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HomeMy Public PortalAboutBrewster School Committee -- 2014-01-16 Minutes • „NEVE) Brewster School Committee January 16, 2014 Brewster Town Hall Present for the Committee: Donna Kalinick, Brenda Cazeault,Trish Hill,Marie Enochty and Chair Dave Telman Present for the Administration: Dr.Richard Hoffmann, Superintendent, Keith Gauley,Assistant Superintendent, Giovanna Venditti,Director of Finance and Operations,Principal Denise Fronius,and Principal Joanna Hughes Cale to Order—Chair Telman called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Recpgnition Dr.;Hoffmann read a letter from the Director of the Brewster Council on Aging recognizing the Kindergarten teachers and their classes for visiting and engaging senior citizens in a sing-a-long before the holidays. They were thanked for their wonderful performance. Citizens Speak Nome Food Service Susan Murray,Director of Food Services,presented a status report to the Committee on revenues,loss/profits,and initiatives underway to boost participation in the program. Highlighted in her presentation were staff development/trainings for cafeteria personnel,parent lunch days, increased breakfast participation,staff lunches, Harvest of the Month,monthly newsletter,connections to the classroom,meatless Mondays,and taste testings. Neiv menu items have been introduced,special menu days have been incorporated to increase participation,and she is working with the cafeteria staff on cost control. Ms,Hill thanked her for her hard work in trying to improve the program. She suggested changing what is being serl'ed at the Parent Lunch Day as it falls on Friday,which is typically a pizza day,and she could highlight some of the other menu items. The Free and Reduced Lunch application process was discussed and it was suggested that the Director remind people that they can keep applying throughout the year as many people are seasonal employees and cot#ld use the assistance. "Pizza to go"for staff members at Wellfleet Elementary was mentioned,how it works,and let the Brewster School Committee know if it is successful there. An updating of the website,stickers as rewards for trying a new vegetable and/or fruit was suggested. F)114 Budget Update Giovanna Venditti reviewed the monthly expenditure reports noting Eddy School had an unencumbered balance of $110,137. Stony Brook Elementary has a negative balance of-$25,661. Ms.Venitti reviewed the changes in the various accounts with the committee. Account#5092 and 5091,Out of District and Other transportation were reviewed. It was noted that last year the District was being charged by the bus and are now are using a per mile rate which has a substantial savings. The Collaborative tuition and out-of-District tuition was discussed. Account#5095 and 5097 unanticipated tuition and out of District tuition were reviewed and Circuit Breaker Resources were explained.At the next meeting the Business Office will provide a list of resources available. Dr. Hoffmann indicated at the next meeting he would give the Committee a combined Brewster budget and look at Circuit Breaker maney. MS.Hill suggested that the Committee allocate a certain amount of money from one budget into the other to allow pu#chasing to happen and Ms. Venditti could report on how the money is allocated. Dr. Hoffmann indicated that he would need a vote of the Committee to deficit spend. Principal Fronius was asked to have a conversation with her staff to make sure needs do not exist. Concerns were raised by Ms.Kalinick that if funds are completed exhausted this year for supplies; it will have an impact on next year's budget. Ms.Venditti reviewed the balances in the Revolving Accounts as of December 31,2013. Brewster School Committee 1-16-2014 Page 1 _.. 4Ne FY15 Budget Process The Committee reviewed the budget reductions for Stony Brook and Eddy Elementary Schools. It was noted that they are not in priority order. Stony Brook reductions totaled$46,371 and the budget is up 4.33%. Eddy reductions totaled$35,742 and the budget is up 2.75%. Dr.Hoffmann distributed the FY15 Brewster Combined sheet indicating Guidance from the Town Administrator,amount remaining to reduce-$107,074 and the funds available for FY15. At the next meeting Administration will know the costs of health insurance. It was noted that the next Brewster School Committee meeting is scheduled for February 13th and Dr.Hoffmann will be away at the Superintendents' National conference. Brewster School Committee tentatively scheduled a meeting on February 271 at 5:00 p.m. at the Eddy School library. At that meeting the Committee would like a prioritized reduction list from the Principals. The Principals were instructed to come back with further budget reduction options; 1,2,3 for the Committee members to review and see the different possibilities. Members discussed the potential reductions and concluded it may be some personnel, which no one wants to do. Members also stated it is not a year for an override and that the Committee will have to have some hard conversations as reductions will significantly change how the schools operate. Ms.Enochty suggested considering fundraising for supplies and materials this year because she does not want to cut personnel. Custodial accounts were reviewed as well at the Building Rental money and Circuit Breaker and will be looked at again at the next meeting. Ms.Kalinick stated that the Committee has spent two years rebuilding programs. Ms.Cazeault asked that we look at the curriculum that has been implemented district wide over the past couple of years and would like some guidance from Administration,Principals and Teachers as to what the reductions would look like in the classroom. Eddy Roof Chairman Telman thanked everyone for attending the Selectmen's meeting. He reported that the Selectmen are in favor of the new roof and HVAC. The Building Needs and Assessment Committee received four OPM packages. He thanked Bob Miller for all his hard work and also indicated that the project will be more than 1.5 million dollars. They will interview candidates for a project manager. The Selectmen are in total support of the project. Ms.Kalinick inquired what the Committee will do if there is not enough money to get bid documents,until more money is allocated at the Special town meeting. What will the balance be from the feasibility study,noting that the operating budget cannot cover these costs. She thanked the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee for their support on the project. She also thanked Chair Telman for all his hard work on the project as it is moving forward. , Chair Telman felt a conversation with the Principal was necessary to discuss how long the project would take and the impact it would have on the school year He noted the Building Needs Subcommittee is trying to limit the impact. Policy Update On a motion by Marie Enochty,seconded by Donna Kalinick it was voted unanimously to approve in form Section I, Instruction,for a first reading. It was noted by Ms.Enochty that the Policy Subcommittee is a hard working group that reviews the policies and brings it to their school committees for review and approval. Jim Hardy from MASC,guides the subcommittee along with Administration. The process of updating the manual and putting in the policies that we are legally bound to include in the manual,that we may or may not have presently, is what the committee has been doing for almost two years. Ms.Hill indicated that there are no representatives attending from Brewster so the Brewster School Committee has no one to report about the conversation that is taking place at the Policy Subcommittee meetings. It was noted that the fundraising policy is in Section J. This section was tabled until the committee gets further information regarding the legal aspect of School Committee's jurisdiction over non-profit organizations. Brewster School Committee 1-16-2014 Page 2 amiesimormisimausw f Ms.Enochty explained why she thought the fundraising policy was necessary so that groups representing schools would be appropriate in the ways they were raising funds. She felt there were reasons that groups come before the School Committee for approval of fundraising efforts and that it was important that towns be respectful of each other and trot duplicate fundraisers. Ms.Hill felt there was a difference in school fundraising and fundraising by non-profit org izations. She felt the School Committee did not have the right to tell a non-profit organization how they can fundrraise. She disagrees in how this policy is being interpreted and how it has been applied. She agreed that groups from different towns should avoid stepping on each other's toes. Ms.Kalinick agreed with both but does not recall approaching the School Committee when she was on the PTO Board. She asked if the other PTO's had non-profit status. She also stated that the elementary schools need money for field trips and extras that are not in the budgets and they are thankful for the fundraising efforts of the Brewster PTO. Ms. Cazeault thought the proposed changes were a bit vague that were put forth by the Policy Subcommittee. She would like to see stronger communication bet'een PTO's and more coordination between schools. Ms.Enochty stated there needs to be a policy but maybe it needs to be more specific. It was requested that Jim Hardy write up something for the Committee. A legal opinion was requested. Any changes suggested for the policy must be submitted to the Policy Subcommittee for review. Chair Telman indicated this would be discussed at the Joint School Committee meeting. Substitute Policy On a motion by Marie Enochty,seconded by Trish Hill,it was voted unanimously to approve the revised Substitute Policy, Section G. of the Policy Manual. Reports and Information Cape Cod Collaborative—Trish Hill reported that they formed subcommittees and she was not assigned one. PTO—Trish Hill reported on the upcoming movie nights. Policy Subcommittee—Chair Telman reported that he was unable to make the meeting due to his attendance at another meeting. Building and Needs Subcommittee—Chair Telman reported that estimates from Habeeb and Associates have been distributed. Both estimates are higher than 1.5 million. The School Committee is meeting with Selectmen and Finance Committee on Monday,January 6th at which time there will be a joint vote on the Eddy School roof project. Chttir Telman will forward proposals and options to School Committee members prior to that meeting. Approval of Minutes Ott a motion by Donna Kalinick,seconded by Trish Hill, it was voted 4— 1 with one abstention,Marie Enochty,to approve the minutes of November 21,2013. Executive Session Ort a motion by Marie Enochty,seconded by Trish Hill it was voted by roll call to go into Executive Session at 9:47 p.m. to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with union personnel,not to return to open session. On a roll call the vote was as follows: Trish Hill—yea,Marie Enochty—yea,Brenda Cazeault—yea,Donna Kalinick—yea,Chair Telman—yea Tlje Committee went into Executive Session at 9:47 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Attn M.Tefft Included in the packet: Administrators' reports, Preschool Enrollment,Expenditure Reports, Minutes, Revolving Account Report and Cafeteria Report. Brewster School Committee 1-16-2014 Page 3 • e�«© � � ���.