2000-03-23 School Committee Minutes

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REGULAR SESSION - _ -2- March 23, 2000 Chair Dahl stated that parents who are interested in helping at the school level should contact their principals and work with the school staff. Anne Hardy stated that she felt a family user fee is a fair fee. Ms. D'Antona asked Mr. Murphy for his thoughts on implementing the user fees. Mr. Murphy discussed the user fees and how they were implemented in the early 1990s. Mrs. Cavicchi stated her concern about students who would not participate because they could not afford the fee. Mr. Murphy stated that it would be up to the coaches and the community to work to identify students that may have difficulty raising the money for the user fees. Gael Phillips Spence advocated for sell class size, keeping the school psychologist and the school nurse. She asked for fain and balance K -12. She stated that parents would be willing to help out and they woul, ooking for direction from the Committee. Donna Martinson spoke in favor of keeping the school psychologist and offered assistance to the Committee and the school district. At 8:20 p.m. Chair Dahl closed the meeting to public input. He thanked the audience for their input. He stated that the reductions are all in areas that are critically important and that the Committee would have difficult decisions to make over the next few weeks. Dr. Harutunian reviewed the put back list and the budget reductions for administration, regular day, special education, other services and maintenance. He informed the Committee that the Administrative Council had been working since December on reductions. Dr. Harutunian advised that in addition to reductions, he would be recommending increasing facilities rental fee and implementing user fees to cover the cost of freshmen sports. Dr. Harutunian informed the Committee that he was notified today that revenue projections are off and there will need to be another $31,000 reduction in the school budget. Mr. Twomey stated that the Superintendent has been asked to prepare a proposal adding back the 4.5 elementary teachers which were originally in the budget. At 8:50 p.m. Chair Dahl advised that the Committee would take a short recess. The meeting was called back to order at 9:05 p.m.