HomeMy Public PortalAbout20211209 - Select Board - Meeting MinutesTOWN OF HOPKINTON
Select Board
Meeting Minutes – December 9, 2021
HCAM Studios, 77 Main Street, Hopkinton MA 6:05 PM
Select Board Members Present: Irfan Nasrullah, Chair, Amy Ritterbusch, Vice Chair, Brendan
Tedstone (remote participant), Mary Jo LaFreniere, Muriel Kramer
School Committee Members Present: Nancy Cavanaugh, Chair, Amanda Fargiano, Lya
Batlle-Rafferty (remote participant), Meg Tyler, Joseph Markey
CALL TO ORDER : Chair Nasrullah called the public meeting to order at 6:00 PM in the
HCAM Studios, joining the School Committee meeting in progress.
BUDGET DISCUSSION: Carol Cavanaugh, Superintendent of Schools, thanked staff and
presented an overview of the school’s budget process. She reviewed enrollment predictions
prepared by Arthur Wagman, Demographer, upon which the budget is based. Susan Rothermich,
Director of Finance, Schools, reviewed the draft School Dept. FY23 operating budget request,
which would represent an increase of 5.8%. She reviewed contractual and other salary increases
based on the needs. Carol Cavanaugh reviewed the number of English Language Learners,
noting that the average elementary school caseload is approximately 30 students. Susan
Rothermich stated that expenses District-wide are anticipated to rise by about $1,141,000 (net).
She reviewed the potential use of a Special Education Reserve Fund, which can be established by
Town Meeting vote, following a vote by the School Dept. and Select Board, noting it can help
with the fluctuations year to year in special education costs. Ms. Rothermich reviewed the
School Dept. FY 23 capital plan, which includes a solar and battery storage power purchase
agreement. She noted the School Dept. is still in its budget process, with individual presentations
ongoing. The solar project was discussed, including how long it would be before the Town
recovered its costs. Nancy Cavanaugh stated that the payments would cover the debt cost.
MOVED by Muriel Kramer and SECONDED by Mary Jo LaFreniere to adjourn the Select
Board meeting.Vote to Approve :Yes-4, No-0; Brendan Tedstone not voting.
Adjourned: 6:42 PM
Approved: January 22, 2022
Documents used at the meeting:
●Presentation: Hopkinton Public Schools FY23 Joint Boards Budget Presentation
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