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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 Beverly Public Schools COTW Page 2 January 4. 2012 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. Beverly Public Schools COTW Page 3 January 4. 2012 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 Beverly Public Schools COTW Page 43 January 4. 2012 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