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Home My WebLink AboutSchool Committee 2/23/2016Approved 3 -8 -16 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, February 23, 2016 Town Hall, Room 3A &B An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held at the Town Hall on Tuesday, February 23, 2016. The open meeting session was opened and called to order by Chairman Michael Trowbridge at 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Michael Trowbridge, Chair Kiera O'Neil, Vice -Chair Lynn Cavicchi Linda Fernando Jenn Walsh Members Absent: None Also Present: Zeffro Gianetti, Superintendent of Schools Teresa Murphy, Assistant Superintendent of School Edward Vozzella, Director of Finance and Operations Video Taping: Dana Hourigan,15 Evans Circle SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT: One new Retirement announced. Warrants Warrant #'s Dates Amount Goods & Services 2016 -1023 01/05/16 467,573.39 Salary & Wages 2016 -15 01/15/16 1,499,178.70 Goods & Services 2016 -1025 01/19/16 302,677.24 Salary & Wages 2016 -16 01/29/16 1,555,889.60 $ 3, 825, 318.93 Kiera O'Neil made a motion to approve the warrants as presented. Linda Fernando seconded the motion. Michael Trowbridge abstained as his son was on payroll. Motion Carries. 4 - 0 -1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: School Committee Open Session Meeting Minutes of 1- 26 -16. One change: Under Audit Committee, change to 'new audit committee member appointed.' A motion to approve the minutes as amended was made lstby Jenn Walsh, 2nd by Linda Fernando. Motion U.C. 5 - 0. School Committee Executive Session Meeting Minutes of 1 -26 -16 A motion to approve the minutes was made lstby Jenn Walsh, 2nd by Linda Fernando. Motion U.C. 5 - 0. Page 1 of 5 Approved 3 -8.16 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, February 23, 2016 Town Hall, Room 3A &B Finance & Operations Report: Status of FY16: Ed Vozzella discussed where the schools stand at this point in the year. Energy costs are very favorable; he estimates approximately $100,000 savings. HVAC repair costs are also favorable. This is primarily due to the major repairs we made last year. Special Education costs are still unfavorable. Ed will continue to monitor. FY17 Budget: Zeff Gianetti and Ed Vozzella spoke to the status of the current budget proposal. They are trying to close the budget gap. Tomorrow night (2- 24 -16) is the next budget sub - committee meeting. Presently there is a $2.4 million gap (schools and town side combined.) Big hits of the gap are special education costs, new MHS Schedule and Town health costs.) Ed Vozzella continued by documenting proposed cuts to the school budget In total the school was able to lower the budget figure from $48,589,718 down to 47,924,518 (See last page of minutes for proposed cuts. By April 1st the schools will have a better feel for special education cuts. The district will also continue to look at further cuts as needed. New proposed positions have been eliminated except for the 5 teachers needed to support the new schedule. There was some discussion on the elimination of integration specialist. Unfortunately it is a much needed position and cutting the proposed spot will put us back a year in our technology plan. School committee requested that the school keep this position in mind if there is anyway of adding it back in the budget $150,000 in expenses were cut from the budget. This figure was identified by working with each school and central office to see what expense line items could be removed or reduced. The proposed kindergarten grant from the state shows as a budget savings but will be removed from the worksheet temporarily. Hours before the school committee meeting, state correspondence was received indicating that this grant may not be as much as first anticipated. This savings will be added back in once we know the exact amount Michael Trowbridge asked for a motion to approve the budget adjustments as amended (remove the $75,900 kindergarten grant for a total budget $48,000,418). A motion to approve the updated budget as amended was made 1st by Kiera O'Neil and 2nd by Lynn Cavicchi. Motion U.C. 5 - 0. OLD BUSINESS: Sub Committee Updates: 1. Audit: Two meetings have been held. At the first meeting the new auditors presented to the committee. With the auditors, the committee completed the CAFRA (Comprehensive Annual Financial Report) for the first time. The audit looked good and recommendations from the auditors were pretty standard. One note for the schools is that the auditors recommended an outside audit of the student activity fund. Ed Vozzella welcomed this audit as the process of managing the student activity fund and the three way reconciliation required is challenging and he would welcome feedback. At the second meeting, proposals for modifying the committee Page 2 of 5 Approved 3 -8 -16 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, February 23, 2016 Town Hall, Room 3A &B were discussed. Three proposals were made 1) Expand the 'at large' members from 2 to 4. (not passed) 2) Change the terms of the members from July 1- June 30 to December 1 to November 30 to better align with the financial review time frames. (passed) 3. Extend the term of 'at large' members from 2 years to 3 years. (passed.) Items 2 and 3 will need to go to Town Meeting for vote. 2. CIP: No update 3. Budget: Meeting with town to be held on Wednesday 2/24/16. 4. Policy: A few in progress. No updates tonight. NEW BUSINESS: Field Trips: MHS Varsity Football to Philly, Baltimore: a. Michael Trowbridge commented on past trips that have been very successful and educational. b. A motion to approve the MHS Varsity Football trip was made by Kiera O'Neil and 2nd by Linda Fernando. c. Motion U.C. 5-0 MHS World Travel Club to Peru: a. Discussion mostly revolved around the issues with the Zika virus and how that could possible impact the trip. The travel company will assist us with relocating the trip if in fact that becomes an issue. Kevin McGovern (trip leader) will continue to monitor. School committee requested that Mr. McGovern make it very clear to parents up front that there is the possibility of cancelling or relocating this trip. There will be three chaperones. b. A motion to approve the MHS World Travel Club trip (with a provision that we can pull back on the trip if needed) was made 1st by Linda Fernando, 2nd by friera O'Neil. c. Motion U.C. 5-0. MHS Common Connections to Pawtucket, RI: a. Noted that once trip is approved the school nurses will proceed with appropriate nurse licensing for activity in RI. b. A motion to approve the MHS Common Connections trip was made by Kiera O'Neil and 2nd by Linda Fernando. c. Motion U.C. 5-0 MHS History Competition in College Park, MD: a. No discussion b. A motion to approve the MHS History trip was made by Kiera O'Neil and 2nd by Linda Fernando. c. Motion U.C. 5-0 MHS Colorguard to Cranston, RI: a. No discussion b. A motion to approve the MHS Colorguard trip was made by Linda Fernando and 2nd by Kiera O'Neil. c. Motion U.C. 5-0 HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE REPORT: None Page 3 of 5 Approved 3 -8 -16 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, February 23, 2016 Town Hall, Room 3A &B Citizens Comments: None School Committee New Business: Congratulations to both the boys and girls basketball teams for winning their Hockomock Divisions. School Committee Other Business: None Motion to adjourn: At 7:37 p.m., Michael Trowbridge asked for a motion to Enter into Executive Session pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 30A, Section 21 for the Following Purposes: Under Exception No. 3, To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares; Motion was made 1" by Linda Fernando and 2°d by Jenn Walsh. Role Call Vote: Linda Fernando Yes Kiera O'Neil Yes Jenn Walsh Yes Lynn Cavicchi Yes Michael Trowbridge Yes Motion U.C. 5 -0 Respectfully Submitted, Diane Nugent Secretary to the Superintendent & School Committee Page 4 of 5 k f 5 7 / \ 00 - ! ■ E k 2 � �� > ! ! c !1 1 ; E aa = = _ !. ! k }� // # §� k � ,k ` ■) !! )� §E ;' Ln % / ■\ 0 §� & §c$ \ e-!4 k z a§/ 0 � - \ 3 £f e M a -§0 0 4 o §= e a! \ co ) 2 J P6 45 k f 5 7 / \ 00 - ! ■ E k 2 � �� > ! ! c !1 1 ; E aa = = _ !. ! k }� // # §� k � ,k ` ■) !! )� §E ;' Ln % /