The proposed 2018-2019 budget for Litchfield Public Schools is $18,933,526, representing no increase over the previous year's budget. This was achieved through staffing reductions of 7.9 FTE positions and the elimination of certain programs. While salaries make up the largest portion of the budget at 57%, benefits saw the largest increase at 10% due to rising healthcare costs. The budget prioritizes student achievement, safety, and communication while addressing budget challenges from reduced state funding.

1. LITCHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SUPERINTENDENT’S PROPOSED
BUDGET
2018-2019

2. Our Mission
The mission of the Litchfield
Public Schools is to provide
all students with appropriate
academic and personal
learning experiences within a
safe and supportive
educational environment. In
partnership with our parents
and community, we challenge
every learner to acquire the
knowledge, skills, and
personal attributes needed to
become productive and self-
directed citizens.

3. District Goals
Student Achievement: All students will participate in a rigorous, enriching,
and engaging learning experience that supports their academic, social,
emotional and physical development.
Culture: LPS will develop and maintain a learning environment focused on
physical safety as well as social and emotional well-being.
Communication: The district will effectively communicate with all stakeholders
and will continuously work to improve relationships with parents and the
community.
Resources: Resources will be utilized effectively and efficiently to support the
district’s mission and goals.

4. Superintendent’s Letter
Dear Members of the Litchfield Community,
The Superintendent’s proposed budget represents the hard work of the administrative team, teachers, and
department leaders, and is directly connected to district goals, the District Improvement Plan, and school and
department goals. Our priority is to provide a rigorous and engaging learning experience for all students to
support academic achievement, as well as social, emotional and physical development.
The proposed budget for 2018-2019 is $18,933,526. This represents a 0% increase over last year’s budget and
includes decreases in essentially all budget categories except Benefits, Plant Operations, and Outside Tuition.
Reductions in staff at the High School, Intermediate School, and Center School are reflected in this budget.
The proposed budget reflects the resources necessary to provide high quality instruction, supports the social and
emotional development of our students, and enhances opportunities for rich, educational experiences. We
remain committed to providing the highest quality education for our students, despite decreases in staffing levels.
This budget respects the needs of our students, and the citizens of Litchfield.
Respectfully submitted,
Sherri Turner
Superintendent of Schools

5. District Accomplishments
Student Achievement Culture Communication
Collaboration with Teacher’s College at
LCS/LIS
Year 2 of Second Step implementation to
support social-emotional well-being
Development of District Data Dashboard
Development of District Improvement Plan School Climate Committees develop and
support implementation of action plans
based on CSCI results
Monthly Superintendent’s Forums to
discuss concerns and gather input
Litchfield High School honored as a
School of Distinction
Collaboration time PK-12 through PD and
work of PDEC (Mindset)
District Newsletter published 3 times per
year
NWEA/MAP administrations used to
inform instruction
Collaboration with Greenwoods/Litchfield
Prevention Council (Parent Workshops,
Mindfulness Training)
Community Conversations
Enrichment Academies at LCS/LIS Growth Mindset Website improvements based on survey
data/feedback
Innovative Teaching and Learning at LIS Student Council at LIS Facebook posts
The Torch Newspaper at LHS Comprehensive School Climate Inventory
administration
Utilization of School Messenger for better
communication of non-emergency
messages
Student led conferences at LMS LIS/LMS students and staff use the movie
Wonder as inspiration for kindness in
schools

6. Challenges
 State Budget Impacts
 Unfunded Mandates
Reductions in …
 Town Educational Cost Sharing (ECS)
 Special Education Excess Cost Funding
 Title Grants
 To present a zero percent (0%) budget
 The initial 2018-19 Budget Projection was $19,683,000 (+3.8%)
 This year the overall projected increase was ~$750,000 with no changes in personnel or operations
 Over the past 4 years Litchfield School budgets have averaged +2.7%
 The average 2.7% increase can be primarily attributed to salaries and benefits
 Meeting the goals set by the Board of Education while adjusting to meet the current
economic realities of school funding

7. External Budget Drivers
Unfunded Mandates
 Local Medicare Reimbursement
Requirements
 TEAM
State Reductions to Educational
Cost Sharing Grant (ECS)
Impact Town of Litchfield (ECS)
 < 1.0% Town’s Operating Budget
 ~0.2 Mills
 State Reductions to Excess Cost
Grant (Special Education)
FY 2017 FY 2018 $ Change % Change
1,446,598 1,236,926 (209,672) -14.5%

8. Budget History

9. Budget Development Style
Litchfield Public Schools uses a combination of zero-based
and priority based budgeting
 Zero-based budgeting is defined as a technique whereby each budget item must be
justified from scratch or zero for all existing and newly requested programs. This
process is conducted each fiscal year compared to budgetary decisions being
based on previous year’s funding level.
 Priority Based Budgeting is designed to match available resources with school
priorities and provide information to elected officials that lead to better informed
decisions, meaningfully engage citizens in the budgeting process.

10. Budget Development Schedule
Month Date Discussion
November 8
December 11 Public
December 22
January 8 - 12 Non-Public
January 15 - 31
January 16 Public
February 5 Public
February 21 Public
March 7 Public
March 19 Public
April 2 Tentative
April 4 Tentative
April 8
April 24 Public
May 8 Public
BOE Finance budget work session
Board of Education Revises 2018/19 Budget
BOE 2018/19 Budget submission to the newspaper
Superintendents presents the 2018/19 BOE Budget to the Town of Litchfield Citizens
Annual Town Meeting for the 2018/19 Budget Adoption
BOE Facilities & Technology Committee budget work session
BOE Finance budget work session
Superintendent presents the 2018/19 Proposed Budget to the Board of Education
Board of Education Adopts 2018-19 Budget
Superintendent presents the 2018/19 BOE Budget to the Board of Finance
System wide budgets due (Salary Projections, Transportation, Utilities, etc.)
Board of Finance Meeting - preliminary guidance
Activity
Budget forms and budget allocations distribution to each School/Department
School/Department budget requests due back to the Business Office
Superintendent Review of School/Department budget requests

11. 57%
17%
10%
5%
5%
2%
1%
1%
1%
1%
Salaries
Benefits
Plant Operations
Special Education
Transportation
Information Technology
Pupil Services
District Wide Services
Regular Instruction
Outside Tuition
Superintendent’s Proposed Budget is $18,933,526
($0 or 0.0%)

12. 57%
Employee Salaries (-$210,067)
Budgeted at $10,726,818 (-1.9%)
 Salaries and Wages make up 57% of the
overall operating budget.
 General Fund Employees: 162.7 FTE
 The majority of Salaries/Wages are
governed by Union Contracts.
 Enrollment has been decreasing over the
past few years, however it is projected to
level out and start increasing by 2020.

13. District Enrollment

14. Historical Enrollment by School

15. NESDEC Enrollment Projections

16. Employee Salaries
Contractual changes to salary and wages represent more than a 2% increase to the
overall school budget, and in order to get to a zero (0%) budget NOT adjusting
staffing levels would severely impact the other budget category areas
Proposed Staffing/Stipend Adjustments: (-7.9 FTE)
 -3.0 FTE High School Teachers
 -2.0 FTE Intermediate School Teachers
 -0.4 FTE Center School Special Ed Teacher
 -0.5 FTE Custodial Services
 -2.0 FTE Special Education Paraprofessionals
 -16.5 Instructional Area Coordinator Stipends

17. Projected Class Sizes – PreK-8

18. General Fund Staffing History (FTE)

19. Budget Drivers
Categories that have increased
(+$386,418)
Program
Proposed
Budget
FY 2017-18 % Diff % Total $ Diff
Benefits 3,339,940 3,035,295 10.04% 17.5% 304,645
Plant Operations 1,875,688 1,815,383 3.32% 9.8% 60,305
Outside Tuition 116,968 95,500 22.48% 0.6% 21,468

20. 17%
Employee Benefits (+$304,645)
Budgeted at $3,339,940 (10%)
 Benefits makes up 17% of the overall
operating budget
 The Town of Litchfield and the Board of
Education are in the same self insurance
pool.
 There are 486 plan members in total
 School District has
 25 individual plans
 47 individual + spouse plans
 57 family plans
 Defined Contribution Plan ($27,000)-
New

21. Plant Operations (+$60,305)
Budget $1,875,688 (3.3%)
 Est. Price of Fuel Oil +18.4% (+$31,500)
 Boiler Maintenance (+$13,000)
 Plowing Contract (+$40,000)
 Revenue for Student Tuition was previously
applied to lower BOE Maintenance and Custodial
Budget on the Town Side
 $54,942 FY 2017-18
 Custodial and Maintenance Budget is $1,217,016
which is under what the TOL budgeted in 2016-17
10%
2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
Custodial 1,059,000 986,629 976,097 1,004,361 1,058,098 1,077,206 1,026,730
Mainteance 186,763 188,455 189,810 191,541 178,365 117,500 190,286
1,245,763 1,175,084 1,165,907 1,195,902 1,236,463 1,194,706 1,217,016

22. 1%
Outside Tuition ($21,468)
Budget $116,968 (22.5%)
Vo Ag Student Tuition- Wamogo (RSD #6)
 Cost per Student is $6,823
 9 current students
 Anticipating 7 new students
 Total of 16 compared to 12 the prior year

23. Budget Categories that have decreased
(-$386,418)
Program
Proposed
Budget
FY 2017-18 % Diff % Total $ Diff
Salaries 10,726,818 10,936,885 -1.9% 56.7% (210,067)
Pupil Services 275,648 333,941 -17.5% 1.5% (58,293)
Transportation 896,631 932,178 -3.8% 4.7% (35,547)
District Wide Services 259,775 294,599 -11.8% 1.4% (34,823)
Special Education 933,612 957,050 -2.4% 4.9% (23,438)
Regular Instruction 207,029 226,691 -8.7% 1.1% (19,662)
Information Technology 301,416 306,004 -1.5% 1.6% (4,588)

24. Adjustments to School Services/Operations
Offsetting Budget Drivers
 Salaries & Wages
 Reduced 7.9 FTE
 Instructional Area Coordinator Stipends eliminated
 Eliminated Programs
 Center School Summer Academies
 System Wide Reductions
 Regular Instruction
 Pupil Services
 Special Education
 Transportation
 Information Technology
 District Wide Services
 Program improvement not included
 High School Arts Program (.5 FTE)

25. Looking Ahead…
 Ad Hoc Collaboration Committee
 Possible sharing of courses and activities with Wamogo
 Gifted programming 4-6 (using current staff)
 PK-12 alignment continuing in curriculum and instructional practices
 Continue to support social emotional well being
 Mindfulness training and programming
 Collaboration with Greenwoods and the Prevention Council
 Continue participation on Energy Efficiencies Task Force (Green Team)
 Foster positive relationships and communication with Town boards