AMENDED                                                                            Mt. Everett Regional School

            Sheffield, MA

   March 3, 2005

                           School Committee Meeting #1,315

 

School Committee Members: Mr. Stevens, Mr. Pollitt, Ms. LeGeyt, Mr. Ronan, Mr. Tillett, Ms. Maggio, Mr. Mielke

          

Administrators:  Ms. Spriggs, Ms. Brown

 

Press: CTSB; Mr. Peter Rowntree, Sheffield Times

 

Others: Jonathan Sylbert, Monterey Select Board; Peggy Hendon-Wilson, President, Undermountain PTO; Charles Mielke, President, Monterey/New Marlborough PTA; Matthew Wohl, James Kern, Linda Higgins

 

Student Representatives:  Cody Kern

 

I.                    Chairman Stevens called the meeting to order at 7:58 p.m.

 

II.                 Mr. Tillett moved, seconded by Mr. Pollitt to approve the minutes of the January 27 Special Budget meeting.  It was so voted.  (Mr. Mielke and Ms. LeGeyt abstained.)

 

Mr. Tillett moved, seconded by Mr. Pollitt, to approve the minutes of the February 2 Extended Finance Committee Meeting.  It was so voted.  (Mr. Mielke and Ms. LeGeyt abstained.)

 

Mr. Tillett moved, seconded by Mr. Pollitt, to approve the minutes of School Committee Meeting #1,313.  It was so voted.  (Mr. Tillett, Ms. LeGeyt, and Mr. Mielke abstained.)

 

Mr. Tillett moved, seconded by Mr. Pollitt, to approve the minutes of School Committee meeting #1,314.  It was so voted.  (Ms. LeGeyt and Ms. Maggio abstained.)       

 

III.               Communications:

 

A.                 Cody Kern stated that he had no Grade 10 student representative report; however, he reported that he had been working on further information regarding the bowling club.

 

B.                 Mr. Mielke and Mr. Ronan each expressed disappointment and frustration that they had not received recognition to speak during the public hearing.  Chairman Stevens apologized to them, explaining that he had been concentrating on making sure the audience members were each afforded an opportunity to be heard, and had not noticed either of them indicating their desire to speak.  He reiterated his deepest apologies and invited them to share their views at this time. 

 

Mr. Mielke stated that after hearing teachers and parents speak, he wanted an explanation of how the guidance position will be covered before he votes on the budget.  Additionally, he said that he wanted the teachers in the audience to hear that the reason the District has been able to keep the budget low year after year is due to the teaching staff, who always rise to the occasion and move forward. 

 

Mr. Ronan said that the hearing was the first opportunity he had had to hear from people regarding the budget and its implications.  He said that he felt it was important to look at the issues further.  He also asked Mr. Sylbert for his views, in light of the statistics he had quoted earlier, regarding the fact that the District had received no increase in Chapter 70 funds and less Chapter 71 funding than last year. 

 

Mr. Sylbert said he had been disappointed with the hearing.  He said that he felt it was incumbent upon the School Committee to let people reflect and come back, but was worried that the vote would be taken at the next scheduled meeting, as it had been done that way last year.  He suggested that there should be another well-advertised meeting ahead of the final budget vote. 

 

Mr. Mielke noted that the School Committee needs to vote the budget by March 17. 

 

Mr. Tillett suggested meeting again during the week of March 7, in order to give everyone a chance to digest the dialogue of the evening.  He suggested that the agenda should be to welcome additional comments and interaction from the audience.  He formalized the suggestion and moved to hold another School Committee meeting, advertised to the public, early in the week of March 7.  Mr. Ronan seconded the motion. 

 

A lengthy discussion then took place.  It was generally agreed that further discussion should focus on quality of programs and the budget, in general, and not positions or personnel, per se.  Committee members and audience members also exchanged views regarding how to improve the total budget process and allow for more public input.  Suggestions included holding two public hearings each year, with time in between for School Committee representatives to talk with their town boards.

 

Additional discussion took place regarding whether to hold a second public hearing or to hold a budget meeting.  Mr. Mielke called the question.  The Committee voted to hold a school committee budget meeting on Thursday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m.  The agenda will be continued discussion regarding the FY’06 budget.  (Mr. Pollitt voted no.)

 

IV.              Business

 

A.                 Mr. Tillett moved to approve the 2005-06 school calendar, as presented.  It was so voted, unanimously.

 

B.                 There were no budget updates or transfer requests.  Ms. Brown said that, prior to the March 10 meeting, she would check into whether it is legal to increase a budget following a public hearing. Ms. Brown also distributed materials explaining options available for upgrading the accounting system from Unifund.

 

C.                 A proposal to offer a tennis team at Mt. Everett was postponed.

 

V.                 Communications:

 

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

 

B.                 Chairman Stevens asked that in the future, any School Committee member who wished to speak, but was not successful in getting his attention by raising his/her hand, to please call out and make sure he notices.

 

Mr. Ronan moved, seconded by Mr. Mielke, to adjourn the meeting.  It was so voted, and the meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.