Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES
February 9, 2009
The School Committee held a retreat on Monday, February 9, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Training Room, Third Floor, Town Hall. Chairman Meyler called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.
Members Present: Karen Adelman Foster, Anne Blanchard, Dirk Coburn, David Margil, Stephen Meyler,
Anne Zernicke arrived at 7:15 p.m.
Members Absent: David Murphy
Others Present: Peter Sanchioni Superintendent
Karen LeDuc Assistant Superintendent
William Hurley Director of Fiscal & Management Services
Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary
APPROVAL OF WARRANT ARTICLES
Dr. Sanchioni provided the School Committee with language for a warrant article to be submitted for School Bus Transportation as follows:
Article
(School Committee)
To see what sum of money the Town will vote to appropriate for the purpose of operation and administration of the school bus transportation system, and to reduce or offset fees charged for students who elect to use the school bus transportation system for transportation to and from school; or otherwise act thereon.
Mr. Margil moved for approval of this article. Ms. Karen Adelman Foster seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Dr. Sanchioni provided the School Committee with language for a warrant article to be submitted for the Spring Town Meeting for Special Education Transportation, Salaries & Expenses as follows:
Article
(School Committee)
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of returning to the School Committee’s FY 2009 budget the Special Education Extraordinary Circuit Breaker funds, for the purpose of paying Special Education costs.
Mr. Coburn moved for approval of this article. Ms. Zernicke seconded. It was unanimously approved.
A discussion took place as to whether or not the School Committee should put together a warrant article for the transfer of funds for the salary of the Data Base Administrator from the Town budget to the School department budget. Dr. Sanchioni did not feel this was necessary at this time. Concern was raised that if the School budget had not been increased to include this amount by the next Financial Planning Committee, submission of a warrant article may be necessary. Mr. Coburn moved for approval for the School Committee to authorize the Superintendent to submit an article, if he thinks it is necessary, to request the funds to support the salary for the Database Administrator. Mr. Margil seconded. It was unanimously approved.
MEMBERS CONCERNS
Ms. Karen Adelman Foster requested that the School Committee discuss what the School Committee’s recommended plan for discussion should be for the next Financial Planning Committee meeting and suggested that it would be well served to request an impact review of the Town’s budget including fees, what are the offsets, encumbrances. Ms. Adelman Foster also discussed the need to be explicit about what should be provided to evaluate the impact on both the general government side and the school side of the cuts and suggested that something similar to what Dr. Sanchioni provided on the last slide of his FY10 budget presentation should be provided by the general government. This discussion was tabled until later in the meeting.
Ms. Adelman Foster requested that an update be provided on the Expense Control Taskforce. Mr. Coburn reported that the Expense Control Taskforce has requested and received copies of all bargaining agreements for both the school side and general government side and have been reviewing them. He stated that he has recused himself from the meeting when discussions relating to bargaining agreements have taken place as he does not agree that this business should be addressed by the Expense Control Taskforce. A discussion continued. Ms. Martha White, Town Administrator joined the meeting. A request was made, through Ms. White, for the Selectmen to provide a letter stating what the role, responsibility and scope is for the Expense Control Taskforce. Ms. Adelman Foster would like this
item to come back to a future meeting.
Ms. Adelman Foster requested that Mr. Ostroff be invited to a future meeting to discuss what the Revenue Task Force is doing, including what they are thinking of in terms of Advertisement revenue.
CONVEYANCE OF SCHOOL PROPERTY
Ms. Martha White, Town Administrator, discussed the idea of the School Committee conveying to the Town the land they own where the Natick Community Organic Farm is situated. The Conservation Commission has funds available which could be expended to the Farm if it were under the jurisdiction of the Town. Ms. White pointed out that this would be a great vehicle for the Commission to expend some funds and would reduce costs to the Town. A discussion took place. School Committee members asked whether assurances could be put in place that the property would remain as the Natick Community Organic Farm. Ms. Blanchard questioned whether a piece of the land could be retained for future expansion to Memorial School and what impact this would have if Memorial School was expanded. Ms. White and Dr.
Sanchioni will follow up on these items.
ENROLLMENT UPDATE
Dr. Sanchioni provided the School Committee with updated enrollment numbers for both the current school year and projections for next year. He will continue to monitor the numbers.
FY10 BUDGET UPDATE
Dr. Sanchioni provided the School Committee with an FY10 balanced budget which included potential reductions in the area of personnel and expense accounts and potential fee increases. A discussion continued. Ms. Blanchard requested receiving more information on the athletic budget. Dr. Sanchioni will provide this information to all members. These budget numbers will be finalized once the funds from the stimulus package have been finalized. Members were urged to send any other ideas to Dr. Sanchioni and Chairman Meyler. The Committee discussed the schedule for approving their budget. Members expressed the need to notify the public of what cuts are being considered and allow time for them to react. It was suggested that another review of the budget be held on
February 23rd with public comment and possibly vote the budget at the March 2nd meeting.
At 10:05 p.m., Ms. Blanchard left the meeting.
At 10:10 p.m., Mr. Margil moved for approval for the School Committee to enter into Executive Session to discuss Collective Bargaining and Personnel in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 39, Section 23B of the Massachusetts General Laws. Ms. Adelman Foster seconded. By roll call vote it was unanimously approved to enter into Executive Session.
At 10:30 p.m. the School Committee returned to open session.
Ms. Adelman Foster continued with her request from earlier this evening to discuss what should be brought forward for discussion with the Financial Planning Committee meeting this Wednesday. It was the consensus of the School Committee to request that impact reviews be requested of the Town’s budget including fees, what are the offsets, and encumbrances, etc.
At 10:37 p.m., Mr. Coburn moved to adjourn. Ms. Zernicke seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Peter Sanchioni, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
Attest:_____________________________ Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
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