HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-10-19 Finance Committee Minutes1 } V i;
T". CLERK
FINCOM Meeting READIN! S, } iASS.
October 19,1999
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The Finance Committee met with the School Building Committee and the School
Committee at the newly renovated library at the Coolidge Middle School. All
members of the Finance Committee, Chairman Carol Grimm, Vice Chairman
Richard McDonald, Robert L.el-acheurs, Neil Cohen, Charles Robinson, Mary
Grimmer, Jim Francis, Paul Kurker and Catherine Martin were present. Pete
Dahl, Susan Cavicci, Jim Keigley, Mary Williams and Robin D'Antona
represented the School Committee. Dr. Harutunian was also in attendance.
Principal John Doherty opened with an update on the construction progress at
the middle school and stated that they hoped to hold an Open House in the
spring. Carol Grimm noted at the outset of the meeting that the Fincom would
not be taking a vote after the presentation, and discussed the upcoming meeting
schedule; October 28, for a presentation by Beth Klepeis and Richard Foley on
the preliminary expenses for the FY 2001 budget, the expected state revenues
for the FY 2000 budget and a draft of the FY 2001 capital plan and November 3
when Fincom is expecting to vote on the Town Meeting articles with financial or
budgetary implications.
j" School Building Committee Chairman, Russell Graham, opened with a review of
the project and the work done by the School Size & Enrollment Committee. He
stated that SBC's task was to persuade Town meeting to reaffirm its support of
the new elementary school. He noted that the referendum vote resulted in a
much more costly project to the Town as the SBAB will not reimburse us for the
renovation of the Barrows school, alone. He stated that the State expects us to
bring a solution that will solve all of the elementary enrollment issues as well as
the discontinuation of use of the portables for classroom space.
The updated enrollment figures were discussed at length. Updated current
enrollment figures, as of 10/1/99, were presented and showed the current class
size at each of the elementary schools and the projected growth trends by for the
K-5 grades for the next ten years. It was questioned whether or not we are
building enough classroom space to accommodate future increases. It was
noted that the core facilities in the new building will be large enough to handle
another 6-8 classroom and that the new building will be constructed such a
manner that additional classrooms can be added at a later date. The projected
Program/Space Analysis was reviewed. That report showed the expected
number of classrooms, art & music rooms for each of the elementary schools
and Dr. Hartunian noted that should enrollment continue to rise at a higher rate
than projected then the Art & Music rooms can be used as temporary classroom
space again. It was also noted that this new school and the Barrows renovation
is expected to meet the current projected enrollment figures and that if those
figures end up tracking higher than it is expected that the State would allow us to
bring in other elementary projects that address those issues.
The building plan was briefly reviewed. The architect, Sid Bowen, was unable to
attend this meeting. It was noted that a preliminary plan review had been
discussed with the Conservation Commission and that the plan may be changed
to a two story configuration. Access & egress issues were discussed.
The costs of operating a fifth school were discussed a great length. Dr.
Hartunian noted that his cost projection for the number of new classroom
teachers is based on the expected increase from the prior fiscal year 2002 to the
fiscal 2003 year, when the new school is expect to be opened. He also noted
that the other positions, psychologist, speech, reading, media/library, custodian,
Sped, etc., are based on the number of students in the system and would be
required anyway to handle the increased demand and caseload. The new
positions required by the new school would be a principal, secretary, nurse and
custodian.
Respectfully Submitted
Catherine L. Martin