MINUTES--LSRT SPECIAL MEETING ON SCHOOL BUDGET, January 22, 2010

 Present: Kim, , Sweeney, Lerum, Humes, Neal, Albright, Dacoba; Meroney, Wattenberg, McAdoo
 1.      Each school in  DCPS was given, by DCPS,  a  projected  enrollment figure, which then is used as  the basis for building  the school’s budget.  Deal’s projected enrollment was set by  DCPS at 882.  (Current enrollment  is 866).  Ms Kim petitioned DCPS  to have the projection raised to 891.   The petition was granted.

 2.      DCPS then  multiplies the enrollment by a per student  
 payment determined by DCPS based on  its budget projections.   
 School  are also  allocated dollars for a  variety of federal  
 programs, including special education and support for  English  
 Language Learners.    Together these various allocations make up the school’s budget for the  next school year.

3.      Over all, this  year’s school budget shows a very modest    increase in buying power over last  year, but budgeted cost-of   living increases mean that  the buying power of this year’s budget  is actually less than last year’s.

 4.      Because Deal’s  enrollment is projected to increase, the  
decrease in our real buying power is  less than that of many other  schools.

5.      As of this  morning (Friday, Jan 22), Dr. Kim had just  
 received the overall budget numbers  and they were not yet in a   form that allowed staff to configure alternative  budget options.  .

 6.      When the fog  settles, it seems likely that Deal will  lose  
 2-3 staff positions.   Ms. Kim does not believe these cuts  will  
negatively effect either Deal’s  team structure or the school’s  
 focus on  IB and World languages.

 7.      It has been  noted, nonetheless,  that some  world language   classes have larger than desirable class sizes.  If the budget had  had greater latitude  in it, Dr. Kim had hoped to add a  faculty  position in this area.   In addition, the school/LSRT had hoped   that there would be funds to add a technology staff who could both  keep the  school’s technology functioning and work with teachers to  enhance their  instructional use of the technology.   Also, going  forward, there is a desire for a math resource teacher,  similar to the reading resource teacher already employed, to support struggling students. This may be more urgent as the lowest-level  math classes  are being phased out.

8.      The budget squeeze makes it all the  more important for the  PTA auction to be successful, as PTA  support will be more needed.

 Dr. Kim will keep the LSRT posted as  the final budget takes shape.