Politics & Government

Committee Discusses School Budget Proposals

Superintendent's proposal allocates $40.4 million to New London Public Schools

Board of Education members went over budget proposals for each of New London’s schools on Wednesday as part of the continuing preparation of a 2014 fiscal year budget for New London Public Schools.

The Finance and Audit Committee met to discuss Superintendent Nicholas Fischer’s budget proposals for the schools, which make up 70 percent of the $40,414,666 budget. The committee also met on Tuesday to discuss the $10,068,291 budget proposed for central services.

The budget represents a 1.5 percent increase over the current fiscal year. The individual budgets proposed for the schools are:

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  • $3,668,001 for the Jennings School, plus $1,484,323 in expected grants and entitlements for a total operating budget of $5,152,324
  • $3,130,565 for the Nathan Hale School, plus $796,007 in expected grants and entitlements for a total operating budget of $3,926,572; this budget assumes the continued consolidation of Nathan Hale School and Harbor School student populations while the Nathan Hale building is renovated into a visual and performing arts magnet school
  • $3,144,001 for the Winthrop School, plus $2,705,845 in expected grants and entitlements for a total operating budget of $5,849,856
  • $5,710,259 for Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School, plus $1,225,947 in expected grants and entitlements for a total operating budget of $6,926,206
  • $5,824,466 for New London High School, plus $1,351,412 in expected grants and entitlements for a total operating budget of $7,175,878
  • $7,839,852 for the Science and Technology Magnet High School, plus $2,142,624 in expected grants and entitlements for a total operating budget of $9,982,476
  • $676,507 for Adult and Continuing Education, plus $1,267,257 in expected grants and entitlements for a total operating budget of $1,943,764

The majority of the school expenses come from salaries and benefits for staffers, which have a contractual one percent increase this year. Maria Whalen, the district’s director of business and finance, said the increases vary from school to school due to factors such as staff longevity and turnover.

The 2014 budget includes some changes in how budgets are prepared, including the incorporation of the managed performance empowerment model. Fischer said that this model, adopted as part of the strategic operating plan toward school improvement, gives higher performing schools more autonomy in budget management based on their school performance index. He said only the Nathan Hale School qualified for this model for the 2014 school year while the principals of the other school developed their budget in closer consultation with the central office.

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“They’re much more clear of the consequences of the staffing decisions they’re making,” said Fischer.

The per pupil expenditures in the budget proposal are $6,717.95 for the elementary schools, $8,397.44 for the middle school, and $10,076.93 in the high schools.

Whalen said some figures are subjected to change but that committee members will receive an update by the end of the week and the district will continue to work within the $40.4 million budget total. A public hearing on the budget will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at STMHS, with a Finance and Audit Committee meeting to follow.

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