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HomeMy Public PortalAboutBrewster School Committee -- 2010-04-15 Minutesg' ppooo ~~ Brewster School Committee Minutes of Thursday, April 15, 2010 Held at Eddy Elementary School Chair O'Reilly called the meeting to order at 7:03 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 Dan Rabold addressed the committee regarding the policy for after school activities and use of facilities which begin at 3:30 p.m., due to conflict with other after school programs and safety issues. He does not think the policy is in the best interest of students and families, but creates a hardship. He asked that the School Committee review the policy for after school facility usage. Another parent spoke to the same issue noting that she encountered the same types of problems with her Brownie Troop. A member of the audience addressed the committee regarding concerns about the cuts that have been made to the budget thus far and cuts that are being considered. She felt the next set of cuts would bring the program to the breaking point. She was very concerned about the reduction of the reading teacher, Title I instruction and the impact on the children. She applauded the teachers for considering opening their contract, but does not feel the burden should be put on their shoulders. She felt this should go to a vote at town meeting. ~ A motion was made by Jen Rabold, seconded by Dave Telman, and voted unanimously, to have a discussion regarding after ' school activities on the'agenda for the next school committee meeting. ' RECOGNITION Dr. Hoffmann recognized Leah Belliveau, Instrumental Music Teacher at Eddy Elementary School and thanked her for all her efforts on behalf of the students at the Eddy School. A short video was shown showcasing morning band practice with 100 students. Everyone was invited to seethe band on May 2°d at the Brewster in Bloom Parade. There are other instrumental and choral concerts coming in June. . Dr. Hoffmann recognized Suzanne Sprague, Mary Genois, Emily Degan, and Jane Palazulo for their outstanding teaching techniques and high level of student achievement at the Stony Brook Elementary School. PRIORITY BUSINESS Brewster Whitecaps Mr. Peter Blatz addressed the committee regarding the annual application of fertilizer to the field during April vacation. They will also work on the infield, replace and resurface, in preparation for.the 2010 season. On a motion by Marie Enochty, seconded by Jen Rabold, it was voted unanimously to allow the Whitecaps to apply the same application on the field that has been done in the past. Discussion was held regarding how much money the Whitecaps contribute to the services that are performed on the field including items such as: the sprinkler system, placing and removing nets, electricity, etc. Questions were raised regarding costs being paid for by the school that should perhaps be paid for by the Whitecaps. Chairman O'Reilly asked that the committee revisit the original agreement and talk about fees and expenses. Dr. Hoffinann noted that he is totally in favor of school facilities being used as community centers but feels we should look at the costs ` carefully,. in light of budget conditions. ,I lJ Brewster School Committee Minutes - Pa e 3 could afford for our students. The town, the state, the federal government have fallen on hard times and they are not providing the funding that are expected. Teachers and other unions have been asked to open their contracts so we could discuss the possibility of helping out the budgets. The teachers have voted to do that. It was his suggestion that the committee hold off making any further cuts until the last minute. That is not to say that the cuts won't be made, but he thought the fullest picture should be gotten before they vote on town meeting floor. He suggested that the committee ask the town for support for the amount lost in revenue that would have been paid by the Collaborative, in addition to the figure the Town has allotted for the budget. Mr. Jones also asked that the fringe benefit numbers be confirmed, based on the reductions that have been talked about so far and the further reductions. He thinks the town will have to ask for an override next year and hopes that the school committee plans an override well in advance. It will hurt next year, but the question is how much will it hurt in the future yeazs. He also felt the teachers and educational assistants will help try pick up what, is lost, but they can't do it all. Ms. Enocty noted that the teachers and educational assistants have voted to open their contracts but the vote is in all four towns and the region. Not every school is in as dire straights as Brewster. She asked teachers and parents to help educate the public as to how the Union voting process works. Ms. Rabold stated that the schools are getting less and less stated and federal aid but budgets increasing budgets by 2% is unsustainable especially in light of the rise in health insurance, special education, and fuel making it impossible to sustain a budget on 2% a yeaz. Some of the other districts have had more overrides in the past and that is one of the reasons they are .not in as bad shape as Brewster. Ms. Rabold proposed that the committee stand on Town Meeting floor and say, this is what it would cost to maintain the programs in the Brewster Elementary Schools - $6,199,548. She suggested voting five minutes before the town meeting and recommend that the committee asks for the amount that they were allocated plus the money lost from Cape Cod Collaborative. She also suggested reading a list of reductions taken from the budgets over the last several years. She indicated it is too late to save this budget, but to start talking now and prepare the town now,to step up to the.plate and fund the schools the way they should be funded. She wants the committee to let the town know how much the school committee had to cut and let them know that we cannot maintain a quality educational program with these kinds of cuts. Ms. Rabold made a motion to not vote until five minutes before town meeting on the allocation plus the $50,000 and announce clearly at town meeting what it cost us to get to that figure. Chairman ~p'Rei11y voiced his concerns about not getting the support of the Selectmen and Finance Committee. Mr. Jones indicated that teachers voted to open the contract but they don't know whether they will take an action in time for town meeting. Therefore, it would be incumbent upon the school committee to confirm that if the NEA agrees to some form of reduction in increases that would allow the town to pay less money; that extra money would be allocated back to the schools to add back in some of the cuts that have been made, whatever money would allow. It could be $60-100,000 in Brewster alone if certain concessions were made. On a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Ms. Enochty, it was voted 4 yeas and 1 nay (Chairman O'Reilly] to hold offvoting the budget until just before town meeting. That if there is no additional funding at that time, that the school committee would be prepared to vote the reductions that have been presented, because that is the only way to get to the $5,827,559 budget figure. It was further suggested that the committee ask the town, through the Board of Selectmen, tb allow the school committee to increase that number by $50,000, due to the loss of rent that was anticipated from the Cape Cod Collaborative and at the same time go on town meeting floor indicating that they started with a budget of about 6.2 million dollars and that they had to cut $300,000 to get to the town's budget figure. Mr. Sumner indicated that the number posted on the warrant is too high. The number has to be amended downward. Chairman O'Reilly will amend the motion on town meeting floor. Chairman O'Reilly will talk with Mr. Sumner and Mr. Schober. BUS CONTRACT The Baumhauer reviewed the bus transportation contracts and also reported that the Transportation Subcommittee will ~} continue to look at ways to save money including eliminating stops, routes, and start times, .~~ ., Brewster School Committee Minutes - Page 5 REPORTS AND INFORMATION Cape Cod Collaborative - Ms. Enochty reported that the Cape Cod Collaborative is moving into a new building in Osterville and working on a Strategic Plan. Building Committee Report - Mr. Tehran indicated there was no report and that this could be taken off future agendas. ~+~ A discussion was held regarding the consolidation plan and communication surrounding this process. The Selectmen are asking town meeting to rescind the bonding authorization for the construction of the addition to the Stony Brook School. However, the Charter School has not found a location yet so until that is settled; there is still hope for the plan. Dr. Hoffmann indicated that he thought the MSBA would have approved the whole project if we put the Integrated Preschool and the Special Education Program for the Collaborative and, if the town agreed not to accept any future payments they would not seek recoupment. On a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Tehran, it was voted unanimously that the school committee does not believe that the selectmen should request that the town rescind the bonding authorization, until the school committee understands in fact, one or more of the pieces of the plan won't come together. Transportation Subcommittee-no report APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Jones asked for information regarding the boiler. Mr. Baumhauer indicated that this is being addressed on a manual bases. MAC has given a price of $5,000 to install a fix. Mr. Jones requested that money be requested separately from the budget. Mr. Baumhauer indicated that he will look at the Capital Plan and report out at the next meeting. On a motion by Mr. Telman, seconded by Mrs. Enochty it was voted unanimously to approve the minutes of February 3' 2010 as corrected. (page 2. Paragraph 5 "cost" should be "savings." On a motion by Ms. Enochty, seconded by Mr. Jones, it was voted unanimously to approve the February 24' 2010 meeting minutes with corrections. ADJOUNMENT On a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr.' Tehran, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 p.m., subject to payment of bills. To a round of applause, the committee acknowledged Steve Jones' last meeting on the Brewster School Committee, after 33 years of dedicated service to the children of the town of Brewster. Respectfully submitted, Ann M. Teffi, recording secretary