NOT APPROVED
Deliberative Session on Proposed School Budget for 2004-2005
February 8, 2005
Newfields Elementary School
In Attendance:
Board Members: Jan Trueman, Mark Bouzianis, Mike Grant
Administration: Steve Kossakoski, Dennis Dobe
Board Officers: Carolyn Bellisio Kelly
Moderator: Bill Davis
1. Call to Order – The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Jan Trueman. Mark Bouzianis seconded. All in favor.
2. Deliberative Session –
Moderator, Bill Davis, began with the pledge of allegiance. Purpose of the meeting is to consider the form and amend it if it is felt appropriate by the body. The budget will be voted on at the town elections on March 8, 2005.
Warrant Article #1
Jan Trueman explained that the current default budget is higher than the budget the school board is proposing. This is due to the fact that the teacher’s pay increases have been negotiated into a new three-year contract and are listed separately in Warrant Article #2.
Warrant Article #2
This article requests a new negotiated amount for a three-year teacher contract instead of an annual contract as we have had in past years. The three-year teacher contract is a final step in trying to have the NES teacher’s salary be competitive to other teachers in the SAU. The teachers continue to be the lowest paid in SAU 16. If this article is not approved, the current language and salary structure of the teacher’s contract would remain same and the teachers will not receive increases in pay unless they have received a graduate degree. As part of the negotiation, longevity stipends have been foregone except for the teachers who already receive it and were grandfathered in.
Mike Grant explained that the Board negotiates the contract and the voters ratify it. In future years the amounts will not be in a separate warrant article. It was asked if the amounts include health benefits and Mike Grant responded that this is on a separate line item. It was noted that the average annual increase is 7%, which is high, and it was asked what the school’s goal is? Dr. Kossakoski noted that the goal is to be competitive but not to be at the top of the district, after the three-year contract Newfields will still be at the lower end of pay for the SAU.
Warrant Article #3
Mark Bouzianis discussed this article and explained that the $10,000 to be added to the School Building Maintenance Fund is to repair and maintain the school building. Mark Bouzianis noted that the board had requested a capital plan to be created in order to have better long range planning for building improvements. The plan requires raising $10,000 per year for five years. If the money in the School Building Maintenance fund is not spent in the school year it is held to be used in future years. Some of the types of projects that are planned for under this fund are abatement of the remainder of asbestos in the elbows of the plumbing and in the flooring, adding magnetic door holders, American with Disabilities Act signage which is currently not in compliance, cleaning the ductwork, addressing problems with the window functionality in both the new and old sections of the building, additional electrical circuits for the multi purpose room, blinds and roof and fascia work.
Mark was asked if there was a long-range plan to anticipate work that needs to be done. Mark responded that the building is a low maintenance building but a complete building assessment was done so that these types of corrections can be planned for in advance and budget appropriately.
Warrant Article #4
Mark Bouzianis responded that this article includes discontinuing the Capital Reserve Fund established in March 1994 to plan and construct a building addition. Because Newfields is a SB2 town, the school needs to discontinue the fund in order to reappropriate the funds. Mr. Doane made a motion to add the interest plus the figure so no money is left in the fund. This was seconded. The amendment to the section of the article in parentheses reads (If this article is adopted, the balance of $4,814.44 in this fund plus accrued interest will be recognized as general revenue and used to offset appropriations when the tax rate is set in the Fall of 2005.) Bill Davis asked for a vote. All those in favor. Therefore the amendment to Warrant Article #4 carries. Bill Davis noted that a simple majority vote is sufficient to make the amendment count.
Warrant Article #5
This article includes funding to create a final bid specification for the new parking lot, this could include conducting the necessary soil testing, creating an electrical and landscape plan and studies regarding traffic and building use. Mr. Doane proposed to constraint the dollar figure and keep as the figure in Warrant #4. This was seconded. The balance in that fund will become general funds and will offset a portion of Warrant #5. The amendment to the section of the article in parentheses reads (If Article 4, discontinuing the Captial Reserve Fund – Building is adopted, the $4,814.44 balance in that Fund plus any accrued interest which will become general revenue will offset $4,8144.44 of the appropriation in Article 5.) All those in favor. It was asked whether the school would be interested in remarketing the land. Mike Grant noted that the Board would not be interested in remarketing the land and he added that the project can be completed in stages. Mrs. Sweet recommended that the parentheses with a reference to Warrant Article 4 be deleted. This was seconded. All in favor. Article 5 will be rewritten to delete the wording in the parentheses. Therefore the amendment to Warrant #5 carries and replaces the last amendment.
Questions were posed regarding the parking lot project. If the property next to the school is cleared why can’t it be grass or dirt? Jan Trueman responded that for bus and traffic clearance and that it makes business sense to have a paved parking lot. The question of ‘What is the current enrollment in the school and how many more children could be absorbed?’ was asked. Mr. Dobe responded that current enrollment is 177 and NES could absorb another 50 children if there was an even distribution of children in all grades. If you look at the growth projections through 2010 it shows K-5 at a maximum of 205 based on statistics and birthrates. What is driving the cost to be so high? was asked. Mark Bouzianis responded that the parking lot project will take more work than it appears. There is grading, drainage, paving, prep work and electrical. Another questions was asked on how many children are home schooled. Mr. Dobe responded that there were two but there are not any home schooled children he is aware of at this time. The board noted that the priority this year was to get the teacher contracts approved and that next year a focus can be on the parking lot project.
Warrant Article #6
There are no reports
Warrant Article #7
Jan Trueman commented that the school board, budget committee, assistant superintendent and principal have done an excellent job in creating the budget and trying to keep the increases the town down. Jan noted she was appreciative of the work done and publicly thanked all that helped. Jan also noted that Mike Grant who has been on the board for nine years term is currently up and publicly thanked him for his hard work and dedication over his years of service.
3. Next Meetings -
3.2 Board Meeting: February 14, 2005, 5:30PM at NES
3.3 Town Vote: March 8, 2005, 5:30PM at NES
4. Adjournment- The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.. Mark Bouzianis motioned to adjourn first, Jan Trueman second. All in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn Bellisio