MINUTES – MARCH 3, 2003
TOWN HALL – 7:30 P.M.
Members present: Tuck, Heitin, Pietal, Grasfield, Bluestein, Fixler, Gillen, Goodman, Hearne, Sirkin, (Garza). Members absent: Atlas-Gordon, Bergeron
1. School Superintendent C. Jackson, accompanied by Assistant Superintendent B. Dunham and members of the School Committee, provided enrollment figures corrected from that in her submitted proposed budget, documentation of per pupil expenditures in comparable towns, and class sizes for each Sharon High School course. She explained that classes were multi-leveled with different numbers for different levels. She said that comparable data was available on websites.
2. She stated her goal was to provide a transparent understandable budget. She listed unknowns as the collective bargaining agreement, the amount of FY03 savings, the state reductions and directives re Chapter 70, reductions in grants, increases in enrollment and final utilities projections. As they were in the middle of negotiations, she could only provide honest estimates of salaries, the largest part of the budget. She expressed the belief that the Sharon schools perform at the highest level while financed at the average level.
3. Jackson presented answers to a series of questions that had been submitted by W. Heitin on the proposed Fiscal 2004 school budget. She stated that there were more students enrolled in kindergarten then ever and that she had not included an estimate of those entering first grade from private kindergartens or the usual 10 or 12 returning to the High School from private schools in her original enrollment figures.
4. Jackson explained that, upon hearing of the fiscal difficulties, the school budget was frozen wherever possible and that, if there are no emergencies, she would like to use the $528,928 not spent this year to protect Fiscal 2004. She documented expected personnel and non-personnel savings. Referring to the “use it or lose it” mentality of municipal government, she expressed the belief that she could use savings of $528,928 better next year than this.
5. Jackson reported that the Executive Secretary had recommended increasing heating by 50%. She stated that that the Middle School heating system needs to be replaced, but can be kept running by replacing parts through capital expenditures. .
6. The School Superintendent reported that rent was charged to every outside group with the entire cost of outside programs paid through revolving funds. The revolving funds are not used other than for those costs and returned $4,000 to the Town last year. Transportation is budgeted on the bid.
7. SPED tuitions include private day tuitions, paid 100% by the Town; collaborative tuitions, also paid 100% by the Town; and residential tuitions, paid 50% by the state. The schools were notified that the state could not pay the fourth quarter, but then found a way to defer payment until later. However, Fiscal 2004 reimbursements for tuition are uncertain.
8. Vehicle and liability insurance are paid from the school budget.
9. Jackson explained that per pupil costs were higher at Heights because of the number of special education students at that school.
10. Jackson thought it inappropriate to compare municipal salaries with school salaries.
In answer to questions about many hires costing less than what budgeted, she replied that many were replacements for summer resignations.
11. Heitin questioned the unspent contingency being included in the carry-over. Pietal compared it to the Reserve Fund, where unspent funds are returned to the Town and pointed to the effect of any carry-over on future available funds. He wondered why the savings are not being spent on books rather than borrowing for that item. School Committee member A. Nebenzahl said the carry-over was a broader policy question for the School Committee and advocated a benefit for good management, using the savings for salaries next year. Nebenzahl added that it was difficult to plan for a contingency. It was suggested that some sort of formula be considered for the
contingency. Hearne suggested that the contingency be separated and used like a revolving account. Goodman pointed out that, if the amount of the savings had not been originally in the FY 2003 override budget, the taxpayers would have paid less.
12. Jackson requested allocating residual amounts from past school borrowings to purchase books. The Superintendent explained that other districts borrow for books on a regular basis.
13. Goodman pointed out apparent decreases in first and second grade. Jackson said that that first grade is smaller than in many years but kindergarten is larger. Nebenzahl reported that preschools are over subscribed. In answer to Goodman’s comment regarding a decrease in SPED, better pre-referrals and better services in-house were mentioned as contibuting.
14. In answer to Pietal’s questions about transportation, Nebenzahl replied that the schools are looking into purchasing their own vehicles and explained that those who live within two miles of school or are in the Middle or High School must pay for transportation. There is a capacity to raise fees. In response to Sirkin’s questioning the allocation of the transportation supervisor’s salary, Dunham replied that 57% of riders pay and 42% ride free, so those that pay might be responsible for 57% of the supervisor’s salary rather than 50%.
15. It was decided to continue the school budget discussion on another date to allow more time for questions.
16. Tuck reported that proponent E. Ruvich is withdrawing the article mandating a water connection with Stoughton.
17. The minutes of February 24 were accepted”. Vote: 5-0-5.
18. The meeting adjourned at 10:30.
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