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101 <br />READING SCHOOL. COMMITTEE MINUTES <br />Critique of Finance Committee's Decision <br />FEBRUARY 14, 1983 <br />Acting Chairman Coco noted that the Finance Committee (FinCom) had voted not to <br />recommend for the School Committee's budget $23 from energy costs, $50,000 for <br />costs of relocating the Superintendent's office to the High School and the amount <br />($7,388) by which the total budget exceeded the FinCom's guidelines. <br />Mrs. Philbrick commented that Chairman Garroway's budget presentation was <br />excellent, as was Dr. Wells' backup. She said she had no quarrel with the FinCom's <br />suggestion not to move the Central Office, but she is opposed to reducing the base <br />budget by $50,000 because this will reduce the base for FY85 and thereafter. She <br />suggested that the $50,000 be transferred into the educational materials portion <br />of the budget, specifically for use in the computer area of the curriculum, as Dr. Wells <br />said more funds would be needed in this area in the future. <br />Acting Chairman Coco said that the School Committee made a decision to use some of <br />the space available, which no other Town Boards are doing, yet they didn't get a <br />sense from the FinCom that they are doing the right thing or that they should use <br />the space available. He added that in 1988 the.School Department might be heating <br />unused buildings, but that perhaps the School Committee will have to wait for some- <br />thing town -wide to develop. <br />FinCom member Mr. Willard Burditt said he thought the FinCom recognizes the need <br />for consolidation of expense but in a bad year (financially) they couldn't see <br />spending $50,000 when the Central Office could rent space for $10,000. He added <br />that there is a need to look at all space in Town and there has to be some trade - <br />offs, i, e., saving $40,000 by not moving the Central Off ice at a time when the <br />Town is short of funds. He also said the FinCom will sponsor a Town Meeting article <br />for the formation of an overall space needs committee with representatives from <br />all Town boards. <br />Dr. Wells commented to the effect that the FinCom had been forecasting "bad" <br />years for several years, and questioned whether next year would be any better. <br />He said he plans to recommend to the School Committee that they let the Town <br />Meeting settle on the amount of the School Budget. <br />Central Office Relocation Update <br />Dr. Wells asked if the School Committee wanted an estimate on the cost of moth- <br />balling the Pearl Street School. After a brief discussion, Mrs. Philbrick moved, <br />seconded by Mr. Nigro, to direct the Superintendent to obtain from Architect <br />Archibald MacLaren cost estimates f or the initial mothballing of the Pearl Street <br />School and yearly maintenance costs of mothballing. Mr. Allen moved to amend the <br />motion, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, to include, in addition, obtaining costs for <br />renovating a portion of that school for use by the Central Office Staff. The <br />motion, as amended, carried by a unanimous vote. <br />Supplemental Athletic Budget <br />Dr. Wells said there was a misunderstanding about the supplemental athletic budget <br />He added that Athletic Director Gilbert Congdon did not make an exception of ice <br />hockey, in that it is expected that the "Friends of Reading Hockey," will support <br />ice time. <br />