| BSC Permanent Minutes March 24, 2009 |
| PERMANENT MINUTES BOXFORD SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING COLE SCHOOL LIBRARY MARCH 24, 2009 Members Present: Cynthia Foster, Betsy Leary, Rebecca Lundrigan, Pam Messenger (Chairperson) and Cindy Murphy Others Present: Lawrence Fliegelman (Principal, Spofford School), Kathryn Nikas (Principal, Cole School), Steve Greenberg (Tri-Town Union (TTU) Director of Finance and Human Resources), Dr. Bernard Creeden (TTU Superintendent), Ellen Gaskell (Recording Secretary), Jennifer Sirmaian, Sue Robinson, Joyce Rains, Melissa Bettencourt, Alison Salerno and Robert Sparkes (all Spofford School), Heather Walker, Susan Whitney, Patti Cantone-Maffeo, Kelly Belthoff, Debbie Connery, Laurie Rowen, Tiffany Stone, Sue Giovannacci, Diane Vasapolli, Terry Marcille, Mary Anne York and Kimberly Suther (all Cole School), Lisa Salisbury and Jane Bonaventura (Cole School/Boxford Teachers’ Association) Chairperson Pam Messenger called the meeting to order at 7:50 p.m. ROUTINES: 1. Remarks from the Public: None 2. Reports from Other Committees a. Tri-Town School Union i. TTU Chairperson Cindy Murphy reported on the meeting, held right before this meeting. ii. Due to concessions from the Central Office staff, the Salary Reserve has been reduced about $10,000 for FY ’10. This results in a $3,600 reduction of the Elementary School Budget. iii. At 1:30 p.m. next Monday, the TTU Regionalization Subcommittee will start reviewing consultant’s proposals for the study. iv. American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) Stimulus Funding amounts are decreasing. REPORTS: 1. Report of the Superintendent: a. Since Dr. Creeden didn’t enter the meeting until 8:10 p.m., this report was presented later in the meeting. NEW BUSINESS: 1. FY ’10 Budget Development a. This topic also wasn’t considered until Dr. Creeden got to the meeting, but for the sake of continuity is included now. b. FY ’10 Boxford Elementary School Budget’s grand total is $9,106,511; it is level-funded and will not require an override. c. All staffing cuts are due to declining enrollment. A motion was made by Cindy Murphy to submit the FY ’10 Boxford Elementary School Budget at a grand total of $9,106,511, seconded by Pam Messenger. Motion passed 5-0-0. 2. Policy Development a. Community Use of Buildings i. The Community Use of School Facilities policy was included in the packet. ii. Cole School Principal Kathryn Nikas made comments on the policy statement. Pam Messenger asked Kathryn Nikas to email the comments to her. iii. Action on the Community Use of School Facilities policy was tabled until the next BSC meeting on 4/7/09. b. Title I Parent Guardian Involvement Policy i. There was a discussion of the District Wide Parent/Guardian Involvement Policy, a copy of which was included in this packet. ii. It is a federal directive under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and is part of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Coordinated Program Review. iii. Review of this policy was tabled until the next BSC meeting. 3. FY ’10 Revolving Fund Program and Fees c. Instrumental Music Program i. A memo regarding Instrumental Music fees, included in the packet, was presented by Steve Greenberg. ii. The tiered fee structure was eliminated for FY ’10; the fee will now be $450/student. This is $35 more than the maximum student fee charged in FY ‘09. iii. Cindy Murphy wondered if there were scholarships for band; Steve said there were. She also asked what students get for that fee; he said they receive one group lesson/week and before-school band rehearsals. iv. For FY ’10 projections, $81K in revenue and $79.6 K in expenses; virtually no surplus. v. Lawrence Fliegelman commented that the band sounded great at the State House today. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to eliminate the tiers and discounts in the Instrumental Music Fee for FY ’10, seconded by Rebecca Lundrigan. Motion passed 5-0-0. d. Rental Revolving Account i. It may be necessary to re-evaluate the Boxford schools’ relationship with the Merrimack Valley YMCA. ii. No action on this item tonight 4. Correspondence a. Pam Messenger received correspondence on a “privacy-type” matter and a “Day on the Hill” flyer for school committee members 5. Other a. Cindy Murphy thanked Cole School for the recent Community Day. b. She also thanked Christine Elliot and all of the teachers at Spofford School for developing the English Language Arts rubric. c. She also thanked Beth Yando for her work on the On-Line Math League. She did note that there was a drop in participation in the league in Grades 3-6 and asked the teachers at the meeting for input to correct this. d. Rebecca Lundrigan was contacted by Christina Eckert of the Boxford PTO about how the PTO could help with the elementary school budget. e. Pam Messenger asked the teachers at the meeting if the parent teacher conferences occurring over 2 1/2 days is working; Kathryn Nikas said it was. f. No BSC meeting 3/31/09; next meeting 4/7/09 CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meetings a. January 6, 2009 – Regular Meeting i. Reports Section 1. Paragraph 1a., subheading ii., change the word contacting to contracting. 2. Paragraph 2b., lines 2-3, change the sentence Unfortunately, the part of the building damaged is the Spanish Room. to Damage to the building has necessitated the “Spanish Room” be used as a 6th grade classroom. ii. New Business section 1. Paragraph 2d., line 2, should read Preston Galerneau. 2. Paragraph 4b., subheading i., replace Cindy Murphy with Cynthia Foster. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to approve the 1/6/09 Regular Meeting Minutes as amended, seconded by Cynthia Foster. Motion passed 4-0-1 (Betsy Leary abstained due to absence). b. January 6, 2009 – Executive Session i. No changes needed. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to accept the 1/6/09 Executive Session Minutes as amended, seconded by Cindy Murphy. Motion passed 4-0-1. c. January 20, 2009 – Regular Meeting (No Executive Session that night) i. Reports Section 1. Paragraph 2b., subheading iv., line 2, replace the words time-in-learning with time-on-learning. ii. New Business Section 1. Paragraph 2a., subheading ii., subsection 4., replace the word students every time it is used with teachers. Insert also after psychologist and before needed. 2. Paragraph 2b., subheading i., subsection 6f., insert Potential in front of out-of-district placements. 3. Paragraph 3a., replace Cynthia Murphy with Cynthia Foster. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to approve the 1/20/09 Regular Meeting Minutes as amended, seconded by Rebecca Lundrigan. Motion passed 5-0-0. d. February 24, 2009 – Regular Meeting i. Routines Section 1. Paragraph 2a., subheading i., line 2, inFY10 should read in FY10. ii. Reports Section 1. Paragraph 1a., subheading iv., subsection 1., change were to will be. 2. Paragraph 1b., subheading i., change the sentence On 2/3/09, the students enjoyed a field trip to a wax museum. to On 2/3/09, the 4th grade students participated in a wax museum. iii. New Business Section 1. Paragraph 1a., subheading i., subsection 7a., change Cynthia Murphy to Cynthia Foster. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to accept the 2/24/09 Regular Meeting Minutes as amended, seconded by Cynthia Foster. Motion passed 5-0-0. e. February 24, 2009 – Executive Session i. Paragraph 1, line 9, change she to Betsy Leary. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to accept the 2/24/09 Executive Session Minutes as amended, seconded by Cindy Murphy. Motion passed 5-0-0. f. March 17, 2009 – Regular Meeting i. No changes needed. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to approve the 3/17/09 Regular Meeting Minutes, seconded by Cindy Murphy. Motion passed 5-0-0. g. March 17, 2009 – Executive Session i. No changes needed. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to approve the 3/17/09 Regular Meeting Minutes, seconded by Rebecca Lundrigan. Motion passed 5-0-0. 2. Approval of Payroll and Bills Warrants a. No payroll to be approved this week. b. Bill Warrants A motion was made by Pam Messenger to approve BW#09-51, in the amount of $22,054.74, seconded by Cynthia Foster. Motion passed 5-0-0. At 8:10 p.m., Dr. Creeden entered the meeting. REPORTS: 1. Report of the Superintendent a. Federal Funding Update FY ‘10 i. An early childhood grant was originally estimated to be $268K over the next two years; the estimate has been reduced to $225K. ii. There will be a meeting on Monday morning to explain American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funds; Dr. Creeden and Steve Greenberg will attend. 2. Dr. Creeden discussed a memo from the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents regarding FY ’10 Chapter 70 funding from ARRA Stabilization Funds a. The governor is recommending that $168 million in federal stimulus funds be distributed to 162 Massachusetts’ school districts; Boxford is not expected to receive any of these funds. 3. Dr. Creeden believes the Stimulus Fund number in the FY ’10 budget is good. EXECUTIVE SESSION: At 8:45 p.m., a motion was made by Pam Messenger to move into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing a Privacy Matter, returning to Regular Meeting only for the purpose of Adjournment, seconded by Cindy Murphy. On a roll call vote, the motion passed 5-0-0 (in favor: Cynthia Foster, Betsy Leary, Rebecca Lundrigan, Pam Messenger and Cindy Murphy). ADJOURNMENT: At 9:15 p.m., the BSC, on a roll call vote, returned from Executive Session for the purpose of Adjournment. Pam Messenger moved to adjourn, seconded by Cindy Murphy. Motion passed 5-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Ellen Gaskell Recording Secretary |
