Budget Committee Meeting
Approved Minutes
October 25, 2005
Troy Elementary School,
Troy, NH
Members present: Terry Clark, Gary Bednarski,
Robert Mitchell, Normand Dion, Dick Bauries, Eric Stanley, Chair Jane Fortson,
Thomas Parker, John Tommila, Robert Smith, Neil Moriarty, Don Arguin, Karen
Cota and Stephen Russell. Absent:
Nancy Johnson.
Administrators present: K. Dassau, Superintendent,
D. Hodgdon, Dir. of Curriculum, T. Warner, Dir. of Technology and L. Biron,
Business Manager.
Board Members present: C. Dreyfuss, J. Carnie, J.
Kenyon and G. White.
Principals present: D. Dahl, J. Smith, M. Young
and B. Tatro.
The
Budget Committee toured Troy
Elementary School at 6:30 PM.
J.
Fortson called the meeting to order at 7:08
PM.
1. Approval of the Sept.
27, 2005 Minutes: MOTION: R. Smith MOVED
to accept the Sept. 27,
2005 Minutes as presented. SECOND:
J. Tommila. VOTE: 13.34/0/.82/1.85.
Motion passes.
2. Public Comment Period: None. J. Fortson
explained that she would be leaving early tonight and T. Parker would be taking
over the meeting.
3. Monadnock Regional
High School Budget Presentation-Mr. Smith: J.
Smith explained that the high school and the middle school budgets have been
split. Splitting the two budgets out has been difficult and that is an
understatement. He explained that there are 803 students in the High School as
of Oct. 1, 2005
and it is anticipated that there will be 812 next year. The staff is split
between the two schools based on enrollment. There are 3 ¼ teachers fully
funded by grants. J. Smith said that it was a science teacher, a spec. ed.
teacher, a guidance counselor and a modern dance teacher. R. Bauries asked if
the 20% increase in health care is included in the figures. L. Biron said that
it was on the yellow sheets. He also said that dental is up 5 % and that the teachers
who are on the step increase will be receiving them. L. Biron commented that
the titles on the budget were omitted and the system should be fixed by Monday.
J. Smith continued to explaining that the increase in Business Ed. was for
repairs. N. Moriarty asked why it wasn’t maintenance. K. Dassau explained that
it is a repair or maintenance in the business class. The increase in English is
for new books. Foreign Language has an increase for books and disposable
workbooks. Physical education has an increase to replace equipment. New health
books are asked for in the Family Consumer Science class. J. Smith mentioned
that the standards for health have changed. The requirements have increase from
¼ credit to ½ credit. Music has a $3500.00 increase for replacement equipment.
Biology has an increase for new text- books. J. Smith asked that they skip
Computer Technology and T. Warner would speak on that after. Social Studies
also new books. The Alternative Credit Class is being covered this year by Joe
Smith. K. Cota asked how many teachers there are for the Wilcox Program. J.
Smith explained that there is one teacher, two aides and one part-time
psychologist. The Wilcox Program and the Autism Program are both in the middle
school budget. He said that School to Career is level funded except for staff
increase with benefits. J. Smith explained that the athletics would be
explained on a separate handout. S. Russell asked if the figures reflect the
transportation. J. Smith explained that it was included. T. Parker would like
it broken out. The salaries are 2/3 at the high school and 1/3 at the middle
school. R. Smith asked why varsity football was so high. J. Smith explained
that both the JV and Varsity are combined just the referees and the NHIAA shows
on the JV line. J. Smith said that guidance includes the ISS person. The Health
Office is split between the two schools but there is a separate school nurse
for the middle school. J. Smith explained that Student Support includes summer
school. N. Moriarty asked what classes are taught. J. Smith said what the
students request. Transportation is not included in the summer course and the
classes are anywhere from $150.00 to $160.00. These classes are for the
students that fail during the year. N. Moriarty commented that sports are free
but the students have to pay for classes. E. Stanley
asked what happens if the student is not able to pay. J. Smith said that they
find ways to help with the cost. J. Smith explained that the 2210 account was
for 11 dept head stipends. The 2223 Account has an increase, which is for
replacement equipment. R. Bauries asked
if J. Smith really needed 6 secretaries and commented that he would have to
demonstrate that to the taxpayers. T. Parker asked about the $16,500.00 for the
NEASC. J. Smith explained that it is a one-time expense to accommodate the
visiting team. The School Resource Officer is prorated between the two schools.
K. Cota asked about the positions being advertised in the school. J. Smith
explained that they are SAU or district positions. He explained that they are
mostly replacement positions, unless an IEP requires another staff member.
T. Warner explained the
Technology Budget to the Committee. He explained that lumping all the computers
into one account would make the control a lot easier. N. Moriarty asked how
much for the WIN School. T. Warner explained that it is
between $300.00 and $400.00 per person. J. Fortson commented that line 27 was
incorrect and should be $6000.00. T. Warner explained that the maintenance
account could be cut because of the maintenance agreement. T. Parker asked what
the savings would be with the maintenance agreements. T. Warner commented that
it changes every year. E. Stanley asked the
cost of the warrantee. T. Warner explained that it is not separate for
education. J. Tommila commented that Dell advertises a computer for $600.00 and
you are paying $1280.00. T. Warner explained that the Dell computers do not
have what the district needs. R. Bauries asked why the warrantee for the small
children do they beat the computers and T. Warner explained that they are
better than the adults. He explained that the mobile computer lab is in the
library. T. Warner explained the long-term goals of the middle and high school.
T. Parker commented that the Budget Committee would need to know what are the
replacement costs and nonrecurring expenses in order to prepare the default
budget. S. Russell asked about the 19 new computers. T. Warner explained that
there are 6 computer labs in the high school. D. Arguin stated that there needs
to be support with dollars for the technology programs.
G. Bednarski asked what
would happen if the high school eliminated the 4th administrator. J.
Smith said that there would be a significant effect. G. Bednarski asked if
there was any redundancy in the School-to-career program and the Alternative
program. J. Smith explained the two programs. G. Bednarski asked if J. Smith
would choose either the renovating of the gym or the 4th
administrator. J. Smith said he would choose the administrator. N. Dion asked
about the Dept. Heads. J. Smith explained that they do no supervising. They
help the teachers with curriculum. T. Parker commented that the students are
decreasing and the staff is increasing. He asked J. Smith what he is doing to
cut costs at the high school. J. Smith said that he covered the Alternative
Credit staff member and saved the District $60,000.00. L. Biron explained that
the number of credits required to graduate has increased. N. Moriarty asked about the reading program.
R. Bauries commented on the health benefits. L. Biron said that people who work
30 hours receive benefits. R. Bauries said that the budget is up 58% in five
years. L. Biron stated that health benefits are killing the district.
4. Monadnock Regional
Middle School Budget
Presentation-Mr. Young: M. Young explained that there are 361 students in
the Middle School. There is a reduction in the number of English teachers from
5 to 4 teachers. That will be $60,000.00 savings for the English teacher. N. Moriarty asked the difference between the
Middle School Foreign Language and the Freshmen Foreign Language. M. Young said
that the students from the Middle School who are advanced would go directly to
Spanish I instead of Freshmen Foreign Language. He informed the Budget
Committee that there are 6 students in the Wilcox Program and 2 students in the
Autism Program. He said that the Middle School Athletics are $64,000.00 plus
$26,000.00 of the salary. The Middle School budgets for 1/3 of the 2 guidance
counselor salary. M. Young informed the Budget Committee of the tasks that the
counselors perform from scheduling, tracking, behavior counseling and meeting
with each and every one of the 361 students. The counselors will see at least
20 students a day and may have to coordinate with outside agencies to help the
students. C. Dreyfuss asked about the English teacher whether she is leaving or
going to the high school. M. Young said that at this point the person might
retire. K. Dassau commented that there is one less at this point. T. Clark
asked about major areas in the budget. M. Young said that it is the reduction
of the English Teacher. The biggest increases are the Spec. Ed. and health care
benefits. L. Biron commented that they have programmed in 20% for the health
care, 5% for dental and the step increases per contract. K. Dassau said that
the Autism Program is new and has not been budgeted in yet. K. Cota asked about
the Team Leaders on the cover sheet. M. Young explained that they are like
dept. heads at the high school. J. Smith explained that it would depend on the
size of the dept., years of experience and the extra duties. R. Bauries
commented that there is an increase of 1 million-dollars. L. Biron explained
that there is a 20% health increase, which they have no control over. J. Kenyon
asked if in the junior high were there team leaders. J. Smith explained that
the high school took control.
5. Budget Committee Updates:
a.
Default Budget Subcommittee
Report: T.
Parker reported that the committee met on Oct. 19, 2005. N. Moriarty, T. Parker, D.
Bauries, D. Arguin, J. Fortson and K. Dassau were in attendance. K. Dassau
handed out information pertaining to the default budget. The committee
discussed what items should be included in the default budget. The members felt
that they needed more information.
b. School Board Update: K. Cota reported that
during the Oct. 4, 2005 Board Meeting the Board voted to reconsider the biding
process for the new septic. This was a request from C. Dreyfuss the Facilities
Chair. She felt that someone that was interested in bidding the job had not
received a packet. The Board also voted to ask John Teague, a School Attorney,
to render an opinion on Warrant Article #10 on the 2005 Ballot. The Finance
Committee recommended and the Board voted to include $60,000.00 plus benefits
built into the 2006-2007 budget for a Facilities Director. On Oct. 17, 2005 the
Board opened the bids and tabled the meeting until more information was
obtained from SUR.
On Oct. 18, 2005 The Board voted to accept the SUR bid but the motion failed. A
motion was made to accept Lawrence’s
bid. Soon after, Lawrence
withdrew his bid. The Board reconsidered SUR’s bid and accepted it.
c. Budget Oversight Subcommittee Report: T. Parker reported that the
committee met on Sept. 28, 2005. D. Bauries, N. Moriarty, J. Fortson, K. Dassau
and L. Biron were in attendance. The committee discussed expenditures to date
as provided by L. Biron. They discussed a desire to focus on large or unusual
expenditures. L. Biron reported that the oil tanks have been filled just prior
to the year end. He has no idea about the anticipated fuel increase. K. Dassau
provided the committee with a “draft” worksheet of projected expenditures and
projected revenues. He explained that these numbers would be changing and that
he would update the sheet throughout the year.
6. Other discussions as
desired: The
Maintenance issues will be discussed on Nov. 10, 2005 in the high school
cafeteria. K. Cota suggested that the Budget Committee should discuss
maintenance first because although Spec. Ed. is important it can not be
touched. The Budget Committee would like to discuss the cost overruns for the
2004-2005 year. K. Dassau thought that was the oversight committee. J. Tommila
would like to hear the ruling on the warrant article. K. Dassau said that he
emailed the attorney yesterday but has received no response. R. Bauries asked
if this was the last edition of the budget. L. Biron said no. L. Biron said
that the nurses, and the administrators are not in there yet and the health
benefits, staff and other issues change daily. R. Bauries asked about the SAU
budget. K. Dassau said it was a separate warrant article. It is still in the
developing stages and he would have it next Wed. at the SAU Board Meeting.
7.
Public Comments: W. Imon asked if the high school was on a separate
warrant article such as the MC2 School would the taxpayers be obligated to fund
it. He said it is just a question.
8.
Setting the Agenda:
1. Maintenance
2.
Spec. Ed.
3.
SAU Budget
4.
Committee Reports
5.
Cost overrun
J. Fortson would like to thank D. Dahl for hosting
the meeting and G. Bednarski and his wife for the cider and cookies.
MOTION: G. Bednarski MOVED to adjourn at 9:40 PM by
unanimous consent VOTE: Unanimous
for those present. . Motion passes.
Respectfully submitted,
Laura L. Aivaliotis
MRSD Recording secretary