Pomperaug Regional School District 15

One of the main responsibilities of the Region 15 Board of Education is to develop an annual operating budget proposal that supports the educational goals of our community. The  Superintendent of Schools is responsible for managing the Board of Education’s operating budget on a day-to-day basis. He is also responsible for developing an annual operating budget proposal that supports the quality of education the community and Board expect.

Step 1: Calculating Projected Expenditures and Determining Priorities

The budget development process begins in September, when school administrators consider the variables that could impact the budget for the next school year, including the cost of energy and debt service. Implementing the Board’s Strategic Plan is the critical path to ensure the Region’s strategic goals are met, while practicing fiscal responsibility.

Step 2: Presenting the Superintendent’s Budget Proposal

In February 2012, the Superintendent of Schools will present his budget recommendation to the Board of Education. This meeting is open to the public and televised for local cable television.

Step 3: Refining the Superintendent’s Budget Proposal

Citizens are encouraged to attend the Public Hearing in April 2012. Based on community feedback at open meetings and the public hearing, and the Board’s goal to present voters with a budget that is both fiscally responsible and supportive of the district’s academic goals, the Board will adopt their budget following the Public Hearing.

Step 4: Scheduling the Budget Referendum

The school budget referendum is held on the first Wednesday in May.  Polls are open from 6:00am - 8:00 pm.

What is the cost to hold a budget referendum?

Both towns are attempting to align the town budget vote on the same day as the Region 15 school budget referendum. When this is the case, the unit referendum cost to Region 15 is about $6,000. However, when the Region 15 budget is the only question on the referendum, the cost increases to $8,000.

Step 5: Determining Each Town’s Budget Responsibility

How is each town’s cost of education determined? The enrollment on October 1 determines the percent of the budget for which each town is responsible.

How does the busing contract work and is there room to cut buses?

As with most school districts, Regions 15 contracts buses by the day, and not by the run. Region 15 has a three-tiered system, which maximizes the cost benefit of each bus. The annual unit cost per bus varies on the capacity of the bus, approximately $41,000 to $49,000 per bus for the school year, with 62 buses serving our K-12 population. Students requiring special accommodations require specific transportation accommodations. Some citizens have noticed that high school buses appear to be running under capacity. After reviewing options and legal issues surrounding bussing, we have found that high school students using bus transportation is dependent upon the season of the year. Annually, we review bus runs for efficiencies, modify pick-up locations, and consolidate stops at cul-de-sacs. Safety is the overriding consideration we must always consider.

Will a “No” vote or choosing not to vote in the annual Region 15 budget referendum result in a lower budget proposal?

If the budget is turned down by the communities, the Board of Education typically submits a lower revised budget and goes back to referendum for community approval. A “No” vote or low voter turnout affects the instructional program. As a result of precise and accurate forecasting methods, a budget reduction will have a direct impact on some program or service offered by the Region.

What are Functions & Objects of Expense?

A Function identifies groups of services aimed at accomplishing certain purposes, including General Instruction, Special Education, Transportation. An Object of Expense is the service obtained as the result of a specific expenditure, including Employee Salaries, Benefits, Professional/Technical Services and Debt Service.

Energy Conservation

In 2008, the Region enlisted the services of Energy Education to assist us in controlling energy costs, and we are seeing positive results. Region 15 established system-wide temperature threshold points for all rooms during the heating and cooling seasons, controlled by a computerized sensor system that reacts to temperature changes. In addition to establishing systems’ temperature thresholds, the District is exploring other ways to reduce heat/energy consumption.

Does Region 15 only hire young teachers right out of college in an attempt to save money in lieu of hiring experienced, proven teachers?

No. Region 15’s recruiting protocol was developed, in part, as an action plan designed to attract and retain quality staff. Region 15 is an active participant in university job fairs. We do hire a good number of entry level teachers, as we have found they bring a sound instructional skill set to the classroom. Typically we hire a blend of new high caliber candidates and experienced proven educators.

Explain the Board of Education Class Size Resolution

In 2005, recognizing the value of reasonable class sizes for effective student-to-teacher interaction and student engagement, the Region 15 Board of Education re-approved their class size resolution. While resolutions are guidelines, they are not absolute class size parameters, and the Board of Education intends to balance the class size goals with the educational program for all Region 15 students. We are constantly monitoring class size, and we work diligently to support reasonable and affordable class sizes.

How can I learn more about the Region 15 budget?

Budget information, as it becomes available, can be found at each school's main office and online at www.region15.org.