6/2/1999 SCHOOL COMMITTEE Minutes

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MASHPEE SCHOOL COMMITTEE PUBLIC HEARING FY2000 BUDGET JUNE 2, 1999 Minutes Attendees: Chairwoman Kathleen Lynch, Janice Mills, Maryanne Macdonald, Theresa Cook, and Stephen Paxton. Also in attendance were Superintendent of Schools Sherwood Fluery and Bookkeeper Gail Scorgie. I. Call Public The public hearing for the FY2000 school budget was called to order by Hearing to Order Mrs. Lynch at 8:04 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. II. Reading of Public Mrs. Lynch read aloud the public hearing notice as published in the Notice May 25, 1999 edition of the Mashpee Enterprise. III. Presentation by Superintendent of Schools Sherwood Fluery gave a presentation on the Superintendent FY2000 school budget. In his presentation, Mr. Fluery said the current plan for the $12,300,000 is to keep the full-day kindergarten, athletic and extracurricular programs as well as three librarians. However, cuts for the recess monitors, a crossing guard, a half-time clerical position at the high school and a copy room clerk would remain. In order for the athletic and extracurricular programs to be maintained, however, user fees would be required. That fee would be refundable pending approval by the voters in October of$500,000 in free cash funding as proposed by the Selectmen. If the $500,000 is not approved at Town Meeting, the fall athletic schedule would continue until the end of the season but the user fees would not be refunded and there would be no winter or spring athletic programs. Mr. Fluery noted that if the additional $500,000 is not approved in October, the full-day kindergarten program would be scaled down to a half-day session two months into the school year. Also in order to fund the salaries of the kindergarten teachers through October, along with the librarians' salaries, money from the teaching supplies and professional development accounts would needed. IV. Discussion Mrs. Lynch asked each Committee member to state their thoughts on the FY2000 budget. Each member expressed their concerns and thoughts on the budget. V. Public Input 5.1 Proponents -The following audience members spoke regarding their thoughts and questions for the Committee on the FY2000 budget. They were: Alexa Fox, questioned the high school accreditation if the athletic program is eliminated; Michael Avitable, also questioned the possibility of obtaining a football scholarship for his son if that program is eliminated; Nancy Bowes, thanked the Board of Selectmen for supporting $500,000 in October; Vickie Peters, also questioned the need for a full-day kindergarten program when high school athletics will be eliminated; Kathy Johnson, discussed music user fees and the elimination of recess monitors; MaryRose Grady, discussed children working during the summer to assist in the sports user fees.