1996-12-19-AC-MIN.pdf - Laserfiche WebLink

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APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1996 Page 2 of 2 School Issues for Further Study Roger and Paul reported on a meeting earlier that afternoon with Jeff Young and Sandy Guryan. In a memo to Paul, Jeff had invited the Committee to further study special education; Paul had suggested a meeting to develop an agenda of issues for further analysis. In addition to special education, the following topics were identified in the meeting: 1. Class size, a key policy affecting elementary school operating budgets and space needs 2. Teacher loads, the middle school and high school equivalent of class size 3. The current contract with the Lexington Education Association 4. Foundation budgets, staffing, and other external benchmarks that might serve as "metrics" to assess the Lexington schools 5. Educational materials — textbooks, reference materials, software. Are they current? What is the replacement cycle? How far behind is the school system in replacing out-of-date materials? The committee discussed which of these deserve priority and how it could contribute to better understanding any of these topics. The committee agreed that two areas should receive attention: 1. Understanding the current teachers contract (Though there is little prospect of reopening the current contract, there was interest in influencing negotiations for the next contract.) 2. Class size and teacher loads Jeff had agreed to copy sections of the teacher contract and other materials for Roger and Paul. School Committee Capital Planning R. Borghesani reported on the School Committee's $67 million renovation and expansion proposal. He and Ron Colwell have attended ad hoc committee meetings with the architects, school administrators, one or two selectmen, school committee members, and representatives from the capital expenditures, permanent building, and building finance committees. This ad hoc committee is developing the specific warrant article request. Resolving the Estimated $1.7 Million 1997-98 Budget Gap A budget working group, consisting of Leo McSweeney and Dan Fenn, Rick White, Barrie Peitz, Jeff Young, Karen Dooks, Paul Hamburger, and P. Lapointe, has been meeting periodically. At a 7:30 AM meeting today, Leo and Rick presented an overview of estimated revenues and projected expenditures resulting in a $1.7 million General Fund gap. Rick projects about$2 million in incremental revenue and $3.7 million in incremental expenses. The schools will request about $3 million more, consisting of these anticipated incremental costs: — $1 million to fund 3.1% pay increase and other teacher contract provisions — $700,000 to sustain costs of additional 141 students — $600,000 for added special education costs — $700,000 for other cost increases: inflation, textbooks, materials, equipment, etc. The municipal increase will be about $700,000, reelecting a 1.5% wage increase and 3% increases in other expense categories. The group will meet again at 7:30 AM on Thursday, January 2, 1997. Next Meeting Dates January 9 and 23, 1997, at 7:30 PM in the comptroller's office. Note In the secretary's absence, S. Coit took meeting notes, and P. Lapointe prepared these minutes.