2/9/2012 FINANCE COMMITTEE Minutes

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Y t , a the last 5 years and M . Mason-is certain that there is going to be another prepayment. The fact is that ince increased last y ar's'lev l funded budget by $350,000; with prepayments of$500,QOO between tuition and transportation: the school is already ahead by $850,000 fr rn' last year's budget. Joyce Mason stated that at a budget review iarst year, the school mmitte was asked to take out the prepayment and show the real need, and added that the school committee numbers are false nurn bers., beca use of-their prepayments. George Schmidt stated that the increases in sa Ivry are overstated-by $300,000 as that amount was provided by.a grant in prior years, and asked Ms.- - Brardshaw the reasons she right have to explain why all other departments could remain level funded and the school Department was unabie to so do. Ms. Bradshaw had no comment. Ann Bradshaw responded that her numbers are n t.falso; they are real numbers as close-as the School Board can get. The variables that the s h of Board.is faced with are: Chapter 70 funds, State and Federal grants; school retirements, Torn revenues; changes in :nodical benefits. Ms. Bradshaw stated that adjustments in salaries and expenses will need to be :Wade within her preliminary budget. Discussion of prepay ensued.- Ann Bradshaw stated that the school commiftee does prepay some special education costs, out of district costs, transportation costs. Ms. Bradshaw stated that piepay is legal, it is a common practice in school districts, it is considered good financial management, and it saves teachers' positions. Ms. Bradsha 's position is that if the school committee prepays, they save staff; if they turn the excess funds back to the Torn, the school cuts more staff. Mark Davini proposed to Ms. Bradshaw that she approach her teaching staff to accept either no increase or ar decrease in proposed salary ral es in order to save jobs. Mark Davini also recommended that the remaining teachers on Master Medical Blue Cross Blue Shield change to a lesser cost pian and release resources that again will save jobs. Mr. Schmidt asked how :many teachers have been hired in the past 5 years. Ms. Bradshaw stated � that she would have to research that.' Mr. Schmidt asked f the layoffs presented in her chart how many were teachers. Ills. Bradshaw responded that she did not know. Kathy Stanley, Chairman of the School Committee, introduced herself to the Committee. Ms. Stanley stated that she has always locked at the practice of prepay as robbing Peter pay Paul, but had nothing further to say at this time about prepay. Ms,Stanley expressed her appreciation to the Finance Committee for the effort that has been rn_ d t arra - -.. ear heads around issue in order to settle the School Committee budget. Ills. Stanley started further that she fully understands that municipalities do not have excess money. Ms. Bradshaw indicated that she would find it difficult to cut her budget, Mr. Schmidt stated that the Town asked for a'level funded budget and she had come, in with a $1.3M increase'and that that was not a cut to her budget. oyce ll,llason requested that the.school Committee provide her writ[ necessary details including teachers' salary schedules, transportation costa including their bids, and the reasons behind the requests for increases, in order to justify the request for budget increases.. All other departments have provided the Town Manager with these details, which are n qe sary in order-to rake a fair assessment of departmental reeds Ms. Bradshaw agreed to provide the Town Manager with all requested necessary details. Ann Bradshaw stated that she would be happy to meet further with the Finance Committee to answer any and all questions about the school budget. Mr. Schmidt concluded the questioning stating that while there have been some noteworthy achievements, there are some notable exceptions, including ars increased dropout rate; decreasing graduation rate and a rather poor performance on the latest MCAS exams. 2