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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-03-16 Finance Committee Minutes�j OFR O� Town of Reading I,fn 4b l Meeting Minutes ,sJ91MCOApO�R Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Finance Committee Date: 2016-03-16 Building: Pleasant Street Senior Center Address: 49 Pleasant Street Purpose: General Business Attendees: Members - Present: Time: 7:30 PM Location: Great Room Session: Version: DECEIVED 'SIN Ci D, IN", M SS. Ml JAN ?b A II: 45 1 Chair Mark Dockser, Marc Moll, Paula Perry, Peter Lydecker, Craig Merry, David Neshat, Anne Landry Members - Not Present: Paul McNeice, Vanessa Alvarado Others Present: Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Administrative Assistant Caitlin Saunders, Rosemarie DeBenedetto, Andrew North, Julie Merrill, Heather Murphy, Erline Trites, Denise Iozzo, Christen Regoraro, Catherine Rice, Caitlin Koehler, Katherine duFosse, Gina Herlihy, Michelle Falkna, Nancy Docktor, Connie Martin -Wilson Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Secretary Topics of Discussion: Mr. Dockser called the meeting to order. Dr. Doherty and the School Committee were in attendance to present the school budget. Dr. Doherty gave an overview of the five district goals. He noted we have reached our max number for Chapter 70 funding. The Chapter 70 formula was developed in 1993 when costs were very different and has not been adjusted to reflect current costs. Per pupil spending is calculated based on an end of the year report submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). There are many requirements that go into the end of the year report and the report allows a district to examine per pupil spending across a number of broad spending categories. Reading is about $2,000 below average of comparable communities. Our ranking has continued to go down over the last couple of years. Dr. Doherty noted the rank doesn't matter except that we can't stay steady, we keep dropping. A question was asked about whether transportation greatly affects our per pupil spending rank or not. We rank #29 with transportation and #25 without it included. The school department budget request is $150,000 over the FINCOM recommended number. The $150,000 is for a new science curriculum. There is also an article going before Town Meeting asking for this money as well. Page 1 1 Finance Committee Minutes - March 16, 2016 - Daae 2 Ms. Landry asked if the preference was to get the article passed by Town Meeting or to get it in next year's budget and Dr. Doherty explained the advantage to having Town Meeting approve it would be we can start in 2016 with training and implementing. Dr. Doherty reviewed the budget priorities including implementing the curriculums, continuing to build the capacity of professional staff, and addressing the academic, social, and emotional needs of the students. The budget drivers for FY17 are our contractual obligations. Additions to the budget include restoring per pupil building funding to FY15 levels and restoring some regular education para -educator hours. Dr. Doherty explained there have been level service cuts the past three years and they have avoided personnel cuts but next year they will not be able to. They did make some reductions last year in substitutes which they are not adding back in this year. For contract services, there were budget increases in labor counsel and regular education transportation. There were decreases in special education curriculum services and special education professional development. For materials, supplies, and equipment there were budget increases to restore the per pupil reduction taken in FY16 and the new science curriculum. For other expenses there were budget increases in professional development from contracted services and network hardware. There were budget reductions in software licensing and parent transportation reimbursements. There was a budget increase for special education out of district placement tuition costs and special education transportation. There was an increase in offsets for athletics and extra -curricular. There was an increase in revenue offsets for special education tuition, RISE, full day kindergarten and extended day. FY17 Budget reductions include two elementary teachers which will bring those class sizes affected to 25 kids. They are merging two departments at the high school and cutting a department head to save money. They will be cutting the library aid at the high school. There are many other types of funding that are used to run our schools Martha Syburt was present to explain the special revenue funds. Ms. Syburt noted she categorized these funds into three categories including, revolving funds, donation funds, and revolving funds that offset the budget. The donation funds are usually gifts that are directed for something specific. The school lunch program has the biggest balance. They are looking at potentially raising fees for use of property since that has not been done in a while. Ms. Syburt noted she has been working closely with Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom to look at these funds to see if they are charging enough. A resident asked if the balance for extended day is so high, why are parents being charged so much. Ms. Syburt noted that program was no adequately staffed before; they have just hired two more full time positions so she expects the balance to start decreasing over time now. Page 1 2 Finance Committee Minutes - March 16, 2016 - Daae 3 Dr. Doherty explained the things that this budget was not able to address. Long term improvements to the school are tuition free full day kindergarten, restructuring the elementary schools schedule, more opportunities for students, restructuring the high school schedule and programming, and additional tutorial support for students. Dr. Doherty noted there are many things this budget does not address but will eventually need to be. They could no longer reduce other expenses without affecting personnel. No personnel cut is a good cut, however, we tried to reduce the impact on the students. The committees then reviewed the questions FINCOM sent over. Ms. Barowski wanted to point out that the state sets standards and it is important to realize whether we do the new science curriculum or not, our students will be state tested on that curriculum. Ms. Perry made a motion to adiourn at 9:05 PM, second by Mr. Neshat and approved with a 7-0-0 vote. Respectfully submitted, Secretary Page 1 3