HomeMy Public PortalAboutNauset Schools -- 2020-02-06 Minutes kP Nauset Regional School Committee
February 6, 2020
Brewster Town Hall
Present for the Committee : Ian Mack, Judith Schumacher, Amy Handel, John O ' Reilly, Chris Easley, Richard
Stewart, Robert Jacobus, and Josh Stewart
Absent : Ed Brookshire and Jim O ' Leary
Present for the Administration : Thomas Conrad, Giovanna Venditti
Call to Order --
Chair Easley called the meeting to order at 6 : 00 p .m.
Agenda Changes — None
Citizens Speak
None
Priority Business
Three Year Lease on 2 Electric Cars
Jim Nowack indicated that the leasing agent requires the school committee to give permission to spend $2 , 00 for two
vehicles and a three year lease .
Motion : On a motion by Robert Jacobus, seconded by Amy Handel , it was voted unanimously to sign the lease for
$4 ,200 for the three year lease .
The Superintendent indicated that this is an introduction program through the state . He indicated there will be two
charging stations at the Central Office and they are waiting for Eversource to move the pole so that they can be
installed . The Chevy Bolt gets 257 miles to the charge . He reminded the committee that the District is involved in a
solar canopy project over the bus area.
FY21 Budget
The Superintendent distributed several documents pertaining to the proposed FY21 Region Only budget.
Giovanna Venditti reviewed the Region Only budget section-by- section. Judy Schumacher requested a presentation
on transportation savings at some point. There was discussion regarding school choice in tuition and school choice
out tuition . Nauset is sending 41 students out of District to attend other schools . Ms . Venditti indicated that Nauset
has more student tuitioning out this year and that is the reason for the increase in line item 8728 . Other lines, 8732
and 8740 increased based on student need . Account 8733 , SN Contracted Services Transportation — Giovanna will
get the details and email members .
The Superintendent indicated that budget escalators are clearly the number of students being educated in out-of-
district placements . He indicated that the District has a responsibility to have towns understand that we have more
and more needs for special students who are struggling . He also indicated that ELL teacher salaries are covered by
grants . He indicated that at some point, when the grants can ' t cover the services, we will have to add to the
operating budgets . The program is expanding but presently is funded from grants . He explained how the ELL
teachers service the students . He also indicated if there was an influx of students and the grant money was depleted,
Principals would find money in the operating budget. The Superintendent indicated that Mr. Gauley will report on
the Grants at the next meeting. Ian Mack suggested the need to help ELL kids pass state standardized tests . He felt
the number would continue to grow. John O ' Reilly indicated that when special needs students come into the District
mid-year, and the need arises, Administration does a tremendous job moving funds around . He also stated that the
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Committee should tap into E & D when needed . That would get the budget through that period of time and then it
would be included in the next budget. He stated he did not like the idea of taking from the operating budget.
Account 8711 — Professional Development - $ 140 , 000 . The Superintendent indicated that this money is for courses
that teachers take throughout the year. This money, if not used in the year, could be used for other professional
development . He further stated that there is money for workshops in the building budget. He also indicated that he
has never used E & D money and that that money is a placeholder to offset the base to taxpayers . Members will
have a presentation from Mr . Gauley next month highlighting the grant money, professional development, and
workshops . He would like to develop a school day, school month, and school year that looks at professional
development more consistently during the school year.
Marls Mathison addressed the committee regarding professional development. He reassured everyone, that from the
Union standpoint, there are some things that need to be refined but this district has consistently been supportive of
staff and teachers . He indicated they have had nothing but support . He explained the " large amount of money" is
used for reimbursing teachers who are involved in graduate course work. Young teachers get their Master' s and are
allowed to take as many classes that they need . He indicated that this is a good advantage for the District in
recruiting young teachers and hanging on to them . He stated they have never reached a point where the District did
not have enough money to reimburse the people who take graduate courses . Those with Master ' s can take three
courses in a year . The other money is controlled by the Central Office for workshops . He indicated that 8 teachers
spent two days in Boston for a conference and that money is available to them . He indicated that the Restorative
Practice workshops came out of the Central Office budget . He stated that from the Union standpoint they are very
satisfied . The other money available is in individual building line item budgets . This money is to visit other schools
and see other programs . There is a limit to this money . There are very few times that a staff member has been
denied . He reiterated , overall, the Union has no complaints about professional development and grants at all levels .
Judy Schumacher stated that finding time is a problem for professional development. The District has only 2 days of
professional development in a year and that is something that needs to be addressed . Superintendent Conrad
indicated that the Administrators had a robust conversation about a different professional development model . They
need more continuity and consistency . He reported it is difficult to begin an initiative in August and not look at it
again until January.
The Superintendent stated that you could add more to this budget in a number of areas . He indicated that he brought
forward a budget at 2 . 5 % . This is a tight budget .
Account 8716 — County retirement assessment — Barnstable County provides the information and it is paid on July
1 St.
8720 — Health Insurance — 0% increase
8772 — OPEB — 4005000 — Giovanna Venditti indicated this is the same amount as last year and it has been moved
into the Region Only budget. The Superintendent indicated that this must be included in the operating budget
according to the Attorney. The Attorney indicated that the total budget, including OPEB , that is voted in one
number.
Account 8725 - Insurance — This increased due to an increase in deductible for the District. MIIA stated building
were under insured . Premiums will increase for the next three years . It was asked if the insurance could go out to
bid . The Committee asked that Administration look at this .
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8727 — Athletic Insurance — This is based on the number of students in the program . Administration will look at this
as well .
The total budget is $ 12 , 903 ,224 or a $ 506, 801 increase or 4 . 09% increase .
Giovanna Venditti reviewed the breakdown of versions of the budget for the committee . The Superintendent
indicated that retirements play a big part in bringing the budget down . John O ' Reilly questioned the other budgetary
reductions - $ 51 ,000 . The Superintendent indicated that three teachers are retiring and two positions may be
eliminated after looking at the master schedule . Josh Stewart worried about increase size in core subjects . The
Superintendent has asked both Principals to start making the master schedule . He indicated that they have not laid
off teachers even though enrollment has gone from 1 , 200 to 900 . They have had reductions through retirements . He
would like the board to request going forward a report of classes being run with under 10 students and classes with
over 25 students .
Motion : On a motion by Robert Jacobus, seconded by Richard Stewart, it was voted unanimously to request
Administration to provide a list of classes being held with under 10 and over 25 students .
Region Only and Region Share of Central Office was reported . The pie chart including all components of the budget
was distributed . Version 1 of the Operating Budget was distributed. Giovanna Venditti reviewed the expense,
income and assessments to towns .
Members asked the reason why OPEB was included in the operating budget . It was stated that the Attorney
indicated that this must be included in the operating budget. Giovanna Venditti explained the School Choice figure .
She also indicated that she applied for extraordinary relief based on expenses in special needs . She anticipates
receiving $243 , 000 from the state in extraordinary relief that must be used in this budget year. Chair Easley asked
about the 1 .4 million in E & D and the balance of $ 560 , 000 . He asked for an accounting of special needs expenses
again the three budgets for the past two year and the current year. Robert Jacobus stated that the money coming
from E & D is not sustainable . Chair Easley indicated that the committee would have to increase assessments from
the towns and that they would have to ask for an override . Josh Stewart did not like bearing real costs with
prepayment or pulling out of E & D . Chair Easley indicated that in the past the committee has always taken money
out of E & D to offset assessments . He requested a history of E & D be brought to the next meeting. He worried
about the $ 560, 000 balance projected in E & D at the end of the year . The Superintendent indicated that Circuit
Breaker money will be added to that figure . Judith Schumacher stated she was alarmed by the figures and wanted to
know how the budget is absorbing $400, 000 in OPEB . She thought this was given to the towns last year as a
separate appropriation . The Superintendent suggested he give school committee members the minutes to the
meeting when they voted to include OPEB in the budget, as well as the legal opinion from the Attorney. He
indicated the budget had to be voted with one figure . Judith Schumacher felt the budget should be 2 . 5 % of what it
was last year not 2 . 5 % of a budget including $400, 000 for OPEB . John O ' Reilly stated the Administration should
look into this . Where is the 2 . 5 % calculated from? Givanna Venditti reviewed the budget showing the budget has
increased $602 ,226 over last year, noting a 2 . 5 % increase . This figure includes the operating budget, debt service
capital and OPEB . She indicated when the school committee votes it need to vote on the figure in totality and it
cannot be separate items . She indicated that the $24,000, 000 includes OPEB last year. John O ' Reilly indicated that
OPEB is not pushing the budget over, but the reduction in revenue .
Revenues were discussed . The Superintendent indicated that the number of school choice students at the High
School was down . He indicated that students go to the Tech program . He indicated they are watching this very
closely. He indicated the issue with some of the communities is that there is a lot of mobility and people do move
Nauset Regional School Committee, February 6, 2020 3 1 P a g e
around . He reminded the committee that seats were only open in Grade 6 and 9 last year . At the Middle School they
are sensitive to class size . The Superintendent shared with the committee that we are looking at our schools as a Gr.
6 - 12 program for continuity and consistency.
Chair Easley would like the estimates for the end of the year. Giovnna Venditti indicated this will be in the
Dashboard next week. Judy Schumacher would like to see the actuals . Chair Easley would like to see expenses
coming out of revolving funds .
The Superintendent indicated that the Administration has spent a great deal of time looking at this budget. He
indicated that we are seeing rising costs . John O ' Reilly indicated that there are multiple things that the committee
did not have figures for and now they are in the budget. The board decides what gets reduced within the budget. We
may not be in a position to ratify this budget until we have to .
For next week .
1 . List of Revolving Funds
2 . Large amount coming out of revolving funds
3 . History of E & D .
John O ' Reilly inquired if the committee happy with what is coming out of E & D or do we ask Administration for
additional cuts?
It was noted that 91 % of the budget is personnel costs . Administration is not replacing one teacher in a core subject.
Will the reduction impact student/teacher ratios? The Administration will talk with the Principals about another
position retiring. The Superintendent indicated that many of the lines have a zero percent increase . He stated it will
be very difficult for Principals and Ms .Venditti to go line-by- line and bring back money to cut, aside from salaries .
School Committee members shared concerns that the budget is not sustainable . Chair Easley stated that the
committee has been frugal with the taxpayers ' money . He cited ways the Region was helping itself through solar
energy, audit on energy and working with Cape Light Compact . He stated the District is trying to keep the budgets at
2 . 5 % as they are looking at a building renovation project. He indicated that if something breaks down and we have
only $ 540 , 000 in E & D , we will have to go back to the towns to get funds . The Committee is trying to do the right
thing for students and taxpayers . They need more information to discuss this further .
The Superintendent stated that this is happening in all the budgets as the escalators are out of our control . We want
to continue to find ways to reduce costs but parents and taxpayers want outstanding schools .
Future Agenda Item
Professional Development
Insurance Contracts — Liability and Athletic Insurance
Adjournment
On a motion by Robert Jacobus , seconded by Josh Stewart, it was voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8 : 24
p .m .
Submitted by,
Ann M. Tefft
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