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Home My Public Portal AboutBrewster School Committee -- 2010-02-03 Minutes Brewster School Committee ~ D D ® 0 Minutes of Wednesday, February 3, 2010 D Held at Eddy Elementary School Chairman O'Reilly called the meeting to order at 7:05 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, and - Ann Caretti - Others: Town officials, parents, interested citizens AGENDA CHANGES -None CITIZENS SPEAK -None RECOGNITION -None PRIORITY BUSINESS Capital Plan The Committee reviewed the Capital Plan as distributed. It was noted that the Eddy School has been put back into the plan. It was noted that a couple of new items have been added to the capital plan from each school namely; Eddy School - #7. Design and replacement of smoke detectors in air ducts - 2011- $20,000 Stony Brook -Replace and install water fountains in gym - 2011 - $12,500 Stony Brook -Repair Central Clock System - 2011 - $12,500 FY 11 Budget Update Dr. Hoffmann informed the Committee the Central Office Administrators and the Principals agreed to make concessions in their salaries by taking a 2% wage increase and one furlough day. He also reported on the action taken at the Joint School Committee meeting to reduce the Central Office budget by $67,056. Chairman O'Reilly expressed his appreciation to the Administrators who agreed to the concessions stating it was quite an example of leadership. The custodial salary accounts have been corrected in the budgets. An area of concern was the offset for rental fees (Cape Cod Collaborative) that has been applied to the custodial line item. This line has been reduced by $50,000 and dependent upon revenue from FY11. (need to have a balance of around $35,000 in that account) Questions were raised from the audience about the dispersing of monies generated from the wind turbines and increases in meals and hotel tax. Mr. Levasseur indicated that revenues are applied proportionately to Cape Cod Tech, Nauset Region, Brewster schools, and the town. Other questions and comments revolved around retirement incentives, fringe benefit costs and savings. Principal Gauley and Principal Fronius reviewed the possible reductions to the Brewster Elementary Schools' Budgets item-by-item. A first grade teacher is retiring and it was proposed to move the reading teacher into that position, which would then eliminate the position of reading teacher. Principal Fronius informed the Committee that the savings is not $85,000 as the cost of a new teacher would be approximately $70,000. (two teachers are on a call back list and must be called, in accordance with the teacher's contract) A question was asked regarding the number of ELL students being serviced - 2 students at Stony Brook and 3 with a possibility of one more at Eddy. Brewster School .Committee Minufes - Feb. 3 2010 Page 3 ~- f>onsolidation Uadate Dr. Hoffmann reported that Dr. Maggie Mack, Cindy Fox and Dr. Caretti brainstormed some ideas relative to the consolidation plan. Dr. Caretti shared some ideas for potential options: OT/PT housed at Eddy School - downside is that children would have to be bussed for therapy, RTI Center, move Head Start to Eddy, developmental delayed class for the low incident population, if PreK is moved -move Kindergarten as well, and/or just have fifth grade in the Eddy School. Teachers felt strongly that PreK should not be moved and should they have to be moved, wanted people to understand the difference between daycare and their highly structured program. They are concerned about students transitioning. They felt they need to know more about the parameters. Dr. Mack stated that the PreK program is a "regional program" where children are placed for geographical, developmental delay, expertise of the teacher in a certain area, and that a lot of craft goes into developing appropriate classes. Dr. Mack also explained the lottery process to the Committee, the days/hours in session, the classroom make up with special needs and model children, as well as the qualifications of her staff who work with these students. Further discussion was held regarding public and private preschool programs. Dr. Hoffmann stated that he has been working behind the scenes with Katherine Craven, Massachusetts School Building Authority. He has given her information on the Futures Program and indicated that the School Committee was not ready to commit to moving the Integrated Preschool. She was sent a complete packet with a letter outlining configurations of PreK and Collaborative Futures Programs. He asked her about some other kinds of Preschool Programs and if they would be an option. He gave her information on a floor plan and costs. He received a call from her prior to the meeting indicating that the MSBA can only support a program that they currently fund or in other words, an integrated preschool program or a K-12 program. Unless they funded it in the past, they will not consider it now. Ms. Craven indicated she was very interested in using the Eddy School to create a permanent space for the Cape Cod Collaborative Futures Program without rental fees. She said she would like the Committee to commit to 40% use of the building for educational purposes. In order for her to proceed, she would want, in writing, a commitment from the town and agreement to forgo any future grant needs once the Committee has turned it over for educational and town use. Eddy debt is five more years. Once converted, the town would have to agree that they are no longer going to ask for reimbursement. She said if the Town agrees to that, she is confident the MSBA Board would take any recoupment off the table. The floor plan and square footage for each program was discussed as well as use of gymnasium, gymnasium storage, kitchen, kitchen storage, and cafeteria being used by programs including the Charter School. Mr. Levasseur told the Committee that a meeting with Charter School is setup on February 10th. Special legislation is also pending for the Town of Brewster. Motion: On a motion by Jennifer Rabold, seconded by Steve Jones, it was voted in favor of including the Futures Program and. the Integrated Preschool Program to use approximately 40% of the Eddy School for educational purposes, on the understanding that it is only going forward if we can put the other pieces together. 4 Ayes, 1 Opposed (Marie Enochty) Mr. Jones clarified the vote that the Committee is willing to go along with Integrated Preschool being at the Eddy School as part of the educational space. They need the Collaborative to come through to be part of the other educational piece. They will be utilizing spaces that are large spaces that will not be used all day long for educational purposes but are part of the educational program, and that is how they will get to 40%. All of that is dependent upon other things falling into place. It is the plan to proceed forward. On a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Ms. Enochty, it was voted by a roll call vote, to go into Executive Session at 9:23 p.m. The Committee informed the public they would not be returning to open session. On a motion by Marie Enochty, seconded by Dave Telman, it was voted unanimously to adjourn at 10:11 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Ann M. Tefft, recording secretary