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Home My WebLink About1998-02-05 School Committee Minutes - Finance CommitteeREADING SCHOOL COMMITTEE Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE /FINANCE COMMITTEE February 5, 1998 Finance Chairman Keigley called the meeting of the Finance Committee to order at 7:35 p.m. at town hall. Present were School Committee Members Cavicchi, Twomey and Williams. Also present was Superintendent Harutunian and Associate Superintendent Richards. Only 3 members being present and not constituting a quorum, the School Committee took no action. Mr. White made a motion to approve the Finance Committee minutes of January 21 with amendments as noted by Member Grimm. Mr. McDonald seconded the motion. SCHOOL BUDGET PRESENTATION Dr. Harutunian discussed enrollment projections by grade and distributed to the Committee a copy of the projections and also a copy of a memorandum from Town Clerk Cheryl Johnson stating that the Town Clerk records show there were 338 births in Reading in 1997. The memorandum also stated that it should be noted that in some cases, it takes months for various communities to mail the Town copies of births. Dr. Hirudinean noted that the projection for births in 1997 was 314 and as stated in the memorandum actual births so far are 338. Dr. Hirudinean answered questions submitted by Finance Committee member McDonald as listed: • How many students in the METCO Program and does it pay for itself? Dr. Harutunian advised that there are 74 students in the METCO program. The contract states that Reading maintain approximately 100 students. Reading receives $268,000 from METCO, $118,000 to cover books, paper, etc. The remainder of the money is for monitors etc. Also supplemental $12,000 is for SPED services. There are 13 METCO children in the SPED program. Finance Committee Member Grimm asked whether the $12,000 for SPED covers the services for the METCO students. Dr. Harutunian advised that the $12,000 does cover the services. SCHOOL COMMITTEE /FINANCE COMMITTEE -2- February 5, 1998 • Projected enrollment increase of 64 students at a cost of $332K in the 1999 Budget, could it be offset by a reduction in the METCO program? Dr. Harutunian responded that it probably could not be offset. He stated that 830 of the budget is staff and there is no increase in staff for METCO. He stated that METCO pretty much pays for itself. • Will any of the increase in Special Needs be offset by additional state funding? Dr. Harutunian distributed to the Committee a memorandum from Dr. Ardi showing that the total increase would be approximately $66,000. • Why such a large increase in elementary school staff with only a 64 student increase in the total enrollment? Dr. Harutunian advised that of the 13 staff requested, 2 are K -5 Instructional Specialists, 8 are Regular Educational Assistants, 1 Science Educational Assistant and 2 Technology Educational Assistants. Dr. Harutunian advised the Committee that there has been no increase in Regular Education Assistants since 1994. He also advised the Committee that the 2 Technology Educational Assistants will cut back on repair costs. Dr. Harutunian answered questions submitted by Finance Committee Member Grimm as listed: • How are actual FY98 expenses comparing to Budget? Will the School Department need additional funds in the Spring to finish out FY98? Dr. Harutunian advised that the Custodian Contract has been settled and will need to go to Town Meeting for money for settlement. Dr. Harutunian also distributed his memorandum of February 3, with a draft of this year's FY98 Budget projected out until the end of June, 1998. We appear to have an overall balance of $9,560 however, suspect that will require additional monies at the April Town Meeting because of Special Education. SCHOOL COMMITTEE /FINANCE COMMITTEE -3- February 5, 1998 • What was implemented in FY98 from last year's priority list? Dr. Harutunian distributed to the Committee a list of School Committee's approved cuts. • How many more years will the School Department have to pay the Early Retirement Assessment? Dr. Harutunian advised that will be paying until the year 2000. • What are District Awards and why are they doubling? Dr. Harutunian advised that this is money for recognition of groups and organizations in the school system that reach state levels of competition and includes the School Committee's Excellence in Education award. • What is the Regular Day Per Pupil assumption used in this budget? How much of an increase is it over last year? Dr. Harutunian advised that the FY97 per pupil elementary allocation was $135 the FY98 per pupil elementary allocation is $155. • Personal Services increase 10.390, 23.75 of the proposed 34.55 new positions fall under Regular Day, please explain /justify each of these positions. Which of these positions are mandated by Education Reform Laws? Has employee benefits expenses for each new position been assumed in the budget? Dr. Harutunian distributed to the Committee a list of FY99 Staffing requests which included the assignment of the position, the reason the position is required, State Ed Reform. • Why is the Principal pay decreasing? Dr. Harutunian advised that there are seven principals, the two new principals that were hired came in at a lower salary than the two that left. • Why is Textbook Replacement increasing 37%? SCHOOL COMMITTEE /FINANCE COMMITTEE -4- February 5 1998 Dr. Harutunian advised that it is line increase only. Have moved workbook costs into the textbook line item. • Instructional Equipment - New is increasing 47% and Replacement by 870, where is all the Photocopy equipment going? Dr. Harutunian distributed to the Committee a complete list of Computer Related Budget Items dated 1/13/98. • Why are Collaborative expenses in Regular Day? Does the School Department still belong to two Collaboratives? Why are there small amounts of SPED expenses in Regular Day under Instructional Supplies, Textbook Replacement, Media /Educational Software and Instructional Equipment? Dr. Harutunian advised that the School Department continues to belong to two Collaboratives. There are small amounts of SPED expenses, less than $1,000, are put in regular ed for .1 and .2 students so that will be able to track. • What are the $162,000 in Curriculum Initiatives? Dr. Harutunian distributed to the Committee a memorandum explaining the Curriculum Initiatives. • Is the $20,000 increase in Transportation services for additional bussing of kindergartners? Dr. Harutunian advised that this is a serious enrollment problem and there is no elementary solution until 2001. The increase is for transportation of kindergarten students and the fall of 1998 will be busing 160 -199 kindergartners. • Please update us on the status of the METCO program, how many students, where they are in the system. What is the School Department policy regarding METCO given the current enrollment issues? Why are new students being accepted at Birch Meadow and Coolidge? Does Reading have to accept METCO students that are Special Need students? Dr. Harutunian advised that the majority of this question was answered under Finance Committee Member McDonald's question. He added that METCO additions are selected and no additional programs or staff are needed. SCHOOL COMMITTEE /FINANCE COMMITTEE -5- February 5, 1998 • Has the nurses contract been settled? Dr. Harutunian advised that it is going to fact finding. Are contractual service with Winchester Hospital still a possibility? Does the $30,000 in Contractual Services represent this possibility? Dr. Harutunian advised that yes contractual service with Winchester is still a possibility and distributed a memorandum dated 1/9 regarding Recommendation for An Additional School Nurse for FY99. • The budget calls for one new nurse, where would she be placed? Dr. Harutunian advised that this would be determined after an evaluation. • Under Athletic Services there is $3,000 for Maintenance of Fields, isn't the Town maintaining the fields? Dr. Harutunian advised that the $3,000 was to cover the stripping of the fields. Finance Committee member White questioned Dr. Harutunian on why School Department has not sent out a fact sheet regarding charter schools. Dr. Harutunian advised that the Charter School did not fall under open meeting laws until they receive state approval so he has no idea what type of response they are getting for possible enrollment. The director of the charter school is required to inform the Superintendent of the number of applications by April 1st. Capital Plan Dr. Harutunian discussed with the Committee the School Department's Capital Budget as outlined in the School Committee's Recommended Budget. He also informed the Committee that the School Committee had voted last night to endorse the decision of the School Building Committee to place the Coolidge Project on the warrant for the March Town Meeting. The School Department presentation ended at 10:15 p.m. spectfully submitted, Harry KI Harutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent