HomeMy Public PortalAboutNauset Schools -- 2018-12-13 Minutes Nauset Regional School Committee
1744 WA
December 13 , 2018OT pJF, , .kit=; ; ' y
Eastham Town Hall
Present for the C%'rnmzee : Chris Easley, Amy Handel, Richard Stewart, Judy Schumacher, John O ' Reilly,
Robert Jacobus grid Rert Sinclair
Absent for the Committee : Ed Brookshire, James O ' Leary
Present for the Administration : Thomas Conrad, Giovanna Venditti, Chris Ellsasser, and Maxine Minkoff
Call to Order
Chair Easley called the meeting to order at 6 : 02 p .m .
Citizens Speak — none
Priority Business
Building Committee Update
Greg Levasseur, Chair of the Nauset Building Committee, updated the Committee on the building project. He
indicated the design team and the project manager have been busy on campus looking at the physical plant and
surveying the property, finding utilities and so forth . They are also working with the staff and students to develop the
educational plan . The architect is watching students on campus and asking their opinions on all sorts of things . He
indicated the Educational Plan will be a robust document that will be presented to the MSBA in May or June, 2019 .
The Building Committee is also seeking input from the citizens in our communities and will hold community forums
on the following dates .
Orleans — January 14th — Orleans Town Hall , Nauset Room , 6 : 00 p .m .
Eastham — January 29th — Eastham Town Hall, Earle Mountain Room , 6 : 00 pm .
Wellfleet — January 30th Wellfleet Senior Center, Great Pond Room . 6 : 00 p .m .
Brewster — January 31St — Brewster Town Hall , 6 : 00 p . m .
Principal Chris Ellsasser spoke to the Educational Vision process which is all inclusive of staff and students . Over
80% of the faculty was able to meet with the architectural firm and Department Chairs also met with the firm . He
indicated that six people are charged with writing the plan .
Greg Levasseur reported that the MSBA came down for a Kick-Off meeting that was attended by the
Superintendent, Chris Ellsasser, Jim Nowack and himself. They wanted to see the campus and walked everyone
through the requirements of the process . The Committee will visit 3 or 4 public schools as well as private schools
that have been part of a building project recently . Mr. Levasseur shared how the MSBA process works and urged
members if they have any ideas or anything they would want to be considered in the school, it must be submitted to
the building committee, prior to submitting this to the MSBA . It cannot be added after this submission .
Auditor's Report
Robert Lynch and George Gilmore from Lynch, Marini & Associates reviewed the Nauset Regional School District
Financial Statements and Analysis . They gave a brief background of OPEB , Post-Employment Benefits, specifically
Retiree Health Benefits . They indicated who and what OPEB covers and the current status of OPEB , which was
actuarially calculated as of June 30 , 2016 , at $28 , 147, 561 . Nauset currently has a balance of $ 134, 455 as of
November 30 , 2018 . He outlined the meetings held with Budget and Finance Committee , Segal Consulting (actuary)
Town Administrators and Finance Directors and determined the recommended contribution to be brought to the
Nauset Regional School Committee, December 20, 2018 1 ( P a g e
Nauset Regional School Committee for approval . The Auditor did not identify any deficiencies in internal control
over financial reporting that they would consider material weaknesses . Their procedures disclosed no instances of
noncompliance or other matters required to be reported under Government Auditing Standards,
Principals ' Reports
In addition to his written report, Principal Ellsasser shared that students and leaders of the Advisory Program added a
service component to the Advisory Program this year. They are looking at partnerships with organizations at grade
levels . Assemblies have been held to talk about the responsible nature of community service . Grades I I and 12
collected 920 cans and boxes of food that was delivered to Lower Cape Outreach and there will be another delivery
from 9tt' and l Ot" grades . A discussion took place with Lower Cape Outreach about a partnership with Nauset.
He also reported that the Christmas Tree Sale and musical event took place . The tree delivery was delayed, but in
the spirit of the season, everyone pitched in and understood the difficulty of the situation . Parents did a great job .
Richard Stewart inquired about absenteeism and tardiness . Principal Ellsasser explained the school policy with
regard to tardiness . He will be monitoring this closely . Their end goal is to teach students to be more responsible .
In addition to her written report, Principal Minkoff shared a similar story about the Christmas Wreaths being delayed
and parents doing a superb job helping to get them off the truck and delivered . The wreaths brought in
approximately $20 ,000 . She informed the Committee that the upcoming Arts Day is February 1st
Richard Stewart inquired about students having access to breakfast. It was noted if students need lunch or breakfast
and don ' t have money, they have the ability to put it on their account and their parent is billed . The Superintendent
indicated that it is common in Nauset for nurses to distribute snacks and cracker for student who are hungry.
Superintendent' s Report
The Sunerintentient rnnnrterl that hp is 1 cry busy attPdi t� rA; uri�' v`v'vAlto " it " i viiCCi`tS at Caw m L615% S411UU13 . nu also
attended the Nauset High School National Honor Society induction . Over the last few weeks he has been reviewing
budgets with the Director of Finance and the Principals . He met with Town Administrators relative to special needs
out of district placements . He reported he is doing TV shows with the architect involved in the Nauset High School
Building Project to keep our communities informed. A website is being developed for the NRHS building project.
There will be a questionnaire on line . Informational Forums have been scheduled in every town . He indicated that
he met with the Superintendent of Provincetown and Truro regarding preliminary discussions on the tuition
agreements .
Committee Liaison to High School Council
On a motion by Robert Sinclair, seconded by John O ' Reilly, it was voted unanimously to appoint Richard Stewart as _
a liaison to the High School Council ,
FY19 Budget Review
Giovanna Vendittl reviewed the Dashboard reported and highlighted the balance appropriation and funding source
budget status . It was noted that the Region Only encumbered $ 10 ,700 for an out-of-district placement. She will
continue to monitor that line item . She highlighted the activity report on the High School Renovation project . She
reported that presently $741 ,467 is in the E & D Account. Projected Excess & Deficiency Comparison was found on
the last page of the Dashboard report . She reviewed revenue sources and indicated that $331 , 000 will go into E & D
as of November ' s reporting. The $330 , 000 is due to a late tuition payment and also the difference between the actual
number of students attending from Provincetown and Truro . She also indicated that the Per Pupil Costs can be found
in the budget books.
Nauset Regional School Committee, December 20, 2018 2 P a g e
s
Approve Budget Transfer
On a motion by Judy Schumacher, seconded by Robert Jacobus, it was voted 5 yeas and 2 abstentions (Robert
Sinclair and John O ' Reilly) to transfer $95 ,000 from account 31005 into HS Renovation Account, Architect and
Engineering.
On a motion by Judy Schumacher, seconded by Robert Jocobus, it was voted 5 yeas and 2 abstentions (John
O ' Reilly and Robert Sinclair) to transfer $95 , 000 from #31005 to HS Renovation Project, Engineering and Architect.
On a motion by Judy Schumacher, seconded by Robert Jacobus, it was voted 5 yeas and 2 abstentions (John
O ' Reilly and Robert Sinclair) to transfer $95 ,000 from 31005 and 31006 , to HS Renovation Project.
On a motion by Judy Schumacher, seconded by Robert Jacobus, it was voted 5 yeas and 2 abstentions (John
O ' Reilly and Robert Sinclair) to reduce 31008 by $ 5 , 000 . ($35 , 000 to $ 30 ,000)
(End results Amount to OPM - $225 ,000, amount to Architect $925 ,000, HS Renovation $30 ,000)
Clarification was needed regarding the role of the building committee recommending transfers and the role of the
capital asset subcommittee . It was noted that the capital asset subcommittee does not have a role in the building
project and that the building committee voted on the transfers .
OPER Recommendation
Judith Schumacher reviewed the recommendation by the Budget and Finance Subcommittee to the Building
Committee . She reviewed the history of OPEB , Other Post-Employment Benefits . She reported that the accounting
and financial reporting for Other Post-Employment Benefits other than pensions changed the terminology, the way
the OPEB liability is calculated and the way it is reported . She explained who and what OPEB covers . It was noted
OPEB cost for the staff of the five elementary schools are covered directly by the four member Towns . OPEB costs
for the staff at the Nauset Regional Middle School , Nauset Regional High School and Central Office are funded
through the Nauset Regional School budget. She indicated the recommendation from the Budget & Finance
Subcommittee , if voted by the Regional School Committee, will go to the towns and every town will determine how
to fund it .
Mark Mathison, Selectmen in the Town of Orleans, explained how Orleans was handling funding OPEB .
Judy Schumacher explained how the subcommittee established the reasonable OPEB funding plan for the District.
The Subcommittee met with the actuary (Segal Consulting) , met with Town Administrators and Town Finance
Directors, and the need to ensure financial integrity of the District as well as maintain the District ' s bond rating. She
indicated that the Budget & Finance Subcommittee would like to take this recommendation to the towns in
December as it needs to be done this year. She indicated if the Towns react negatively, the subcommittee will bring
this back to the full Regional Committee . However, she did state that anything amount less, may impact the bond
rating.
Motion :
On a motion by Richard Stewart, seconded by Judy Schumacher, it was voted 7 yeas that Nauset Regional School
Committee fund the Regional School District' s OPEB fund at $450 , 000 per year for the next 30 years. $400,000 per
year to be assessed to the member Towns and $ 50 ,000 per year to be funded by the Nauset Regional School District.
Nauset Regional School Committee, December 20, 2018 3 f F a g e
FY20 Budget Review
Superintendent Conrad distributed the budget books and gave a brief overview of information in the books . It was
noted that the High School Budget and Capital Budget will be sent to the Committee in the coming week. It was
noted that budget deliberations will begin in January .
Central Office Budget
Chair Easley indicated that this budget was presented at the Joint School Committee meeting. The Region did not
have a quorum for a vote, so it must be voted at this meeting. The Superintendent indicated that to pass a budget a
2/3 vote is needed or 6 .26 of the weighted vote to carry the motion .
Motion :
On a motion by Robert Jacobus, seconded by Richard Stewart, it was voted unanimously, 7 -0, to approve the Central
Office Budget as recommended in the amount of $ 1 , 773 , 050 , a 2 . 5 % increase .
IV . REPORTS AND INFORMATION
Cape Cod Collaborative — Robert Jacobus reported that the board met last and that the most recent audit was good .
They have a new Treasurer, other Districts are reaching out to CCC relative to busing but CCC will not take on any
new contracts beyond their capabilities . There was a presentation from the Department of Education relative to the
new civics laws . There will be a breakfast meeting with Legislators on January 29th
Capital Asset Subcommittee met and discussed scheduled maintenance at the Middle School , security at the High
School and the Capital Plan .
John O ' Reilly inquired about the status of the security subcommittee . Superintendent Conrad indicated that the
architect has two security experts on board .
Future Agenda Items
Put Ideas in writing for the Long Range Planning Subcommittee
Retreat for school committee members — setting goals , objectives and a self-evaluation
IB Programme Update
Chair Easley mentioned the televised school committee/public meetings and funding. He suggested members talk to
their elected officials and get more information on it. School committee meetings are funded on the tax from cable
boxes . Discussion is to drastically reduce this funding.
Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by John O ' Reilly, seconded by Robert Jacobus to approve the minutes as written .
Robert Sinclair suggested clarifications to the minutes .
John O ' Reilly asked if Mr . Sinclair wished to amend the minutes , he would change his motion .
Robert Sinclair indicated that the words "new and different" needed to be added to page 4 of the minutes . He also
indicated that the 3 questions were not in the motion .
John O ' Reilly asked that the amendments be submitted to the Chair. He withdrew his motion to approve the minutes
and suggested giving the secretary an opportunity to update the minutes .
It was asked if the minutes needed to be reconsidered or tabled .
Nauset Regional School Committee, December 20, 2018 4 P a g e
John O ' Reilly withdrew his motion .
The Chair requested that the amended minutes be sent to him and he will see that everyone gets a copy of them .
Adjournment
On a motion by Judy Schumacher, seconded by Robert Jacobus, it was voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at
9 ; 00 P.M .
Ann M. Tefft
Included in packet : Administrators ' Reports , Dashboard, Transfers, OFEB , Auditor' s Report summary and minutes .
Distributed at meeting : Budget book
i
Nauset Regional School Committee, December 20, 2018 5 P a g e