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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-03-10 Finance Committee Minutes/ED J CLERK -1G, MASS. 1004 1,11A R 2 q A (1:AQnce Committee Meeting March 10, 2004 The meeting convened at 7:37 p.m. in the Town Hall Berger Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Finance Committee Chairman Jim Francis, Vice Chairman Richard McDonald, Members Paul Bolger, Andrew Grimes, Catherine Martin, Harold Torman, Robert LeLacheur, Marsie West and Chuck Robinson, Superintendent of Schools Pat Schettini, Assistant Superintendent Dennis Richards, and School Committee Members Pete Dahl, Lisa Gibbs, and Elaine Webb. Also present were Paula Schena, Linda Phillips, Jackie Mandell, Paula Perry, Paula Tucci. School Committee Member Pete Dahl noted that he received a letter from Lt. Governor Healey's Office regarding reimbursement of building projects, and Reading is scheduled for reimbursement for Sunset Rock in FY06, Barrows in FY07, and the High School in FY09. The High School was originally on the schedule for reimbursement in FY17. Superintendent of Schools Pat Schettini did an overview of the School Department and Building Maintenance Budgets. He noted that the School Committee and Administration have the same priorities. The budget drivers in the budget include a 3.5% contractual increase in salaries plus applicable step and degree changes that equals 3.12% of the increase. School Committee Budget priorities equals 1.73% of the increase. Transportation of the Barrows' students to the new elementary school equals .96% increase. An increase in utilities and heating equals .21% increase, and an increase in supplies and material costs equals .10% for a total of 6.12% increase in the overall budget. Pat Schettini noted that the priorities include: ♦ $55,000 for Special Education which is for an additional Special Ed teacher in the middle school and additional itinerant services (sight and hearing) due to students moving from elementary to middle school. Hire a Director of Human Resources and Finance at $85,000. e Improve the maintenance functions by adding one custodian and one maintenance worker for $71,000. This will decrease overtime and cut back on subcontracting. The Assistant Director of Maintenance has HVAC knowledge, and this will save $20,000 per year on the Town side. Address health issues. ♦ Develop a Technology Director. Fund equipment and materials on a yearly basis. Maintain or improve class size. o Support full-day kindergarten by maintaining current fee-based program. ♦ Support improved teaching and learning. ♦ Increase electives in the High School and provide leadership for fine, practical and performing arts. Finance Committee Vice Chairman Dick McDonald noted that the Town could have a $1.8 million problem with next year's budget, and asked the School Department if they want to add programs now and then cut them next year. Finance Committee Meeting - March 10, 2004 - Page 2 Pete Dahl indicated that the things they are adding now might not be the things to be cut if they are working well. Other areas would be looked at to cut. He also noted that nursing is critical and a Nurse is needed in every building. He is optimistic that State Aid will be increased in the future. Finance Committee Member Bob LeLacheur noted that there is an additional $120,000 in the Kindergarten Budget, and Pat Schettini noted that two teachers at $50,000 each and supplies have been added. Pat Schettini reviewed the Job Description for the Business Manager's position. He noted that there is not enough manpower to handle all personnel and business functions. He also noted there have been a lot of changes and additions to mandates over the years such as NCLB, Ed Reform, FMA and ADA. He further noted that Job Descriptions need to be done, a personnel manual needs to be created, student activity accounts need to be monitored to insure spending properly, and aggressive grant writing is needed. School Committee Member Elaine Webb noted that Beth K.lepeis looks at this as an exciting opportunity, and she indicated that the current agreement between the Town and School would be amended. Bob LeLacheur noted that revenues are falling through the cracks and costing the Town money this position could pay for itself. 1 Finance Committee Chairman Jim Francis noted that personnel issues can be costly if not managed right. Finance Committee Member Andrew Grimes asked who will be freed up with the new person on board. Pat Schettini noted that School Administrators will be relieved from clerical work and will be able to put their skills in the classroom. Finance Committee Member Chuck Robinson asked if there will be $25,000 in the budget every year for Technology, and Pat Schettini indicated that there will. Jim Francis noted that it should be in the capital plan. Pat Schettini noted that it was a line item in the capital, but it was not funded so they put it in their budget. After much discussion, the consensus of the Finance Committee was that the $25,000 for Technology should be in the capital plan. Assistant Superintendent Dennis Richards reviewed the Social Studies Program. He noted that in 1995, a curriculum studies report was done but there was no funding for the recommendations to do professional development or purchase supplies. The Math and Science Programs have been revamped and now they want to focus on Language, Arts and Social Studies. Finance Committee Member Catherine Martin asked how many years it will take and the cost. Dennis Richards indicated that it will be a three year process at about $184,000-$200,000/year. Finance Committee Meeting - March 10, 2004 - Page 3 Ms. Martin noted that only $90,000 has been budgeted, and Dennis Richards noted that some of the money has been moved to Professional Development. Pat Schettini noted that there is an increase in the Special Ed Director salary because the Assistant Director will be half time and half time Psychologist this is an accounting issue. He also noted there may be a decrease in the "out-of-district tuition offset" because parents may not want to send their child to a school that is under renovation. Pat Schettini noted that due to the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Homeless Act, the Town is required to provide transportation to homeless students. The cost for transportation is under Special Ed tuition. Pat Schettini noted that they were diligent in doing the paperwork for the Circuit Breaker, and will receive approximately $500,000 opposed to $273,000 that they received last year. He did note that other towns will become more aggressive and that will make a smaller percentage. Jim Francis asked why they are adding another Nurse. Pat Schettini noted that if we add two Nurses, then each school will have a Nurse. Nurses are needed to provide medication, and a lot of youngsters have significant medical issues. Pat Schettini noted there is an increase in athletics salaries due to the addition of the LaCrosse Program. Jackie Mandell asked if the LaCrosse Program is dues supported, and Pat Schettini noted the program is self funding this year and next year there will be a user fee. Pat Schettini noted that he is adding one custodian and one maintenance person in the custodial maintenance budget. He indicated that this will decrease overtime and decrease the dependency on outside contractors. The maintenance person that they hire will be a Plumber. Hal Torman questioned the $30,000 revenue in the Lunch Program. Pat Schettini noted that Cathy Cools breaks even, the lunch program is self-sufficient, and she buys her own equipment, etc. Jim Francis asked why those items were not in the capital plan he feels that the school lunches should not be paying for new equipment. Pat Schettini noted that if it is put in the capital plan and is not funded, they still need to purchase the equipment. Mr. Francis noted there should be a system in place to allocate the revenues from the School Lunch Program. Francis asked for a copy of the school lunch budget, and Superintendent Schettini agreed to get the FINCOM a copy. Pat Schettini noted that the cost year to date for oil and gas for the Town is $28,784, and for the schools $97,320, and that does not include January, February or March. He expects an increase for next year. He also noted that we were involved with a company at the beginning of the year who gave us a very good price but they went out of business, and the schools are changing from oil to gas. Jim Francis noted that the Finance Committee will vote on the FY 2005 Budget, review the Warrant on March 24, 2004, and cancel the March 31, 2004 Meeting. Finance Committee Meeting - March 10, 2004 - Page 4 Approval of Minutes A motion by LeLacheur seconded by Grimes to approve the minutes of March 3, 2004 was approved by a vote of 8-0-1, with Martin abstaining. A motion by McDonald seconded by West to adjourn the Finance Committee Meeting of March 10, 2004 at 10.35 p.m. was approved by a vote of 9-0-0. Respectfully submitted, ~ecretarxr