HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
JOINT MEETING HOLDEN SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES
DECEMBER 17, 2009
7:00 PM Memorial Hall
Present: Anthony Renzoni, David White, Ken O’Brien
Absent: Chairman Kim Ferguson, James Jumonville
Others Present: Margaret Watson, Robert Carter, Duncan Leith, Dawn Torres-Gale, Steve Hammond, Cynthia Bazinet, Alan Berg, Peter Brennan
Sel. White called the meeting to order at 7PM.
FY 2011 Budget Discussion
Sel. White said the intent of the meeting was to share the fiscal challenges of the municipal and school district budgets would encounter in the up coming budget year.
Sel. White pulled together hits to the municipal revenue. Loss of local aid, reductions to fire and burn permits, new growth decrease, reduction in excise taxes, losses of interest income and Chapter 90 monies will deeply affect the town’s municipal revenue. Additionally, the town is already aware that expenses related to ice storm borrowing and unreimbursable money from FEMA will affect the budget negatively. He commented that the School District was sensitive and generous to the municipal towns in making reductions to Chapter 71. Dr. Pandiscio has shown that he is trying to be a partner with the towns. He asked what impacts the school district was anticipating.
Ms. Watson said that Chapter 70 monies will not increase. To what extent the Town will be eligible for federal stimulus money is unknown. The federal stimulus money formula gives schools that are underperforming the money first. Since Wachusett Regional schools do not underperform, they will not qualify for any stimulus money. Additionally, the State is determined to raise the cap on Charter schools, which will require more money. The financial future does not look good for the District.
District Business Manager Peter Brennan said that the high school has implemented an energy savings program and is aggressively investigating alternative energy sources for the high school. Unfortunately, the District has contracts with many of its vendors. However, Dr. Pandiscio is trying to level fund the budget everywhere he can. Mr. Brennan handed out a revenue spreadsheet, which the group reviewed. Increases in the number of students requiring transportation will affect the 2010 budget. Holden’s enrollment has increased by 40 students. Debt service will increase and overall, the District is looking at a 3M increase with reduction in revenue and increases in expenditures. He said the district would try to keep expenditures down.
The group discussed Circuit Breaker funds from the State.
Sel. O’Brien discussed the bussing conundrum that the District finds itself in. He inquired if families would be assessed bussing fees and if the schools could handle the increase to the infrastructure of parents driving students to school? Sel. White said that the School District could not legally assess bussing fees to students.
Ms. Watson said there is an amendment before the State Senate to allow schools to assess fees. However, since this would place a financial burden on most families, it is not a good option. Discussion was held regarding the possibility of the State turning the burden of Chapter 71 funding over to the Towns.
Ms. Watson said that it would not be in the best interest for the State to have its Chapter 71 responsibility absolved. It will push the burden on Towns to collect money from families that cannot pay. She said it was important for the Towns and the District to send letters to the legislature to express that it is unsustainable to expect the Towns to collect transportation money. The State cannot wash its hands of its responsibility and the Towns must hold their feet to the fire. All agreed that it was important to advocate to Local State Representatives and Senators. Ms. Watson said she has written and would send copies to the Board to use as a template. The letter encourages the State to incorporate Chapter 71 funding into Chapter 70, and discourages them from placing the burden on the Towns to charge
transportation from its students.
The group discussed drafting a motion to present on the floor of the upcoming MMA conference in January. The motion would have the State fully fund transportation expenses for regional schools and make the State keep its commitment to these regional towns. Sel. O’Brien suggested that the motion include language regarding Circuit Breaker funding. The funding affects all towns in the Commonwealth.
Sel. White suggested that the School Committee draft a motion for the Holden Selectmen to take to the MMA floor.
Mr. Carter said that the motion should request that the State reinstate transportation funding to its historical high as the State will never fully fund to 100%.
Ms. Watson said that when the District balanced its budget this year, employees helped out with the process: unions gave up pay raises or took less or took furloughs, and administrators took no raises. She said that the District would not be able to do that this year. Mr. Carter added that there is little flexibility within the budget.
The group discussed the possibility of funding the school budget with an override. Sel. White said that he did not feel that an override would pass to meet all of these expectations. An override is forever. Sel. O’Brien suggested that the time might be right for a joint override. He said that the District and the Towns should make the effort and let the people decide what the budget priorities and consequences are.
Ms. Watson said that if the budget is as it is projected, layoffs are inevitable. Cuts to arts, music and gym might mobilize parents to support an override. Mr. Carter said that if they don’t consider an override, they are just surrendering.
Ms. Dawn Torres-Gale suggested bringing corporate sponsorship, billboards, cell towers, etc. into the District to offset costs. Mr. Brennan said that the corporate sponsorship would not work. Pepsi is already a donor at the high school. There are not a lot of large corporations/industry in the region – mostly residential.
Mr. Duncan Leith encouraged the District and the Town to continue to mutually work together.
Sel. Renzoni said it is important to communicate to residents that it is the State’s fault and the Town is doing its best to fix it. Residents need to take it up with their local Senator’s and Representatives. Sel. White suggested that the group meet again at the end of January prior to the School Committee attending its budget retreat.
Adjournment
Motion by Sel. O’Brien, seconded by Sel. Renzoni, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN THE DECEMBER 17, 2009 MEETING AT 8:50PM.
APPROVED: January 19, 2010
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