Budget Discussion

2017-2018

Livingston Public Schools

District Philosophy

Student achievement is the foundation of educational purpose in Livingston, and the District has a long reputation for academic excellence. Parents and community members share the belief that quality education is a priority and they support that commitment through funding, involvement and social action. Students of all ages and skill levels have opportunities to pursue stimulating academic, extra-curricular and enrichment activities.

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Tradition of ExcellenceLivingston’s schools rank among the best in the state and nation, with the high school consistently listed among the top schools. At Livingston High School, the overarching objective is preparing students to be independent thinkers and contributors to their society.

The student body boasts Presidential Scholars, National Merit finalists, published writers, commissioned artists, professional researchers, applauded performers, world-ranked robotics teams, future business leaders, and world-class athletes. From the Class of 2016, 97% of students went on to attend a post-secondary institution.

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The number of AP course offerings is among the very highest in the state. Over the past six years, LHS increased access to advanced placement course work while maintaining the percentage of students passing the rigorous AP exams.

Livingston’s elementary and middle schools provide many opportunities for students to develop academically and personally. Schools foster supportive learning environments that respect diversity and differing learning styles, and encourage creativity, promoting growth and development in every child. Students consistently have outstanding performance on state achievement standards. Great attention and careis given to the transition process from the elementary schools, to the stand-alone sixth grade at MPMS, to Heritage Middle School.

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Livingston residents takegreat pride in the public schools and have made

a long-term commitmentto their excellence.

With recent construction, Livingston Public Schools proactively addressed any future enrollment increases. Additional classroom space in the elementary schools offers flexibility to ease soft borders, decrease class size, provide space for more special education programs, and make room for new students already moving in and anticipated when new housing developments open.

As hubs of learning in our schools, media centers provide central places for students to generate genuine and relevant inquiry; provoke deep thought and lively discussions; and allow students to consider alternatives, weigh evidence, support their ideas, and stimulate ongoing thinking and creativity.

A recent project also addressed ADA compliance at Livingston High School, allowing all students and staff to independently navigate the building and access nearby lavatory facilities. Last summer, air conditioning was added to gymnasiums.

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Budget DiscussionOur initial budget discussion includes highlights of a spending plan that will continue this tradition of success at Livingston Public Schools and remains true to our commitment to approximately 6,000 students…

“Empowering all to learn, create, contribute and grow.”

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Budgetary Goals• Create an educational spending plan

centered around our students thatprepares them for college, career and life

• Maintain funding for:• Instructional excellence • Ongoing curriculum, instruction and

professional development initiatives• Facility maintenance and improvements

• Provide funding for:• One-to-One Devices Grades 7-12• One-to-Two Devices Grades K-6• Expanding in-district special education programs and services• Summer School program• School Safety

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• Capture cost savings wherever possible

• A fair tax levy that invests in our students and our schools

• Meet state and federal requirements

Curriculum & Instruction

Our District's Pre K-12 research-based curriculum provides our students with a strong foundation in all core disciplines and rich

opportunities for exploration in the humanities, technology, business, and a variety of vocational and career programs.

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Complete numerous curricula K-12 that foster learning opportunities to allow for appropriate challenge, developmental growth, and access for learning in an inclusive and accelerated environment.

Infuse the mandated revisions of the Student Learning Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards.

Embed 21st century skills and interdisciplinary opportunities in all our units of study.

Identify appropriate STEAM opportunities across the K-12 world.

Curriculum & InstructionOur proposed budget supports more than 100 projects that will:

Support the infusion of technology across all disciplines.

Create opportunities to engage students in exploring their interests, participate in real world challenges, and focus on critical thinking, creativity and independent learning.

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How the Budget Supports Learning K-6 Complete the re-imagining and revision of English

Language Arts

Complete Mathematics curriculum for grades K, 1 and 6

Provide Mathematics resources and assessments in grade 2

Revise K-5 Music program

Revise K-2 Health

Create units of study in Kindergarten for Science

Complete the infusion of Next Generation Science Standards and new units of study in Science grades K-2

Align ESL curriculum to ACCESS test

Infuse cross-curricular opportunities and activities across grade levels where appropriate

Review testing data and revise assessment practices to align assessments across disciplines, grades K-6

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Curriculum & InstructionWork in our 7th and 8th grades will focus on revision of instructional practices and assessments in Science, Social Studies and to focus on independent research, critical thinking and the application of technology skills. We are also updating our business programs in the middle school.

The budget is supporting Year 2 of a Summer School Program that focuses on remediation in core discipline areas, expanding “BridgeCourses” to include middle school Pre-Algebra, and provides “Enrichment” offerings.

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Livingston High School • Each content area will revise curricula in select courses:

• aligning them to current standards

• implementing new resources

• addressing needs identified by student assessment data

• Expanding an emphasis on interdisciplinary learning through curricula development and revision

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Electives, Cycles,Specials & Enrichment

Supporting all children • Identifying intervention resources

• Interdisciplinary alignment between ELA, Science & Social Studies K-6

• Realigning the writing sequence“To Becoming a Writer” K-5

• Revision in approach to supporting literacy and numeracy needs

• Technology as a primary tool for addressing the needs of the diverse students

• Revision of television studio program and resources

• Revisions and resources for PRIDE program

Meeting the 21st Century student • Extending Gifted & Talented

enrichment program and revising clusters

• Re-imagining the role of Media

• Resources for the Visual and Performing Arts

• Supporting independent and interdisciplinary learning

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Proposed New Courses at LHS

• Resource Center General Pre-Algebra, General Geometry, General Intermediate Algebra & Applications of Math

• Sports and Entertainment Marketing

• Humanities (9th grade)

• Biotechnology

• AP Computer Science Principles

• AP Seminar STEAM & Humanities

• AP Research-STEAM

• Tech and Design for Science & Engineering Year 3

• Contemporary American History

• World Film II

Curriculum & Instruction

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Staff DevelopmentLPS provides consistent opportunities for staff training in:

Teaching the diverse learner

Technology as a learning tool

Understanding assessment

Literacy, STEAM and critical thinking skills

Curriculum integration

Differentiated Instruction

Supporting the whole child through understanding the social and emotional

needs of students

These are supported by multiple trainings by our supervisors, after school courses, webinars, out of district workshops and staff development days.

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Student Services

Upon identification, the District provides appropriate services to teach the students to become active members of the community based on their individual abilities and strengths. We are focused and committed to providing a program to meet the diverse academic, social, and emotional needs of our students.

• Addition of one Student Assistance Counselor for the 7-12 program

• Update of the PRIDE Curriculum to reflect both the changes in the standards from the NJDOE and the growth in the research surrounding pre-K instruction. This will begin in the summer of 2017

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The Department of Special Services’ mission is to identify students who meet the federal and state guidelines as a student with a disability.

Student Services

• Continuum of special education services

• PRIDE and integrated preschool programs @ 5 days per week with both full and half-day options

• Extended School Year (ESY) Program

• Life Skills Program K-12

• Linking Individual Needs of Kids for Success (LINKS) at HMS

• Student Assistance Counseling Program 7-12

• Effective School Solutions (ESS)at LHS

• STARS K-6 (Students Taking an Active Role in School)

• Related services (Speech, OT, PT)

• Music Therapy for the Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Programs

• Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) program at Burnet Hill

• Job coaching and community-based instruction

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Programs will continue and expand to maintain students in-district and allow for return of students from out-of-district placements.

Technology

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Proposed in Draft BudgetInfrastructure upgrade – Phase 3• New 1:1 devices for HMS Students• Chromebook refresh / additional carts for elementary schools• Additional iPads for elementary schools• LHS TV Studio• Software subscriptions

The District’s Technology Department ensures that

sufficient technical trainingand support is available to

facilitate the expanding and more intensive use of

technology in classrooms.

The draft budget supports investment in technology initiatives in all schools.

Lancer Athletics

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The Athletic Program is an integral part of the

total educational process in Livingston Public Schools that

provides experiences that will assist in the development of the

physical, mental, and emotional aspects of the

student-athlete.

A high percentage of LHS students participate

in at least one sport. Lancer teams regularly

win State, divisional and county titles.

Draft Budget continues support of 28 varsity sports at multiple levels in a comprehensive athletic program at Livingston High School.

Buildings and Grounds

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Proposed in Draft Budget

• Continuing school security upgrades

• Replacing all 380 security cameras and adding 130 additional cameras throughout the district per security report.

• ADA upgrades; addition of bus parking lot at administrative offices, 11 Foxcroft Drive (To be paid by capital reserve funds).

Staffing

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Proposed in Draft Budget

• (3) full-time staff at LHS to maintain class sizes. • Enrollment expected to increase by about 50

students

• (1) full-time Basic Skills Instruction teacher at HMS based on need

• (1) full-time Student Assistance Counselor (SAC) at LHS/HMS based on student need

• (1) full-time Dean of Students at LHS based on increased enrollment and student need

• (0.5) part-time Security Guard at LHS to provide additional security for evening events

At Livingston Public Schools, 72.5 percent of the professional staff hold Master’s degrees and 4 percent of the staff have received their Doctorates.

• (0.5) part-time staff at MPMS to assist front office

• (3) part-time support staff at Collins, Hillside and Mt. Pleasant Elementary to assist front office• These people are currently

employed with benefits and are moving from PT to FT status

2017-2018 Draft Budget

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General Current Expense $105,756,926

Capital Outlay $3,329,945

Transfer of Funds to Charter Schools $87,210

Total General Fund $109,174,081

Special Revenue Funds $1,791,343

Debt Service Total Budget $8,184,800

Total Budget $119,150,224

Where the Money Goes

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72.6%

6.5%

2.7%

6.9%

2.8%5.7%

2.8%

Instruction and Support Services/72.6%(including Special Education)

Operations and Plant Maintenance/6.5%

Student Transportation/2.7%

Debt Service/6.9%

Capital Outlay/2.8%

General & School Administration/5.7%

Business & Other Support Services/2.8%

Where the Money Comes From

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92.2%

3.2%

1.5% 0.8%

2.3%

District Taxes 92.2%

State Aide 3.2%

Special Revenue Funds 1.5%

Miscellaneous 0.8%

Fund Balance Appropriated 2.3%

Non-State Funded Initiatives that Add to LPS Excellence

Nurse in every school

Assistant Principals

Co-Curriculars

Intervention & Enrichment

Reading & Media Specialists

Supervisory Structure

Keyboarding for Grades 2-5

Gifted & Talented Art & Music

Full-Day Kindergarten

Instructional, Kindergarten, and Playground Aides

Individual & Group Instrumental Music Lessons beginning in Grade 4

Elementary World Language Program – Certificated Staff

Wide Range of Curriculumand Elective Courses

School Guidance Counselors

Interscholastic Athletics at LHS

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Actual 2012/2013 Actual 2013/2014 Actual 2014/2015 Budget 2015/2016

Newark Newark West Orange West Orange

18,231 17,296 17,393 17,666

West Orange West Orange Newark Morris

15,981 16,380 17,041 16,138

Morris Montclair Montclair Newark

15,104 14,965 15,648 15,799

Montclair Morris Millburn Millburn

14,440 14,776 14,923 15,680

South Orange/Maplewood State Average Morris Montclair

14,344 14,546 14,718 15,312

State Average Livingston State Average State Average

14,164 14,464 14,736 15,296

Livingston Millburn Livingston Livingston

13,948 14,458 14,735 15,282

Millburn South Orange/Maplewood Summit Summit

13,857 14,397 14,537 15,176

Summit Summit South Orange/Maplewood South Orange/Maplewood

13,711 13,987 14,056 14,642

Source: Taxpayers' Guide to Educational Spending

Livingston Compared to Other Districts Budgetary Per Pupil Costs

Main Cost Drivers in Draft Budget

• Staffing• Salaries• Additional staff• Labor negotiations

• Health Insurance Benefits

• Increasing Prices of Instructional Supplies

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Ongoing Ways LPS Contains Costs

• Health Insurance contributions

• Establish special education programs in district, which reduce out-of-district tuition and increase our opportunity to educate students in the least restrictive environment

• Attract tuition revenue

• Shared service with Barnabas Health Institute for Prevention

• Use of solar panels to reduce energy costs as well as sale of Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SREC’S)

• Cooperative purchasing with other districts and consortiums

• Shared services with Livingston Township

• In-house transportation services

• Rental of LPS facilities

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Does this budget need to be voted on?

• No.

• The budget is within the allowable cap of state guidelines.

• The budget utilizes the remaining existing banked cap of $106,167.

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Tax Impact

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The tax impact is based on the average Livingston home of $600,000.

The current draft of the 2017-2018 budget:

• $102,743,234 equals the tax levy onthe General Fund

• School Tax 2017 equals $9,103; an increase of $214, a 2.4% increase over 2016.

Budget Calendar

• Feb. 6: Budget Discussion

• Feb 13: Budget Discussion: Special Education/Staffing

• Feb. 28: Governor's State Budget message. By law, school districts are notified of their state aid figures within 48 hours post-message.

• March 8: Community Budget Forums 10 a.m. & 7 p.m.LPS Central Office

• March 13: Budget Discussion: Technology

• March 27:

• Budget Discussion: Curriculum

• Approval of Tentative School District Budget

7 p.m. LHS Media Center

• April 17: Budget Discussion

7 p.m. LHS Media Center

• April 24: Public Hearing & Vote of LPS School Budget

7 p.m. LHS Media Center

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budgetquestions@livingston.org