WATERBURY-DUXBURY SCHOOL
BOARD
“UNOFFICIAL” MINUTES FOR
DECEMBER 20, 2007
Meeting Held at Thatcher Brook Primary School Library
IN ATTENDANCE:
BOARD: Dale
Smeltzer, Susan Flynn, Dawn Poitras, Michael Roche and Sherry Ziemke
ADMINISTRATORS: Barbara Tomasi-Gay, Kevin Hamilton, Ken
Page, John Pike, Bob McNamara, and Don Schneider
STAFF: Carol
Baitz, Eric Hall, Jen Miller, MK Monley, and Tom Thurston
PUBLIC: Georgeanne Baker, Marcy Pelkey, and Gina Mireault
A.
Budget –
follow-up from previous meetings, response to first draft, define needs for
second draft – Ms. Smeltzer provided a written overview of the follow-up
needed from November 15, 2007 and previous board meetings.
John Pike arrived at 6:05 p.m.
She stated that she did not anticipate the budget being voted on until later in January, but that it would be important to complete this year’s budget process in a timely manner as it may have professional staffing implications.
Sherry Ziemke arrived at 6:07 p.m.
A discussion ensued.
Michael Roche arrived at 6:15 p.m.
The themes discussed were:
· Changes to the CBMS schedule need to include an increase in core time.
· The Leadership Committee is working with Ray Proulx.
· In the absence of a Planning Room coordinator, the administrators have absorbed those duties at CBMS. Mr. Hamilton expressed a concern about the time it takes away from his other duties.
· Building in inflation increases for short term maintenance, professional development
· Ms. Ziemke is not in favor of any staff reduction as it impacts student development and the education being provided.
· Mr. Roche noted that staff benefits were a large percentage of a big budget.
· Mr. Hall expressed his understanding about the TBPS Technology Assistant, that was different than that of the Board’s.
· The first draft left questions about food service subsidy, the art program, the WWSU data analyst position, supervising personnel, regular education supplies, short-term maintenance, substitutes, long-term maintenance, music program at TBPS, special education, and professional development.
The lengthy discussion concluded with the Board and administration noting that to get to a target 6.0% increase over per pupil spending (without renovations) there would need to be a $44,000 reduction in the proposed first draft budget. Ms. Monley spoke again about the TBPS’s need for a full-time art teacher. Ms. Smeltzer and Ms. Ziemke reminded the group that there are strategic plan action steps being developed that will address some of these concerns in the long-term, but unfortunately all the Board’s goals cannot be reached in one year.
Responding to the administrative team’s desire for specific guidelines as they move forward with the next budget draft, the majority of the Board agreed on the following:
· Long-term maintenance cannot have a reduction.
· The 0.5 FTE FACS staff reduction will be included.
· The increase in the TBPS art position will not be included.
· Additional inflationary increases will be included as discussed
· A summary of the next draft will be needed before the next meeting.
Finally, for this discussion, the administrative team and Board used the following handouts:
· Follow-up Needed from November 15, 2007 and previous Board Meetings, dated December 20, 2007
· WWSU Summary of FY09 Budgets, dated 12/20/07
· W-D Union School District changes in Budgeted Wages
· W-D Union School District Calculation of Education Spending & Per Pupil Spending and W-D Union School District FY08-09 Budget Proposal – Summary by Expenditure Type, dated 12/20/07
· Educational Leader FY09 Budget Addition Priorities
A. Food Service – Mr. Pike provided the Board with a spreadsheet detailing the current debt in the food service department for W-D School District. The Board recognizes there are no easy answers to the problem. In an effort to lessen the rate of debt, they instructed the administrator’s to bring a recommendation for meal price increases to the first meeting in January, seek more information from U-32 (a school district of equivalent size running in the black), provide an analysis of the problems and recommendations for change, and a written notice to inform faculty and families of an increase to daily cost forthcoming in January 2008.
B. Financial Report – Mr. Page provided a financial report that included $35,000 in new unencumbered funds from Mr. Schneider’s TBPS budget. The Board did not agree with the decision to release the short term maintenance line item from encumbrance, stating that even though the buildings were recently renovated there are always unforeseen occurrences that must be planned for, plus this year had been intended to be saved towards the surplus if possible. Ms. Smeltzer directed that this be re-encumbered.
C. WWSU Proposed Budget - Ms. Smeltzer and Mr. McNamara announced the WWSU Board would be meeting on January 10, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. to finalize the budget, with the WWEC meeting beforehand at 5:00 p.m. Ms. Smeltzer said that a copy of the WWSU budget will be sent to the Board members with informational notes.
Kevin Hamilton left at 8:50 p.m.
John Pike left at 8:53 p.m.
A. Public Hearing – The public hearing for the Budget will be warned for January 3, 2008 at the regularly scheduled board meeting.
B. Policies – Ms. Smeltzer distributed final copies of the Leave Time and Wellness Policy on Nutrition and Physical Activity policies that had been adopted a year ago.
C. Sidewalk Letter – Mr. Page distributed copies of the letter received from Steven Stitzel regarding the case Union School District #45 v. Wright & Morrissey, Inc. and a copy of the Supreme Court’s decision in the referenced matter filed on December 11, 2007. The Court’s decision affirms the trial court’s decision awarding the district judgment in the amount of $107,477 and as of December 19, 2007, the district will be owed interest of $29,018.79.
A. Board Minutes – Sherry Ziemke moved to approve the December 6, 2007 minutes as written. Michael Roche seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
B. Board Orders – On the recommendation of Susan Flynn, Michael Roche moved to confirm the following Board order dated December 11, 2007 in the amount of $3,507,847.93 and $4,385.00. Sherry Ziemke seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Susan Flynn moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 p.m. Sherry Ziemke seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
These minutes are unofficial until approved by the Board of School Directors. They are, in my opinion, substantively correct. Minutes completed by: Georgeanne Baker