HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-02-03 Finance Committee Minutesr MINUTES OF THE
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READING FINANCE COMMITTEE
FEBRUARY 3 1992
Members present: Willard Burditt, Chairman
Frederick VanMagness, Vice Chairman
Pete Dahl
Gerald MacDonald
William Murphy
Nathan White
Others present: Robert Munnelly, Superintendent of Schools
Lynn Bak, Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Barbara Philbrick, Chairperson, School Committee
George Shannon, Vice Chaiperson, School Committee
Matt Cummings, School Committee Member
Tim Twomey, School Committee Member
This meeting of the Reading Finance Committee was held in the Conference Room
of Reading Town Hall. This meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Chairman
Bill Burditt.
I. BUDGET
A. School Department
*Chairman Bill Burditt opened the evening's meeting with introductions
of the Finance Committee and the invited attendees representing the School
Department of Reading.
*Superintendent Bob Munnelly was the introduced by the Chairman
and was asked to present the budget for the School Department.
*Dr. Munnelly explained that he had a "level of services" budget with
him this evening and also discussed putting together this budget, reflective of level
of services.
*The budget message given to the Committee is that the Reading
School Committee has been challenged by the Town and the State of
Massachusetts' financial problems to reduce program and staff by $1,083,000., and
to maintain (while making these reductions) the best education possible for the
young people of the Town of Reading.
Page Two...Minutes of the Reading Finance Committee, February 3, 1992
*Explanations were given by the Superintendent regarding making
major cuts in this budget. Meeting this challenge is a struggle. The School
Committee is still $50,000 or so short of its target, even after spending more than
a month deliberating changes and reductions in four long meetings.
*The Superintendent announced operations at this time without a
Budget Manager. Dr. Munnelly is hopeful that by Town Meeting time all budgets
will be pulled together.
*At this segment of the meeting, Dr. Munnelly discussed staff and
program reductions that were adopted by the Reading School Committee:
1. Administration
*Eliminate Fine Arts and Physical Education Directors $49,000
*Eliminate 4 Middle School Department Heads. Increase
teaching schedule of High School Department Heads 88,000
*Reduce Middle School Assistant Principals to half time 26,000
*Add'teaching responsibilities H.S. Asst. Principals 15,000
*Eliminate 1 custodial supervisor 32,000
2. Aides
*Eliminate 1 High School Library Aide 8,000
*Eliminate 1 High School Attendance Aide 8,000
*Reduce Elementary Teacher Aides 10,000
3. Athletics
*Reduce Athletic Budget 80,000
4. Cafeteria
*Increase lunches from $1.25 to $1.50 55,000
Page Three... Minutes of the Reading Finance Committee, February 3, 1992
5. Custodial
*Eliminate uniform allowance
5,000
6. Professional Development
*One year moratorium on teacher tuition reimbursement
30,000
*Reduce In-Service Budget Balance = $12,000 to maintain
third year of Computer Education.
30,000
7. Teachers/Specialists
*Reduce 4 Elementary Teachers
120,000
*Eliminate 2.5 Home Economics Teachers 6-12
90,000
*Eliminate 2.5 Technology Education Teachers 6-12
92,000
*Reduce 1 High School English Teacher
30,000
*Reduce 1 High School Math Teacher
30,000
*Reduce 2 Physical Education Teachers
70,000
*Reduce .5 High School Focus Teacher
20,000
*Eliminate 1 Middle School Reading Specialist
30,000
*Reduce 2 Library Media Specialists K-8
70,000
*Reduce 1 School Psychologist K-8
40,000
Total Reductions $1,028,000
Page Four ...Minutes of Reading Finance Committee, February 6, 1992
Staff Reduction Recap
*Teaching Staff 21 4/5
*Directors 1 1/2
*Custodians 1
*Aides 22/5
*Asst. Prin. H.S. and M.S. 4 (part time)
*M.S. Dept. Heads 4 (part time)
*The Superintendent presented estimated anticipated revenues as follows:
*User fee $90 per student per sport $85,000
*Athletic Event Gate Receipts 17,000
*METCO 118,999
*Facilities Rental Proceeds 15,000
Total Anticipated Revenues 235,000
*At this time the METCO program was discussed between the Superintendent
and the Committee. Dr. Munnelly explained that the grant for METCO pays for all
the transportation costs of coming out of Boston and tuition.
*Here, Nate White had a question on State aid and whether METCO students
are counted on the Boston School System. Superintendent Munnelly informed the
group that the Town gets no State aid for these students. The METCO costs are
basically taken care of but the Town does give lots of services for this program.
*Fred VanMagness asked about the possibility of raising fees for use of
building rentals.
*Dr. Munnelly presented annual adopted 92 budget revisions and proposed
( 93 budget.
Page Five ...Minutes of the Reading Finance Committee, February 3, 1992
Budget Cuts To Date
*Of the budget cuts of the last four years, these are the cuts that have
already been voted.
*Teaching Professionals:
*Since 1990 there has been an 18 and 4/10's reduction in classroom
teachers. The positions are as follows:
*2 elementary gifted/talented
*1 elementary Art teacher
*1 elementary Physical Education teacher
*1 elementary Music teacher
*2 middle school Reading teachers
*1 middle school instructional Music teacher
*1 middle school computer teacher
*.5 middle school SPED teacher
*2 high school Business teachers
*1 high school English teacher
*1 high school Tech. Ed. teacher
*1 high school Tech. Ed. dept. head
*1 high school Reading teacher
*.4 high school Math teacher
*1 high school Physical Education teacher
*.5 high school Reading specialist
Page Six...Minutes of the Reading Finance Committee, February 3, 1992
*Other Professionals
*.5 D.P. Director
*.5 Music Director
*.8 Art Director
*.5 Physical Education Director
*.5 Athletic Director
*.5 Facilities Coordinator
(Or 3.3 Full-time Equivalent Positions)
*In Addition
*Elimination of Summer School budget
*25% of teaching supplies and textbooks
*$6,400 of custodial overtime
*Elimination of all non-mandated bussing
*Elimination of all preventive maintenance
*Elimination of all purchasing of computer, instructional equip.
*70% cut of professional development
*25% cut in substitute teacher account
*Elimination of all standardized testing
*$90 high school athletic fee
*Intramural sports eliminated
( *$15 high school activity fee
Page Seven...Minutes of the Reading Finance Committee, February 3, 1992
*Fred VanMagness had questions on three secretarial positions for
Superintendent's Office.
*Dr. Munnelly explained that he accesses work of these individual
secretaries. Ms.Lynn Bak, Assistant Superintendent of Schools responded to this
question and told the Committee that these three workers have now become "ladies
of many trades".
*Fred VanMagness asked the Superintendent what would happen if the State
Annual Report Fund was omitted.
*Dr. Munnelly responded to the question by explaining that he, himself would
work 7 - 8 weekends himself to do the job.
*Mr. VanMagness also had questions about the significance of membership
in the Massachusetts Association of School Committees for the $3290 dues
assessed. Dr. Munnelly explained the significance.
(J i *Mr. VanMagness also had questions about Professional Development Instate
meetings for $1000. This was then explained by the Superintendent.
*Each line item was discussed, beginning with the Administration Budget.
*Nate White spoke of teachers' salaries, scales and steps and talked of the
52 who are now anticipating increases. Nate talked of contract expiration. Step
increased should now be deferred. Nate talked of being level-headed regarding
these raises with other Town employees not having any increases.
*Here, Dr. Munnelly discussed salary schedule indepth and explanations of
step increases as being a part of the total employment package when teachers are
hired for their positions.
*Gerry MacDonald spoke at this time in agreement with Nate White.
*Barbara Philbrick offered discussion on the obligations to contracts.
*Again, Nate White suggested that the Schools look hard at this.
*Matt Cummings, member of the School Committee, told the Fincom that
Reading must still attract good people for positions.
l
Page Eight... Minutes of the Reading Finance Committee, February 6, 1992
*Chairman Bill Burditt interjected his understanding of maximums and
employees of contractural step increases.
*The Assistant Superintendent spoke of hiring experienced teachers for
bottom dollars. After 7 years you finally reach the maximum.
*Bill Murphy, Fincom member, asks the Schools to take a real hard look at
this issue.
*The Superintendent explained that the contract is still alive until another
contract is signed.
*Gerry MacDonald asked that the meeting move on to another point at this
time.
*The Superintendent explains the Teachers' Longevity Summary.
*Bill Murphy asked how the "Putback Priorities List" was arrived at and Mrs.
Philbrick explained that three lists have been done already.
*Discussion ensued regarding substitute teachers and how much moneythey
are paid for one day.
*Fred mentioned that the number of days calculated for sickness seemed a
bit high per each fulltime teacher.
*The Superintendent explained that these numbers reflected the days for
religious holidays as well.
*Assistant Superintendent Bak explained the contract with substitute teachers
is such that after working for ten consecutive days, the $45 amount doubles.
*Pete Dahl made a suggestion to the group to close schools completely on
some of the religious holidays to reduce costs.
*Fred VanMagness discussed the benefitted positions of the teachers' aides.
*Also brought up at this time was a request from Mr. VanMagness for details
for supporting the calculation accuracies in the regular-day salaries.
*Chairman Burditt decided to continue going through each of the line items
Page Nine ...Minutes of the Reading Finance Committee, February 6, 1992
through this budget with time for questions and answers to obtain some concensus
in determining detail.
*Operating supplies was next on the Superintendent's list of items.
*Basic Skills Testing and other tests were discussed.
*Textbook costs was talked over.
*A question from the READING CHRONICLE REPORTER, Maria Silvaggi,
regarding how teachers can teach without textbooks.
Regular Day Base Pay Projections
Directors: Physical Education $44,617
Fine Arts 9,697
Total
Alice M. Barrows School:
1 principal
15 teachers,5 specialists
Total
Birch Meadow School:
1 principal
17 teachers, 4 specialists
Total
Joshua Eaton School:
1 principal
19 teachers, 5 specialists
Total
$54,314
$59,489
744,330
803,819
$56,229
808,957
865,186
$58,674
905,355
964,029
Page Ten...Minutes of the Reading Finance Committee, February 6, 1992
J. Warren Killam School
1 principal $59,489
22 teachers, 5 specialists 939,932
Total 999,421
*Other Services was discussed per line item, along with Athletics.
*Bill Murphy had a question about 23 sports being offered and asks whether
or not some of these sports programs can be cut.
*The custodial budget was discussed for FY93.
*All Schools Maintenance Budget, as was capital outlay:
1. Computer/WP Equipment
- 2. Roof replacement
3. Space remod. (Middle School)
4. Space Remod. (Elementary)
5. Chapter 504 Lifts/Toilet Remod.
6. Boiler replacement
7. Energy related projects.
8. Vehicle replacement
9. Floor tile replacement
10. Install suspended ceiling
11. Window replacement and ceiling tile
12. Refurbish kitchen
13. Replace classroom/cafe furniture
14. Gate/Zone value replacement
15. Track Renovation
16. Oil tank replaced
17. Asbestos
18. Elevator/ high school
19. Gas conversion
20. Door replaced/high school
21. Alarms
22. Energy management/high school
23. replace steam trap/CMS
Page Eleven... Minutes of the Reading Finance Committee, February 6, 1992
24. Stage curtains
25. Clock, Tower repair
26. Rooftop ventillation replaced
II. NEXT FINCOM MEETING
*At this time during the meeting, Chairman Burditt discussed future meetings.
It was then agreed that the Committee would not meet on next Wednesday,
February 5, but that the Committee would meet on Monday, February 10.
111. ADJOURNMENT
Motion for adjournment: Gerry MacDonald moved to adjourn and Fred Van
Magness seconded the move to adjourn.
*This meeting of the Reading Finance Committee was adjourned at 11:13 PM.
Respectfully submi ed,
Sue Finn, Secretary
Reading Finance Committee
/sf