2. Minutes: Mr. Mielke moved, seconded by Ms. LeGeyt, to approve the minutes of Meeting #1,311. It was so voted. (Mr. Tillett abstained.)

3. Communications:

3A. Chairman Stevens recognized Student Representative Lindy-Ann Marcel. There was no student representative report.

3B. Mr. Michael Farmer, Mt. Everett Social Studies Teacher, and Lillian Silk and Chance Rueger, Middle School Student Government Representatives, stopped in to invite the School Committee members to the spaghetti dinner, which the middle school students were sponsoring that evening to raise funds for the Castino children and for victims of the recent tsunami. Chairman Stevens called a brief recess for the Committee members to go into the cafeteria to recognize the students' efforts.

The meeting resumed at 7:13 p.m.

In deference to Mr. Winters, Mr. Stevens requested that the School Committee move the FY'04 audit to the front of the meeting, Ms. LeGeyt moved to do so. Mr. Tillett seconded the motion, and it was so voted.

3C. Prior to moving to the audit, Mr. Stevens asked Supt. Spriggs to commend the 12^th grade students who had been awarded John & Abigail Adams Scholarships. Superintendent Spriggs reviewed the criteria for selection for the scholarship, and commended the seventeen students who had met such: Michelle Bachetti, Tom Buchte, Andrea Campbell, Jennifer Catsos, Daniel Drake, Christina Gregor, Austen Groener, Renee Gulotta, Will Levin, Lindy-Ann Marcel, Elizabeth Miller, Janusz Ruch, Brenna St. Pierre, Justin Torrico, Daniel Walsh, Lance Ward, and Chelsea Ziobro. The Adams scholarships provide a tuition waiver for eight traditional semesters of undergraduate education at Massachusetts state colleges and universities.

4. Mr. Greg Winters, of Scanlon and Associates, presented the results of the District's FY'04 financial audit. Included in Mr. Winters' report were the following:

• He noted that this year's management letter included responses.
• The school lunch revolving account has stabilized and shows the same level of deficit this year as last. Mr. Winters said that the auditors were pleased with this result, as it indicated a "leveling off".
• There was improvement in the accounting of grants in FY'04. He commended Ms. Loubert for the job she has done in this regard, and voiced a hope that the personnel turnover in the grants coordinator position had stabilized.
• GASB 34 has gone into effect, and this is the District's second year of the new form of reporting. He found no problems in this regard.
• Mr. Winters recommended that the District develop an investment policy and urged the District to put together an Investment Subcommittee that would include representation of the Audit Subcommittee and the business office, along with the treasurer, to make decisions regarding investments.
• Mr. Winters noted that due to soaring health insurance costs, the government will soon require public employers to complete a survey in order to get an idea of how many people will be retiring in the near future. According to Mr. Winters, based upon the current number of employees, the SBRSD will need to conduct an actuarial evaluation every three years. This survey is due to be implemented by 2008.
• No new long term debt was recorded; the District still has $11,000,000 left to pay on the building.
• It was noted that $200,000 of the District's E & D fund, as well as $200,000 of School Choice Funds, had been used in the FY'05 budget.

Mr. Winters noted that it is hard for schools at this time; however, he said that the District is in good shape, having retained status quo with all the limitations placed upon it. He said that in the current economy, the District did well in taking steps to reduce their budget. He also stressed the need for the grants coordinator position and for continuity in that position.

Superintendent Spriggs and Ms. Brown thanked Mr. Winters and the audit team, as well as the business office staff.

3B. Chairman Stevens introduced Ms. Jane Burke and Ms. Maxine Lome to present the results of the Kennedy Arts Audit. Ms. Burke noted that through the audit process, they had touched base with over 1,000 people and had gained much useful information. Ms. Lome then presented the results of the audit. She reviewed the goals and objectives, who participated, the District's strengths relative to the arts, and challenges to the arts within the District. Additionally, Ms. Lome presented an Arts Wish List, recommendations developed by the audit team, and a "Best Practice" listing.

Ms. Burke noted a need for the Committee to consider adding an arts person to the staff who will coordinate artists' residencies and volunteers in the schools, as well as look for ways to integrate the arts into classrooms on a regular basis. She acknowledged that much of that happens at the current time because of the work she does through the Massachusetts Cultural Council Grant; however, she worried that if/when she can no longer do so, there would be no one to take her place.

Ms. Lome advocated for the formation of an Arts Council group that would come to the School Committee with a concrete plan for the arts programs. She added that there is much interest in the community in helping, but many people do not know how to help.

Mr. Mielke noted that he would like to see a game plan with budget implications brought to the Superintendent and then to the School Committee.

Supt. Spriggs noted that the District has just begun working toward a five-year strategic plan; she added that the arts should serve as a basic part of that plan.

Ms. Spriggs commended all the work that Ms. Burke does in the District.

Mr. Tillett and Mr. Ronan volunteered to serve on an Arts Council to develop a plan.

Ms. Burke stated that she is committed to at least one more year of work with the District through the Mass. Cultural Council. She said that that would give the Committee an 18 month period to get things rolling. She offered to work with a group to do that.

The Committee requested that further discussion be scheduled for an April meeting.

On behalf of the Committee, Chairman Stevens thanked Ms. Burke, Ms. Lome, and all who participated in the audit for their work.

3C. Ms. Karen Chamberland, parent of a 6th grade student, questioned whether the children salute the flag every morning. She shared a copy of the Mass. General Law requiring such a practice. Superintendent Spriggs agreed to check to see whether the practice was being followed, and to inform Ms. Chamberland of her findings.

5A. Mr. Tillett moved to wait and receive amended copies of the Elementary School Improvement Plan and the 7-12 School Improvement Plan and to vote on those at the next meeting. Mr. Pollitt seconded the motion.

Ms. Spriggs clarified that after the last meeting, she had asked the principals to fill in any budget categories on the Improvement Plans that had been left blank. She said that they had not entered any money into some of the categories because the money had already been designated, and no further funds were needed. However, she felt that it was important for the School Committee members to know how much money was going to be spent in each case.

Mr. Mielke then requested that the vote be moved. Mr. Stevens called the vote, and the Committee voted unanimously to vote on the amended School Improvement Plans at the February 3 meeting. Mr. Ronan and Mr. Stevens requested that Mr. Nadolny and Mr. Devoti attend that meeting if possible.

5B. Ms. Brown stated that the budget development process is progressing, and the preliminary numbers will be reviewed by the Finance Subcommittee on January 25, with the initial presentation to the full School Committee scheduled for January 27. She also noted that the House I budget is due out on January 26.

6. Communications:

• Superintendent Spriggs reviewed the Superintendent's Blue Notes (copy on file with these minutes).

• Student Representative Arielle VanDeusen shared a picture from the recent Middle School French Class Trip to Quebec. She said that the trip was a lot of fun and that all of the students had had an opportunity to speak French extensively.

• Mr. Stevens reviewed upcoming School Committee meeting dates.

Ms. Maggio moved, seconded by Mr. Tillett to adjourn the meeting. It was so voted, and the meeting adjourned at 9:08 p.m.