Southern
Berkshire Regional School Committee
Mt. Everett Regional School
Sheffield, MA
May 12, 2011
Special School Committee Meeting
School Committee Members: Mr. Abelow, Mr. Willig, Mr. Flynn, Mr. McSpiritt, Mr. Valentini, Mr. Sears, Ms. Miller, Ms. Silvestri
Absent: Ms. Mielke, Mr. Fetterhoff
Administration: Dr. Singleton
Others: Mr. Edgar Zukauskis, Chair, and Mr. David Herrick, Mr. William Dowling, and Mr. Nathaniel Yohalem, Members, New Marlborough Finance Committee; Ms. Julie Hannum, Chair, Sheffield Select Board; Mr. Colin Smith, Member, Sheffield Finance Committee; Ms. Candace Parsons; Ms. Linda Higgins
1. Chairman Abelow called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. Business:
A. Discussion: Consideration of Results of Town Meetings and Elections Re: District Budget and Bond Initiative Mr. Abelow announced that due to a lack of time, consideration of the FY’12 Capital Budget and the bond issue would be considered at the May 19 School Committee meeting, and that only the FY’12 Operating and Transportation Budget would be discussed during this meeting.
Mr. Abelow then stated that the Committee had asked the administration to revisit the operating budget to see whether there were any areas where budget reductions were possible which would provide the towns with a significant impact on their assessments without affecting the schools’ performance or morale. He said that Mr. Valentini would report on the results. Mr. Abelow continued by pointing out that four of the five towns had approved the budget, as presented, but one town had failed to fund it. He said that the Committee had been very cognizant of adding to the tax burden of the citizens, but could see no other way to maintain and improve the schools’ service
to the community. He stated that the Buildings, Grounds and Technology Subcommittee, as well as the Finance Subcommittee, were reviewing and scrutinizing the capital budget and the issuance of a capital bond. He then recognized Mr. Valentini, Chairman of the finance Subcommittee.
Mr. Valentini read a statement (on file with these minutes). He stated that the Committee’s aim was to develop a budget that met the educational needs of the District, but would also be constrained by a 2 ½ % increase benchmark, and he described the process undertaken in that regard. Mr. Valentini pointed out that despite the overwhelmingly negative recommendation by Sheffield town officials, the budget had been defeated in Sheffield by only 2 votes. He further pointed out that the vote resulted in less than 1/10th of 1% of that town’s voters determining the future educational opportunities for every child attending the District’s schools. Mr. Valentini listed some of the possible areas for cutbacks, stating that such items would be the actual consequences, should the Committee be forced to cut the budget. He concluded by stating that he had been elected by the voters of five towns to preserve and promote the excellence of the School District, not to oversee its
decline. Therefore, he recommended that the FY’12 Operating and Transportation budget, as adopted by the School Committee, be resubmitted to the towns of Sheffield and New Marlborough in its entirety and in its original form.
Mr. Valentini then moved, seconded by Mr. Flynn, to recertify the FY’12 Operating and Transportation Budget at $13,818,892.
Each Committee member then spoke in favor of the proposal. It was noted that many months of meetings and work had gone into the preparation of the budget, and each item had been closely scrutinized. Each member expressed a desire to provide the best education possible to all of the students in the District and fears that such would not be possible, should they need to reduce the budget.
Mr. Abelow read a letter (on file with these minutes) from Andy Fetterhoff, who was unable to be in attendance. Mr. Fetterhoff stated that he supported the budget in its current form. He also expressed disappointment with the position taken by some of the town officials, given the recent passage of a new Regional Agreement, and he expressed the hope that the towns can work together to pass a budget that will give the schools the needed resources.
Mr. Abelow then called for a vote, and the motion was approved, 8-0.
On a motion by Mr. Willig, seconded by Mr. McSpiritt, the meeting adjourned at 6:18 p.m.
Documents distributed for this meeting:
1) Agenda;
2) Excerpt from MGL Chapter 71, Section 16B;
3) Document dated May 12, 2011 listing the Operating, Transportation, and Capital budgets and assessments;
4) Document entitled, “Presentation of the Southern Berkshire Regional School District FY’12 Budget Town Meeting Packet;
5) Statement by Mr. Valentini, dated May 12, 2011;
6) Letter from Mr. Fetterhoff, dated May 12, 2011.
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