Embedded Files
West Springfield Public Schools
The FY23 Budget Process: Getting to the final FY23 Mayor Proposed Budget Request
FY22 Mayor/City Approved Adjusted Budget (as of 3/8/22) $46,266,449
FY23 School Committee Approved Operating Budget Request $49,217,169 6.38% / $2,950,720 increase over FY22 Adjusted Budget
Includes removal of $1 Million ESSER Offset applied to the current FY22 Budget
Includes $1.5 Million increase in Special Education costs
Includes contractual pay increases related to step and level increases. Does not include wage negotiations increases as the majority of contracts had not reached settlement.
Note: Special Revenue funding supporting the operating budget
Federal grant funding, including the district’s American Rescue Plan Act’s Elementary and Secondary Education Emergency Relief Funding grants, continues to support the operating budget by funding the the following recurring costs:
Student Opportunity Act related positions funded by ESSER and Entitlement Grant funding
Positions previously funded by School Choice have been shifted to ESSER funding leaving school choice to fund projects such as curriculum reviews/renewals and technology.
Professional Development activities
Mayor’s FY23 Proposed School Department Budget Request $48,838,302 5.45%, $2,522,240 increase over FY22 Adjusted Budget
Includes additional staff contractual amounts due to timing of settlements. (+$447,297)
Includes transfer of Human Resource position to School Department. (+$59,000)
Continues the ESSER grant offset (-$1,000,000) that was embedded in FY21 and FY22 Approved Budgets due to ESSER grant availability to cover operational/required services. Will offset student transportation line.
June 5, 2022. City Council Approves FY23 Mayor's Approved Budget $48,838,302 as-is (no reductions)
School Committee Accepts FY23 School Department Budget $48,838,302 (Expected 6/14/2022)
FY2023 Begins July 1, 2023
Additional adjustments to FY23 Budget expected for wages reserved in Town budget for contracted increases as contracts settle (Unit D, MNA TBD)
Budget Recommendation letter from West Springfield Public Schools Superintendent,
Timothy Connor, connor@wsps.org
“West Springfield Public Schools meets the needs of all learners and provides them with the resources they need to succeed in school, at home, and in the community. We build strong relationships with students and collaborative partnerships with their caregivers in order to develop the academic and social and emotional potential within every child. Together we prepare students for life in a diverse and ever changing world.”
Vision, WSPS District Improvement Plan
Dear Members of the Town Council and Families of West Springfield:
The FY 2023 budget as proposed maintains the current level of services from FY 2022. In addition to contractual salary and minimum wage increases, the 5.45% increase requested is reflective of the statewide demand for special education services. Special Education costs for this year have been a concern and conversation across the state but most likely, the country. The pandemic has caused a dramatic increase in Special Education referrals. Generally, there is a balance of academic and social/emotional referrals. This year, like many districts, we are seeing a spike in student anxiety, depression and behaviors. In addition to our own increase we also received move-in students that already were outplaced from another district. The move-in costs for this year exceeded $500,000 of the total Special Education budget increase. In the budget, we are advocating to expand our current alternative school model to institute a step-up/step-down program. This effort is to try to maintain students in the district rather than out placement.
Since FY2021, the West Springfield Public Schools operating budget has been offset with Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds (ESSER). This short-term infusion of federal funding is provided to to mitigate the school district’s needs that stem from the COVID-19 Pandemic. In addition to the operating budget as presented, the district continues to strategically utilize any additional American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) and federal entitlement funding operationally to align the District Improvement plan and meet the requirements of the Massachusetts Student Opportunity Act; including specifically identifying and addressing any COVID-19 learning losses in the area designated as High Needs (Economically Disadvantaged, English Language Learners and Special Education Students); therefore, these additional costs are not included in the FY 2023 proposed operating budget as presented within the FY23 Town Budget Book but can be found by reviewing resources that are posted within our website.
Evidence of the district meeting the goals and objectives of the Student Opportunity Act is linked to the formulaic increases contained within the Chapter 70 formula. The district is required to update and amend our original plans with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education annually.
Sincerely,
Timothy W. Connor
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