Committee Report - Finance - 6-12-12 — File 193410

June 12, 2012 Finance Committee Page 1 of 3 Printed 6/19/2012 REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Maryann M. Heuston Chair Absent William A. White Jr. Vice Chair Present John M Connolly Alderman At Large Present Robert C. Trane Ward Seven Alderman Present Thomas F. Taylor Ward Three Alderman Present William M. Roche Ward One Alderman Present Tony Lafuente Ward Four Alderman Present Sean T. O’Donovan Ward Five Alderman Present Rebekah L. Gewirtz Ward Six Alderman Present Bruce M. Desmond Alderman At Large Present Dennis M. Sullivan Alderman At Large Present Tony Pierantozzi Supt. of Schools Present Paul Bockelman School Committee Chair Present M. Teresa Cardoso School Committee Ward 2 Present Mary Jo Rossetti School Committee Ward 7 Present Christine Rafal School Committee Ward 4 Present Adam Sweeting School Committee Ward 3 Present Joseph Curtatone Mayor Present Anna Doherty Director, SomerPromise Present Maria Carpenter Library Director Present James Halloran Recreation Superintendent Present Ed Bean Finance Director Present Mark Niedergang School Committee Ward 5 Present The following Aldermen were recused from all discussions of the departments below, as noted: Alderman Roche Police, Constituent Services, DPW - Sanitation Alderman Heuston DPW - Administration Alderman Taylor Animal Control Alderman O’Donovan Fire, Capital Planning Alderman Trane School Department Alderman Desmond: Information Technology Alderman Sullivan Traffic and Parking FY-13 City Budget The budget requests for the following departments were reviewed at this meeting:

Committee of the Whole June 12, 2012 Finance Committee Page 2 of 3 Printed 6/19/2012  School Department (see below)  SomerPromise  Libraries  Recreation  Enterprise Funds The following requests were made by the committee:  a written statement from the City Solicitor stating that it is legal and proper for the city to be involved with funding positions in SomerPromise, Ald. White)  job descriptions for the new positions being requested in the Recreation Department School Department Much of this meeting was spent discussing the School Department’s budget request. Superintendent Pierantozzi provided an overview of the department’s operation and told the members that the School Department’s goals are aligned with the city's goals of promoting innovation and leveraging city resources. The department’s funds are being spent on direct services by professional educators. The FY- 13 budget request is $3,550,835 more that that of FY-12, with $1.8 million of that amount being used to maintain services. Funding for various tutoring programs is also being increased and a total of 14.6 FTE is being added to the department, as follows:  4 full time teachers,  3 para-professionals,  1 full time ELL support position,  2 para-professional for Special Education,  1 re-direct teacher at the Kennedy School,  2 part time utility aids at the Kennedy School,  1 full time technology specialist,  1 full time Capital Planning position,  2 part time utility aids at Somerville High School,  1 assistant golf coach,  1 Athletics and Health Coordinator The total student enrollment for FY-12 is 4,940 with 71% of that number being elementary school students. Students not having English as a first language comprise 51% of the total enrollment and 67% of the city's student population come from low income families. The projected enrollment for FY-13 is 5047, which represents a 2% increase over FY-12. Superintendent Pierantozzi also noted that the city’s drop-out rate decreased by 2% during FY-12 and that Somerville High School was selected as a Verizon Thinkfinity School, a distinction given to only 6 schools in the country. Plans for FY-13 include a Middle School foreign language program, a Parent/Guardian Outreach initiative, Middle School

Committee of the Whole June 12, 2012 Finance Committee Page 3 of 3 Printed 6/19/2012 Interscholastic Sports Programs, after school tutoring, and El Sistema at the East Somerville Community School.