I wrote this as a follow up to the parents that have e-mailed, called, and met with me over the past few months regarding the school budget.  Below please find a bullet point summary of what we know at this point and how the budget process works from here.

Some of this information will not be new to many of you, as much of it is what has been presented publicly over the past couple of months.  However, I wanted to write a summary that made no assumptions about what parents know or do not know as many of you do not have the time or resources to follow the budget process on a daily basis.

Please note that, as always, I am providing this information based on what I have learned through various meetings and correspondence, therefore I cannot vouch for its overall accuracy.  I am trying to provide to you the facts that were told to me.

The City Council received the budget and a preliminary briefing from the Mayor’s budget office on April 8.  The Council released its preliminary schedule for budget hearings on April 8 as well.  I have included the schedule for hearings involving BPS in this update.  The April 8 briefing is the source for most of the information included in this update.

Finally, I will continue to give you updates as we learn anything new. Please e-mail your specific questions to john@connollyforboston.com, and I’ll try to get answers to you asap.

BPS Budget Update as of April 8, 2009

• The proposed City Budget was delivered to the City Council this morning.
• The City Council was given an initial briefing on the proposed City Budget this morning.
• The Mayor’s Administration & Finance Department has made the materials from this morning’s budget briefing to the City Council available online at: http://www.cityofboston.gov/AdministrationFinance/pdfs/FY10%20Budget%20Presentation%204-8-09.pdf
• The proposed City Budget is $2,425,140,000.  (This amount includes stimulus money.)
• The BPS Budget is $817,121,930 and is included as part of the whole City Budget. (This figure does not include Title I or IDEA stimulus money.)
• The BPS Budget is 34% of the proposed City Budget.  This is the same percentage as FY2009 City Budget.
• The BPS Budget has been decreased by $16.2 million, or 1.9%, from the FY2009 budget appropriation.
• The BPS Budget of $817,121,930 has been increased by $4.5 million from the amount approved by the School Committee.  I am tracking down information on the increase, but I believe it has to do with changing unemployment costs since School Committee approval.

Teachers and Teaching Positions

• The BPS budget includes 365 lay-offs.
• 212 are BTU members (134 teachers and 78 paraprofessionals).  The remaining 153 positions are central staff or non-classroom positions that are being cut.
• The administration stressed in the briefing this morning that a wage freeze would save the 212 positions.
• The reduction in 134 teaching positions is broken down as follows:

o    2 Music
o    3 English as a Second Language
o    5 Social Studies
o    5 Sheltered English Instruction
o    6 Art
o    9 Math
o    9 English
o    10 Guidance Counselors
o    14 Reading
o    15 Computer
o    17 Small programs, which includes 2 vocational teachers and 1 business teacher
o    17 Elementary
o    22 Special Education

City Council Budget Hearings on BPS Budget

• The City Council’s Ways & Means Committee conducts budget hearings on the City Budget between April and June.
• The tentative schedule for the budget hearings involving BPS are as follows:¹

o    5/1/09 –  9:30 AM, BPS: FY10 Overview

o    5/1/09 – 1:00 PM, BPS: External Funds and Federal Stimulus

o    5/8/09 – 9:30 AM, BPS: Capital Budget

o    5/8/09 – 1:00 PM, BPS: Special Education

o    5/15/09 – 9:30 AM, BPS: Pathways to Excellence

o    5/15/09 – 1:00 PM, BPS: Pathways to Excellence cont’d

o    5/29/09 – 9:30 AM, BPS: Teaching & Learning

o    5/29/09 – 1:00 PM, BPS: Teaching & Learning cont’d

o    6/2/09 – 9:30 AM, BPS: Graduation for All

o    6/2/09 – 1:00 PM, BPS: Family and Community Engagement

o    6/12/09 – 9:30 AM, BPS: School Assignment & Transportation

o    6/12/09 – 1:00 PM, BPS: School Assignment & Transportation cont’d

o    6/19/09 – 9:30 AM, BPS: To Be Determined

o    6/19/09 – 1:00 PM, BPS: To Be Determined

• The budget hearing schedule is subject to change.
• The final day of hearings is “To be Determined” because the Council will likely address any open issues related to BPS at that hearing.
• The hearings are in the City Council Iannella Chambers on the 5th floor of City Hall.
• The hearings are open to the public and they are televised on City Council Cable Access Channel 51.

¹The City Council’s budget hearings take the City Departments separately.  The Youth Fund and Boston Center for Youth and Families have hearings separate from BPS.