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These minutes fetched from the district site on 2009-08-31

WESTBOROUGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE

WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS

MINUTES

Monday June 8, 2009

The Westborough School Committee meeting was called to order in the Selectmen’s office at 6:00 p.m by Chairman, Karen Henderson. Committee members present included Mr. Bruce Tretter, Mr. Stephen Doret, Mrs. Ilyse Levine-Kanji and Mr. Craig Harris. Administrators present included Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Anne Towle; Assistant Superintendent Mrs. Marianne O’Connor; Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Maureen Ferguson; Principals, Reene Hatherley, Pattie Berkey, Dr. David Fredette, and Jeffrey Slomski; Director of Technology, Kathy Martin; Athletic Director, Johanna DiCarlo.

The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

FY10 BUDGET

Superintendent Towle recalled two proposals for balancing the FY10 budget were put on the table at the June 3 meeting. At this time the administration is recommending a streamlined version of the two proposals:

PROPOSED REDUCTIONS

Technology $50,000

Utilities 25,000

Secretary Com Ed 25,000

Facilities 50,000

Supplies 25,000

1 SPED Para 25,000

1 ELL Tutor 15,000

1 teacher 75,000 (a teacher is moving to another district)

Total $290,000

Dr. Towle announced Representative Karyn Polito informed her a revised version of the Governor’s budget was released today, indicating the Governor’s strong commitment to education. Representative Polito will keep the district informed of any developments.

The Superintendent made a recommendation to reduce the budget by $290,000. The proposed reductions impact few positions. If the district is informed of any restoration of Stimulus funding from the state, the Committee will make appropriate adjustments from a priority list it will establish.

MOTION

Mr. Tretter made a motion to accept the administration’s recommendation to achieve a $290,000 reduction in the FY10 budget. Mr. Doret seconded the motion.

Mrs. Levine-Kanji again inquired about reducing costs in the transportation area in order to retain the SPED para. Mrs. Levine-Kanji felt the Special Education department has taken a greater percentage of reductions. She also inquired where the para reduction would occur. Dr. Towle asked the Committee to trust the administration to determine where the reduction is made. Mrs. O’Connor added the administration has rated each child and looked at the personnel shift in the schools for next year.

The Superintendent added that when making reductions the administration tries to keep programs as much as possible. It is difficult to bring back a program; that is the reasoning behind retaining the third grade string program and the freshmen sports program.

Mr. Doret spoke strongly in favor of maintaining the third grade string program. Committee members discussed studying the bus numbers, including increasing ridership numbers. The suggestion was made to reduce the transportation budget by $25,000 and keep the SPED para position in place.

School Committee Meeting 2.

June 8, 2009

Mr. Tretter spoke of the importance of maintaining the millions of dollars of investment in the school buildings. In his opinion the state has let the district down. Since Town Meeting, May 16, the state has reduced the town’s anticipated revenue by one million dollars.

Mrs. Henderson compared the percentages of reductions in different areas. Special Education is 26% of the budget and 13% of the student body. She compared teachers versus custodians, and noted there are many areas that have not been touched. 82% of the budget is salaries. The district is close to class size target numbers. Mrs. Henderson requested the administration be ready with recommendations for restoring items if the Governor’s budget is accepted. She also noted there is a transportation sub committee in place to study the entire problem.

In discussing the SPED para reduction, the Superintendent noted it is better to reduce a para rather than a teacher. Mrs. Levine-Kanji would prefer to target the transportation area and leave the para position in the budget.

AMENDED MOTION

Mrs. Levine-Kanji offered an amendment to the original motion. The motion is to accept the administration’s recommendation for $290,000 reductions except the $25,000 for the Special Education para. The administration is requested to bring forward at the next meeting a specific para reduction proposal. Mr. Doret seconded the motion. The Committee voted 5-0 on the motion.

Mr. Harris expressed appreciation to the community members who have submitted emails with budget reduction suggestions.

Mrs. Henderson reported Westborough High School graduation and Baccalaureate were excellent and extended thanks to everyone involved in helping the students go on their way to future endeavors. The next regularly scheduled School Committee meeting is June 17. Committee members were asked to forward their vacation schedules to the superintendent.

Mr. Doret thanked the entire staff for maintaining the quality of the physical plant. The buildings are in great shape.

MOTION

At 6:50 p.m. upon a motion by Mr. Tretter, seconded by Mr. Doret, the Committee voted unanimously to adjourn.

Respectfully submitted

Ilyse Levine-Kanji

Secretary

These minutes are as recorded by the secretary to the school committee and do not become an official part of the record until so noted in a subsequent record.