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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-02-13 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS READING, MASSACHUSETTS OPEN HEARING BUDGET MINUTES FEBRUARY 13 1995 CALL TO ORDER Chair Twomey called the budget hearing to order at 7:30. All members were present as well as Assistant Superintendent Dennis Richards. Mr. Twomey thanked everyone for coming. He stated that the School Budget has been submitted to the Town Manager. He invited everyone to speak up and voice their concerns. There was a telephone link up with Mrs. Mirkin fielding the calls. BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrant for bills were as follows: February 13, 1995 - Bills - $ 142,820.41 The warrants for payrolls were as follows: February 10, 1995 - Biweekly - $ 142,371.91 Mr. Twomey introduced Jennifer Page, Principal of the Joshua Eaton School. She in turn introduced three school principals from Sweden. Bengt Olos Sennero,(upper elementary grades) Mona Nyberg, and Berit Nordlund ( both grade 7 - 12) were in attendance. Mr. Twomey thanked them for attending. Mr. Twomey stated that the draft budget was 9 1/2 to 10% higher than the last fiscal budget. Four classrooms were being added at Joshua Eaton and Birch Meadow. This means hiring eight additional teachers as well as all supplies necessary to outfit the classrooms. Mrs. D'Antona stated that two new programs for FY96 would be the Understanding Handicaps funds and the Information Technology Coordinator. Mr. Stohlman noted that the technology equipment budget is separate from the school budget. Mr. Twomey stated that there was a $ 650,000 - $ 700,000 difference between the School and what the Town Manager has allotted. $ 650,000 is large discrepancy. Mr. Twomey introduced and welcomed Christine Cerretani, High School Student Representative. At this point they were going to take questions from the audience. Chair Twomey asked everyone to state their name before they asked their question or made their comment. OPEN HEARING BUDGET MINUTES 2 FEBRUARY 13 1995 Mr. Bob Donovan, President of the Reading Teachers Association Mr. Donovan recapped the history of cuts for the past ten years. He stated that the 9.63% increase of this year's budget may seem exorbitant, it still falls shy of the state average based on per pupil expenditures. He went on to say that under the mandates of Ed Reform, education cannot and should not take a back seat any longer. The Reading School System needs Town support to meet all the mandated changes of educational reform. Mr. Twomey stated that the per pupil spending was $ 625 below the state average. If we could raise the per pupil spending average we would have $ 2 1/2 million more. James Biller, Coolidge Middle School Parent He cautioned the School Committee not to make cuts. He said the Town Manager is not Town Meeting. Property values will decline with the decline of education. We need to get the schools back to where we were before the cuts started. If we cut back Technology, we do not even have pencils to fall back on. We cannot steal from the schools to have the town stay afloat. Mr Twomey outlined the budget process. The budget does go from the Town Manager to the FinCom then to Town Meeting. He urged people to attend the FinCom meetings and to call FinCom members. Bruce MacDonald He commended the School Committee on their tough approach. Leadership comes from the School Committee. An override is a possibility. Al Hamilton, Parent Mr. Hamilton noted that in other countries, children by the sixth grade have mastered a foreign language and Calculus. We are not hemorrhaging; we are bleeding to death. Lorraine Horn, Parent She supports the FY96 School Committee Budget. She asked Tim to explain a line item. Tim explained that the line item was made up of Special Education Transportation, Tutors, Nurses and out of town placements. There are increased costs mandated by the Department of Education and court systems. These obligations must be fulfilled. Mr. Dennis Richards, Assistant Superintendent Mr. Richards explained that the mandated costs were not just directly related to Special Education. The School district must pay costs relating recertification for teachers and, in the future, costs relating to the Time and Learning Commission. These are just a few items that the school district must pay for. OPEN HEARING BUDGET MINUTES 3 FEBRUARY 13 1995 Mr. John Arina, Parent, 3 Killam students He feels the Town should handle the mandates. There is building construction everywhere. He wanted to know who decides who gets capital improvement money? He was told that the ultimate arbitrator are the Town Meeting Members. Financial matters are discussed at the April Town Meeting. Mr. Twomey went on to say that per capita, Reading is 121% of the state average. We are 37th highest in the state as far as property taxes go. We have no industry. Mr. Richards explained that the Department of Education is translating the 1993 Education Reform Law into practice. The formula for funding does not work well for Reading. Large amounts of money are received by urban areas and not by towns like Reading. Randy Gonchar, Killam Parent Mr. Gonchar stated that the Killam parents are monitoring the FinCom. It is important for the School Committee to take an active role. He feels it is important to support the School Committee and present views to the FinCom and the Town Manager. We should let them know which direction we want to go. We have to be more aggressive. Mrs. Cavicchi stated that she was please that so many people follow the FinCom. It has been an eye opening experience for them. Mr. Biller, Parent Mr. Biller clarified that the new Technology Coordinator position is not a Town position. He wants the position to stay within the schools. He does not want to see the position at the Reading Public Library. That would be like putting the Police Chief at the Department of Public Works. Technology is a huge amount of work. It must be managed properly. A Caller The caller supported the School Committee's Budget position. The caller was a proponent of the Understanding Handicaps Program. The loss of this position would be very costly. The cost of prejudice is expensive. Mr. Twomey stated that Understanding Handicaps is not a new program. It has been handled by volunteers for years. The time has come to have a paid person direct it. Mr. Richards agreed with Mr. Biller. The need for a Technology Director is great. That person should be able to interface with town personnel but the position must be kept in the schools. OPEN BUDGET HEARING MINUTES 4 FEBRUARY 13. 1995 Mr. Thomas Meharg, RMHS P.T.O. President Parent He supports the School Committee budget. He would also like to see an increase in the per pupil spending. He feels Reading gets a good bang for the buck but a few more bucks would help out! He urged everyone to support the School Committee. Rachel Baumgartner, Parent The Budget has already been cut. Many cuts have already been made before the budget is completed. Rachel explained how her daughter carried around her vocabulary book in a zip lock bag. Updating Textbooks is not frivolous. Many group support the schools with private money. She pleaded with the School Committee not to cut the budget. Dr. Delaney, Parker Middle School Principal Dr. Delaney reiterated that many cuts have already been made before this budget was finalized. For example: $ 15,000 - $ 16,000 was cut from his budget. The funds would have been spent on items such as: 6th Grade Social Studies books, 7th - 8th Grade Math books, Literature books, Foreign Language Books, Sheet Music etc. Linda Hibretter, Caller, Parent She is overwhelmed and impressed with the education her children have received. She applauded the School Committee. She urged everyone to support the budget. Mr. Shannon stated that people do not realize that there is an increase in student population. He said he could show sixty pages of paper detailing unfunded programs. The School Committee must have details. The parents have to know what will be cut. Linda Malloy, Parent There is no fat left in the budget only meat. She says she is ashamed of the shape that the text books are in. Education count! Mary Ann Lucitelli, Caller, Parent Reading should look at where the money is spent. Did we really need the new Light Company Building? Mr. Stohlman stated that the Light Company is not bound by Proposition 2 1/2. He said there are four options: 1. Cut the Budget 2. Juggle Revenues 3. Use Free Cash 4. Have an Override The deadline for an override is tomorrow. He does not see how we can raise the money any other way. OPEN HEARING BUDGET MINUTES 5 FEBRUARY 13. 1995 Michael Slezak, Parent The budget process is a political process. He wants the people to support the budget. The School Committee must take a strong stand. Darcy Hildreth, Parent, Special Needs Student As a parent she only wants to educate her child. She is tired of hearing Education versus Special Education. She did not ask to have a handicapped child. She applauded Mr. Richards. Finally, someone stood up and stated that not all mandated issues are for Special Education. She feels that Education should not be pitted against Special Education. The School Committee has $ 15,000 in the budget for the Understanding Handicaps position but will not spend the money on Special Ed. She wants money spent on the Transitional Kindergarten. Gretchen O'Halloran, Parent She feels the budget should be presented in its entirety, with no cuts. People do not realize that the budget has already been slashed. Mr. Cummings added that people do not go to the FinCom Meetings. Mary Kay Watts, Parent Special Needs Student Cable Television makes it possible to make people aware of the school situation. People move to Reading for the schools. The schools were good in the eighties. What happened? Caller, Unidentified Coolidge needs paint, RMHS needs ceiling tiles, RMHS has asbestos. Where exactly are our taxes going? The custodians do not do anything. Her taxes go up but she sees no improvement in the schools. Mr. Shannon explained that a lot of the tax dollars go to salaries. The custodian work force was cut by 600. There is no money for repairs and maintenance. Laura Wilson, Parent She asked why there is not an override on the ballot? She was told that the Selectmen place items on the ballot. Mr. Stohlman announced that he has mentioned an override at the last three School Committee meetings. Mr. Twomey explained that an override requires a huge amount of work. Wanting an override and getting an override passed are two separate issues. Mr. MacDonald He concurred that an override is a very difficult political process. OPEN HEARING BUDGET MINUTES 6 FEBRUARY 13, 1995 Mr. Shannon claims an override will not happen. You must have a citizens group to do the work and that is not going to happen in the next 24 hours. Steve Connor, parent, member several interest groups in town He feels a school only override will not work. It must be town wide to work. Mr. Arena, parent He asked Mr. Shannon what number he would take seriously. Mr. Shannon said to propose a budget $ 450K - $ 650K short highlighting what will be cut out. If it does not pass, people will see why. MR. STOHLMAN MOVED: THAT IN ORDER TO AVOID ADDITIONAL CUTS IN SCHOOL OR MUNICIPAL SERVICES OR DEPLETION OF FREE CASH RESERVES, THE SELECTMEN CONSIDER A PROPOSITION 2 1/2 OVERRIDE IN THE AMOUNT OF $ 1,000.000. MR. STOHLMAN LEFT AT THAT POINT BECAUSE OF CHILD CARE NEEDS. BEFORE HE LEFT HE WAS IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION. IT WAS 9:45 P.M. Mrs. D'Antona said she had been very quiet all evening, that she came to listen. She said an override requires tremendous amounts of work. She would be in support of an override but the time for an override is not now. Throwing the Technology plan in haphazardly would not work. Mr. Twomey stated that since Mr. Stohlman is no longer present at the meeting that his motion must fail. MR. SHANNON MOVED FOR AN OVERRIDE. MRS. CAVICCHI SECONDED THE MOTION. THE VOTE WAS 3 - 2. MR. TWOMEY AND MRS. D ' ANTONA VOTED AGAINST. Mr. Twomey stated that the increase is small this year, only a fraction of what will be needed in years to come. In order to have a successful override you must have an enormous commitment. So far no one has come forward to do all the work. Mr. Twomey feels the time is just not right. Adjourn Mr. Twomey moved to adjourn. Mr. Shannon seconded the motion. The vote was 5 - 0 - 1. (Mr. Stohlman was not present) SUSAN CAVICCHI MATTHEW CUMMINGS ROBERTA D'ANTONA GEORGE SHANNON TIMOTHY TWOMEY R pectful1 ubiFitted, 9VG:�C Dennis Richards Interim Superintendent