2012-01-04DRAFT
Beverly Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
Memorial Building
Wednesday, January 4, 2012 @ 6pm
Members Present: Maria Decker, Annemarie Cesa, Kris Silverstein, David Manzi, Paul Manzo, Matt
Kavanagh
Not Present: Mayor Scanlon
Also Present: Superintendent Marie Galinski, Assistant Superintendent Maryellen Duffy,
Director of Finance & Operations, Jean Sherburne, Briscoe Principal Matt Poska,
BHS Principal Sean Gallagher, SPED Director Deb O'Connor, Transportation
Director Bill Burke, Elementary Principals Sue Charochak of Ayers, Karla
Pressman of Centerville, Susan Snyder of Hannah, and Jennifer Flewelling of
North Beverly
Absent: Public Services Director Tim Howland
Fall to fl rrho r
Maria Decker called the meeting to order at 6pm.
Pledge of Allegiance
David Manzi led those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Budget Proposals FY13
Elementary Principals
The Superintendent outlined Elementary room usage noting that Kindergarten enrollment numbers are
Pending and not all Science rooms will be returned to their original purpose, in addition to our need to
Review our technology plan to realize the overall picture. Judy Miller and Principals agreed that it is not
feasible to purchase new desktops, but some older but usable computers were sent down to elementary
classrooms for interim use. Judy will submit a district technology report after the first of the year. We
took a 20% cut in technology two years ago, and last year also had less funding as monies were re-
appropriated.
Principals also reported that Consumables funds are now used for different items than previously with
biggest change being applying them to software licenses. The Superintendent noted that schools
themselves make separate decisions about licensing and thus pay for their own software. Principals
stated it would be helpful if funding could be put back into the Building budget, in addition to a
Paraprofessional or .S TLC position for support.
Deb O'Connor noted that we had more SPED students going out -of- district in the last three months than
previously when we did retain the extra TLC position. We do have a Paraprofessional but we are asking
the least trained to work with the most difficult. The Superintendent suggested using a Fellow who has
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a SPED background as the cost is about the same. In discussing possible creation of our own program,
Deb O'Connor stated that this program cannot be centralized and we don't have the staff to support a
position in every school.
In addition to need for technology improvements and support positions, the group discussed class size
and classroom teachers and our intent to assure parents that we remain focused on class size numbers
even as families are constantly moving in and out of the district.
Matt Poska/ Briscoe
Principal Matt Poska reported that he plans to retain the 2 Merrimack and 1 Endicott Fellows as they are
extremely beneficial with the 6 t " and 7 t " grade transition and to the extra Foreign Language class as
projected enrollment for 6 t " and 7 t " grades is up. Grades 6 and 9 are our largest classes at this time. He
also requested an additional SPED teacher to address within the district the significant diversity of
student needs that we face, a Facilitator as an umbrella position which we do not have now and $14,000
for Technology to allow us to have computers available for Grades 6 -8 and two extra teaches for two
extra classes for computer instruction.
Sean Gallagher/ BHS
The Superintendent commented that this budget contains an increase for a Custodian which was
requested by Tim Howland, in addition to a request for a Nurse Assistant from the Nurse's Office to
address the overall need at BHS to dispense medications to students with emotional and physical issues.
Sean also commented that the Custodian position is in line with the NEASC recommendation to
physically maintain the building by providing proper staffing, specifically someone with an enhanced
skill set beyond cleaning. Also noted was need for an Academic Division Leader position which is
necessary for certain large Wellness classes, request that the .4 ASL position become full -time, and
increase in Teacher Aides funding from $50,000 last year to $55,000 this year to better align all
departments for Middle to High School transition.
Bill Burke & Jean Sherburne/ Transportation
Bill and Jean worked together to align City and District transportation budgets. Bill Burke reported that
bus replacements were done this year but there is no funding to do any next year, and we continue to
maintain what we have although fleet is getting old. Bill added $10,000 this year for fuel as we cannot
determine future gas prices. Gas is purchased from the City who buys it for all City departments and the
district. Also, funds in the Fuel line will be transferred to SPED Transportation, and funding for safety
officers within the Athletics Overtime line will not be increased this year. Increased funding was put into
the Maintenance line for tires and brakes to ensure safety. Jean reported that she attended a meeting
of the North Shore Business Managers group where they discussed consideration of a possible
consolidation of homeless transportation, and that she is open to listening to a proposal.
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Deb O'Connor/ SPED
SPED Director Deb O'Connor reported on the "steady change" in SPED population where historically
students who leave the program are replaced by new ones, and requested contingency funding of
$100,000, with other line items remaining level- funded. At this half -way point in the fiscal year, the
SPED budget is tight, but there's no deficit. We have added more effective therapeutic support
including crisis intervention, counseling and psychiatry at the High School to maintain students in- district
at a cost savings, and need to extend it uniformly throughout the entire district. The Superintendent
suggested that the requested $100,000 be put in Support instead of Contingency. Deb also noted the
need for Team Chairpersons at Briscoe and BHS which would make a significant difference in
secondary oversight, address our lower level of oversight compared to other districts, and adhere to this
recommendation which was in the SPED audit The Superintendent noted that we may need this in the
future but it is not timely to do it now.
Tim Howland & Jean Sherburne/ B &G
Jean Sherburne reported on discussion with Tim Howland, notably the large overtime budget at BHS
and Tim's request for an additional custodian for that building. Beside the requested additional
custodian, Tim reviewed the budget and re- allocated some monies and is requesting an overall 1%
increase. In reviewing the budget over the last three years it was determined that projects such as
intercoms, fire and security system, and roofing will be upcoming, specifically Roofing which Tim
increased from $7,000 to $25,000 as he feels this is an area of great concern. In response to question of
Paul Manzo, Jean noted that initially Tim did see a reduction in overtime if additional custodian position
is added, although he did choose to include $10,000 in the overtime line. Paul suggested separation of
Summer Help and OT lines would show Overtime down significantly. Overtime is high this year and
should be used properly.
Administration/ Curriculum
Maryellen Duffy and Judy Miller requested a $50,000.00 increase for all schools to cover technology
service and access, and expressed our need to determine issues and reconfigure the network. Some
costs such as software are recurring, and others are one -time initiatives, including the network.
Members endorsed the $15,000 budgeted for the new Briscoe network, and inclusion of the Kapture
program which allows us to perform updates remotely without collecting computers from students.
We are also investigating online textbooks which is trending, and will be making these decisions by
the end of the year, specifically starting with 6 and 7 t " grades as monies are available for this. There
are numerous IT issues to deal with and we will steadily address them.
Administration /Personnel /Business
The Superintendent reported no changes in this budget, except for recommendation of an additional
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Assistant position for the Personnel and Business offices. Members asked for some flexibility with the
position, possibly three days per week or splitting hours between departments, but Jean clarified that
this position would cover both departments as responsibilities intertwine. The Superintendent added
that Emily Rockwell is requesting increased funding for PD. The Superintendent and Business Manager
will start to build the budget incorporating tonight's feedback. It's possible that we may have a little
more money next year in health insurance, liability, and retirements. The Superintendent also reported
that following her conversation today with Maria Decker, we are revisiting the possible use of Memorial
as a preschool, possibly for this September, and are going forward with a building survey at a cost of
$5,000. In addition to determining building safety, our biggest issues at Memorial are handicap access
and bathrooms, and the $5,000 investment is an opportunity to flesh out the possibility of moving all 7
pre -K classrooms out of Cove and Hannah and into Memorial.
Paul Manzo moved to adjourn, Kris Silverstein seconded. So voted.
The meeting adjourned at 9:30pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Matt Kavanagh
Secretary, COTW