1999-01-11 School Committee Minutes

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Regular Session -2- January 11, 1999 SPECIAL EDUCATION BUDGET Dr. Harutunian advised that in the Director's salary line the actual salary number was used but that in a five year calendar it is necessary to add one day's pay to each year. Mr. Dahl asked whether the Town accrued or not. Mr. Foley advised that the Town uses a cash basis and does not accrue. Dr. Harutunian advised that the decline in the teachers' line was due to the older teachers' leaving and being replaced with newer, lower paid teachers. Dr. Harutunian advised that as tutors leave the system new hires are designated as educational assistants rather than tutors. He also stated that there was an error in the lines and that educational assistant number should read 53.8 and tutors should read 2.5. Mr. Dahl and Vice Chair Twomey both asked for clarification on the educational assistants line. They stated that the dollar increase is greater than the FTE increase. Dr. Harutunian advised the Committee that in late September the school department had an opening and were having difficulty filling the position. He stated that the school department had been advised that they would have to absorb one SEEM teacher. He stated that the SEEM teacher was absorbed into the position that was difficult to fill and avoided a forced absorption. Dr. Harutunian advised that vision and deaf services had increased because two elementary students vision was greatly reduced and were both now considered legally blind. He stated that vision services are bid out and that the hourly rate has gone from $45 to $65 per hour. Ms. Cavicchi asked whether we use free lance or contracted services. Dr. Harutunian advised that services were contracted out through a Collaborative. He also stated that an increase of 15% was expected in deaf services and the hourly rate for deaf services had gone from $48 to $65 per hour. Ellen Mounteer asked whether therapists hired by the school appear with the regular teachers. Dr. Harutunian advised that the do appear with regular teachers. Dr. Harutunian advised that the increase in the adaptive equipment line is due to special equipment required for students.