Rochester School Department Blog

Here is the up to date list of the budget reductions recommended by the management team.

The Rochester School Board began consideration of the 2010-2011 school year budget on February 1st.  The total proposed operating budget is $54,455,200.  This is an increase of $126,522 from last year.  This proposed operating budget and the revenue projections meet the tax cap requirements and a zero local tax increase.

The operating budget is impacted by a major increase in Health Insurance of 25% for a total of $1,375,829.  This increase is based on estimates from the Local Government Center and are the maximum increase.  We usually hear in May the actual rate increase.  Hopefully, the rate is reduced in May.

The Health Insurance increase is offset by significant staff reductions.  The reduction amounts to 1.4 million dollars.  The list of positions are:  one elementary classroom teacher, 2.5 traveling elementary staff,  2 middle school teachers,  1 middle school guidance counselor,  3 high school teachers, 3 special education teachers, one special education counselor, moving a curriculum coordinator to grant funding, a Safety Team Leader, a Human Resources Secretary,  a school psychologist, and one maintenance staff position.

The next largest increase is in aide salaries, and clerical salaries.  We are starting the third year of a contract with the para-professional bargaining unit.

The Committee structure of the Board allows each sub-committee to review their portion of the budget.  The Building Committee’s budget has decreased by $446,811 due to a decrease in the cash CIP.  We have reduced requests for cash funded repairs to buildings.

The personnel budget has increased $1,100,713, mostly due to Health Insurance rates.

The Finance Committee budget has dropped by $586,710, due to a drop in debt service Principal and Interest.

The Instruction Committee has increased $26,836 for a .6% increase in that portion of the budget.

Special Services has increased $32,494 due to transportation cost increases.

The cash CIP portion of the budget is $220,00 and the bonded CIP proposal is $1,024,500.  The cash CIP projects are electrical upgrades, painting (both interior and exterior), East Rochester roof replacement, walls, soundproofing, ceiling tiles and HVAC work, High School attic and auditorium sprinkler installation.

If you have questions about the presentation from Thursday, January 28th you can email me the questions at hopkins.m@rochesterschools.com or post a comment on the blog. 

The link to our video page is:  http://www.rochesterschoolvideo.com/

The video should be online sometime next week.

Here is the Big Step Forward Report in PDF format.

The Special School Board meeting for the presentation of the Big Step Forward is January 28th, 7 p.m. in the downstairs conference room.  Mr. Shea will present the report and the Board members may follow up with questions.

The public forum on the report is scheduled for February 8th.

BSF_Presentation 10-01-28

At last night’s Instruction Committee Mr. Shea presented an outline of the BSF proposal.  The outline is linked below. 

The next steps in the process are listed below:

January 28th,  Special School Board meeting, 7 p.m. at location to be announced.  Mr. Shea will present a summary of the proposal for 45 minutes, with questions and answers from the Board for the remainder of the meeting.  We anticipate this meeting being televised live on public television.  This will be a meeting for the Board get answers about the process.  The next meeting will include the public in questions and comments.

February 8th, a similar review/presentation from Mr. Shea as part of a public forum.  The public would then be invited to comment and ask questions on the proposal.  If there is more public comment required, another public forum will scheduled after this meeting. 

We should have a location for both meetings determined in the next two weeks. 

Here is the outline of the BSF proposal.

BSF_Update 09-12-17 (2)

12/18/2009

Based on the new regulation,  the clinic in Farmingtonis open to everyone.

Here is a link to the H1N1 letter and forms to be completed prior to the local clinis. 

H1N1 VaccinationLtr (2)

Here is the flyer with the dates of the upcoming clinics.

Flyer_Clinics__Week_of_12 14 09 (2)

The Rochester School Department has reported a drop out rate to the State of New Hampshire that has been reduced significantly from the previous years.  The overall rate for the2008-2009 school year for the District is 3.3%, and Spaulding High School is only 3%.  The overall 4 year drop rate for Rochester will be close to 15% with some State data to be finalized.  If Rochester continues with the 3% rate the cumulative four year rate will drop to nearly 10%.  Any student that drops out of school is significant, but Rochester has made progress in the last year in reducing the drop out rate.

 In 2007-08, over 100 students dropped out of SHS.  In 2008-09, 53 students dropped out of Spaulding High School & Bud Carlson Academy combined.   Of the 53 students that dropped out, four have now earned their GED.  Three students of the 53 are enrolled in college at this time.  These students, six different students, are still considered drop outs, but have a better chance of success based on their progress.

There are several reasons for the improvement last year – and the expectation of continued improvement this year (and beyond):
* The decision two years ago to establish Bud Carlson Academy as a separate alternative school rather than a program within the high school.
* The success last year of Bud Carlson Academy in its very first year.  Sixty-one students graduated from BCA. 
* The new state law (in effect as of this school year) raising the legal drop-out age to 18 years.
* The absolutely tenacious work of our assistant principals, deputy principal, guidance counselors, truant officer, Assistant Superintendent  and our district court liaison tracking down students (and parents) and getting the students to school.
* Better data and more effective use of that data (due in large part to Infinite Campus).
* The ongoing work at Spaulding High School to provide students (particularly at-risk students) with better and more timely remediation (as needed), more opportunities to earn credits, and alternative
pathways to a high school diploma. 
And for the students who don’t make it to graduation (earning either an SHS diploma or a BCA diploma), we are continuing to do our very best to create viable and multiple opportunities for students to at least earn their GED.

Please note the updated information on H1N1.  We hope to have some clinics in Rochester before the Holiday break. The clinics would be for anyone ages 6 months to 24 years of age, and adults with underlying medical conditions. 

We will advertise the times and locations as soon as they are scheduled. 

DHHS Expands H1N1 Vaccination to Additional Priority Groups

 Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) today announced the expansion of H1N1 vaccination to include additional groups of people at risk for complications from the H1N1 influenza. 

 Based on the amount of H1N1 vaccine expected to come into New Hampshire, the following groups are now eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine: 

•  Anyone between the ages of 6 months to 24 years of age
• Adults 25 through 64 years of age with underlying medical conditions

 In addition, the following groups remain eligible to receive the vaccine:

•  Health care workers with direct patient contact
• Pregnant women
• People caring for or living with infants younger than 6 months old (including partners of pregnant women)

 “We have reached another critical point in the vaccination process,” said Public Health Director Dr José Montero.  “Now that we have been able to vaccinate most of those in the initial targeted groups we can direct the incoming vaccine to those who remain at highest risk for complications from this illness.  We strongly encourage all those who are in these groups to get vaccinated as it is the single best way to prevent H1N1.”

 “As we work to reach additional populations, we anticipate starting to schedule school-based clinics because this will be the most efficient and effective way to reach children,” said Montero.  “We have been working with the Department of Education, the school districts and private schools, planning for this scenario.  However, we want to remind people this process will take some time; there will be a limited number of school-based clinics held next week with the full schedule starting the week of December 14^th.” 

 The school-based clinics will be held along with clinics that are already being organized through the State’s All Health Hazard Regions.

 In addition to expanding the priority groups for vaccination, DHHS is declaring a Public Health Incident relative to H1N1.  This declaration is an effort to proactively address the State’s ongoing response to H1N1; specifically it will allow DHHS to seek outside assistance in its response efforts. 

For additional H1N1 resources and information about clinics visit www.nh.gov or call the NH Public

Inquiry line between 8 and 5 by dialing 2-1-1 or 866-444-4211.  Additional H1N1 resources are available at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov and the US Department of Health and Human Services at www.flu.gov.

November 1, 2009

Dear Parents:

I am writing to update you on the flu situation in New Hampshire and in our school system.

For several weeks, NH has been among the states where the Centers for Disease Control is reporting widespread influenza-like illness.  In addition, the NH Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is tracking school absences around the state.  We know that absences due to flu-like symptoms are increasing and that health care providers’ offices are becoming much busier.  In short, it is clear that the flu is in our communities, that it is spreading, and that more people will probably be affected before it peaks. Most cases of flu-like illnesses are now due to the H1N1 virus.  We don’t know whether the usual, “seasonal” flu will arrive later in the fall/winter.

School administrators and nurses continue to be in close touch with the NH DHHS re appropriate policies regarding prevention and management of illness in our schools.  Public health officials continue to stress the importance of personal hygiene, including frequent hand-washing, coughing into your sleeve, not sharing food or eating utensils, etc.

There are currently no routine recommendations to close schools in NH because of illness or to keep healthy children home from school.  However, it is important for children and staff who are sick to stay home from school, as well as from special events such as dances, birthday parties, family events and other public gatherings. Children should stay home unless seeking medical care until they have no fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine.  If any family members who are pregnant, have asthma or any other underlying health condition become sick with flu like symptoms, they are advised to contact a health care provider at the onset of these symptoms.

Sick students will not be penalized for staying home.  All of the principals in our school district will make sure that students have ample opportunity to make up missed work.  Students do not need to provide a doctor’s note to explain their absence, but we do ask that parents contact their children’s school to let us know that they are out because of illness and to report whether they have flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, body aches, sometimes vomiting and diarrhea).

NH DHHS encourages all students and staff to get both the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines, if possible. This is especially important for children with chronic illnesses such as asthma and other underlying health conditions,  as well as for pregnant women.  Unfortunately, vaccine supplies all over the country are limited due to manufacturing delays.  We understand that many families have been frustrated by their inability to obtain vaccines for their children after being told how important it is.  Vaccine availability in NH changes on a daily basis.  Please contact your health care provider’s office to find out if your child can be immunized there.

For more information:   The NH DHHS has set up a special flu “hot-line” – just call 2-1-1 (8AM – 5PM) to talk to someone.  There is also a lot of reliable information on the CDC and NH DHHS websites:  www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu and http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/DHHS_SITE/swineflu.htm.  Please contact your family health care provider or school nurse if you have specific questions about your own children.

Thank you for working with us to keep everyone in our schools as healthy as possible during this flu season.

Andrew Babb is Rochester Rotary’s Rising Star for October 2009.  He is a Junior at Spaulding High School.  He is active in the AFJROTC and volunteers in numerous organizations.  

Congratulations to Andrew and  his family.