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HomeMy Public PortalAboutBrewster School Committee -- 2009-08-10 Minutes 1•� ,F1 Brews A" " ter School Committee Minutes of August 10, 2009 Held at Eddy Elementary School Chair O'Reilly called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. ROLL CALL: - For the Committee: Steve Jones, Marie Enochty, John O'Reilly, Jennifer Rabold, David Telman - For the Administration: Richard Hoffmann, Denise Fronius, Keith Gauley, Hans Baumhauer - Others: Town officials, parents, interested citizens AGENDA CHANGES - None CITIZENS SPEAK- None PRIORITY BUSINESS - Administrators' Reports Denise Fronius reported on the Stony Brook School Improvement Plan. As part of the Wellness Plan, the cafeteria manager will have a let of healthy selections that parents can order from them for their child's birthday party or other occasions. She reviewed unanticipated costs for building related issues (sinks, air handlers in preschool classroom). She invited all to the Raising of the Flag on opening day. Keith Gauley reported on the draft of the Eddy School Improvement Plan. He reported that the bad news was that HVAC went down this summer; the good news is the water heater approved at the May Town Meeting ($50,000)was actually replaced by two smaller water heaters at a lesser cost($24,700) and they should be less costly to operate for more savings. Richard Hoffmann reported on his work with the Administrative Team. They've read the publication Passionate Performance and Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way. FY 09 Budget Deficit Update Mr. Baumhauer met with the accounting manager and payroll clerk to see why the error occurred in the Brewster accounts; he also met with Charlie Sumner and Lisa Souve to get the two systems to balance. Grant funds are being moved in accounts as much as possible. There are four things happening now to be sure this does not happen again: having the software people look at our account structure; MASBO representative will be contacted to do an overall overview of the back office to identify what can be done more effectively; all salaries are being reviewed by hand to make sure salaries are correct; setting more frequent meetings between the school business manager and Lisa Souve at Brewster Town Hall to ensure accounts are reconciled. Dr. Hoffmann will be at the Selectmen's meeting next Monday and will explain why this deficit happened and to propose possible solutions. This will have to go to Town Meeting as a prior year's unpaid bill and ask them to fund this with free cash or out of Brewster School Committee Minutes—August 10, 2009 Page 2 stabilization funds; or reduce the FY 10 budget to pay them back. Dr. Hoffmann is also going to the Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday. If a representative of MASBO is contracted, that would be paid by the Region. Monthly financial reports will be on each month's agenda and members will receive it in their packet. Mr. Jones asked why a list of transfers to be done hasn't been presented to them as in the past with transfers in and out and the explanation of why the transfer was being made. FY 10 Budget Update Mr. Baumhauer reviewed the set up of the budget whereby the Brewster Only Budget has been incorporated into the two schools' budgets. Funds from grants which were going to be used in FY 10 will now be used to help fund the FY 09 deficit. A review of bus routes is being done and hopefully one route may be eliminated for some savings. REPORTS AND INFORMATION Cape Cod Collaborative— no report Building Committee Report Mr. Telman reviewed his report. He indicated that there will be savings by moving shelving and other items from Eddy to the new addition. The Special Town Meeting will be on October 19. There was discussion of how fast this is happening. The Committee has always said that once there is enough room in one building for all of the students with enough space for the programs, then it would be done. There was also discussion of the state reimbursement for the Eddy School. Concern was expressed of the noise that will be generated during the building project at Stony Brook; Denise Fronius said classes will have to be relocated as needed. The Town's plan for the various buildings hinges on the Charter School purchasing the Town Hall. MASC/MASS Conference Jennifer Rabold may be able to attend. Transportation Subcommittee Dr. Hoffmann explained that the Regional School Committee created a Transportation Subcommittee to meet regarding bus routes and the contract. It was decided that this should be a district-wide Subcommittee. John O'Reilly agreed to serve for Brewster. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Steve Jones and seconded by David Telman to approve the minutes of July 6, 2009. Voted unanimously. ADJOURNMENT - It was moved, seconded and voted unanimously to adjourn, subject to paying bills, at 7:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, B.J. Newmier, Secretary Brewster School Committee 7 1'i