WED Likely Headed for Another Deficit
New committees, employees and methods aim to resolve continued "overspending" in education. But can Woonsocket schools continue to operate within the current funding levels?
Since the revelation that the Woonsocket Education Department exceeded their 2011 budget by $2.7 million, the city has taken a multifaceted approach to preventing another unpleasant surprise in 2012.
Everyone from City Council members to private citizens and former city employees have gotten involved in the process, examining the numbers to provide accurate projections and look for potential savings. This Monday alone, a meeting of the new Financial Audit Committee was interrupted so two members (School Committee Chairwoman Anita McGuire-Forcier and committee member Christopher Roberts) could leave to meet with a separate group — the School Committee Audit Sub-Committee.
Still, it appears, Woonsocket is spending too much on education salaries, committee members say, a predicament which many insist is largely the result of the unique needs of the city's urban student population. The state's education funding formula, they say, does not do enough to address the expense of educating disadvantaged students, including those learning English as a second language. And though Woonsocket is currently involved in a lawsuit to challenge that formula, the city still faces the immediate struggle of addressing last year's deficit while preventing a repeat performance in 2012 and beyond.
To avoid state intervention in the city's fiscal problems, administrators were tasked with submitting both a plan to address last year's shortfall and reports on the School Department's current status. The Deficit Reduction Plan for 2011 is still under review by the state's Auditor General.
"I won't be surprised if we do end 2012 with a deficit. It's the magnitude of the deficit that I worry about," said Superintendent Giovanna Donoyan at Wednesday night's School Committee meeting. "We can't even go forward and start to develop a reasonable budget until we know where we are."
Donoyan opted not to discuss the details of the still incomplete projections at the meeting. Although the city was given a Jan. 31 deadline to submit year-to-date reports to State Revenue Director Rosemary Booth Gallogly, the education department is still in the process of calculating salaries. Dina DuTremble — a former city employee back on temporary assignment to provide the reports to the state — has been on the job for three weeks and has been in regular communication with Gallogly, she said.
"She is doing tremendous work at bringing credibility to the numbers, but I do not have anything at this point to submit to the committee," Donoyon explained.
A draft copy of fiscal 2012's salary projection prepared by DuTremble was sent to Gallogly and forwarded to city officials on the Jan. 31 deadline. "I urge caution about drawing conclusions from the small amount of data that is represented here," DuTremble explains in the communication.
The education department budgeted $364,528 for Special Education Resource Teachers and, as of the draft findings, expects to spend $639,493 this year. The figure for Special Education Occupational Therapy exceeds the budgeted amount by $114,897. And the line item for "WHS SPED SC Classroom Teachers" is projected to exceed the allotted 2012 figure by $392,839.
"I don't know what is so difficult about understanding what a structural deficit is," said Committeewoman Eleanor Nadeau of Donoyan's brief assessment. "It doesn't go away."`
Council members looking at the draft figures this Monday were of similar opinion.
"You have a functional deficiency. This is a classic dilemma," said City Council member Albert Brien.
"Under what circumstances would it make sense to go to the state and say we're at the bare minimum?" Council President John Ward asked Finance Director Thomas Bruce.
While it is too soon to predict where cuts may be made for the upcoming fiscal year, both Bruce and Donoyan implied that the city might look at positions that were once funded by grants but have remained on the books under city funding.
"There will be a result just within salaries that tells a story," said Bruce. "If you have funding and then you don't, why are the people still there?"
Jackie
7:01 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
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robert lamarre jr
9:36 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
I agree with you jackie maybe the state lottery should consider that as an option,or maybe the city should keep there nose out of the school departments buissness and worry about running a city that is sinking like a rock in the ocean!!!!
Jackie
10:22 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
The city should do a study of cities of the same size that are managing well in this unfortunate economic climate. Believe it or not there are some. See what they are doing and implement these same or similar policies. I cannot understand why they are attacking the salaries of the people who look after and teach our children. They don't get paid enough as it is. The same goes for the paramedics and firefighters. A very sad state of affairs....
Steve
11:07 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Mo-money, mo-money, mo-money. 1 Million, 2 Million, 3 Million? How high can we go, we'll never know........... Here come the Feds, here come the Feds, watch out now cause here come the Feds.
The Chorus
11:48 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Robert...what part of this don't you get? The WED cannot set and stick to a budget that is within their means. WHEN the WED overspends, the CITY must cover the overage. Maybe if the WED get's their act together, the CITY won't HAVE to "stick there nose" (it's THEIR by the way) in WED business.
robert lamarre jr
1:41 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
well the chorus since the city has gotten involved the school department been running a deficit. I'm just saying you tax payers are so concerned about the city well what has the city done to help WED except portray them as bad people,but yet our city council president feels it's the states fault for cutting funding so deeply. SO WHO'S FAULT IS IT? WED was doing just fine until the intervened now they keep running a deficit again the city should stay out of it....
The Chorus
3:48 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
The General Assembly is at fault for mismanaging our state's finances and cutting the throats of our cities and towns (AND SCHOOLS) at the last minute. The City is at fault for many financial woes, especially around infrastructure and pension costs. The WED is at fault for failing to set a viable budget and sticking to it. The city is not at fault for problems at WED. The city got invovled with WED when WED continually overspent and could not even provide accurate figures. This isn't about portraying anyone as 'bad people' - it's about accountability. You wanna hold the city accountable for CITY overspending - have at it. But don't blame the city for the problems at the WED. The WED has their own budget - problem is, when they overspend, the city has to cover it. I hope you are still planning on running for office. I can't wait to read your platform.
robert lamarre jr
7:30 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
no i don't,just for the fact that i would have to deal with people like you i'm all set
Still Hope
5:03 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Hold up. This is a community problem. Blame the State, the City, the School, and Yourselves! The State underfunded the City and had a surplus this year. The City can't seem to get money from the State. The School can't seem to operate on a smaller budget than last year. You voted in all these clowns (Dubois went from mismanaging the school to now mismanaging the city...good job "concerned citizens").
The cost of EVERYTHING has gone up substantially in the last 5 yrs: including supplies, salaries, medical, energy, etc etc. Even taxes in the City have skyrocketted. You know what has actually been shrinking? The School budget AND State aid. Of course there will be a school budget deficit.
10yrs ago you could fill up your gas tank for $20. Try to see what that $20 gets you today. Now cut that $20 to $15. Welcome to the WED budget dilema. Mr Mayor and City Admin...get more $$$ from the State or face a school deficit in 2013, 2014, 2015...
Get it done.
Jeff Parenteau
5:52 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Nicely said Hope. It’s like peeling an onion. The state mandates programs, and then pulls the funding. The WED implements the mandates and overspends their budget – in many cases by hiring additional staff. The Administration continues to pay the bills even though they (should be able to) see that the WED is spending more than their budget allows. Bottom line? No oversight. We have elected “officials” that don’t have a clue about how to manage a $59+ million budget (I seriously doubt that most of them can balance their own checkbook), WED employees that either can’t see or won’t report shortfalls, and a totally and completely apathetic voter base – many of which are actually the taxpayers that have to foot the bill – that refuse to make change and continually elect and re-elect incompetents.
Mr. Brien, during his campaign for City Council, used the phrase “push back” several times with regard to all of the state mandates that trickle down from the capital – not just about education but with regard to major issues like the water treatment facility. Well Mr. Brien, when do you suggest we (you) start pushing back? It’s the same old political BS. Say whatever you need to say to get yourself elected and then when the fight starts, go and hide somewhere until the smoke clears and then come out and tell us all about what we “could have or should have” done to facilitate a different outcome.
Maybe it’s time we ALL get on the same page.
robert lamarre jr
7:31 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Well still hope speak for yourself i did not vote any of these so called clowns into office i didn't even vote because i felt sick to my stomache about our choice of candidates
Jerry
9:30 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
The Chorus says it all, kudos to you..And Robert, maybe you should read "The Chorus" again and actually comprehend his comment. You seem to have "tunnel vision" when it comes to the school department. Maybe you think like Ellie Nadeau, and just don't want to give into the truth...just wait to see more deficits in the school department, cuz they like to hoard their deficits...
Pat
8:58 am on Friday, February 10, 2012
How often did we hear from Ms. Nadeau about what a great job Gerardi was doing and what an honest man he was, what an outstanding job the finance person was doing and how she and Marc Dubois were so involved in the finance subcommittee because of their "institutional knowledge" and vast expertise? How's all that working for us now?
robert lamarre jr
11:26 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
maybe it's time to put good new and honest people in these politics then maybe things would be taken care of. as for someone having tunnel vision, there is a problem that is gonna keep happening til they change the people that brought this problem on!!! i can't believe people r arguing over a problem that u people have no control over unless u vote better, then there wouldn't be a need for this garbage!!!!
dee
David Bouchard
9:48 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
I can't help but think that the WED suffers either from complete incompetence when it comes to handling their finances or they have a deliberate disregard for this community that they have been hired to serve. The article stated: "The education department budgeted $364,528 for Special Education Resource Teachers and, as of the draft findings, expects to spend $639,493 this year. The figure for Special Education Occupational Therapy exceeds the budgeted amount by $114,897. And the line item for "WHS SPED SC Classroom Teachers" is projected to exceed the allotted 2012 figure by $392,839." How does that happen? How can you budget a specific amount for salary and then spend 75% more? Budgets are generally built on historical data and an analysis of current known factors for future events. If this was the snowplowing budget for last winter I could shrug and say "who knew?", but it's not. It's a budget based on historical data and projections for the follow-on year. I think the problem is nothing less than either incompetence or dishonesty - in either case someone, or some people, should be shown the door.
robert lamarre jr
11:29 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
obviously someone is not watching the spending, si like i've said put in the new and get rid of the old and maybe things will get resolved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! dee
David Bouchard
9:53 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
By the way, Mr. Lamarre - if you didn't vote then you really have no voice in any discussion concering the affairs of this city. You say you felt sick to your stomach regarding the choices - well, I get sick to my stomach when people who can't take the time to exercise thier civic duty gripe and complain about what is going on within the city, state, country in which they did not vote.
robert lamarre jr
10:03 am on Friday, February 10, 2012
i voted for president but as far as city elections i figured you senior citizens would run the city into despair so why waste time when the youth vote doesn't even get heard,It's a pitty to know you voted in these clowns on city council who can't find their way out of a children's book don't you people feel smart
English first
8:11 am on Friday, February 10, 2012
Question. I know a lot of money for Special Education comes from the federal government (some maybe from the state). With all the cuts occurring could some of the deficit be caused by those cuts? It is just a thought. Incompetence aside.
robert lamarre jr
11:31 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
special education is not a place where they should be cutting cause in my opion they don't spend diddly bologna on these kids that have learning disabilities. if they do where is it going? bet they don't have an answer!!!
robert lamarre jr
10:00 am on Friday, February 10, 2012
actually english first that might the SMARTEST thing someone has said on here!!! yes that is the reason why but steve the chorus and certainly Mr.Bouchard won't tolerate any excuses anymore because they seem to know it all about running a budget
Steve
11:26 am on Friday, February 10, 2012
Robert, did I read one of your previous posts correctly where you said that you couldn't be bothered to waste your time and vote in a local election? Really, a waste of time?
The Chorus
11:32 am on Friday, February 10, 2012
Steve...sadly, Robert has also announced that he won't be seeking a seat on the school committee because of 'people' like you and me. What a shame.
Steve
11:42 am on Friday, February 10, 2012
Truly a sad, sad day.........
The Chorus
10:26 am on Friday, February 10, 2012
English does ask a very good and reasonable question...but if that was a significant root cause, the WED would be explicitly citing it as a justification - they don't and as such I don't believe it is a primary driver for their consistent and rampant overspending. If fed cuts are the primary driver, then why isn't every school district overspending???
English first
12:57 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
Very good point....... The larger cities, with the most special ed costs are having the same problems. I do know that some of the surrounding towns and cities send their special needs kid(and pay for) to the larger cities. I think it is like the tech schools. Not every town can afford all these services. Incompetence aside
Sandy Phaneuf
1:01 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
Yes, they say cuts in state funding are a HUGE part of the root cause and this has been explicitly stated numerous times by the City Council President, the Superintendent and members of the School Committee. This has been mentioned in several articles here on Patch - though perhaps not clearly enough judging by some of the commentary. Check out this chart, prepared last year, that outlines sources of funding for education: http://patch.com/A-gfwV
robert lamarre jr
11:33 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
it don't matter weather u vote or not they put who they want in these offices! dee
David Bouchard
11:59 am on Friday, February 10, 2012
Chorus, I agree. If the responsibility for this overrun of the Sp Ed budget could be laid at the feet of the Feds or the State, the WED would be bellowing it from the rooftops. But I don't believe it is. They said one item was budgeted at $364K and they were spending $639K - sounds more like inept budget preparation. What were the figures for that budget item last year? Why are the expenditures so much higher than the amount budgeted? How many other budget items are being overrun? They should know, month by month - if not day by day - where their budget stands why can’t they get their collective arms around everything. Someone needs to get the financial folks over to the high school to take a class on budget formulation and maybe learn how to use an Excel spreadsheet.
The last two sentences of the article point to part of the solution – get rid of the excess positions – now, not next fiscal year. Otherwise this year’s budget is being deliberately run into the red – as it was last year.
The Chorus
1:11 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
Sandy - I don't think anyone will argue that there have not been severe cuts - the question (and problem) is that WED has not consistently been able to set a budget, stick to a budget or even report on where their spending is in terms of the budget. If the root problem was that the state promised each district X and then actually delivered X-Y, then each and every district would be overspending by Y. I may have missed something but I don't recall reading that the state changed their education funding allocations AFTER the WED budget was set. I could be wrong, I'm not perfect and I don't expect anyone to be perfect. But the problems at WED appear to be institutional. Thanks, Sandy.
Pat
1:27 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
And certainly no cuts in state, local or federal aid were made between October, when we were being told that we had a significant surplus, and November when we learned the truth.
Sandy Phaneuf
1:34 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
Chorus - I know what you're saying and my comment was not meant as a reflection/judgment of whether or not the deficit is justified. I was just a little surprised to see someone say "Maybe it's the cuts?" - made me think perhaps my reporting has not made it clear enough that state aid cuts have been a the root of all of these budget discussions. And yes, the state absolutely has come through with less than they've promised on more than one occasion. Again - not saying this as a form of opinion or justification... that's just a fact. I'm not sure of the details as to how other towns have dealt with this or if they have faced the same problems, though I would hazard a guess that the communities were not facing the same fiscal challenges as Woonsocket. In the past, the city has had a surplus to fund education deficits so it was not nearly as big of an issue.
Steve
2:07 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
Sandy, how about a couple of more charts, like number of students enrolled along with teachers salaries and benefits:
Here's some stats on enrollments:
2005 - 2006 - 6505 Students
2006 - 2007 - 6462 Students
2007 - 2008 - 6248 Students
2008 - 2009 - 5955 Students
0209 - 2010 - 6086 Students
2010 - 2011 - 6110 Students
2011 - 2012 - 5999 Students
Anyone ever think that the funding is following the downward trend in student population? Just asking........
robert lamarre jr
2:57 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
well i just feel dignified because some of the facts sandy just used i have stated and few others have to and i've been told i have tunnel vision
The Chorus
3:16 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
Robert - I'm sorry...where does Sandy write that it's the city's fault for "sticking their noses" in WED business? Oh I get it...doesn't matter if it's the city's fault, the state's fault or the fed's fault...just NOT the WED's fault. Now I get it!
robert lamarre jr
11:05 am on Sunday, February 12, 2012
exactly now your learning what took so long
Norman R Pelland
9:31 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
We can expend all our energy and resources pointing fingers and placing blame for the financial dilemma we now face, but please... Just fix this with sound root cause analysis and corrective action. Enough is enough!
Then, let the chips fall where they may, then take necessary steps to prevent this for recurring in the future... God Almighty!!!