Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – February 25, 2013

Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room, 7:30 P.M.

Members Present:  William Brack, Arnold Cohen (late), Gordon Gladstone, Charles Goodman, Alexander

                                Korin, Ira Miller, Laura Nelson, Edward Philips (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Brian Fitzgerald

1. The first item on the agenda was to review the School Department budget for FY’14.

2. Tim Farmer, Superintendent of Schools, put together a twelve-slide overview of the budget. The budget was a 2.22% increase over FY’13.  The School Committee voted on 2.03% at Priorities.  Also present were Glenn Brand, Assistant Superintendent, and Susan Owen, Business Manager.

3. Glenn Brand did the slide presentation.  The School Department has a new Mission Statement which includes “inspiring every student to improve our world.”  The slides included analyzing enrollment in comparison to staffing changes.  Special Education is mandated from the state.  Reduced 8.4 FTEs and 4 FTEs support staffing.  Additions to FY’14:  5 FTEs.  Reductions:  4FTEs, elementary.

4. Tim Farmer explained about some of the special programs:  ELL.  Required to provide English for children who do not have English as a primary language.  ASD:  Autism Spectrum Disorder.  Fifteen children in this program.  Keeps them in-district instead of outside which would cost more.

5. There was considerable discussion regarding the information in the slide presentation especially concerning the increase in FTEs when the enrollment is decreasing and the higher cost of the Special Education which is state mandated.  The amount of the Circuit Breaker will not be known until fall.

6. There was much discussion on the upcoming three-year contract for teacher’s salaries.

7. There was some discussion regarding the 2.22% increase over the FY’13 budget when Priorities voted a 2.03% increase.  The School Department will ask the town for the additional $68,500.

8. Laura Nelson left the meeting at 9:25 p.m.

9. The next item was to approve previous minutes.

10. A MOTION was made by Alex Korin and SECONDED by Bill Brack to approve the minutes of January 28, 2013.

11. VOTED:  4-0-3.  For:  Brack, Cohen, Korin, Miller.  Abstain:  Gladstone, Goodman, Philips.

12. The next meeting will be March 4, 2013.

13. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

14. VOTED:  7-0-0.

15. The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m.