Budget Committee Meeting
Approved Minutes
November 29, 2005
Monadnock Regional MS/HS
Library, Swanzey, NH
Members present: Gary Bednarski, Dick
Bauries, Chair Jane Fortson, Robert Smith, Neil Moriarty, John Tommila, Norm
Dion, Stephen Russell, Terry Clark, Robert Mitchell, Eric Stanley, Don Arguin, and
Nancy Johnson. Absent: Tom Parker,
Karen Cota and Neal King.
Administrators Present: K. Dassau, Superintendent,
D. Hodgdon, Dir. of Curriculum and L. Biron, Business Manager.
J.
Fortson called the meeting to order at 7:04
PM.
1. Public Comments: E. Stanley wanted to congratulate the
Monadnock Football Team for their victory over KHS on Thanksgiving Day.
W. Imon hoped to get past the two topics of Health
Care and the oil. He said to focus on the task and don’t beat around the same
items.
J. Tommila commented on an article in the Keene
Sentinel referring to the Budget Committee as penny pinchers.
T. Clark said that he had received a call from the
Keene Sentinel but did not return it.
N. Moriarty passed around an article from the paper
about the Reverse 911.
2. Budget Committee Updates:
a.
Default Budget Subcommittee
Report: J.
Fortson reported that the committee met on Nov. 17, 2005. The committee named T. Parker
the chair and J. Fortson agreed to take the minutes. The committee reviewed
column five of the budget. N. Moriarty and R. Bauries questioned the step
raises. K. Dassau explained the specific lines that were asked about. L. Biron
would follow up on any questions that K. Dassau could not answer. The committee
commented that the replacement vehicle should not be in the default budget. J.
Fortson reported that the committee met on Nov. 29, 2005 the committee reviewed the
default once again and would be finalizing it for a recommendation to the full
Budget Committee.
b.
School Board Facilities
Committee Update: K. Cota was not present.
c. Budget Oversight Subcommittee Report: There was no meeting since
the last budget committee meeting.
3.
Discussion of the 2006-2007
Proposed Budget: G. Bednarski asked J. Fortson if she had an estimate yet. J. Fortson
said 4.01% increase in the default budget includes the step raises, but not the
new increase in insurance to the 26.8% rate quote received from the
administration. G. Bednarski asked if there is an amount on the step raises. L.
Biron commented that only about 1/3 of the staff are on the steps. He said that
it is not an awful lot. It is about $65,000.00.
R. Mitchell arrives.
J. Fortson reminded the
Committee that they were to come back with cuts to recommend to the rest of the
Committee. T. Clark asked about the new equipment and replacement equipment. T.
Warner spoke about the computer equipment. He said that most is replacement
equipment. He said that the $64,800.00 is necessary to purchase a certain kind
of computer and a four-year warrantee. This would keep the computers in a
four-year cycle warrantee. After the warrantee is finished, they are no longer
used at the high school; instead they trickle down to the elementary schools.
J. Fortson asked what T. Warner thought the impact would be without the
computers being on cycle and no replacements. T. Warner said that would not
happen. We would have to find the money from some place else in the budget. He
said that there are certain upgrades that can be postponed. We could look at those,
but if cut from the budget we would find it some place else. S. Russell
commented that he would beg to differ. He said that the computers are still
workable. He said that it would be helpful to the committee to have an excel
spreadsheet to show the computers. T. Warner commented that they could do that.
S. Russell commented that if you ask for over $20,000.00 you should have
specifics. R. Mitchell asked if there was a policy on when they are replaced,
when they go to the elementary school and when they get discarded. T. Warner
explained that the Pentium 1 and 2 have been discarded. They were 7 to 10 years
old. This is not a large maintenance line. We find it very efficient because of
our current policy. The cycle is 3-4
years. The goal is to get all the computers up to a Pentium 4. E. Stanley asked how much of the $64,800.00 was on
warrantee. T. Warner commented that they pay about $100.00-$120.00 for an
additional year of warrantee. T. Warner said that the system has worked well.
He said that he does not think it is extravagant. T. Clark commented on a
re-occurring expense. T. Warner said that it the way it is categorized. He
stated that the mobile lab was purchased new. He said there is no room for
anymore new computers. T. Clark asked how many critical use computers they
have. T. Warner said that at least each classroom has one plus the offices and
library, which could not function without one. He said that more and more of
the computers are being considered critical use computers. He said that the computers
that are 4 or 5 years old in the elementary schools are not considered critical
use computers. T. Warner said that they run out of warrantee after the four
years. He said that they are very important now that they are used for testing
which occurs twice a year. N. Moriarty asked for the definition of critical. He
said that they do not seem critical. He said that the testing, report cards,
attendance use and other tasks go use another computer. He said this is not
critical. T. Warner said that he would totally disagree with N. Moriarty. N.
Moriarty said that there is not one that is critical. T. Warner said not true.
N. Moriarty said again that it is not critical. T. Warner commented that he
guessed that N. Moriarty does not feel that education was critical. R. Bauries
commented that there is nothing in the budget explaining that you are going to
pay for the deficit. He said that he would not allow the default to say the
$210,000.00 deficit. K. Dassau said that he is not aware that the deficit is in
the default. K. Dassau said that he would show the committee where the revenues
are. J. Fortson said that it is the revenues for the 2005-2006 year that will
be used to cover the deficit, not the ’06-’07 budget. R. Bauries asked how you
are paying for it without the income. K. Dassau commented R. Bauries had the
sheets. K. Dassau said that it would hopefully be $233,000.00 to the good given
the expenses and hopefully there would not be a deficit. R. Bauries asked if
the 6% being asked by the principals were a different number. R. Bauries said
that the 6% is too high for the principals. R. Bauries asked if we should talk
about this and when. J. Fortson said now. S. Russell asked if the 6% is already
in the budget (the answer is yes it’s in the proposed budget). K. Dassau
explained how the principals reached the 6%. K. Dassau explained that because
of the Thanksgiving recess they have not spoken to the principals yet. R.
Bauries commented on the 6% increase being asked for and the increase in health
costs. He said that in his opinion it is too high of a number. K. Dassau is not
disagreeing. He said that there might be movement there. R. Bauries suggested a
3% raise for the principals. K. Dassau explained that he has not had an
opportunity to discuss this with the principals but he would. N. Moriarty
commented that two people just signed up and they knew what they were getting.
He would like to see a pocket of money not a flat raise and hopefully see the
money used correctly. G. Bednarski asked why this is not an issue in the past
years. We have janitors that get paid more than the first year teachers. He
said that if you want a raise I am in favor of it for K. Dassau. K. Dassau told
G. Bednarski that he might not like this response but he had a conversation
with him about D. Mousette’s salary. That is what put the Budget Committee in
this discussion. G. Bednarski responded that was fair. He asked K. Dassau why
we are doing this now and K. Dassau responded because you brought it up. MOTION: D. Arguin MOVED to recommend a 3.5% raise to be given by the administration
for the principals. SECOND: R.
Smith. DISCUSSION: N. Moriarty asked
if it would be a flat rate for everyone. D. Arguin said that the 3.5% would be
equally distributed as described by the administration. E.
Stanley asked if it would be rewarded based on merit as N. Moriarty mentioned. R. Mitchell commented that the
3.5% is just enough to keep up with inflation. He said there would need to be a
higher number to correct the imbalance. S. Russell said that the 3.5% is shy of
the cost of living. He asked if there would be an added cost by the employees
during negotiations in the contract. He said that you could not give it to them
in one breath and take it away it would not be fair. K. Dassau said not their
participation in health care. R. Bauries commented that the SAU administration
asked for a 5% raise and the SAU Board said that it should be 3% or lower. And
the whole budget under 5%. It is a 2.9% raise for the superintendent. K. Dassau
said that R. Bauries had mistaken and that they had asked for a 3-˝ % pool of
money to be distributed by K. Dassau and they told us to come in under 3-˝%.
They instructed us to use some of the surplus and that the overall budget be
less than 5%. There are no salary increases for the employees in neither the
SAU office nor the superintendent. J. Fortson asked if the committee would
agree with the 3-˝ % or even a 4-˝ % raise. N. Moriarty asked if it was a flat
distribution and K. Dassau mentioned that they had proposed as distributed by
the superintendent. D. Arguin said that N. Moriarty
is wrong and he said to distribute it as proposed by the administration. G.
Bednarski commented that there should be a system to pay for your performance.
J. Tommila asked what kind of money we are talking about. L. Biron said that
there are too many variables but roughly $48,000.00. MOTION to amend: N. Moriarty MOVED
to recommend the amount of $50,000.00 to be distributed at the discretion
of the superintendent to the principals. SECOND:
T. Clark. DISCUSSION: G.
Bednarski asked if we were raising or lowering the budget by this amendment. D.
Arguin commented that we would not be raising the budget. J. Fortson said that
she feels the 3-˝ % is too low and she would be in favor of the 6 % increase.
R. Mitchell said that the motion is the same as proposed so why. G. Bednarski
commented that you are raising the budget. K. Dassau commented that it was a
pool of money and it did not raise the budget at the 6 % raise. J. Carnie
commented that this motion would impact the negotiations that are going on now.
He has a real problem with that because the contract is not settled. N. Dion
commented that we should wait and look at this later. N. Moriarty commented
that this is a compression raise. J. Tommila said that he would agree with N
Moriarty and that he does not agree with the method. There is no firm number,
no merit plan in place and we are giving across the board, deserving or not. He
said that he does not think it is unfair and he has been uncomfortable voting. MOTION: J. Tommila MOVED to table the issue to another meeting. SECOND: G. Bednarski. DISCUSSION:
N. Moriarty and T. Clark withdraw their amendment to the motion. The
committee began to discuss the motion and the motion to table stops discussion.
VOTE: 9.05/2.31/2.48/2.16. Motion passes. T. Clark asked that the
administration bring back solid figures. N. Dion asked how many dept. heads
there was and asked about the stipends. K. Dassau explained that they are
members of the collective bargaining unit. He explained that there is a formula
for the number of people the dept. head supervises. K. Dassau explained that
there are 11 dept. heads and their pay range is from $2700.00 to $6480.00. N.
Dion commented that they do not supervise. K. Dassau commented that they do not
evaluate. N. Dion commented that he thought there were a lot of dept. heads and
that it is a terrible waste. K. Dassau explained that they do observations and
evaluate jointly with the principal or vice principal. N. Dion said that it is
a waste. R. Mitchell commented on Spec. Ed. and asked if with the change if
there might be a savings. K. Dassau explained the due process and that there
would not be a lot of savings due to the most recent ruling. J. Fortson asked
about the 2620 account and the $300,000.00 in renovations and the $10,000.00 in
unanticipated changes. L. Biron would be discussing this with the Facilities
Committee. J. Fortson commented that she would like this to come out. J.
Fortson commented on the 2690 account in the amount of $20,000.00. L. Biron
explained that was for the SAU building roof. J. Fortson asked that it be
pulled out and put on as a warrant article. N. Johnson asked about the 2640
account and L. Biron said that he would have to get that information from M.
Pratt. N. Moriarty thought that the heating oil and gas increase were to be in
a warrant article to establish an energy fund. R. Mitchell commented that if it
were voted down you would still need to buy it. N. Moriarty commented that good
wording on the article would not make trouble. R. Mitchell asked about the
$300,000.00. L. Biron said that it comes from the capital improvement plan. He
said part of it is for firewalls in the high school. G. Bednarski commented
that the money in the bank and $300,000.00 could build a gym. S. Russell
commented on the support staff. He commented on the 8 secretaries. He would
challenge the administration to take a look at the support staff at the high
school. Look at their tasks and duties. He commented that this is one of the
few areas that he would agree with R. Bauries on. S. Russell said to take a
hard look at a person retiring and not replacing that position. K. Dassau
commented that he has heard the Budget Committee say too many principals, too
many dept. heads from N. Dion and too many secretaries. K. Dassau asked if they
are also talking about assistant principals. N. Moriarty commented on the
number of kids down and the number of staff up. K. Dassau explained the
reductions in the staff to the committee. J. Fortson asked about the 2210
account. D. Hodgdon explained that three years ago he proposed a focus to move
toward data driven documents. The model would allow the administration to take
a variety of data and be able to gather and drill the data to focus on the
needs of the students. This was driven by NCLB. J. Fortson asked about the
$25,000.00. D. Hodgdon said that they would use that amount. J. Fortson asked
how that is different from the WIN School. D. Hodgdon commented that certainly
some you could do some of the same things with it, but this is intended to do
more. It is an integration of the different databases. J. Fortson asked if they
should be using one or the other. K. Dassau and T. Warner explained the
benefits of the program. J. Fortson asked about the DOC STAR and L. Biron
explained that it was for the student records. It is a 3-year lease. K. Dassau
explained that it is very sophisticated scanning system. There is no need to
purchase the fireproof cabinets with this system. L. Biron said that eventually
it would be for the permanent financial records. R. Bauries asked if SAU 29
paid for ˝ of the program. D. Hodgdon explained that they would pay half or
more it is based on per pupil cost. N. Johnson asked what you receive for
$25,000.00. D. Hodgdon explained what the company would be doing for the
$25,000.00. N. Johnson asked if it was for consulting fees and D. Hodgdon said
that it was a lot up front for the fees. J. Fortson asked about the aides in
the 1100 account of the High School and Middle School. She asked if they are
needed at this level. B. Tatro and K. Craig commented that they do not have
them at the elementary level. J. Smith explained that it was for an aide for
the reading program and an aide for the music dept. He said that with the
number of children in the music classes an aide is needed. J. Smith gave the
committee information on the books that they had asked for. He said that the
math books are 16 years old, the biology books are 10 and 17 years old and the
civics books are tens years old. He said that a teacher bought his own books
because they were so bad. J. Smith said that the books have been cut from the
budget for the past 3 years. The goal is to have every book less than 10 years
of age. N. Johnson asked if there was a future plan for books. J. Smith said
that the books would be no more than 10 years of age. R. Bauries asked if they
need to buy a truck each year. L. Biron said that the frames are gone in two of
the trucks. He said that they buy second hand trucks and they keep them for 2-3
years. All the trucks are kept here at the school. He said that after this
purchase they should be okay for a few years. R. Mitchell asked J. Smith if
that was the average for the replacement of books. J. Smith said he had no
idea. R. Mitchell commented on the Gilsum 1 million-dollar addition and the
fact that there are rotten sills. D. Mousette commented that the sills need to
be fixed, the floor is the floor that they are ending up with and the courtyard
he does not have an answer for. L. Biron said that the Facilities have this on
their list and would be prioritizing it with everything else. R. Bauries asked
about the $35,000.00 for the maintenance temporary. L. Biron explained that it
is for temporary maintenance during the summer. J. Tommila asked about the additional
person to Cutler. K. Dassau explained that S. Rashid has a behavioral disorders
program and he believes that he is understaffed. He anticipates the increase of
students in the program. N. Moriarty asked if he could find the kids to come
into the program. K. Dassau explained that they have had to turn away some
children in Troy. He wants to have the children come in. D. Arguin asked if
this budget process has been helping the administration. He asked when we need
to make a decision and recommend as a whole body. J. Fortson commented that
hopefully tonight we could come up with a list. She commented that there is no
line item for the Budget Committee secretary. K. Dassau commented that the
default should build itself. He commented that the administration needs
parameters. He said that some of the discussion is School Board decisions. N.
Moriarty and J. Fortson agreed that most of the items suggested last year did
not get removed from the budget. N. Moriarty would like to go through the
process school by school, as they had done last year. R. Mitchell commented on
the 17 year old books and the frustrating insurance increase. He said that he
does not feel comfortable arriving at a number. He said that he needs to know
the impact. N. Moriarty said that the School Board would move the money. N.
Johnson commented that they did not get the textbooks. D. Arguin suggested a
list of cuts at 6.6%, 5.4% and 4.2%. Show us what they would be losing at each
level. MOTION: D. Arguin. MOVED to receive from the administration
a list of budget cuts based on certain percentages in the budget. Cuts at 6.6
%, 5.4 % and 4.2 %, knowing that we may add and subtract somewhere in between. SECOND: N. Johnson. DISCUSSION: It was commented as long as
the kids do not have to walk 10 miles in a blizzard. J. Tommila suggested that
the administration put in what they absolutely need. He said that they know
better than the Budget Committee. K. Dassau commented that the Budget Oversight
Committee is aware that Monadnock overspent $200,000.00 last year. He commented
that the $120,000.00 that the Budget Committee said not to keep in had to be
made up somewhere else. He also said that the septic was never put in and said
we are struggling. He said that he is not sure about the oil. G. Bednarski
asked about the increase in Spec. Ed. J. Fortson said it was over $500,000.00.
R. Mitchell said that he would support the motion. R. Bauries commented that
the administration lacked politics. They never read the voters. He suggested
that they look at the whole picture and come in below 5 %. He said that
politically on the street that it very good. He said that he would hope that
the other warrant articles would be taken into consideration. R. Mitchell
suggested that the Budget Committee provide direction. He would like a
discussion on the numbers. N. Dion suggested that the administration look at
the budget and the huge staff. He would like to talk about reduction in staff.
He said to be reasonable and make staff cuts. He said that he has never seen
and administrator cut from the budget. He said that Fall Mt. and Keene have
made administrative cuts. K. Dassau commented that he was not sure about Keene
or Fall Mt. N. Dion said that the administration should not come back and have
cut out a popular sport or 18 teachers. He said to be fair with the cuts. He
said that the dept. heads are nice but not necessary. He said that he has been
an administrator and educator. N. Moriarty said that he does not believe that
K. Dassau would cut sports or staff. N. Moriarty suggested that the kids pay a
fee to play school sports. He would also like to see summer school doubled at
no charge to the student. He commented on the 2 part time librarians and asked
why they both receive benefits. N. Johnson commented that the Budget Committee
needed to get back on track and on the motion on the floor. N. Moriarty asked
if the percentages proposed were divisible by 2. K. Dassau commented that N.
Moriarty would like to know so he can cut it in half. K. Dassau did say that
the Dir. of Facilities was cut from the budget a few years ago. N. Moriarty
commented that now you want it back. VOTE:
13.84/0/0/2.16. Motion passes.
K. Dassau mentioned the joint
meeting on December 13, 2005 with the School Board. G. Bednarski asked about
the joint meeting. MOTION: G.
Bednarski MOVED to recommend that
the Budget Committee meet on December 13, 2005 without the School Board. SECOND: R. Bauries. DISCUSSION: R. Mitchell asked if the
Budget Committee would need to reschedule the meeting with the Board. J. Fortson
commented that the Board has quorum issues. K. Dassau would be providing the
information prior to the December 13, 2005 meeting. VOTE: 13.84/0/0/2.16. Motion
passes.
4. Other Discussion as Desired: R. Smith
asked about a dishwasher and sink to be used at Mt. Caesar from the Surry
School. K. Dassau explained that the Surry School is still being used even
though it is not a school. R. Smith commented that the 300 students opposed to
the 20-100 people that occasionally use the Surry School. He asked if it is a
possibility. K. Dassau commented that he would discuss this issue with the
School Board. L. Biron said that he would like to talk to Tom Walsh.
J. Fortson would be
contacting K. Dassau and explain to him the number would get them to the 6.6 %.
R. Bauries asked if the Budget Committee wanted to talk about Saturday. J.
Carnie asked what he would like to know. K. Dassau explained that the School
Board has agreed to meet and discuss the per pupil cost consistent for each
building. J. Carnie commented that the question was raised about the per pupil
cost. They would be discussing the criteria on how the per pupil cost would be
established and have it uniform throughout the district.
J. Tommila suggested that
the administration and the School Board find a solution to the increase in
health benefits. He said that the teachers should kick in on the benefits. He
suggested hiring a consultant to help find a solution. K. Dassau explained that
they are in the middle of negotiations. We cannot renegotiate the teachers and
the support staff. The issue is to have a discussion on hiring a consultant and
where would get the money to do this.
N. Dion felt that he
should comment in a positive way. He said that he is very impressed with the
newsletter PAWPRINTS put out by the students.
8.
Setting the Agenda:
1. Administration presentation
on the 06-07 budget level cuts.
2. Default Budget
3. Tabled Motion on the
Principal’s raises.
G. Bednarski asked about the SAU Budget. L. Biron
said that it was placed in the Keene Sentinel on Nov. 28, 2005.
MOTION: G. Bednarski MOVED to adjourn at 9:45 PM by
unanimous consent. SECOND: N.
Moriarty VOTE: Unanimous for those
present. . Motion passes.
Respectfully submitted,
Laura L. Aivaliotis
MRSD Recording secretary