3/9/2012 FINANCE COMMITTEE Minutes

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s Committee, and stated that the school committee has data on next year's tuition rates for theout- of-district schools, and the committee is very careful about tracking the number of students attending these schools. Nis. Bradshaw and Michele Brady, the Special Ed Director, are looking at the out-of-district placement numbers every month, and are aware that projections made in December can change before the end of the school year. Mr. Franco stated that for that reason, the out-of-district projected increases are the best educated guess available. IVIS. Bradshaw defined the $278,000 circuit breaker funds received last year as a state program for partial reimbursement ement t school districts for extraordinary special education costs, and anticipates the same amount to be received the coming year. Ms. Bradshaw stated that she has not specifically asked her teachers to ratify ars amendment t their contracts to decrease their raises for FY 2018, but she has asked thein to negotiate their contracts. IVIS. Bradshaw stated that out-of-state tuition prepaid for FY 2012 was $338,146; for special ed. transportation, $200,000. Ms. Bradshaw distributed copies of the FY13 school Preliminary Budget Proposal, and explained the increases for Paras, Clerk, special Ed Par, Asst. Principal, the Librarian, guidance clerk and the nurse at the KCC School. Pant of the explanation was that the rate of increase was a 11 blended rate—the rate frozen to Nov. 15 plus the new rate from Nov. 15 to the end of the school year. In addition, grant money from FY 2011 for$300,000 was all used in FY 2012. The same explanation applied to the increases for Paras, Clerk and Spec. Ed Para at Quashnet school, and the increases at the High School of 7.2% for teachers' salaries. Ms. Bradshaw explained that salaries are increased due to the factors of longevity, steps, COLA and "lane changes" (additional educational degrees earned). Alternative Budget Proposal for the school Committee—George Schmidt George Schmidt stated that he had gore through the latest FY 2013 budget voted on by the School Committee on Wednesday, March 7 th5 2012, and had some cost-saving suggestions for the school committee. The Town Manager's budget number for the school is $18,746 which includes the 1% increase from last year's budget. The $20,281,000 includes that circuit breaker number of $278,556. The delta we arrived at here is $1,485,535. Mr. Schmidt stated that he had noted the following areas in the budget where there might be some cost savings: 1 Athletic Expense, a/c# 13583-5481-3510. Mr. Schmidt noted that in FY 2010 and FY 2011 there was over$50,000 left in that account for both years, and suggested that the school committee take $26,000 of that and apply it toward the FY 2013 budget, and leave the remaining amount to apply to other educational purposes or other sports programs. 2 Earned Credits of$12,500—apply this amount to lower the FY 2018 budget 3 Retirement , a # 15113-510010-2220. There is a budget number there in the amount of $289,000. In FY 2011 and FY2 12 we spent $7000 and $8000. The $239,000 request for the Retirement a is again in the FY2013 budget. since there has been minimal expenditure of this fund, Mr. Schmidt suggested applying this amount elsewhere in the budget to effect a cost savings. 4) Vacant position — no expenses for F #1 2 for the alternate educational para prfeseinals at the high school. 5) Tuition for private schools— an amount remaining of$115,000 unused in FY2012 2