FINANCE COMMITTEE – PUBLIC SESSION
Town Hall - Conference Room 1
Minutes of the Meeting of Friday, March 9, 2012
Committee Members Present: Member Absent: Also Present:
Christopher Avis, Chairman James Condon Joyce Mason, Town Manager
Charles Gasior, Vice Chairman Tom Mayo, Asst. Town Manager
Mark Davini, Clerk Mike Richardson, BOS Liaison
George Schmidt Ann Bradshaw, Supt. Of Schools
Robert Chalker Kathy Stanley, Chair, School Comm.
Oskar Klenert Jose Franco, V.Chair, School Comm
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Christopher Avis called the meeting to order at 6:34 PM.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment.
REVIEW OF MINUTES
George Schmidt made a motion that the minutes of the meeting of 2/23/12 Finance Committee public session be approved as presented. Mark Davini seconded the motion. Oskar Klenert abstained. The motion was approved.
NEW BUSINESS
- Guest Speaker, Ann Bradshaw, School Superintendent
George Schmidt welcomed Ms. Bradshaw to the meeting. Mr. Schmidt stated that Ms. Bradshaw had attended the February 9, 2012 Finance Committee meeting and presented a budget proposal at that time which had raised a number of questions from the Finance Committee. Mr. Schmidt stated that as the questions were quite lengthy, the Finance Committee had prepared a letter to Ms. Bradshaw detailing the questions of the Finance Committee’s analysis of the school committee budget.
Ann Bradshaw introduced herself to the Committee, and proceeded to address the questions presented to her in the letter she had received from the Finance Committee.
Ms. Bradshaw stated that in the last 5 years, 50 positions have been cut, including 30 support staff. Student population went down 12%; staff population went down 18%.
Ms. Bradshaw stated that people in the Central Office are very much involved in preparing the budget, including payroll, data office, personnel office, the school principals.
Ms. Bradshaw stated that the requested increase in out of district tuition is not a speculative number. Jose Franco, Vice Chairman of the School Committee, introduced himself to the Committee, and stated that the school committee has data on next year’s tuition rates for the out-of-district schools, and the committee is very careful about tracking the number of students attending these schools. Ms. 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.
Ms. Bradshaw defined the $278,000 circuit breaker funds received last year as a state program for partial reimbursement to 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 an amendment to their contracts to decrease their raises for FY 2013, but she has asked them to negotiate their contracts.
Ms. 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. Part of the explanation was that the rate of increase was a “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 gone through the latest FY 2013 budget voted on by the School Committee on Wednesday, March 7th, 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 $20,231,000 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 2013 budget
3) Retirement , a/c# 15113-510010-2220. There is a budget number there in the amount of $239,000. In FY 2011 and FY2012 we spent $7000 and $8000. The $239,000 request for the Retirement a/c 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 FY’12 for the alternate educational para profesesionals at the high school.
5) Tuition for private schools – an amount remaining of $115,000 unused in FY2012
6) Membership Collaborative - $300,000 might be looked at, based on the FY 2012 actual expenditures and encumbrances, and add the FY 2012 prepayment back into the
FY 2013 budget.
7) Circuit Breaker offset of $278,556. George Schmidt asked about the Pet (Physical Education) Coordinator, a reduction proposed by the school. Jose Franco explained that this was a grant to the school.
8) Business Manager - $86,000. This position is part time, with a salary level of $58,000. Mr. Schmidt suggested that the $30,000 difference be applied to the current budget.
9) Cut of $92,800 proposed by the School Committee.
10) Substitute Teachers - $350,000 in the budget for the four schools. In the past two years, $100,000 to $125,000 have been spent.
George Schmidt stated that he is submitting these suggested areas for cost cutting in order to eliminate the need to lay off teachers in the school system. Mr. Schmidt stated that in applying the following above suggestions, he did not laid off one single teacher. Mr. Schmidt emphasized that there appear to be areas in the budget that can be cut without impacting the students, the teachers, or the quality of education.
Graduation Rate & Dropout Rate at the High School. Ms. Bradshaw stated that the graduation rate is a new calculation by the state, and is a part of the No Child Left Behind program. The concern is whether students are graduating in four years. Ms. Bradshaw feels that the reason for the low graduation rate in Mashpee is that we have higher standards for graduation. When a student transfers into Mashpee High School at the junior level, he or she may need to catch up with their requirements in order to qualify for graduation in four years.
Ms. Bradshaw stated that our drop out rate is the second lowest on the Cape. The graduation rate needs further study.
Computing the Salaries for Teachers
George Schmidt asked about one individual’s salary line to see how it was computed. The salary line shows FY 2012, without longevity, a salary of $44,687. This year’s budgeted salary shows $48,151, an increase of $3464 for this individual, or 7.75%. Ms. Bradshaw explained that she calculates one day’s salary in FY 2011. It is multiplied by the number of per diem days. The first 45 school days of 2012 are paid at the 2011 rate. As of Nov. 15th, the individual gets a 2% raise and a step. This new per diem rate is multiplied by 145 days. The two rates for the school year are “blended”. Ms. Bradshaw stated that every teacher’s salary is computed on an individual basis because of the numerous factors that go into the status of each
person’s salary level. Ms. Bradshaw invited George Schmidt to set up a meeting at the school in order to see firsthand how the salaries are computed. George Schmidt and Ann Bradshaw set a meeting date at the School Superintendent’s office for Thursday, March 22, 4 PM.
Charles Gasior stated that the Finance Committee is not anti-school, and tonight’s meeting has been an attempt to demonstrate that fact. There is a process in place for a department that comes up against an expenditure out of its control. No department can budget for a hurricane each year.
MUNIS Discussion. Robert Chalker stated his feeling that many of the questions raised tonight could have been answered if the information was entered into the MUNIS system. George Schmidt added that the excel spreadsheets used by the superintendent’s office are difficult to work with. Joyce Mason stated that Dawn Thayer would send a MUNIS train model to the school for their use in becoming familiar with the system. Ann Bradshaw and Jose Franco promised to give it a try, once their final budget number is finalized.
OLD BUSINESS
- Review Warrants. The committee agreed to review the warrants at the March 15th meeting, after the joint BOS/Finance Committee meeting on March 12th
- Transfers. Joyce Mason requested the transfer of up to $5000 from the reserve account to the Board of Selectmen’s expense account, to allow for the purchase of equipment needed to implement a Drug Take-Back program, which would be administered by the Police Department. The program would allow residents the return of unused prescription drugs 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the Mashpee Police Station. The equipment purchased would be a locked drop box and an incinerator located at the Police Station, for destruction of the drugs. Joyce Mason stated that the Board of Health agent would publicize the program, announcing the timing of its implementation.
Mark Davini made a motion that the Finance Committee approve the transfer of up to $5000 from the reserve account to the Board of Selectmen’s expense account to allow for the purchase of equipment necessary to implement a Drug Take-Back program, administered by the Mashpee Police Department. George Schmidt seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
Mike Richardson complimented George Schmidt and the entire committee for their handling of the meeting tonight, stating that it was handled in a very professional manner.
NEXT MEETINGS
The Finance Committee has scheduled the following meeting dates:
Monday, March 12th – Joint meeting with the BOS - 6:30 PM, Town Hall Conference Room 1
Thursday, March 15th – 6:30 PM, Town Hall, Conference Room 1
Thursday, March 22nd – 6:30 PM, Town Hall, Conference Room 1
ADJOURNMENT
As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:20 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Ina G. Schlobohm
Recording Secretary
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