2013-2014 Proposed Education Budget

“Upon the subject of education, and not presuming to dictate any plan or system respecting it,
I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people may be engaged in.”
A B R A H A M L I N C O L N
2013 – 2014
EDUCATION BUDGET

BOARD OF EDUCATION
William Kraut, Chair
Jody Dietch, Vice Chair
Debra Marino, Secretary
Jeff Cap
Amy Criscuolo
Keith Marquis
Scott Massey
Robert Ricciardi
Diane Brown
Susan Riccio

ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
Lynn K. McMullin, Superintendent
Colleen Murray, Director of Curriculum &
Principal, Mary L. Tracy School
Kai Graves, Director of Special Services
Kevin McNabola, Business Administrator
Michael Luzzi, Director of Facilities
Eric Carbone, Principal, Peck Place School
Michael Gray, Principal, Race Brook School
Stephen Bergin, Turkey Hill School

SUPERINTENDENT’S
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
Dear Members of the Orange Community,
I am pleased to present to the Board of Finance and the wider community a healthy and responsible budget for the
upcoming 2013 – 2014 school year. The main objective of this spending plan is, of course, to maintain a high-quality
education for our students, one that is rich in opportunities for their academic, social, and personal success and
accessible to them through safe and nurturing environments. I continue to be disappointed that the current economic
climate, which coupled with a devastating hurricane and an even more devastating tragedy in Newtown, has caused
so much local hardship. We kept that in mind as the Board of Education, Administrative Team, and I worked through
so many financial decisions. This budget is responsive to our children’s educational and safety needs, to the demands
of a 21st Century skill-set, to our investment in our buildings and infrastructure, to the staff and their ongoing
professional development, as well as to the constraints of these difficult times. Thus, the budget for the 2013-2014
year is $18,350,055, which represents an increase of 3.3%
The 2013-2014 budget moves the district forward in several key areas of growth: technology, security, and
professional development. It meets the unfunded mandates associated with the new educator evaluation
requirements. In addition, we negotiated four contracts in the past six months, and this budget meets all of those
contractual obligations. At the same time, this budget recognizes factors such as lower enrollments and opportunities
for savings in utilities and service contracts. Implicit in the reductions we have outlined is a restructuring of our
programs, instruction, and support services. The conversations have been deep and meaningful, and the leadership
team and Board of Education are confident in the course of action presented here.
“It‟s our investments in education that pay the best interest.”

It should be noted that we faced two significant realities. The first was that, with the previous year’s reductions in
staffing and the consolidating of two positions at the Central Office level, we had already trimmed the personnel
budget close to the bone. This year two additional positions were reduced; but there remain few line items to cut. The
second is that the previous five year’s budgets had been responsible to the economic crises, with increases of only 0 –
1%; and as a result, many important updates to the curriculum, buildings, and systems have been unfavorably
neglected. We are a turning point now, and merely meeting our contractual increases and paying our bills cannot be
our only goals for the future when our town’s prestige and property values are inextricably linked to the quality of our
schools. It is easy to be a visionary leader when economic times are abundantly good, but true vision fosters a
commitment to investing in education especially when times are difficult.
So, what are those investments? First, we have maintained the smaller class sizes that have become the hallmark of
this district, acknowledging they are smaller than is typical in other communities. Second, we have supported
technological investments which will bring the district closer to the one-to-one ratio needed for the Smarter Balance
testing in 2015 and closer to the 21st century instructional models which engage students in skills and understandings
they will soon need for their world of work, not ours. Third, we have included a sum of money earmarked for the
additional security projects we may uncover as more information comes to us from those who, in the wake of Sandy
Hook, are engaged in the study of new prevention measures! Finally, we have included the professional development
we will need to implement the unfunded state-mandated teacher and administrator evaluation plans and the
changeover to the Common Core Standards in Language Arts.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynn K. McMullin
Superintendent of Schools
“Education is more than a luxury; it is a responsibility that society owes to itself.”

The Orange Elementary School District recognizes
that the education of each child is the shared
responsibility of every member of our
community.
Our goal is to inspire and empower each student to
achieve academic excellence, embrace social
and individual responsibility, and lead with
integrity. We believe all individuals should be
valued and treated with respect.
OUR MISSION

WE ARE COMMITED TO:
• Providing powerful academic challenges
• Respecting individual and community values
• Nurturing personal growth
• Taking pride in our children and celebrating their
successes
• Promoting school and community spirit
• Enhancing lifelong learning through technology
• Believing all children deserve a childhood
• Creatively, confidently building the future
Together we will make a difference.

TWO CORE BELIEFS …
IN PRESENTING THIS BUDGET
That merely meeting our contractual increases and paying
our bills cannot be our only goals for the future when our
town’s prestige and property values are inextricably linked
to the quality of our schools and our own futures are
inextricably linked to the preparation of our students.
That it is easy to be a visionary leader when economic
times are abundantly good; but true vision, and true
courage, fosters a commitment to investing in education
especially when times are difficult. If I can foster that
vision and commitment, I will have succeeded.

CONTENT AREA
2006
% of Grade 6 at
GOAL
2011
% of Grade 6 at
GOAL
2012
% of Grade 6 at
GOAL
MATH 78.2% 93.4% 92.4%
READING 79.7% 91.2% 91.2%
WRITING 77.8% 87.1% 87.2%
2012 – 2013 SUCCESS STORIES:
ACADEMICS
Over the past five to six years, test scores have improved. Below you can
see scores at Goal. In 2012, we began tracking the Advanced band: 60%
scored Adv. In Math, 41% SCORED Adv. In Reading, and 46% scored Adv. In
Writing.

YEAR
MATHEMATICS
DRG B Rank
READING
DRG B Rank
WRITING
DRG B Rank
2006 12th of 21 18th of 21 17th of 21
2011 3rd of 21 6th of 21 4th of 21
2012 4th of 21 1st of 21 8th of 21
2012 – 2013 SUCCESS STORIES: ACADEMICS
A renewed focus on differentiating for students at the upper Advanced band
should maintain and strengthen Orange‟s position at the top of our DRG.
However, teachers in Orange have maintained their focus on meaningful,
rigorous project-based learning, as well. A new Math curriculum has a
strong problem-solving component.

Grade 3
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Reading 62.4% 70.5% 80.9% 71.7% 75.9%
Writing 80.5% 72.9% 79.3% 72.5% 75.3%
Math 78.8% 84.3% 86.0% 86.1% 81.3%
Grade 4
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Reading 71.4% 78.1% 78.7% 87.0% 79.5%
Writing 83.3% 76.3% 80.5% 91.4% 83.3%
Math 80.8% 85.8% 89.5% 90.3% 85.3%
Longitudinal Improvements in % of students at Goal or
above.

Grade 5
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Reading 75% 88.8% 83.1% 75.8% 92.2%
Writing 82.2% 91.2% 89.1% 86.7% 87.1%
Math 83.2% 91% 91.6% 92.9% 92.4%
Science -- 69% 76% 81% 89.8%
Grade 6
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Reading 78.8% 88.8% 92.3% 91.2% 91.2%
Writing 77.9% 87.7% 88.7% 87.2% 87.2%
Math 81.5% 90.4% 95.9% 93.4% 92.4%
Longitudinal Improvements in % of students at Goal or
above.

Grade 5 (in 2012)
2010
3rd grade
2011
4th grade
2012
5th grade
% change
Reading -- 80.9% 87% 92.2% +11.4
Writing -- 79.3% 91.4% 87.1% +7.8
Math -- 86% 90.3% 92.4% +6.4
Grade 6 (in 2012)
2009
3rd grade
2010
4th grade
2011
5th grade
2012
6th grade
% change
Reading 70.5% 78.7% 75.8% 92.2% +21.7
Writing 72.9% 80.5% 86.7% 87.2% +14.3
Math 84.2% 89.5% 92.9% 92.4% +8.2
Growth over time: Achievement at Goal or above, same cohort

2012 – 2013 SUCCESS STORIES: COMMUNICATIONS
• Implementation of a new webpage at oess.org.
o Improved first impression and created focus on children
o All previous content was reformatted and moved to new site
o New content was added
o Up-to-date, trustworthy calendar
o Regularly updated district news
o Added „news bite‟ pop-ups
o Virtual backpack for each school
o RSS-feed
o „Search‟ feature
o SlideShare reports
o Superintendent‟s Blog

• Implementation of a new webpage at oess.org.
August 2012 - March 10, 2013
• 75,500 visits to the site
• 22,000 unique visits
• 96% view in English
• #of pages per visit: 4.4
• Peaks:
o First day of school: 3,350 visits
o Hurricane Sandy: 4,400 visits
o February snow storm: 4,300
SlideShare: 3,368 views
“Security Presentation” = 108 views in February –
March

• Conducted satisfaction surveys of
parents, staff, and students in Grade
2, 4, and 6
o Strategic Planning Committee
developed a 3-year plan
o Administrative Team analyzed
results
o Schools set improvement goals
• Special Education conducted
satisfaction survey and reported on
results

• Implementation of the new math curriculum, Math Expressions
• Built capacity for adoption of the Common Core Standards in
Language Arts and Math
• Expansion of Accelerated Reader to Peck Place and Race Brook
• Implementation of Dreambox Math
(Scientifically Researched-Based Intervention – SRBI)
• Multiple pilots of additional math tools
• Implementation of Lexia (SRBI)
2012 – 2013 SUCCESS STORIES: CURRICULUM

• Development of Common Assessments in Specials (Art, Music, PE,
Library, WL)
• Implemented „Student Success Plans‟ using Naviance in Grade 6
• Provided TEAM workshops to support new teachers
• Expanded ELL program to meet needs (18 to 41 students)
• Developed a standards-based report card in PowerSchool for fall 2013

• Supported Math
Expressions with
on-line parent
resources
• Provided on-line
student and
teacher resources

• Expanded the Instrumental Music Program to include more
students, more grades, more performances
• Implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and
Supports at Race Brook and Turkey Hill
• Piloting the SBAC Test at Peck Place and Race Brook
• Administered the NEAP Test at Race Brook (randomly
selected)
2012 – 2013 SUCCESS STORIES: PROGRAMS
• Wrote a new Teacher Evaluation
Plan to meet state mandate

• Established a full-time, two-person Technology Department
• Inventoried equipment and developed a short-term and long-term
replacement and maintenance plan
• Recycled outdated equipment
2012 – 2013 SUCCESS STORIES: TECHNOLOGY
• Installed 2 COWS (Computers-on-
Wheels) per school
• Installed iPad cart at MLT
• Began the implementation of
PowerSchool for August 2013

• Negotiated a contract for increased bandwidth for fiber-optics
• Completed a printer analysis of 168 devices; developed a plan to
save $18,000 which was reinvested into better technology
• Upgraded the email system from antiquated undersized system to
a free cloud-based solution
• Upgraded the wireless and wired networks
• Supported Security Plan with state-of-the art technologies
o ID badges, card readers, visitor management, cameras
2012 – 2013 SUCCESS STORIES: TECHNOLOGY

• Prepared five key facilities projects for Bond Package
• Planned a responsible and comprehensive Security Plan for
Bond Package
• Secured and recovered from two significant weather events
• Restored Mary L. Tracy meeting room
• Secured Natural Gas hook-ups for Turkey Hill and Race Brook
• Implemented removal of unsafe appliances from classrooms
(safety/energy savings)
2012 – 2013 SUCCESS STORIES: FACILITIES
• Replaced main stage curtains
at Turkey Hill

2012 – 2013 SUCCESS STORIES: FINANCIAL
• Negotiated four contracts: custodial, cafeteria,
teacher, paraprofessionals
• Negotiated gas energy savings of $18,000
• Completed RFPs and ED-049 Application for
Bonded Projects; ongoing bond application work
• Implemented 0-based budgeting, consolidated
budget lines, allocated expenses to proper
accounts
• Implemented energy-conservation projects with UI
(interior and exterior lighting)

THE 2013 – 2014 BUDGET
…meeting our contractual increases and paying our bills cannot
be our only goals for the future
… it’s easy when times are abundantly good; but takes courage
when times are difficult.
This Budget:
• 0-Based Budgeting
• Maintains the smaller class sizes = hallmark of the community
• Supports technological investments = bring us closer to 1:1 needed for
SBAC and 21st century instructional models
• Meets the unfunded mandates of TEVAL
• Meets our contractual obligations
• Modestly addresses changes in school security

2013-2014 GOAL #1: TECHNOLOGY
• Implementation of PowerSchool, new student information
system with a Parent Portal
• Secure district servers in locked, air-conditioned racks
• Replace desk-top printers with multi-function copiers
• Create an automated, searchable, on-
line BOE Policy Manual
• Improve connectivity among schools
• Additional laptops for student use
• Replace old CRT monitors with LCD
monitors (significant energy savings)

2013-2014 GOAL #2: EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
• Meet mandate for 18-hour „calibration training; and 7-hour
„qualification testing‟ for supervisors for Teacher Evaluation
Plan (TEVAL)
• Implement Language Arts Common Core Standards
• Provide curriculum and meet the
requirements for services in a
burgeoning ELL program (18 students
in 2011 to 41 students in 2012)
• Provide security monitors for all
afterschool activities and programs

DISTRICT CLASS SIZES OVER TIME
These three charts show DRG A and DRG B data from the October 1, 2010, Strategic School Profiles (SSP), the last published reports available.
This projection assumes none of these other districts increased their class sizes over the past three years. To the data, "Orange 2013" was
added based on the projected 2013 Class Sizes. As evidenced, class sizes have not risen over time.
Sorted smallest to largest by Grade K Sorted smallest to largest by Grade 2 Sorted smallest to largest by Grade 5

2013- 2014 PROJECTED CLASS SIZE: MLT
School Projected Population Projected Class Size
District Total 1198
Mary L. Tracy –
Kindergarten / Pre-K
146 (8)
24 Pre-K (2)
Current Actual = 154 / 19
Prediction = 126 / 25
15/16 (K)
12 (pre-K)
Race Brook
Current Actual = 374
Prediction = 373
Turkey Hill
Prediction = 302
Peck Place
Prediction = 372

2013- 2014 PROJECTED CLASS SIZE: RBS
District Total 1198
Mary L. Tracy Kindergarten 126 / 25 Pre-K
Race Brook 373
Grade 1 56 (3) 18/19
Grade 2 51 (3) 17
Grade 3 58 (3) 19/20
Grade 4 70 (4) 17/18
Grade 5 64 (4) 16
Grade 6 74 (4) 18/19
Turkey Hill 302
Peck Place 372
Reduction of one position

2013- 2014 PROJECTED CLASS SIZE: THS
District Total 1198
Race Brook 373
Turkey Hill 302
Grade 1 46 (3) 15/16
Grade 2 50 (3) 16/17
Grade 3 45 (3) 15
Grade 4 52 (3) 17/18
Grade 5 59 (3) 19/20
Grade 6 50 (3) 16/17
Peck Place 372

2013- 2014 PROJECTED CLASS SIZE: PPS
School Projected Population
Projected Class
Size
District Total 1198
Race Brook 373
Turkey Hill 302
Peck Place 377
Grade 1 58 (3) 19/20
Grade 2 59 (3) 19/20
Grade 3 59 (3) 19/20
Grade 4 74 (4) 18
Grade 5 53 (3) 17/18
Grade 6 69 (4) 17/18
Reduction of one position

ADDITIONS OVER 12 - 13 BUDGET
• 1.75% -- Overall contractual increase, OTL
• $125,000 – Employee Benefits
• $16,500 – Transportation
• $90,000 – Special Education
o $10,000 – Expand Lexia to SE students
o $40,000 – Special Education services, based
on IEPs and tuition increases
o $26,000 – Contractual increases

• $52,200 -- School Security Monitors
• 2:00 – 9:00 p.m.
• all schools
• partially off-set by 21st Century
• $12,000 -- Reinstate CABE Membership and
set-up on-line BOE policy service
• $72,000 -- .5 ELL Teacher; .16 Language Arts
Curriculum Specialist at MLT; .70 Band
Teacher
• $23,000 -- 2 Reading Aides moved into BOE
operating budget from grant

• $35,000 – PowerSchool, additional Lexia seats, Dreambox,
TEVAL software
• $20,000 – iPad learning labs at three* elementary schools
(*funded, along with SmartBoards, at MLT through pre-K tuitions)
• $20,000 – Security upgrades; technology, software, equipment
• $7,000 – Expand Special Education summer school to include
1.5 hours in both reading and math (vs. either/or)

DECREASES FROM 12 - 13 BUDGET
• - $93,000 – 2.0 classroom teachers; Peck
Place and Race Brook
• - $20,000 -- .5 World Language teacher
• - $12,000 – Curriculum Budget: testing, LA
implemented without purchase
• - $73,200 –Substitute costs (new PD model)
• - $47,000 – Heat (conversion to gas)
• $0 – 1.5 FTE: one SE paraprofessional at
each school will be re-trained in ESL
(reduction /addition)

BUDGET SUMMARY
2011 – 2012
Expended
Actual
2012 – 2013
Approved
2013 – 2014
Proposed
% Increase
Administration
(Security Monitors, CABE)
$468,682 $486,660 $566,288 + 16.4%
Curriculum
(*re-org of positions)
$170,381 $349,075* $337,293 - 3.4%
Classroom Teacher
Salaries
(1.75% contractual increase)
$6,234,016 $6,364,736 $6,388,781 + 0.4%
All Other Instruction
(salaries, iPad labs,
technology)
$1,302,819 $1,579,177 $1,760,636 + 11.4%
Special Education $3,666,182 $3,178,328 $3,267,725 + 2.8%
Transportation $694,324 $735,607 $752,094 + 2.2%
Building Operations $982,840 $1,011,432 $1,004,398 - 0.7%
Plant Maintenance $450,472 $447,882 $470,882 + 5.1%
Employee Benefits $3,450,241 $3,499,907 $3,624,943 + 3.6%

SUMMARY OF TOTAL REQUEST
 2011 - 2012 Expended Budget:
$17,478,076
 2012-2013 Approved Budget:
$17,766,888
 2013-2014 Proposed Budget:
$18,250,055
 Difference: $483,167
 Difference in percent: + 2.7%

THIS YEAR's BUDGET:
Orange's proposed increase for this
year is 2.7%, 58th among 75 districts.
The average proposed increase was
4.0%. The high was 8.3%
(Colchester). The low was .7%
(Woodbridge).
The average adopted increase this
year -- among the 51 districts who
have adopted budgets -- is 3.7%.
The high is 8.3% (East Haddam, the
BOE increased .9% over the
proposed). The low is .5% (Redding).
Top ½ of the chart

Bottom ½ of the chart
Average % Over Last TWO years:
Over the past two years, the
average increase among districts is
2.8%.
The high is East Haddam at 6.4%
average. The low is Region #1 at
.3%.
If adopted, Orange's average over
the two years will be 1.9% (based
on 1% last year, 2.7 % this year).
This would rank 41st among the 51
schools with adopted budgets thus
far.

0.0%
1.0%
2.0%
3.0%
4.0%
5.0%
6.0%
7.0%
8.0%
9.0%
Colchester
Middletown
NorthStonington
Newtown
Canterbury
Wethersfield
Danbury
EastHampton
Ellington
Westport
Southington
RockyHill
NewMilford
Coventry
Darien
Monroe
OldSaybrook
EastHaven
Portland
Guilford
EastLyme
Stratford
Cheshire
Bethany
Plainfield
Oxford
Branford
NewFairfield
Orange
Farmington
Seymour
Plainville
Simsbury
Regional#01
Redding
Weston
Windham
DRG B
Orange
2013 – 2014 PROPOSED BUDGET
INCREASES

2-YEAR AVERAGE INCREASE (WITH 2.7% APPROVED)
0.0%
1.0%
2.0%
3.0%
4.0%
5.0%
6.0%
7.0%
EastHaddam
EastHartford
Ellington
Newington
Darien
Ansonia
Danbury
RockyHill
EastHaven
BethelPublic
NewCanaan
Brookfield
Southington
Coventry
Colchester
Fairfield
Manchester
Newtown
Tolland
Canterbury
Guilford
SouthWindsor
Westport
Ridgefield
Cheshire
Shelton
Somers
Salem
Branford
Farmington
Enfield
Woodbridge
Trumbull
Bethany
Seymour
Madison
Milford
Avon
EastLyme
Orange
Regional#06
Putnam
Windsor
Simsbury
Easton
Weston
Oxford
Plainville
Redding
Regional
DRG B
Orange

CONCLUSIONS
• The 2.7% increase requested this year is well
within the bottom half of reporting districts.
• This 2.7% follows a five-year pattern of 1.0% of
below increases:
• This budget finally goes beyond meeting
contractual increases and paying the bills.
• Other districts are taking that „leap of faith‟ and
investing in education this year.
% Year
0.9 2009-10
1.0 2010-11
0.6 2011-12
1.0 2012-13
2.7 2013-14
1.2 5 years

2013-2014 Proposed Education Budget

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2013-2014 Proposed Education Budget