WATERBURY-DUXBURY SCHOOL BOARD

“APPROVED” MINUTES FOR December 4, 2008

Meeting Held at Crossett Brook Middle School Library

 

IN ATTENDANCE

BOARD: Dale Smeltzer, Susan Flynn, Dawn Poitras, Scott Rathke, and Sherry Ziemke

ADMINISTRATORS: Kevin Hamilton, Richard Moser, Ken Page, Don Schneider, and Barbara Tomasi-Gay 

STAFF: Pattie Casari, Aime Donegan, Eric Hall, Anne Hutchinson, MK Monley, Wendy Moore, Amanda Payne, K. Ramsdell, and Carol Senning     

PUBLIC: Georgeanne Baker, Michele D’Amico, Kammy Kelton, Marcy Pelkey, Lydia Simpson, and Joshua Simpson

 

1.                  Ms. Smeltzer called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.

 

2.                  Ms. Smeltzer confirmed the agenda.

 

3.                  Comments From the Public – Clarification was requested about when it would be appropriate for the staff and or public to ask questions about the budget.  Ms. Smeltzer informed those gathered that the purpose of tonight’s meeting was to hear the budget information for the first time.  She requested that the group listen to the information and then provide comment at the next meeting if desired.  She would provide time this meeting for comments or questions if it wasn’t too late after the budget presentation.

 

4.                  DISCUSSION ITEMS

A.    Principal/District Coordinator Search Process Overview – Superintendent Moser provided an overview of the discussions, job description drafts, and process outlined thus far.  Mr. Moser gave a handout (yellow sheet) entitled CBMS Principal/District Coordinator Search, Winter 2008.  It included a timeline for determining a job description, a listing of input sessions designed for staff, parents, and Board, description of the search committee organization, and the timeline for the search.  He also included a draft of the complete job description for the Principal/District Coordinator position. The Board will participate in a workshop with Mr. Moser on December 8, 2008, at 6:00 p.m., at the Superintendent’s office to finalize the job posting.  The public asked questions, with Mr. Moser and Ms. Smeltzer providing answers.

 

B.     FY10 Budget Process –  

a.   First Draft – Summary Pages for Options Within Parameters – Mr. Moser provided the group with an overview of the budget process as it related to the guidelines and expectations and the parameters needing to be considered.  Handouts were provided.  Business Manager Michelle Baker continued with a look at the FY 2010 Budget – Draft #1, dated 12-04-08 Board meeting.  She walked the attendees through the coversheet that outlined salaries, benefits, universal preschool partnerships, special education, WWSU assessment, energy, transportation, maintenance, and debt service.  Mr. Page and Mr. Schneider then reviewed program implications of the expenditure reductions being proposed in this first draft.  They indicated that staff members who might be affected by these reductions had already been spoken with in an effort to have a transparent process.  Ms. Baker directed the group to the third page of the packet, which listed revenues at the local, state, and federal levels.  The data is subject to changes once final figures are available from the government.  Ms. Baker explained how the spending factor adjustment (SFA) is determined.  Enrollment projections were given for 2009-2013 and a list of staffing schedule for FY 2009 per the budget.  Finally, Ms. Smeltzer gave an explanation of how the SFA is influenced by equalized pupils, revenues, and expenses; and how the Board’s SFA parameters were set.

 

Scott Rathke left at 8:00 p.m.

 

b.   Timeline – The Board agreed with Ms. Smeltzer’s suggestion that the January meetings be shifted to the 2nd and 4th Thursdays.  The next meeting in December and the one on January 8, 2009 are set for public forums.  It is the Board’s intention to have a finalized budget by January 22, 2009.  An article will be included in the school newsletter informing parents of the Board’s timeline.

 

C.     Annual Report Planning and Assignments – Ms. Smeltzer asked people to think about responsibilities, creative changes to the report format, and ways to involve people in the discussions about the report at the upcoming Annual Board Meeting in March 2009.

 

Michelle Baker left at 8:20 p.m.

 

5.                  OTHER BUSINESS

  1. Library Commissioner Plans – Ms. Smeltzer told Board members about the Library Commission’s plans for building uphill from TBPS on Wissel Mountain.  There will be no need for the W-D Board to hear about the plans yet since they are still in early stages.

 

6.                  ACTION ITEMS

A.    Board Minutes – Ms. Susan Flynn moved to accept Board minutes dated November 20, 2008 as written. Dawn Poitras seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

B.     Board Orders – On the recommendation of Scott Rathke, Sherry Ziemke moved to confirm the Board orders dated November 29, 2008 in the amount of $136,754.78 and $7,832.08.  Susan Flynn seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

7.               CONFIRM TOPICS FOR NEXT MEETING AGENDA (December 18th) –

A.    FY10 Budget Draft

B.     Principal/District Coordinator Search Process – Update

C.    Financials, Educational Leader and Superintendent Reports

 

Susan Flynn moved to adjourn the meeting 8:25 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