Legislative Council Education Sub Committee
Minutes from Meeting on January 13, 2010
Held in the Newtown Municipal Center
3 Primrose Lane, Newtown, CT, Shared Meeting Room One
The Legislative Council Education subcommittee held a regular meeting on January 13, 2010 at the Newtown Municipal Center. Chairman Mary Ann Jacob called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.
PRESENT: Mary Ann Jacob, Chris LaRocque, George Ferguson, Kevin Fitzgerald
ALSO PRESENT: 1 member of the public, 0 members of the press
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: None
NEW BUSINESS:
Discussion and Possible Action:
- Election of recording secretary: Chris LaRocque volunteered to be the secretary for the education subcommittee. Mary Ann Jacob seconded. All in favor.
- Interaction with Council and other boards: Ms. Jacob explained that the subcommittee’s primary role will be to report on the education budget to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council. Ms. Jacob stated that the subcommittee will follow Robert’s Rules of Order during meetings. There was also agreement that any member of the subcommittee attending other board meetings should identify themselves as a member of the public. It was agreed that there should be no confusion that any member of the education subcommittee attending other board meetings is speaking as a private citizen and not as a member of the subcommittee.
- Key Drivers of Board of Education 2010-2011 budget: Ms. Jacob explained that through her discussion with Janet Robinson there are four main drivers of the budget this year. It is clear that there will be a budget shortfall this fiscal year as the state is cutting funding to municipalities in a number of ways. The first driver is related to state funding through a cut in the Excess Cost Grant and its affect on the education budget. A second driver is staffing issues throughout the school system including decisions around furlough days and staffing numbers. Ms. Jacob explained that a third driver is issues around bussing and owner / operator contracts. The fourth major driver is cost related to benefits for teachers and staff.
- Board of Education CIP: Ms. Jacob told the subcommittee that she has not received a hard-copy yet, but will soon. There was brief discussion about likely first-year bonding projects in the Board of Education budget.
- Committee involvement in upcoming deliberations: Discussion around attendance at upcoming Board of Education meetings and agreement that all should attend if possible. Potential agreement of a possible education subcommittee meeting immediately after the BOE budget deliberation on January 26, 2010.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: None
ANNOUNCEMENTS: None
ADJOURNMENT: Having no further business, Kevin Fitzgerald moved to adjourn. Seconded by Chris LaRocque. All in favor. Meeting adjourned at 7:25 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________________
Chris LaRocque
Secretary
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