Derby School Board Reviews Next Year’s Spending Plan

Members of the Derby Board of Education are scheduled to vote on next year’s school budget March 15.

The budget is due in Derby City Hall by the end of the month. The city’s tax board will have final say over the bottom line.

Right now the school board is considering a $17.8 million budget. It carries a spending increase of $602,717, or 3.5 percent, over this year’s budget.

However, school officials said they’ll receive $133,000 back from the federal government as part of the ​“e rate” program. That’s money reimbursed to schools for technology and communication-related costs. Click here for a better definition.

So, school officials said, if you subtract the $133,000 in ​“e rate” money from the $602,717 increase, the spending increase shrinks to $467,717 — or 2.7 percent.

Tuition paid to out-of-district schools is the single biggest driver of the overall budget increase. It is projected to increase roughly $454,000 next year — from $1.2 million right now to $1.7 million next year.

That money is connected to special education. It is used to cover costs for kids with special needs who cannot be taught in Derby Public Schools because the locals can’t provide the level of service needed.

School districts all over the state have complained the federal and state governments need to cover these costs at a higher rate.

During a meeting Tuesday, school board member Dan Foley, Jr. pointed out that without that single, $454,000 increase, the budget would be essentially flat.

“I hope you tell that to the Board of Apportionment (and Taxation),” Foley said to Mark Izzo, the district’s business manager.

Salaries comprise two-thirds of the Derby school budget.

Money spent on ​“certified” salaries — the professional staff, including teachers and administrators — is increasing 2.07 percent, or roughly $186,000.

Money spent on ​“non-certified” salaries — including secretaries, paraprofessionals and custodians — is decreasing 5.8 percent, or roughly $157,000.

How’d they do that?

The district is eliminating a paraprofessional position in next year’s budget. In addition, the school district is using grant money to fund some special education paraprofessionals and school security positions.

Benefits —which includes medical insurance, FICA, and life insurance— are growing by 5.5 percent, or $26,600.

“It’s a responsible budget. It’s very conservative. I wouldn’t say there is a lot of room for error here,” Izzo said.

Superintendent Matthew Conway had previously told administrators to keep increases to no more than 3 percent, Izzo said.

The budget does not introduce any new education programs. Conway said there are a number of new programs on the horizon, but he hopes to fund them through grants and private partnerships.

Derby schools benefit greatly from the state education department’s ​“Alliance District” program, which gives money to struggling districts. The district must use the money in specific ways approved by the state.

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