Mt. Everett Regional School

                                                                                                                        Sheffield, MA

                                                                                                                        February 28, 2006

                                                                                                                        School Committee Meeting #1,337

 

School Committee Members: Mr. Pollitt, Ms. Miller, Dr. Savage, Mr. Twing, Mr. Tillett, Ms. Maggio, Ms. Mielke, Ms. Silvestri, Mr. Ronan

 

Administrators: Ms. Spriggs, Ms. Brown

 

Press: CTSB

 

Student Representatives:

 

Others: Ms. Peggy Wilson, President, Undermountain P.T.O.; Mr. Charles Mielke, President, New Marlborough/Monterey P. T.A.; Ms. Linda Higgins

 

 

1.      Chairman Pollitt called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. 

 

2.     Ms. Miller moved, seconded by Mr. Twing, to approve the minutes of Meeting #1,336, Regular and Executive Sessions.  It was so voted. 

 

3.     Communications from the Audience:

 

A.         Superintendent Spriggs reviewed the Superintendent’s Update dated February 28, 2006 (copy on file with these minutes).  The evening’s “Eagle Feather” was given to Ms. Brown for her years of service to the District.  School Committee and audience members added their thanks and applause, as well.

 

B.    There were no student representatives in attendance.

 

4.     Business

 

A.         Request for Approval to Create an Arboretum on the Mt. Everett/Undermountain Campus: Although this request was tabled, pending presentation to the Buildings & Grounds Subcommittee, Mr. Ronan asked that School Committee members read Mr. Covey’s mission statement and article, which was included in their packets.  He noted that Mr. Covey’s excitement about the project is contagious, and that he was looking forward to hearing more.

 

B.         Discussion/Consideration of Comments and Information Received at the Public Hearing Re: FY’07 Budget: Ms. Maggio questioned whether the per pupil costs stated by Mr. Steindler were factual.  Ms. Brown noted that on their Web site, the MADOE lists the District’s per pupil costs at approximately $8,900 per year.  She said she believed Mr. Steindler may have averaged the cost listed for regular education students and special education students, and she noted that the Department of Education had erred in their reporting of the special education per pupil expenditures and had listed them at $24,000.  Ms. Miller requested that members be provided with accurate per pupil costs and other information in time for a meeting they had been invited to with the Sheffield Finance Committee the following evening.

 

Mr. Pollitt said that although the District had been able to spend their additional Chapter 70 and Chapter 71 funds that eventually came from the state because of the vote they had taken when they certified the budget, they should think very carefully about whether or not to take the same vote again this year.  Ms. Brown agreed, and she said she recommended not spending any additional money this year, as the District will need to put any additions to excess revenue, due to the difference in the school choice account.  Ms. Brown also noted that Chapter 70 funds do not automatically return to the towns; rather, if there were additional funds forthcoming, and the School Committee did not vote in advance to allow the District use them, they would be calculated in the District’s Excess & Deficiency.  Ms. Brown also stated that contrary to Mr. Steindler’s statement, the towns were not asked to make up the additional $156,000 that was received in Chapter 70 money this past year.

 

Superintendent Spriggs stated that Ms. Brown’s information was referring back to research done when the District received a request from the Towns last year to return additional Chapter 70 funds to the town.  She also stated that the selectmen had asked her to bring forward a request that the School Committee not vote to use any additional funding that may be received for FY’07, but rather, look at returning some money to the towns.

 

The budget will be brought back for a vote to certify to the towns on March 16.

 

C.         Financial Updates/Transfer Requests (as necessary) -- M. Brown

1.                     Vote to Reduce the FY’06 Assessments of Member Towns by $27, 430, in Accordance with MGL Chapter 71, Section 16 ½, Excess & Deficiency: Ms. Miller moved, seconded by Mr. Ronan, to approve a request to return $27,430 from the FY’05 excess & deficiency to the towns.  It was so voted, unanimously.

 

D.          Policy/Subcommittee Reports

1.            Negotiations: Superintendent Spriggs requested an executive session be held at the end of the meeting to discuss the contract for the new business administrator.

 

5.         COMMUNICATION FROM THE PUBLIC/REQUESTS

 

A.  There were no additional communications. 

 

4D.  1.         Negotiations: Mr. Pollitt moved, seconded by Mr. Twing, to enter executive session for the purpose of discussing the contract for the new business administrator.  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 7:38 p.m.

 

               The Committee came out of executive session at 8:40 p.m.

 

On a motion duly made and seconded, the meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m.