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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-11-21 School Committee MinutesREADING SCHOOL COMMITTEE Reading, Massachusetts Regular Session November 21, 2000 CALL TO ORDER At 6:05 p.m. Chair Cavicchi called the meeting to order. Present were School Committee Members Cavicchi, D'Antona, Griset, Keigley. Mr. Dahl and Mr. Twomey arrived during executive session. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mr. Griset made a motion to enter into executive session for the purpose of conducting strategy sessions in preparation for entering into negotiations with the Reading Teachers' Association. To return to regular session at approximately 6:15 p.m. Ms. D'Antona seconded. Mr. Keigley, Mr. Griset, Ms. D'Antona and Ms. Cavicchi CALL BACK TO ORDER Ms. Cavicchi called the meeting back to order at 6:45 p.m. BILLS & PAYROLL Bills and payroll are as follows: Payroll 37 11/2/00 $695,650.35 Payroll 39 11/9/00 $165,122.79 Warrant 38 11/6/00 $126,491.11 Warrant 40 11/13/00 $242,480.74 CITIZENS' INPUT There was no citizen input. FY02 BUDGET Dr. Harutunian advised that the School Committee was meeting this evening to discuss the FY02. He advised that the School Committee would be meeting with the Board of Selectmen tonight at approximately 8:30 p.m. to discuss the budget Dr. Harutunian discussed different budget scenarios including a 10.47% increase, an 8.01% increase, a 6.9% increase and a 3.5 % increases Dr. Harutunian noted that the School Committee had seen these charts before and that the gas and oil figures on the chart are no longer accurate because of a large increase in prices for gas and oil. Regular Session 2 November 21, 2000 Dr. Harutunian recommended a 6.9% budget increase which included increases of $900,000 for salaries, columns, steps but no new staff, $255,000 the minimum amount to move 3ra, 4" and 5' grade language arts curriculum forward and $650,000 for special education increases. This figure along with the town's figure would require a $2.5 million override. He stated that if the School Committee agrees to a 6.9% increase he would return to the Committee with a proposed reconfiguration of positions. Dr. Harutunian advised that he felt that the 6.9% increase could maintain the level of current services. At 7:00 p.m. Finance Committee Chair Grimm arrived at the meeting. Dr. Harutunian advised the Committee that $175,000 would be necessary to fund sick leave buy back for those teachers taking advantage of the new retirement offered by the state. Mr. Twomey asked what the total estimated salary is for FY01. Dr. Harutunian advised that it is approximately $19 million. Mr. Dahl asked if the 6.9% budget would include reconfigurations but no layoffs. Dr. Harutunian advised that if the town is able to support the increase in fuel that he feels fairly comfortable that the 6.9% would be the bottom line but he noted that the budget is right on the edge. Dr. Harutunian stated that he was not sure that the town could support anything over 6.9 %. Finance Committee Chair Grimm stated that if no override is put on the ballot or if one is put on the ballot and fails then the capital would be cut, most of municipal and maintenance would take a 0% increase and there would be about $600,000 for special education. Mr. Keigley sated that he strongly supports a 6.9% increase. He stated that if town finance looked better he would be looking for an 8% increase. Mr. Twomey outlined a budget that would include a 2.5% inflation factor on non - personnel items which he stated would be necessary in order to keep services at the same level as this year. Mr. Twomey stated his concern that a 6.9% increase is approximately $200,000 short in maintaining level services. Mr. Twomey stated that he felt the Committee should discuss going forward to the Board of Selectmen with a figure that would allow the schools to maintain level services. Regular Session 3 November 21, 2000 Dr. Harutunian stated that he believed the school department could absorb the inflation factor for one year and one year only. Chair Cavicchi stated that we want to have a school budget that is realistic in light of finances but we do not want to go backward. She stated that the figure may be more than the Board of Selectmen want to live with and may be more than the voters can support but we should put forth a budget that prevents the schools from moving backward. Mr. Griset asked if the 6.9% increase would prevent layoffs. Dr. Harutunian advised that he is 80% certain that no layoffs would occur but that starting the budget process as early as we did means that figures are not going to be as accurate as they would be later in the year. Mr. Dahl stated that the Committee needs to be sure that the 6.9% represents a comfort zone because we are not sure if additional funds will be available from the state. Dr. Harutunian advised that the approval of question 4 and the tax roll back must be taken into account. Finance Committee Chair Carol Grimm stated that the sustainability of any proposed override must be considered. Karen Epstein asked how the 6.9% figure position us for next year. She also stated that the increase in enrollment should be factored into the budget request. Dr. Harutunian advised that the Town Manager is optimistic about an increase in revenue from the landfill and Addison Wesley in FY02 and beyond. Mr. Twomey made a motion that the School Committee forward to the Board of Selectmen a figure of $2 million as an FY02 increase over the FY01 budget excluding fuel. Ms. D'Antona seconded the motion. Mr. Twomey made an amendment to the motion to also exclude water /sewer issues, early retirement costs and enrollment increases. Ms. D'Antona seconded the amendment. The vote was 2 -4 Mr. Twomey and Ms. D'Antona voted yes. Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset and Mr. Keigley voted no. The motion did not pass. Ms. D'Antona moved on the recommendation of the Superintendent to bring to the Board of Selectmen the agreement that the School Committee will present a stand still budget representing only the amount necessary to maintain the system at the current level. Mr. Dahl seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 -1 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Griset and Mr. Keigley voted yes, Mr. Twomey abstained. Regular Session 4 November 21, 2000 The Committee agreed to meet on November 30th at 6:30 p.m. to finalize a figure to present to the Board of Selectmen. RECESS At 8:30 p.m. Mr. Dahl made a motion to recess and reconvene at the Board of Selectmen's meeting at Town Hall. Mr. Keigley seconded the motion. The vote was 6 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Griset, Mr. Keigley and Mr. Twomey. The remainder of the School Committee minutes will be included in the Board of Selectmen's minutes of November 21, 2000. Respectfully submitted, Harry K. Harutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools