Issue: FY03 Budget   NPS Online Home


Updated: 8 Mar 2002
Summary
Yearly development of a budget is perhaps the School Committee's most important responsibility.  Beginning with budget guidelines presented to the Superintendent in late fall and ending with an approved budget submitted to the Mayor in late spring, the budget development process is a constant balancing act, weighing the needs of students and teachers against the city's financial constraints.
In a major departure from the usual Budget Guidelines development procedure, the Newton School Committee's FY03 Budget Guidelines Subcommittee asked Superintendent Jeffrey Young to present a series of White Papers on educational standards for various budget categories, to then frame the budget guideline discussion.  This series, Meeting the Standards for Excellence, was presented in a number of successive School Committee meetings beginning on 10/22/01 and concluding on 11/26/01.
The White Papers prompted the School Committee to request, in effect, the preparation of two budgets for FY03: one that allows Newton to keep pace with neighboring communities and higher standards (Keeping Pace Budget), and a second that depicts the significant negative impact that would result from adhering to the spending level that the Mayor has been able to allocate (Allocation Budget).  According to the Superintendent's FY03 Budget Presentation on Jan 14, the Keeping Pace Budget has a target of a $11.5M increase over FY02; the Allocation Budget equals the Mayor's current allocation of $3.5M over FY02.
On 1/31/02, Mayor David Cohen issued a request for an override of $11.5M.  Follow this issue by clicking here.  For complete information on the City of Newton's financial position, visit the City of Newton Comptroller's webstite at http://www.ci.newton.ma.us/Comptrol/index.htm.
On 2/13/02, the School Committee reaffirmed its 2/7 Straw Vote and sent the Keeping Pace Budget ($11.5M increase) to the Mayor.  The final document, the School Committee's Approved Budget Fiscal 2003, was issued on 2/22/02.
The final budget for the Newton Public Schools is also highly dependent upon budgetary developments at the state and federal levels.  For the very latest in legislative developments, refer frequently to the Legislative Updates page of M.A.S.S Exchange (Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents).


Documents, Data and Activity (most recent items listed first)
Note: There may be other documents that pertain to this subject.  See Document Library for complete index of documents archived on NPS Online.


12/5/02
Superintendent issues Report on FY03 Initiatives detailing use of funds made possible by April 2002 override

3/6/02
In response to numerous requests for succinct backup information on the School Committee's proposed FY03 Keeping Pace Budget and the Superintendent's Allocation Budget (latter not yet acted on by the School Committee), School Committee issues a Frequently Asked Questions information packet with the intention of issuing addenda as yet further questions arise.
2/22/02
2/13/02
School Committee reaffirms 2/7 Straw Vote and sends Keeping Pace Budget ($11.5M increase) to the Mayor
2/6/02
School Committee takes Straw Vote on FY03 Budget;
1/30/02
Supt Young outlines effects of a $3.5M Allocation Budget increase for FY03.  Summarized are $8M worth of cuts from the Proposed FY03 "Keeping Pace" Budget (a $11.5M increase over FY02), bringing the increase to the $3.5M currently allocated by Mayor Cohen • SLIDES
1/24/02
1/21/02
Complete and bookmarked Enrollment Analysis Report posted (2.7MB PDF)
1/20/02
Complete and bookmarked Annual Class Size Report posted (3.5MB PDF)
1/18/02
Complete and bookmarked Superintendent's Proposed Budget for FY03 posted (NOTE: This is a 3.1MB PDF file and will take significant time to download via dial-up connections)
1/14/02
SC Chair Larner presents the FY03 Budget Meeting Schedule.  Supt Young presents his Proposed Budget for FY03. Budget Message and Brief Summary.
12/10/01
School Committee approves FY03 Budget Guidelines
11/26/01
Supt Young concludes White Paper presentations.  School Committee begins to formulate Budget Guidelines based upon presented standards, comparisons, and potential benefits of meeting them.
10/22/01
As part of a new Budget Guidelines development process, Supt Jeffrey Young presents the first two of six White Papers in his Meeting the Standards for Excellence series.
10/15/01
10/15/01
Mayor Cohen delivers State of the City address.  Full text • Educational excerpts