2.     Ms. Miller moved, seconded by Mr. Tillett, to approve the minutes of Meeting #1,335, Regular and Executive Sessions.  It was so voted. 

3.     Communications from the Audience:

A. In the absence of Ms. Spriggs, the Superintendent’s Update was passed over.

B.    There were no student representatives in attendance.

4.     Business

A. Report on District Presentation to the Educational Management Audit Council: Ms. Silvestri reported on the District’s presentation to the Education Management Audit Council on February 10.  She noted that the presentation had been very successful, and she complimented those involved in developing the improvement plan and the report for the Council.  She added that it was her belief that Mr. Pollitt’s invitation to Dr. Rappa to come out and meet with the School Committee had opened an avenue of mutual respect, paving the way to the success of the presentation in Boston.

Mr O’Brien stated that it had been very helpful to have the School Committee members attend the meeting and show their support.  He said that the Education Management Audit Council members had said that they have never had such before.  Mr. O’Brien noted that there is still lots of hard work to be completed. 

Chairman Pollitt also commended the administrative team for their work and Mr. O’Brien and Supt. Spriggs for their presentation to the EMAC Board.  He shared copies of congratulatory e-mails from Dr. Joseph Rappa, Executive Director, and Ms. Paula Hutton, Senior Coordinator, of the Office of Education Quality and Accountability.   Dr. Rappa’s correspondence read as follows, “At 3:30 p.m., the Council voted to send a letter to you and the Southern Berkshire District indicating that, while you have a way to go in some of your management improvements and curriculum work, the Council wants to commend you and the Committee for your serious approach to change, your leadership, and use of the report in setting a higher course for the district.  We will anxiously await news of your progress, and. . . the report and your plan are accepted.  There will be no watch. “  

B. Recommendation Re: Business Manager / Appointment, as Possible:  Chairman Pollitt read a memo from Superintendent Spriggs recommending Ms. Christine Regan be appointed as the District’s next business manager.  Ms. Silvestri moved, seconded by Dr. Savage, to appoint Ms. Regan.  Mr. Ronan thanked the School Committee Members who participated in the search process; he offered regret that he was unable to attend the interviews, and said that because of that, he would need to abstain from voting. 

The Committee then voted to appoint Ms. Regan as Business Manager, per the recommendation of Superintendent Spriggs.  (Mr. Tillett and Mr. Ronan abstained.)  On behalf of the Committee, Chairman Pollitt offered congratulations to Ms. Regan.

C. Request for Approval of Mt. Everett Grade 8 Field Trip to Washington, D.C., March 1-3, 2006:  Mr. Ronan moved, seconded by Mr. Tillett, to approve a request for the 8^th grade trip to Washington, D.C., on March 1-3, 2006.  It was so voted, unanimously.

        D.    Tentative Adoption of Proposed FY’07 Operating and Capital Budgets:  Ms. Brown presented and explained the District’s tentative FY’07 operating and capital budgets.  The proposed operating budget represented a 2.36% increase over FY’06, which translated to a 6. 4% increase in town assessments.  The capital budget proposed a 1.86 decrease from FY’06, and the total gross FY’07 budget represented a 1.62% overall increase from FY’006.  Ms. Brown noted that the figure for state aid represents a loss of $7,000 as depicted in the governor’s budget, rather than the $156,000 loss originally forecasted.

During a question and answer session that followed, the following were noted:

$                      The stage curtains in the auditorium were fireproofed;

$                      The needs of each department, as requested by teacher leaders, were all included in the budget; some textbooks would be purchased this year, rather than next.

$                      $7,000 of the requested $20,000 is slated to be put toward repairing or replacing pianos.  The remainder of the eight pianos will be taken care of in future years’ budgets.

$                      In answer to a question by an audience member, Ms. Brown explained that a $156,000 staffing reduction line item would be accomplished mostly through attrition.  She noted that some realignments would take place in order to fund a math coach and other necessary positions.

Mr. Tillett then moved, seconded by Catherine to tentatively adopt the fy’07 budget, as presented.  (Gross Operating: $11,237,005; Gross Capital: $2,315,194) It was so voted, unanimously.

E. Subcommittee/Representative reports:

1.      Buildings & Grounds:  Mr. Ronan reported that representatives from EDM will come in next week to inspect the District’s buildings. 

Mr. Ronan also reported that although the Buildings & Grounds Subcommittee meeting was cancelled earlier in the day, he had met with Mr. Covey, who had been scheduled to give a presentation regarding developing an arboretum on the Mt. Everett/Undermountain campus.  Mr. Ronan requested that the Committee schedule Mr. Covey’s presentation at its next meeting.  It was agreed to add the arboretum to the next agenda. 

2.      Policy:  JECA Mr. Twing moved, seconded by Dr. Savage, to approve Policy JECA, Admission of Children of Out of State Employees of the Southern Berkshire Regional School District.  It was so voted.  (Mr. Tillett and Mr. Pollitt voted against adoption.) 

3.      Audit: Ms. Miller reported that the Audit Subcommittee had met with Ms. Brown to review the District’s FY’05 audit (excluding the student activity audit).  She reported that the District is in really fine shape, and the voters should be pleased with way the business manager has handled their money. 

Items that were brought forward in the Management Letter were as follows:

1) The school lunch revolving account is always in arrears; it has been partially rectified, but never fully.  This is largely due to the fact that health insurance for employees of the lunch program is taken out of revolving acct.  She stated that the Audit committee recommended that the District pay the health insurance without running it through the revolving account, attaching a caveat that in case the lunch account generates a surplus of more than $2000, such would go toward the insurance.

2) Regarding grants, Ms. Miller noted that Ms. Loubert has done a fine job.  She reported that in some cases there has been a mismatch, where the District has paid from the wrong fund; however, those have been cleaned up, except for way back.

3) The District should develop and approve an investment policy.

4) GASB requires the District to calculate the amount of employee benefit costs for retirees for financial planning purposes.  She stated that at this time, the District has approximately 60 retirees.  The auditors will be asked to provide some assistance in calculations.

Ms. Miller Catherine noted that the auditors will be here on March 30.   She added that the subcommittee felt that although the District may be happy with the auditing firm, the auditor in charge should change at least every 3 or 4 years. The request will be discussed with the audit firm.

4.      Negotiations subcommittee: Dr. Savage requested executive session.  She reported that things are moving along smoothly at this time.  After the break, negotiations will begin dealing with the most important issues of salary and benefits.

F. Financial updates: Ms. Miller Catherine moved to establish, a revolving account for the Katrina Fund.  Mr. Tillett seconded the motion, and it was so voted, unanimously.  It was noted that there is currently $330.06 in that account.

Ms. Brown presented an expenditure report for the period ended January 31, including grants and revolving accounts.

Ms. Brown informed the Committee that the District will use the money remaining in line 27030, Health Insurance Settlement, for improvements around the building, including providing fans for the greenhouse.

Ms. Brown also recommended moving the $51 remaining in the Shakespeare account into the Drama account.  She will ask for a vote when the money is to be transferred.

Ms. Brown reported that she has received a letter certifying the excess and deficiency account.  $27,430 will be used to reduce the assessments of the towns in the same percentages that they were assessed.  The reduction will take place in the towns’ 3^rd quarter payment. 

Mr. Pollitt asked whether there was a mechanism that the towns could use to return the money to the District.  Ms. Brown said that she believed it would be appropriate for the towns to research the best way to do that, should that be their desire.  She said that if the towns did return the money, she would likely place it in a separate revolving account entitled “Program Enrichment”.

6.     COMMUNICATION FROM THE PUBLIC/REQUESTS

$             Ms. Mielke offered compliments to Mr. Law on the format of the most recent 5 Star News.

$             Ms. Maggio commented that the students involved in the production of “Kiss Me Kate” were spectacular and had a lot of heart.  She also noted that the pit band had done a great job.

$             Ms. Silvestri announced that the Southern Berkshire Child Care Program will run a summer program from June 26 through August 11, and they are currently registering children aged 2 months to 5 years of age.

$             Mr. Pollitt pointed out that the date of the Public Hearing has changed to February 28.  He encouraged School Committee members to invite their town representatives and citizens to attend.

4E.   4.     Negotiations: Mr. Twing moved, seconded by Ms. Miller, to enter executive session for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining.  The vote:

Mr. Ronan                 yes                               Ms. Miller                     yes

               Mr. Pollitt                  yes                               Dr. Savage                   yes

               Mr. Tillett                  yes                               Mr. Twing                    yes

Ms. Mielke                yes                               Ms. Maggio               yes

Ms. Silvestri               yes                              

         Chairman Pollitt announced that no further business would be conducted following executive session.

The Committee then moved into the Superintendent’s Office and entered into executive session at 7:54 p.m.

               The Committee came out of executive session at 8:44 p.m.

On a motion duly made and seconded, the meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.