TOWN OF ROCKY HILL
BOARD OF EDUCATION
BUDGET WORKSHOP OF
Members Present: Nadine Bell (Chairperson)
Peter Arico
Kirk Bostwick
Neil Geldof
Charles McMonigle
Francis Palazzolo
Anne Schmidt
Catherine Vargas
Members Absent: Jennifer Viggiano-Grosse
The 4th and final budget workshop of the Board of
Education was held on
Mrs. Schmidt said at the last budget workshop the Board questioned items and posed questions to Dr. Vautour and Mr. Turansky regarding the budget. She said tonight responses, suggestions, and recommendations would be heard to the questions that were asked, and said everything is up for discussion.
Dr. Vautour said the administration conferred after Tuesday night’s budget workshop, and a list has been put together of possible adjustments for his budget. Dr. Vautour passed out this document.
Dr. Vautour discussed the math implementation specialist. He gathered from the last budget workshop, if a math implementation specialist was to be added to the staff, that person should have no teaching responsibilities. He brought up the fact that he had mentioned at the last workshop if he had to make a choice between maintaining the technology lease, or obtaining a math implementation specialist, he would give up the lease for one year. On the reductions list, he put $50,000 associated with the technology lease.
Dr. Vautour discussed the elementary math program and the difficulty with 5th graders making the shift if they were in the older math series all along. Listed on the reduction list is the elimination of math texts for grades 4 and 5 ($21,941, and $20,901 respectively). The math program would be introduced next year to grade 3, and then it would be phased in over the next two years. When the math implementation specialist was discussed at the last workshop, there was also discussion about how this individual should provide input into the selection of math textbooks at the secondary level, and also facilitate in curriculum development. Based on this, calculus textbooks, and probability and statistics textbooks ($2,200, and $1,760 respectively) were placed on the reduction list.
Dr. Vautour said there have been music textbooks requests for the last two to three years. It was felt because there was a need to reduce the budget, the purchase of music textbooks could wait another year. The same logic was applied to the purchase of middle school social studies textbooks. Elimination of the music texts generates $21,532, and elimination of the social studies texts generates $13, 200. At the high school, administration is proposing the purchase of the business education textbooks for accounting (A) and for advanced accounting (A) be held off ($6,420, and $1,665 respectively). Dr. Vautour said with the elimination of certain textbook requests, the associated curriculum writing monies could come out as well (accounting (A): $520; advanced accounting (A): $520; probability and statistics (A): $520; probability and statistics (G): $260; statistics AP: $520; calculus AP: $520; intro to calculus (A): $260; middle school social studies: $260; elementary math (grades 4 & 5): $3,000; and elementary music: $520).
Dr. Vautour said during the discussion at the last workshop, he felt people wanted to add the fewest possible number of staff to achieve the goals everyone had in mind. Administration was asked if honors art course, digital design, and the earth science course could be taught without the addition of the FTEs. He said they are not certain if this can be done, but they will try it. In the budget, they have decided to keep the textbooks and supplies associated with these courses, but have eliminated the staffing adjustments (.2 FTE art ($11,140), and .2 FTE science ($11,140).
In family and consumer science, Dr. Vautour said it was not
possible to run this course without adding .2 FTE, so Dr. Vautour,
and Mr. Pitocco have decided to not run this course next budget year. At the elementary level, enrollment
projections were looked at carefully, and it was noted that if 1.0 FTE grade 1
teacher at
Dr. Vautour mentioned that since a technology assistant is looking to be added to the staff, student technology support already in place could be eliminated ($11,100). On the list is also a special education placeholder (for an unanticipated tuition); Because in years past things were run without a placeholder ($30,000) this would be eliminated.
Dr. Vautour said certain equipment has been eliminated at the high school: 2 digital camcorders/2 DVD recorders ($1,200); 1 diagnostic scanner cartridge ($1,100); and 1 volleyball net system ($1,300); at Griswold: 1 music stand storage cart ($305); and 1 digital camera ($400); at West Hill: 12 stackable chairs ($336); and 1 mailing machine ($2,275).
It is being proposed there be an incremental acquisition of defibrillators. The middle school received one last year, one for the high school is being obtained now, and next year one would be added for the elementary schools (this generates $12,800).
Dr. Vautour said that Mr. Arico suggested there could be alternative ways to obtain high school staff furniture/appliances. This elimination generates ($3,700).
Field trips and summer school, both are being reduced to previously authorized levels ($6,483, and $2,388 respectively).
Dr. Vautour said there were a number of errors, or duplications that Mr. Turansky came across as they were going through the budget ($1,342).
Dr. Vautour said the total reductions administration is proposing for Board consideration is $368,748. However, he said there is the desire to add back $22,280 for the .4 FTE math implementation specialist. Dr. Vautour said the net reduction to his budget is $346,468, and represents a modified request of $23,353,536 (new money $1,383,909) for an increase of 6.3%. He said if the Board accepts the proposed recommendations in terms of reductions, 1.58% of his requests would be taken out of the budget for a total of $346,468.
Mr. Arico commented a tremendous job was done. He personally took off a lot of items that had been discussed at the budget workshops, and his reduction came to 6.33%.
Mr. Bostwick asked with regards to the list of possible adjustments, what would definitely be looked at for the following budget year, because certain items would definitely have to be done that year (i.e. the lease, and math curriculum and tests). Dr. Vautour said the bulk of the items on the list will resurface until they are addressed, and said it is a question of staging, and how much could be done in any year. Mr. Bostwick asked, other than the math textbooks, the age of the textbooks. Mrs. Boutilier said this varied depending upon the course.
Mrs. Vargas asked about the field trips. She said field trips went up $7,800, and only $6,500 is being cut. Mr. Turansky explained that there is an increase in music field trips at the high school. Last year the authorization was made to cover all competitions, and in the past year the budget was insufficient so the budget was bumped up to meet the commitment that was made to the students. Mrs. Schmidt asked if by the end of this year, the budget will be overspent in the field trip account, and Mr. Turansky said yes. Chairperson Bell wanted to confirm that no new field trips were being added, and it was just that these were being funded at a higher level. Mr. Turansky said that was correct.
Mrs. Schmidt inquired about the volleyball net, and if it was just a replacement that was the reduction list. Mr. Pitocco said yes, and that it is just a matter of wear and tear.
Mr. Arico spoke about the outside engineers coming in to teach some classes, and he asked if that position was still in the budget. Dr. Vautour said it was. Mr. Arico inquired as to whether some engineers could volunteer their time, and was wondering if the money that would have spent on engineers could be used instead for some music stands, storage carts, and stackable chairs. Dr. Vautour he didn’t know at this time and would rather retain the money at this time for the engineers. Mrs. Schmidt made a comment about how the Board is only adopting a budget tonight to send to the Town Council, and said this is the first attempt. She also mentioned depending how significantly the budget gets cut from the Town Council the Board can readjust some items.
Mrs. Vargas questioned the duplication items, and asked if the $336 for the stackable chairs was in this. Mr. Turansky said yes.
Councilperson Lionetti spoke about the math program for grades 3 through 5. She said she has twins in 3rd grade, and said if the budget goes through as it is being proposed now, 3rd grade won’t have the Trailblazers series in 4th grade, and she was concerned. Dr. Vautour said teachers have had exposure to the Trailblazers series, and will be using some of those strategies, if not the precise materials to bring the existing math series more in focus along with Trailblazers. He said the issue of how it will be phased in is one of practicality. Mrs. Boutilier stated that teachers piloted and were in favor of the program, and mentioned that teachers are able to choose from the best parts of the existing program, the best parts from the new program. Mrs. Schmidt said that this year 3 or 4 chapters were used, and next year she wanted to know if 3rd grade textbooks are bought, if the 4th and 5th grade teachers will be allowed to use the 3 or 4 chapters to augment their teaching. Mrs. Boutilier said she assumes so. Dr. Vautour said if the math implementation specialist is hired, this person will assist the staff, and bring them into alignment with the Trailblazers program.
Mr. Geldof said looking at the list of the reductions, if there were to be a column next to these items, there would have to be a “drop dead” date of when an expenditure would have to be made for the items. He also mentioned there should be some type of memo of understanding with the Board, with regards to this, because some of the present Board members might not be members next year. Dr. Vautour said if he was to spend a few moments looking at the list, the 4th grade math textbooks, at a minimum would be in the “drop dead” category for next year (possibly even the 5th grade math textbooks). Dr. Vautour said a technology lease would be put in, and also something would be done in the area of textbook acquisition. With regards to elementary teacher positions on the list, a lot has to do with enrollment. Dr. Vautour has mentioned to the Board in previous years that he will keep bringing up items year after year until they can be acquired. Mr. Geldof said he agrees with Mr. Arico that a great job was done for the reductions, but said he hopes these reductions aren’t so great that they will hurt the school system, and will continue to hurt the school system in the next two or three years. Dr. Vautour said items on the list are what administration believes are necessary, and the 7.88% figure presented to the Board, was presented because he wanted the Board to understand what he perceived as being the needs of the district.
Chairperson Bell said a tremendous joint effort was done to balance the needs of the children and the needs of the taxpayers, and thanked everyone for their creativity.
Mrs. Schmidt thanked everyone for their deliberations, and their considerations.
Moved by Mr. Bostwick, Mr. Palazzolo seconded, to adjourn from this
portion of the budget workshop at
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED
The meeting reconvened at
Moved by Mrs. Schmidt, Mr. Bostwick seconded, to accept the superintendent’s
document of
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED
Moved by Mrs. Vargas, seconded by Mr.
Bostwick, to adjourn the budget workshop at
FAVOR: ALL
MOTION CARRIED
Respectfully submitted,
Jo-Anne Booth
Recording Secretary
Accepted By:_____________________________________