Mayor Setti Warren emailed the School Committee today to inform them that he is declaring a “health holiday” in the fall, an action that will add approximately $1.2 million back into the FY18 school budget. This move should reduce the anticipated deficit by more than 50 percent. Stay tuned to see what reductions will be restored.
Dear School Committee Members,
I am pleased to announce that due to the City’s favorable health claims experience this year, I will be declaring a “2 week health holiday” which will be implemented in the fall. This action will generate a one-time cost savings of approximately $1.2 million for Newton Public Schools and $750,000+ for the Municipal Departments in Fiscal Year 2018.
If you have any questions, please follow up with Maureen or me.
Thank you,
Mayor Setti Warren
Fantastic news! Images of sugar plums (oh wait, that’s from another movie) – Memories of David Cohen pulling bunny rabbits out of his pocket to save many a day for the Newton Public Schools. The NPS budget hearing is tonight, and many people are planning to speak on the cuts. When we will receive details on what this $1.2 million will restore?
The Mayor should move the City’s Employees Health Insurance to the GIC Insurance ie State health Insurance and most likely save EVEN more money that can be used for the Schools and the City.
Anyone know what a “health holiday” is?
Joanne,
Please do a quick search for how the GIC is doing over the past few years. I would post links, but I think it’s best for folks to look into this on their own. Unless I’m wrong, it looks like it has had to have been bailed out by the state due to massive 9 figure deficits over the past couple years.
Weston Public Schools is one local School that is on GIC, the State Universitys Faculty and Staff are on GIC. All State Employees are on GIC. If it is less expensive for the City and the Health Insurance is good than really what is the issue.
Jerry, there are people who can explain it better than I but I’ll try: The city is self-insured. During a year when there are fewer claims than usual — a good health year — the city and the employees can skip a month of premium payments. It’s a holiday from premium payments.
As Randy points out, the GIC hasn’t fared well in recent years.
Gail – got it. Thanks
Hasn’t fared well in what respect? The health care benefits of those subscribed are better than many private insurances. Weston is one example of a Town Employees all on GIC. If it could save Newton MONEY than why not move to it. Just think – all that saved money would go toward our schools and other needs in our city.
Question: What happens when the city has a bad year when it comes to healthcare claims? How many bad years has the city had regarding healthcare within the last 10 years? Where did/does the money come from to pay for the deficit for the bad years? Just curious…
Nice! Any chance i can skip a month of my health care premium, which is currently $2,000, also?
Jerry, a health holiday happens when the reserve fund for the city’s self-insurance reaches a certain level (GASB accounting standards, etc. are all involved in this calculation). It means that we take a brief hiatus on paying into that reserve fund. The cost for NPS per week for health insurance is approximately $600,000. A two week hiatus means NPS is not spending $1.2 million on health insurance during that time period and is spending those funds on something else.
Some cuts are being restored. The presentation we discussed last night is here – https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/0B54ooqYkxofCUi1vaEpPdVMxR2c
Joanne – In 2010, the deficit for the GIC was $85m, in 2010 it was $120m, in 2014 it was $190m, and in 2017 it is $250m.
@Margaret
Thanks for posting.
It appears that the 4th and 5th grades will still have teachers removed as part of the remaining budget gap. I don’t believe many in Newton would support that budget trade-off, I hope you and the SC will re-consider– that seems to be a poor choice to find several hundred thousand dollars. Class size is important.
@Paul, there have been a number of refinements with several library positions being restored. We will be hearing more this evening about additional library restorations.
There are five fewer elementary teachers in this year’s budget than last year’s. Fairly small fluctuation in a district this size.
Regarding School funding:
This article says that
” The special education salaries and benefits—according to the superintendent’s proposed budget—make up just over 24 percent of the district’s costs.”
Wow, that seems really really high. Assuming 1-2% of the students are special needs, 1-2% of the school population takes up almost a quarter of the entire budget.
Obviously, the schools should continue to provide a welcoming and high quality environment for these kids, but does 25% seem high?
https://patch.com/massachusetts/newton/newton-schools-adjust-student-services-special-ed-to-1d77193069
@Margaret
I don’t think we should be OK with allowing 5 classes grow from 19 to 26 students. That’s a big difference that impacts learning for those students.
To flip your argument around– its a few hundred thousand to cover this, that’s trivial in our budget. I find it hard to believe that among the $200M in spend, cutting these teachers and increasing class size is the best choice.
Bugek, I’m not sure where you are getting your facts or assumptions from. You said you assume that 1-2% of the school population are receiving special education services. It is actually closer to 20%, almost 1 in 5 students are on IEP or 504 plans.
Jo-Louise
the 1-2% was just an assumption based on when I was in school.
If you are telling me that ‘these days’, in Newton, in a class of 25 kids, 5 are considered special needs who require individual attention…. then I am very surprised.
@ Paul, next year there will be a number of 4th and 5th grade classes at 24, 25 and 26 students. The adult teaching staff to student ratios are still about 2o:1, 21:1 in all our schools. There are other adults in the room during the school day facilitating small group work.
bugek, I did not say that out of a class of 25, 5 require individual attention. I have been in this field for 25+ years, so it would take a long time to correctly explain the student services needs in our public schools today. A student could be receiving services just in the area of speech/language or physical therapy or occupational therapy that is 2 x 30 minute sessions per week, and could be pulled out of class, or the services could be integrated in the classroom. The range is from very light to extremely complex. Other students work with a 1:1 special education aide or a board certified behavior analyst. The budget for student services covers a multitude of staffing, equipment, training, transportation, out of district tuition, supplies, etc. If you are interested in getting into the meat of the matter, you will find a lot of data in the FY 2018 budget book, and also online at http://www.newton.k12.ma.us click on Central Admin, then click on Student Services, then you will find the program guide to services. I went to elementary school and high school in the 1960’s and 1970’s and things were different then. Today, just the new medical expertise that has been developed in relation to premature babies is one of the drivers. Babies born when I was a child at 24-28 weeks mostly would not have survived. Now, with NICU technology, many premature babies do survive, and go on to lead productive lives. However, especially at the preschool and elementary years, they may still be catching up, developmentally delayed, 1 – 2 years behind academic grade levels. Student services funding, a part of it, goes to support this population and helps those students achieve and succeed, and go on to post secondary education and jobs and have families of their own. Another area is the stuff that just happens, the unexpected, a tragic car accident, a sports injury…..Students who were not previously receiving special education services, may end up with a brain injury, or in a wheelchair, and then special education services kick in to provide them the avenue to complete their education, graduate, and be contributors to our society. There is just so much to learn and understand.
Jo,
Thanks for the explanation, the level of care does make sense if Newton wants to provide the ‘best possible’ environment for students… perhaps this is the new reality compared to 30 years ago…