streamlined while continuing to direct resources to the number one priority – the classroom.

Some elements of the Superintendents Proposed FY 2011 Budget include the following:

• The budget preserves funding for keystone instructional programs including the school division's early childhood education programs (Pre-K and full-day kindergarten), school-based exemplary projects, co-curricular programs, and other supports.
• The proposed budget includes a new Extended Day registration fee and athletic participation fees for secondary students. The Superintendent has also proposed increases in some fees, including pool and building rental fees; Drivers Education, Summer School, and Montessori fees; and a five-cent increase in cafeteria meal prices.
• Some class size planning factor changes have been proposed including an increase of one in the recommended maximum and planning factor for K-3 classes and an increase of one for the secondary (6-12) planning factor.
• Modest changes in programs to realize efficiencies in the Career Center, High School Continuation and Summer School programs have been proposed. In addition, the Superintendent has recommended elimination of the Planetarium and Project GO programs.
• Through efficiencies, planning factor and other program changes, the proposed budget reduces 36.75 positions in central instruction support departments and 57.8 school-based positions.
• The Superintendent's proposed budget includes no funds for employee step increases, compensation adjustments, new initiatives or program expansions.
• The Superintendent recommended no changes for the coming year for the TJHSST or FLES programs. He said that APS will honor its commitment to all current TJHSST students as well as students slated for admission in the fall of 2010. As a part of his presentation, Murphy identified these programs and several other issues for future review and discussion.

The proposed budget also includes a second tier of possible reductions. Tier II will be considered if the revenue picture changes, particularly the state revenue picture, requiring further reductions.

Murphy concluded, “We have approached this year's budget in a new and different way and invited the participation of everyone interested in the future of public education. It is clear that Arlingtonians are passionate about their schools. At the many community forums and in the budget survey, participants responded with honesty and fervor. I am grateful for everyone's ideas, sincerity and commitment. Their high educational values will help to ensure that we maintain an excellent instructional program that continues to put student achievement first.“

Next Steps:

In the coming weeks, the School Board will meet in a series of work sessions to discuss the Superintendent's Proposed Budget. Work sessions will be held on March 3, 9, 16 and 18. Public Hearings are also scheduled for March 18 and April 22. In addition, the School Board will present the FY 2011 Budget to the County Board on April 8. Finally, the Board is slated to approve the School Board's Adopted FY 2011 Budget at its April 29 meeting. The complete FY 2011 Budget calendar, which includes meeting locations and times, is available online with other budget resources.

Online Budget Resources:

All documents related to the preparation of the Superintendent's Proposed FY 2011 Budget are available online at www.apsva.us/budget. These documents include:

• The Superintendent's FY 2011 Proposed Budget
• The Superintendent's Feb. 23 PowerPoint Presentation
• FY 2011 School Board Adopted Budget Framework
• FY 2011 APS Budget Calendar
• Parent and Community Survey Results
• Staff Survey Results
• APS Budget Update #4: January 22, 2010
• APS Budget Update #3: December 30, 2009
• APS Budget Update #2 : December 17, 2009
• APS Budget Update #1: November 18, 2009
• Arlington County FY 2011 Budget