Not Approved

 

Newfields School District Budget Hearing – Minutes

January 13, 2007

 

In Attendance:

Board Members: Carolyn Bellisio Kelly, Chairperson; Jan Trueman, School Board Member; and Joe Army, School Board Member.

            Administration: Steve Kossakoski, Assistant Superintendent; and Dennis Dobe, Principal.

            Board Officers: Maggie Doane, Treasurer and acting Clerk.

 

 

Call To Order – The meeting was called to order at 9 AM with a pledge of allegiance to the flag.

Carolyn Bellisio Kelly introduced the panel to the audience. She said that she would do the totals of the object code and would entertain any questions as they came up.

 

Article 1 – Operating Budget:

 

1000 - Instruction – Most of the increase here is because we are in the third year of the Teacher’s

contract. Increase is predominately instruction and contractual.

 

1200 - Special Education –Again the increase here is due to teacher contracts.

 

Question: Bill Davis - Why is the Actual spent in 2005/06 tuition private, lower than what was

adopted?

Answer: Because the population of pre-school students needing assistance at private agencies

has declined.

 

Question: Mike Price – When things don’t turn out as projected or budgeted, what happens to

the extra money?

Answer: Steve Kossakoski – The money stays in the account.  There is no general fund for those

 monies. The balance at the end of the year  gets returned to the Town to reduce

 next year’s tax rate.

 

Question: Bill Davis – To clarify, the dollars stay in the line item and can be moved to cover

another line item.

Answer: In order to get a true reading on a line item, the money is not moved to cover another

line item. The School Board has the authority to use the money as needed as the bottom line is

what is important. Leaving it in the line item gives us a better idea how to budget for the

following year.

 

Question: Les Case – Special Education is going up.  How much is mandated and how much is

discretionary?

Answer: Salary increase is due to the third year of the contract.  In 2006/07 budget, the number

of aides needed will be less because the number of students in need of assistance will

be lower. Special plans are in place for certain students according to their needs which were

developed with professionals.

 

Question: Les Case – Is that state statutory?

Answer: These are Federal mandates.

 

1400 – Other Instructional Programs – This is increased due to a decline in the amount of money

             being raised for programs such as Sargent Camp.  The balance needs to be funded by the budget.

 

            Question: Mike Price –How much is raised by students for Sargent Camp?

            Answer: All the money is pooled together to offset the other programs.

 

2120 –Guidance Services –

 

Question: Les Case -  Guidance for whom?

Answer: This is for the school counselor and for her supplies.  This also includes standardized

Testing.

 

Question: Les Case – Why would grade school students need guidance?

Answer: We have to provide counseling as part of the State minimum standards. It would

include classroom instruction to develop social skills.

 

2130 – Health Services – Again this has to due to a contractual agreement.

 

2140 –Psychological Services- Testing is done for Special Education.

 

2150 –Speech Pathology Services -Increase due to salaries.

           

            Question: Les Case - What is the requirement for speech pathology for grade school?

            Answer: Again this is result of Special Education testing. It is best to address problems

students may have in advance such as in speech and language skills.  It is a requirement

by law to identify problems as young as the age of 3 which is done at pre-screening.

 

Question: Les Case – This is for native American speaking students?

Answer: Yes.  This is not English as a second language.

 

Question: Bill Davis – Is the Speech Pathologist full time? And do all schools have them?

Answer: Yes, it is based on the number of students with IEP’s

 

Question: Les Case - What is the number of students serviced?

Answer: Typically 12-15% of student population.

 

2160 - O.T. & P.T. Services- There were some changes to categories to move an assistant.

 

Question: Les Case – Again Occupational Therapy for grade school students?

Answer:  Occupational therapy has to do with motor development and fine motor skills.

Unfortunately some students are disabled due to conditions they were born with. We take all

students in the school and try to educate them to the best of our ability.

 

Statement: Les Case – I understand some states have special schools but we do not have that in

New Hampshire.

Answer: We can have out of district placement which could cost thousands of dollars.

Financially whenever you can keep a student in the school, it is less costly.

Statement: Mr. & Mrs. Price – Our son was born pre-maturely and in Massachusetts he

received services which they provided.  Then we came to Newfields. As a pre-schooler, he

received speech therapy and physical therapy until the age of 6. Without these services, he would not have caught up.

 

2210 – Improvement of Instruction Services –There is where we have contractual obligations, again

 with the aides salaries. This includes a Kindergarten assistant which was a result of the

 projections. 

 

2222 – School Library Services – Again we have a contractual obligation here with salaries.

 

Question: Bill Davis – It looks like there is a large increase from actual 2005/06 to the 2006-07, why?

Answer: Proceeds from our book fair can not be projected. The budget indicates the total projected cost. It isn’t until after the book fair that we can know how much we need to count on the budget for support

.

2225 – Technology – This increase is due largely to the need to replace a number of computers and also

 to upgrade the computer lab.  A lot of the equipment was donated and is old now.

 

            Question: Bill Davis – Do you have a plan for implementation:

            Answer: Fifteen computers will be replaced in the computer lab.

 

            Question: Bill Davis – Where in the budget does servicing come in for these computers?

            Answer: Any significant servicing comes from SAU 16 Technician.  We rely on the SAU for

technical services.

 

2310 – Support Services – General Admin –Pretty much the same.

 

2320 – Office of the Superintendent SVS- Budget is up but Newfields share is down.

 

            Question: John Crisp- Is this just administrative salary expenses?

            Answer: Yes, it includes development of curriculum.

 

2400 – Support SVS- School Admin. –

 

Question: Bill Davis- Why is the 2007/08 budgeted amounts for telecommunications consistently higher than the amount spent?

Answer: One reason is we are working on upgrading our Internet connections in all schools.  Since this has not come on-line yet, the charges have not been assessed to the school budget. 

                       

2600 –Operation of Plant –

 

            Question: Maggie Doane –Why is there not $1 amount on Boiler Insurance to keep line open?

Answer: No longer needed.

 

2700 - Student Transportation Services – We are in the process of re-negotiating a contract for buses. It looks like contract negotiations will continue with the same provider and going to an eight year contract.

 

2900 – Support Services – Other –This increase is due to retirement and contractual obligations.

 

5100 – Debt Service – Decreased because we paid off one of the bonds.

           

Revenues:

  

            Question: John Crisp -Does the revenue sheet show that we are a donor town?

Answer: We are a receiver town, not a donor town.  The revenue sheet shows that the NH DOE is projecting that we will receive $190,000.  However, this could change depending on decisions made in Concord. 

           

           

General Comments:

            Statement: Steve Kossakoski - We are a SB2 Town. If the budget is passed is will be as

 presented.  If budget is voted down, it will go to the default budget which is $28,584 less than

 proposed budget.

 

            Statement: Les Case-Regularly the employees here have been receiving 5, 6, &7 % increases in

salary over the past years.  We have reached the point where a number of townspeople are under

stress to meet their tax payments and are selling their homes. It is a downward spiral and I urge

the board to freeze salaries and to even lower them.

 

            Answer: We are the lowest in SAU 16 now. As we go into negotiations next year we are hopeful

            to keep the good dedicated teachers we have now.

 

            Statement: Mike Price -Budget before you today is 1.7% less than last year.

 

            Statement: Holly Price - I work in a different district and I know I make more than the highest

            paid teacher here.

 

            Question: Les Case – Has enrollment dropped?

            Answer: No we are flat right now.

 

            Question: Les Case – What is the smallest class size?

            Answer: Fourteen students.

 

            Question: Les Case – Then why can’t you combine two classes as it use to be? It would still

            be under 30 per class.

            Answer: That would be going against the wishes of the town.

 

            Statement: Bill Davis – No one likes to pay higher taxes. The school board is under certain

 constraints.  I would like to thank you for your services.

 

Statement: Ray Trueman- If you look at the property tax bills and the school portion, it is not

the elementary school going up but the Coop which goes up every year.

 

Answer: Newfields % goes up as Exeter’s % goes down based on our enrollment figures. 

 

 

Article 2 – $10, 000 for School Building Maintenance Fund.

Carolyn explained that this is a continuation of a Capitol Spending Plan established a few years

 ago. The Board would like to replace the windows in the Second and Fourth grade classrooms.

 

Article 3 – Parking Lot.

            Carolyn explained that the Board would like to set up a Capital Reserve Fund to clear the land

            and put gravel top on the lots to accommodate about 75 parking spots.

 

            Question: Mike Price – So the $20,000 is just to level and gravel the lots?

            Answer: A smaller version of the parking lot has been put together. The entire project will

cost about $170,000.  But the Board has decided not to put in a bond this year but to ask for the

$20,000.  Last year the two houses were removed. The board is trying to do this the slow

method.

 

Estimated tax impact –

If warrant Article 1 passes the tax impact per $100,000 will be minus $5.40. If warrant Article 2 passes, the tax impact per $100,000 will be $4.78.  If warrant Article 3 passes, the impact per $100,000 will be $9.56. If all the warrant articles pass, the impact per $100,000 will be $8.95.  Last years budget caused a tax impact of $15.00 per $100,000.

 

Adjournment:  Meeting was adjourned at 10:12 AM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Maggie Doane