“UNOFFICIAL” MINUTES FOR JANUARY 3, 2007
Meeting Held at
IN ATTENDANCE
Board: Dale Smeltzer, Susan Flynn, Dawn Poitras, and Sherry Ziemke
Administrators: Kevin Hamilton, Ken Page, John Pike, Don Schneider, and Barbara Tomasi-Gay
Staff: Doug Lombard, Jen Miller, Chris Costello, Tom Thurston, Bud Towndrow
Public: Reed
McCracken, Connie Perignat-Lisle, Michael Corcoran (
1)
Dale
Smeltzer called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
2)
Ms. Smeltzer
confirmed the agenda.
3)
FY09 Budget
Public Hearing – Dale Smeltzer asked John Pike to provide a budget overview
describing the increases and effective tax rates for the current budget
draft. John Pike reported that the State
has made a change in calibration of how the equalized pupils are calculated,
but warned that this was good news with caution in terms of possible changes in
the base tax rate being needed. The
budget increase reflects the direction provided using the old equalized pupil
numbers. He clarified that the tax rate
shown includes the renovations bond costs.
Dale Smeltzer noted that we are looking at a budget increase of 6.6%, of
which 0.6% is adding last year’s special article grade 3/4 teacher to the actual
budget, and with the renovations adding 3.4% making it a total increase of 10%.
Tom Thurston, Lisa Scagliotti, Connie Perignat-Lisle and Reed McCracken provided comments relating to re-instating the art teacher to full-time, concern about impacts of the FACS reduction, paring a little off the increase to bring it into single digit increase, staff salaries, and concerns that staff needed to be cut.
4)
Discussion
Items:
FY 09 Budget – Second Draft – John Pike continued with explaining some of the moving parts of the budget draft, including the fact that health insurance hand not been locked in yet, nor had the WWSU budget where not much of a change was expected. Dale Smeltzer asked several questions relating to estimated increases for fuel costs, snow removal, whether the report confirming ELL staffing needs was ready. John Pike will review the fuel cost estimates again, and work with the administrators to make sure that budgeted amounts for snow removal reflect the actual costs and projected increases, plus review the amount of health insurance budgeted for the SPL and 0.5 FACS positions. It was agreed by board members that any of these possible adjustments should be made so that they do not change the bottom line.
Food Service, Meal Prices – Ken Page and Don Schneider reported that they are recommending an increase in meal prices of $0.25 in each school for students, and $0.50 for adults. There was a discussion of what kinds of changes might make a difference and should be considered, and how the process for evaluating these changes might happen. Don Schneider will provide recommendations at the January 24 meeting for a plan, process and timeline for this review.
Budget Discussion, continued – Dale Smeltzer asked board members that based on review and comments, if there were any changes needed for administrators to make in the next draft of the budget, beyond addressing the questions already brought up. Board members briefly shared their thoughts, and there were no changes in opinions from the previous meeting. Given the few changes remaining to be resolved, it was agreed to cancel the special meeting planned for January 10 at 7:00 p.m. following the WWSU Board meeting.
5)
Reports:
a) Educational Leaders and Planning Progress – Don Schneider provided a summary of the groups that would be taking on the responsibility to oversee action step development for each of the three strategic plan goals. He also reported that NECAP results would be coming out soon, possibly in time for the Annual Report. The results won’t be released for public review until February 13. A WWSU Math Summit will be held this coming Tuesday with Edie Beatty, as part of the process of following up on the math audit. The combined staff met in December and reviewed the strategic plan, and Don provided a handout demonstrating the staff’s initial impressions and priorities.
6) Other Business:
a)
Ken Page thanked Michael Maloney for successfully
obtaining a grant from IBM for $1000 that will be used for LEGO Mindstorm, and
the board concurred with their appreciation.
b)
Dale Smeltzer reported that BeStowed, currently
located in
7) Action Items:
a) Board Minutes, Board Orders – Neither of these were available for approval and will be acted on at the next meeting.
b) Staff Contract – Susan Flynn moved to confirm an employment contract for Zulfiya Musayeva as full-time evening custodian at TBPS. Sherry Ziemke seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
c) Meal Prices – Susan Flynn moved to raise student lunch prices $0.25 and adult lunch prices $0.50 at each school, resulting in a lunch price of $3.00 at TBPS, $3.25 at CBMS, and adult prices of $4.50 at both schools, effective January 22, 2008. Sherry Ziemke seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Sherry Ziemke moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:08 p.m. Susan Flynn
seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
These minutes are unofficial until
approved by the Board of School Directors.
Minutes
recorded by: Dawn Poitras