Town of Rocky Hill
Board of Education
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TOWN OF ROCKY HILL
BOARD OF EDUCATION
BUDGET WORKSHOP OF
Members Present: Nadine Bell (Chairman)
Kirk Bostwick
Neil Geldof
Charles McMonigle
Francis Palazzolo
Anne Schmidt
Catherine Vargas
Jennifer Viggiano-Grosse
Members Absent: Peter Arico
The second budget workshop of the Board of Education was
held on
The pledge of allegiance was recited.
Mr. Pitocco responded to questions raised at the first budget workshop. The art camera being requested for the high school was budgeted at a cost of $320, with three memory cards ($150) and eight rechargeable batteries ($40), for a total of $510. The camera is a four mega pixel camera.
The TV/VCR being requested would cost less than originally requested. The TV will cost $300 and the VCR/DVD will cost $175 for a total of $525, which was down from $850.
The Family/Consumer Science oven is a higher grade, heavy duty oven that withstands the high volume usage in the foods classes. It is not a commercial grade.
Mr. Pitocco reviewed the five courses comprising the Project Lead the Way program. He noted the prerequisites for continuing with the program. Approximately thirty-seven students will be eligible to enroll in Principles of Engineering, Digital Electronics and Civil Engineering and Architecture. Students can start with Digital Electronics, but must take the Introduction to Engineering Design with the program. The courses are all full year courses.
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The Griswold French and Spanish comparisons for the four years from 2000/01 to 2003/04 were noted, comparing total numbers of students and percentage of students in each class for each year. The high school world language comparison was also noted and given to the Board members.
Dr. Vautour noted that staff was working on the back-up for other questions raised. They were still working on the status of the book collection and the field trip questions. There were two math textbook series being considered at the elementary school level in the $40,000 range. The lower number did not include manipulatives. Mrs. Boutilier noted that one company gave an estimate of $65,000; the other one was $60,000. She has contacted representatives of other districts who were using one of the two series. Both series are well represented by local districts. Rocky Hill staff would visit the districts before making any decision.
Dr. Vautour would provide information on the leases after talking with Fred Ames. He would present a break out of the repair accounts, putting all repairs on one page. A figure has been put in for routine repairs since it cannot be anticipated when a piece of equipment breaks or needs to be repaired.
Mrs. Vargas asked why the repair account estimate was so large; Mr. Turansky noted that the largest part of the increase related to computers. Mr. Ames will provide that information. Mrs. Schmidt asked why the figure differed from the $25,000 given to Mr. Ames last year. Mr. Turansky explained that $25,000 went into the equipment account. There were a number of systems that were failing, and the $25,000 was put into the budget. Since then, the Town has had a number of computers donated, and they used the $25,000 for the extra pieces to make those computers operational. Mrs. Boutilier added that some of the donated equipment required new cords, cards or other components to make them operational. New equipment was not purchased. Mr. Turansky noted funds were needed to cover a contingency such as monitors or keyboards. If there were monitors that were broken, new ones had to be purchased. There were many computers, but they needed parts to make them operational.
Mr. Bostwick questioned how
many computers were donated that were still off line and how much it would cost
to bring them on line. Mrs. Boutilier
responded that 100 computers were donated, with 200 monitors. The district does not have the manpower to do
the clean up. The number of site
licenses will also have to be boosted.
Mr. Bostwick was concerned that the longer it takes for the computers to come on line,
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Board of Education
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the more ancient they become. He questioned whether it made sense to bring them on line if the district was falling behind with the technical support. Dr. Vautour pointed
out that that depended on what happens in the future. Mr. Bostwick asked if it made sense to do it if the school district could not complete the process. Mrs. Boutilier explained that Mr. Ames’ schedule changes daily. He assigns priorities on what needs to be done each day.
Mrs. Schmidt asked Mr. Turansky for more detail on Programs 29 to 40. She asked if the district has never spent the contingency amounts. Mr. Turansky agreed that that was correct.
Program No. 16 – Music – Program 16 increased by $44,862; of that $20,055 was due to salaries, and $24,807 was the non-salary amount. The program will be operated with 6.0 FTEs. The Board discussed the request for rehearsal chairs and carts, band hat storage boxes and an xylophone at the high school. They discussed the proposed $1,120 increase at the middle school and questioned the amounts budgeted in Object 581; Ms. Marino noted the numbers were correct, although it was agreed that the $150 budgeted for the Tri-M honor society should be in Program No. 24.
Another discussion focused on the request for an additional baritone saxophone ($2,300), Timpani ($2,200) and marching snare drums with carriers ($600).
Mrs. Bell asked about the rehearsal chair request at the high school; Mr. Pitocco replied that the chairs were ten years old, and they were breaking. He was requesting 100 chairs.
Mrs. Bell asked if administration had looked into renting the musical instruments rather than purchasing them; Dr. Vautour pointed out that the question of leasing versus purchasing was raised lat year; it is very costly to lease the instruments. Mr. Geldof asked how many years out staff projected their instrument replacement costs; Mrs. Boutilier explained that there was a schedule for instrument replacement. Everything is catalogued, and the average life expectancy is taken into account. Mr. Bostwick noted the poor condition of the guitars in the music room.
Program No. 17 – Physical Education - Program No. 17 was projected to increase by $28,090, with $25,251 of that being allocated for salaries; non-salary items accounted for $2,839. This budget included the high school’s third request for a tread mill for the physical education program, which would be used for students with weight problems, mobilization programs, and those with special needs. Mrs. Bell asked about the
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possibility of obtaining a defibrillator through a grant
from
Program No. 19 -
Program No. 20 – Science – Science was proposed to increase by $47,649; with $41,578 allocated to salaries, and $6,071 to non-salaries. Fourteen certified staff members and one non-certified staff person comprise the same level of staffing as last year. There is $3,235 budgeted for additional textbooks at the high school. The middle school was requesting $1,800 for interdisciplinary field trips.
Program No. 21 – Social Studies - This category was showing an increase of $27,687, with $1,470 going towards salary items and $16,217 toward non-salary items. There is no change in the number of 13.4 positions, with real salaries being built into the budget projections. After the year started, a veteran teacher left and was replaced, at a savings of $25,000. There are new people at the high school being trained for AP training of other staff
Program No. 22 – Special Education – The Special Education budget was being increased by $325,996; of that $209,306 was the salary share. The rest of the budget was for $116,690. Dr. Vautour had informed the Board of the decision to move Bright Beginnings from three to four sections.
Mrs. Bell asked what the reason was for the $2,000 reduction in Object 530; Ms. Levy explained that in the past, the district had to budget for NCR paper for forms; they could now download forms from the internet.
The increase in Object 510 for transportation for disabled children relates to children already enrolled in the system.
The $94,900 tuition increase included one placeholder on the belief that one of the students (at $26,000) may return to Rocky Hill. Mrs. Schmidt noted there was an adjustment in the special education area recently; she asked if that change was reflected in the proposed budget; Ms. Levy responded that there were adjustments for one of the
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students. Things have fluctuated within the last three weeks. Dr. Vautour recommended holding off on any budget adjustments at this time.
Mrs. Vargas asked what the dollar amount was for Bright Beginnings; Dr. Vautour broke the total cost down to $26,300 for special education, $26,300 for speech and language
and $15,780 for occupational therapy and physical therapy. Mrs. Bell noted there were three sections of Bright Beginnings; she asked if the ratio of special needs children to non-special needs children was 1:1. Ms. Levy stated that it was 3:1 or 2:1. The State does not have a mandate.
There was a short recess at this point.
Program No. 1 – Board of Education - No changes were being requested in this program. Mrs. Schmidt questioned Object 690, noting that $6,000 was budgeted, and $13,000 spent one year; then $3,000 was budgeted, and was slightly over run; and now $3,000 was being budgeted for again. Mr. Turansky said he would review the current year’s expenditures.
Program No. 2 – General Administration – There was no change in the number of FTEs projected, and an increase of $174. The salary line shows no difference. The non-bargaining units and bargaining unit funds were being held in Program 29; once the salary decisions are made, the salary information will be transferred.
Program No. 3 – Improvement of Instruction – This program was showing an increase of $16,670, with salaries accounting for $4,715 of it. The majority of that was for curriculum writing, which was not budgeted for last year. Object 690 increased by $500, which is reinstating food for district wide committee meetings and new teacher orientation activities. Object 810, memberships, decreased by $400.
Program No. 4 –
Planning and Research – No increase was budgeted in this category. The program contains the salary of the
information technology analyst, which was filled in three months. She is working on the web site and the
Program No. 5 – School Administration – This program was increasing by $129,018. Salaries accounted for $118,904 of that, and non-salary items for $10,114. A vice
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principal at
Program No. 23 –
Adult Education - The proposed increase of $2,000 was a result of a mandated
adult education program which Rocky Hill takes part in with
The program costs $40,000 to run. The State has provided a grant of $8,500 that
has offset the expenses. For the year of
2002/03, there were 57 persons enrolled in adult education. Dr. Vautour stated that he was trying to get
Program No. 24 – Co-Curricular – The increase in this Program was $17,587; of that $5,412 was salary and $12,175 was non-salary related. There was no proposed change in staff. Administration would be providing the complete stipend list to show the rational for the proposed increase in Object 321. The $4,000 reduction in Object 321 was due to the Names Can Hurt Assembly which is done once every four years. The $1,000 increase in Object 440 was a reduction in the amount requested for rental of costumes, the lighting consultant and sound equipment. The increase in Object 530 dealt with the increase in additional advertising and printing costs in conjunction with the student newspaper and Spanish materials, co-curricular handbook and athletic handbook, Literary Sampler and postage.
The increase from $0 to $3,825 for transportation expenses included no field trips. The expenses dealt with team inter-disciplinary trips, team trips and the sister school partnership and academic experience. Mr. Turansky would check to see if Common Grounds expenses should be included in this program. The elementary school principals pointed out that the PTO was paying for transportation to Nature’s Classroom; parents were paying for the rest.
Program No. 25 – Athletics – This program was increasing by $63,296; $51,576 was for salaries, and $11,720 was for non-salary items. Mrs. Schmidt requested a copy of the actual replacement cycle for uniforms. The Board discussed the $8,500 included for pole vault equipment. Mr. Pitocco explained that it was an event and part of the outdoor track field. There are new regulations and new specifications.
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Mrs. Vargas asked if the same insurance policies covered the high school and middle school; Mr. Turansky said they did. The policies were based on the number of participants and the program. The high school needs one more training table and contracts with Suburban Physical Therapy.
Mrs. Schmidt asked if there was any possibility of asking the booster club to help fund the sound system. Mr. Pitocco said he would find out.
Soccer team uniforms at the middle school were scheduled to be replaced. Mrs. Vargas asked if the cheerleading uniforms had been replaced recently; Mr. Pitocco said he would check on that.
Program No. 26 –
Summer School – The proposed increase of $21,800 was noted, all of
which was due to salaries. The proposal
was for an increase from three hours to four hours, and turning one of the two
week sessions into three weeks. Mr.
McMonigle asked if the recommendation was being made in response to No Child
Left Behind; Mrs. Boutilier said it was and was needed immediately. The district was targeting the students who
fall into the lower two bands, and students who are considered at risk. Communication would go out in March to start
appealing to parents on its importance.
The program is for elementary school students. The high school students go to
Mrs. Boutilier explained that by adding the extra summer school session, more students would be reached. The district has always had two week session of three hours a day; they were proposing four hours a day with a three week session and one two week session.
Program No. 27 – Guidance – The proposed increase in this area was $44,230, with $46,068 being allocated for salaries. There was a request for a half time guidance counselor and a fifteen hour a week increase in secretarial support. The increase in Object 690 was offset by the reduction in Object 611 by $800.
Mrs. Bell asked if the half position was adequate to address enrollment increases at the high school. Mr. Pitocco said the recommendation was due to NEASC recommendations.
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Tony Cozza, in the audience, pointed out the shortage of guidance counselors helping students with one of the most important decisions of their lives. Mr. McMonigle asked
about the counselor to student ratio; Mr. Pitocco reported the maximum should be 1:250; with the three counselors, and the school’s 690 students, the ratio will be 1:230.
Mr. McMonigle asked about the necessity of two counselors at the middle school; Ms. Marino pointed out there were 600 students at the middle school. The counselors work with the teams, help with course selections for the high school, deal with the records when students apply to private schools, and help with applications. They also work with crisis counseling with the students.
Program No. 28 – Health Services – The proposed increase in this area was $3,607, with salaries accounting for $219 of that, and $1,388 being for non-salary items.
Program No. 29 – Other - This program decreased by $61,600. An increase of $2,000 was being requested for stipends for guest lecturers at the high school. Object 611 increased by $5,000, because last year’s budget, which had $13,000 in it, did not budget for ink cartridges. The previous summer, the school pre-purchased a lot of paper, so with the paper being pre- purchased, Mr. Pitocco was able to purchase the ink cartridges.
Two computer carts were being requested at the middle school, for an increase of $1,440.
Mrs. Vargas asked what the status of the CREC portal was; Mrs. Boutilier explained that two years ago, CREC made available a portal to administration sites. The district pays $1.25 per student for access to the site. Some teachers use it for homework assignments.
Mr. Bostwick asked if there was a program in place where the district purchases desks and similar supplies; Dr. Vautour explained that each administrator puts in a certain number. That number has not inventoried as yet. Mr. Pitocco added that at the high school, he works with the head custodian. He may recommend purchasing a certain number of chairs, such as a set each year.
The appropriation request in Object 111 has dropped from $356,650 to $222,693. The reduction is due to teacher turnover, with a proposed decrease of $75,000 in that area. Potential unemployment claims have decreased from $30,000 to $12,000.
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The tuition area of Object 560 has increased from $34,475 to $48,018, and is now providing tuition for two course requests, which were listed along with their budgeted cost.
Program No. 31 – Employee Benefits - The area was proposing an increase of $420,443. Medicare costs have increased by $13,000, which is salary driven. Retired certified teachers can be rehired. Dr. Vautour added that health premiums have gone up 15%. Mr. Lindberg has RFP’d the vendors, and there are now two key vendors. Staff will meet with them tomorrow.
Program No. 32 – Fiscal Services – This area showed a decrease of $1,000 due to Mr. Turansky’s negotiations with the payroll service, which will be able to able to provide a 20% reduction in their rates.
Program No. 33 – Food Services - There was nothing budgeted in this program.
Program No. 35 –
Transportation - This area increased by $20,435. There are 11 regular buses, 11 kindergarten
trips, late buses, buses to Vinyl Tech and a van for
Program No. 36 – Computers – Program 36 increased by $65,241, with salaries comprising $29,037 of that. The district was proposing three leases in their third year of existence at a cost of $47,311, and two new leases, one for replacement computers and one for program enhancements, with a net effect of $147,311. The 730 account was $122,067 last year. It included the $25,000, which is year two of the $47,000 lease.
Mrs. Schmidt discussed the
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Mrs. Schmidt asked if a yearly fee was associated with the Athena software; Mr. Pitocco said he would check on it. Mrs. Boutilier commented that the WinWord software was a student demographic data base in place at the high school and middle school. It has just been added at the elementary level. There is a $1,500 fee for each school to get upgrades
or support. It is an integrated program. The elementary schools do not use the scheduling portion, but they do use the education and demographic data base. It is used for state reporting purposes.
Mr. Pitocco noted that $435 in the Athena program is for textbooks and support, and that was included in Code 430.
Mrs. Vargas asked about the increase in site licenses, and if the schools were up to date. Two years ago, there were licenses for 600 computers; now there were 720 computers. Mrs. Boutilier noted the budgeted allotment included funds for office software, surf control and anti-virus software.
Program No. 37 – Student Support – Program 37 increased by $44,056, with $44,556 being allocated for salaries. There was a reduction in this program. There was a reduction proposed of seven part time and one full time para-professionals. Mrs. Vargas questioned the increase in Object 112 for the reading/math para-professionals. Mrs. Boutilier noted the $4,800 difference was due to the year’s experience of those employees.
Mrs. Vargas moved, and Mr. Geldof seconded, to adjourn the budget
workshop at
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED
Respectfully submitted,
Rosalie W. O’Neill
Recording Secretary
Accepted by: _________________