2006-12-18 School Committee Minutes

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Regular Session 2 December 18, 2006 Reports of Chairman, Liaisons, and Superintendent Superintendent Schettini reported that today was a great day at Reading Memorial High School where students went on tours of the new building for the first time. Lisa Gibbs added to Superintendent Schettini's comments about the excitement she saw today at the newly renovated RMHS Library Media Center. Mr. McFadden recognized the Pop Warner Cheerleader's recent National Championship and inquired about the status of the Watertown High School sports situation. School Committee Calendar Superintendent Schettini gave the following dates for the budget meetings: January 4 Administration, Regular Day, Other (Health Services, Athletics, and Co- Curricula) January 8 Special Education, Facilities January 22 Public Hearing January 29 School Committee Votes on FY08 Budget The location for these meetings are to be announced based upon the availability of the newly renovated Superintendent's Office. Old Business Ms. DeLai gave an update of the FY07 budget. Ms. DeLai also gave an update of the search for new town accounting software. New Business Superintendent Schettini presented the Superintendent's Recommended FY08 Budget to the Reading School Committee and the community. His presentation included the following: o The per pupil expenditure for Reading compared to other Middlesex league communities and the state average. o The budget development process o The district improvement plan and how it informs the budget building process o The budget building procedure which includes accommodated costs and the three levels of the budget (baseline budget, level service budget, recommended budget) o A baseline budget with an increase of 5.5% o A level service budget with an increase of 6.6% o A recommended budget with an increase of 7.6% o The budget drivers (salary, additional staffing, special education, energy/utilities, and district improvement)