HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-02-05 Finance Committee MinutesFinance Committee Meeting
February 5,,1998
RECEIVED
TC~~ 1,4 CLERK
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ADING. MASS.
The Finance Committee met in the Conference Room at Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street~S Z' S`0
Reading, Massachusetts at 7:30 p.m. Presents were Chair Jim. Keigley,. Vice Chair Carol
Grimm, Finance Committee members Gerry MacDonald, Nathan White, Catherine Martin,
Richard McDonald, Lawrence Penta, James Francis, and The Reading School Committee.
On a motion by Nathan White seconded by Richard McDonald the Finance Committee
voted to approve the minutes of January 21, 1998,, by a vote of 7-0-0.
Dr. Harry Harutunian:
Dr. Harutunian presented the FinCom Committee with a draft of the FY98 Budget
projected out until June 1998. He suspects additional money will need to be requested at
the April Town Meeting. because of Special Education.
Enrollment Projections: Dr. Harutunian presented FinCom with enrollment projections.
These figures are based on the number of births each year. There were 3-38 births in
Reading in 1997. This is 66 more than the projected figure.
The MMET'CO Program:
Reading- receives $268,004. per year for the 100 METCO students. $118,000. is used for
j materials and the balance for transportation. Reading also receives $12,000. for the 13
Special Education students. A decrease in the amount of METCO students would not
result in a reduction of the budget.
Charter. School:
A charter school would not reduce the present teaching, staff.
FY99 Staffing Requests:
Dr. Harutunian presented the FinCom Committee with the School Committee's staffing
requests. Among the requests were 2 full time teachers, 8 educational assistants, an
additional school nurse, and a custodian.
Dr. Harutunian presented a list of FY98 Budget Cuts and a FY99 Budget Break Down.
The early retirement assessment was a 5 year plan.
The District Awards refer to National Competitions such as the Science Olympiad and
History Day.
The per-pupil allocation for the Fiscal Year 1999 budget year is:
$155 Per-pupil Elementary
$185 Per-pupil Middle School
$215 Per-pupil High School
This does not include new textbook adoptions,, new curriculum initiatives,_ custodial, nor
heat.
Busing:
There is an increase of $20,000. in Transportation services. Two hundred kindergartners
will be bused out of their schools.
Capital Plan:
Dr. Harutunian reviewed the Capital Plan. Renovations are needed at the Killam School,
Birchmeadow School and the Coolidge School. The School committee would like to see
the renovations completed by the year 2001 or 2002. Then the focus could be shifted to
the High School. Dr. Harutunian will address any further questions at the February 18,
1998, FinCom meeting.
The next FinCom meeting is February 11, 1998} to discuss the Municipal Budget.
On motion by Carol Grimm seconded by James Francis the Finance Committee voted to
adjourn, at 10:15 p.m. by a vote of 8-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
ecor ' Secretary