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Meeting
of
September 4, 2007
Members Present:
Mark Linehan, Vice Chair
Ellen Williamson
Sue Anderson
Rainie Pearson
Beverly Madden
Also Present: Perry
P. Davis, Superintendent
Richard Mathieu, School
Business Manager
Denise Lonergan, High School Headmaster
Frederick Randall, Middle
School Headmaster
Kim McParland, High School
Assistant Headmaster
Citizens
1. Call to Order
Mr. Linehan called the meeting to
order at 7:00 PM in the Dover Sherborn Middle School Library.
2. Approval of Minutes
a.
Regional School Committee– June 12 and August 27, 2007
Ms, Anderson made a motion to
approve the minutes of June 12, 2007. Ms. Williamson seconded.
07-54 VOTE: 4-0 (Mr. Linehan
abstained)
Ms. Anderson made a motion to
approve the minutes of August 27, 2007. Ms. Williamson seconded. Add Mr.
Linehan to members present.
07-55 VOTE (as amended): Unanimous
3. Reports
a.
Business Manager’s Report –
·
Finance – The monthly report by function code was provided. In
analyzing the professional staff budget to actual for the start of the year,
Mr. Mathieu is estimating a surplus of approximately $11,000. FY07 closed with
a higher surplus than expected, approximately $395,000 or 2.3% of the budget.
The higher surplus was a result of savings from various personnel accounts and
lower overall expense by all departments. The paperwork for the Excess and
Deficiency funds has been filed with the Department of Revenue.
The DOE has conducted a review of the laws and
regulations governing Regional Schools. DOE is now advising the MA General Law
has two methods for determining assessment, the Statutory Method and the
Alternative Method (a/k/a/ Regional Agreement), and that both calculation need
to be made and discussed with the member towns annually. Dr. Davis and Mr.
Mathieu recommended the establishment of a working group of volunteers from
both towns to review the differences in calculations and the ramifications of
these changes.
·
Facilities and Maintenance – The issue of vandalism on the upper
practice fields has been dealt with by re-seeding and placing barriers on the
road the Dover Police Department believes was used to access the fields.
The Wastewater Treatment Facility issue with the DEP
is in the process of concluding. The DEP has issued a fine of $7,500 (paid out
of the FY07 budget) for past issues and placed the WTF under an administrative
consent order (ACO). The WTF will be under the ACO for a time to determine if
the changes made will be sufficient to bring the plant into compliance with
the operating permit.
·
Cafeteria – At the close of FY07, the cafeteria revolving fund
had a balance of $35,570 which is a credit to both increased dales due to the
Point of Sale system and the management of Janelle Madden.
b.
Dover-Sherborn High School Report – Ms. Lonergan updated the Committee
on the first day of school and upcoming events at the High School.
c.
Dover-Sherborn Middle School Report – Mr. Randall updated the Committee
on the first day of school as well as upcoming events at the Middle School.
d.
Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Davis reviewed enclosures provided to the
Committee including:
·
Back to School Speech and Staff Recognition Awards
·
Municipal Group Insurance Act, Chapter 67 – Dr. Davis provided
information on the recently enacted law for municipalities to access the Group
Insurance Commission potentially resulting in lower rates to the Regional
Schools.
·
Collective Bargaining - The Dover School Committee, Sherborn
School Committee and the D-S Regional School Committee appointed a Joint
Personnel Subcommittee to negotiate with the DSEA for a new contract. The
Subcommittee is meeting to establish a strategy for the negotiations and will
be using a Collaborative Bargain Process. A member of the Dover Board of
Selectmen and Sherborn Board of Selectmen will be asked to attend the
Executive Session the School Committees to participate in contract
discussions.
·
Gift - The Alan Mudge Fund donated lighting and audio equipment
to the DS Regional School District over the summer.
Ms. Williamson made a motion to accept a gift of
$25,010 for lighting and audio equipment for the Mudge Auditorium. Ms.
Anderson seconded.
07-56 VOTE: Unanimous
·
State Budget FY08 Approved by the Governor – Dr. Davis provided
a summery of various education aid categories in the budget.
·
Scholarship Donation – The estate of Elizabeth L. Kennedy,
former guidance counselor at DS Regional High School, included a donation of
$20,000 to the DS Regional High School Scholarship Fund. The language in the
trust does not specify how to use the monies. Dr. Davis suggested investing
the $20,000 and to annually give the interest to the DS High School
Scholarship Committee to be awarded to a member of the senior class in memory
of Elizabeth L. Kennedy.
Ms. Anderson made a motion to accept the donation of
$20,000 from the estate of Elizabeth L. Kennedy to the Dover-Sherborn Regional
High School Scholarship fund and to direct the Regional Treasurer to invest
the $20,000 and to annually give the interest to the Dover-Sherborn High
School Scholarship Committee to be awarded to a member of the senior class in
the memory of Elizabeth L. Kennedy. Ms. Pearson seconded.
07-57 VOTE: Unanimous
·
Regional Capital Debt – Dr. Davis sent a letter to Ms. Colleary
of the Municipal Law Bureau of the MA Department of Revenue asking for advice
on how to proceed to resolve the debt issue created by Chapter 208 of the Acts
of 2004 given that the Towns did not both pass the amendment to the Regional
Agreement. Dr. Davis has been told that the DOR will be sending a letter
acknowledging the existence of the problem but will not offer a resolution.
4. Special Items
a.
2007-08 School Committee Goals
Ms. Anderson presented the draft report of the
goals.
5. Community Comments
None
6. Future Business
a.
October Regional School Committee Agenda Items
FY09 Budget, Contract negotiations, Middle School
book update, School safety
b.
MASC/MASS Conference – November 14-17, 2007
7. New Business
a.
FY09 Budget Development
Budget Direction: maintain high quality education,
limit new staffing, no new educational programs, program expenses 3% maximum
increase, fund contract obligations, fund health insurance, implement
preventive maintenance plan, level fund state aid, transfer $300,000 from E&D.
Budget Goals: new regular education positions (data
management, health aide), new special education (high school special education
teacher), technology (replacement of computers and related
equipment/software), building maintenance.
b.
Superintendent’s Exit Plan
Dr. Davis asked for comments on his Exit Plan from
the Committee.
c.
NCLB
Dr. Davis provided a summary of the proposed
changes to No Child Left Behind.
8. Routine Business
a.
Treasurer’s Statements (May and June)
9. Adjournment to Executive Session not to
return to open session for matters pertaining to contract negotiations with
custodians and cafeteria workers.
Ms. Pearson made a motion that the Committee adjourn at
9:06 PM. Ms. Anderson seconded this motion. Ms. Madden – yes, Ms. Pearson –
yes, Ms. Williamson – yes, Mr. Linehan – yes, Ms. Anderson - yes
Respectfully Submitted,
Amy Davis
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