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Page 67 March 29, 1976 On Monday evening March 29, 1976 the Lexington School Committee conducted a meeting at the School Administration Building. The meeting began at 7:00 p.m. Present were Mrs. Swanson, Messrs. Brown, Rotberg, Michelman, and Wadsworth. Also present were Miss Quinn, Messrs. Barnes, Spiris, Maclnnes, Monderer. Mr. Spiris on behalf of the central office administrators presented PRESENTATION TO an engraved Paul Revere bowl to Mrs. Berchtold for her service to the MRS. BERCHTOLD Lexington Public Schools from 1973-1976. Student Advisory Committee member David Kahne stated his reactions PUBLIC to the recent Max-Ed Report. He agreed that the report represented a PARTICIPATION lot of work and would encourage those writing the role desciption of the coordinator to preserve student contact as a prime responsibility. School Committee member Otis Brown read the following statement: BUDGET STATEMENT "I am normally unaccustomed to presenting long speeches, however, because of the unprecedented and shocking news from Beacon Hill with re- gard to School Assistance for the next fiscal year, I felt a re-review of our budget was mandated. The hard and painful facts are that, with a reduction of some $700,000 the State has forced onto the Lexington property taxes the equivalent of about $2.75 additional on our tax rate. One must realize that the cuts; $210,000 in Chapter 766, $371,000 in Chapter 70, and a 55%, or $136,000 reduction in school bus transporta- tion are far in excess of that which one might have expected because of declinin enrollments. 'Although I was personally satisfied that the Committee had care- fully scrutinized and finally approved a fiscally sound budget, it be- came clear that reconsideration was necessary and as a result I reluct- antly suggest the following: 1. That the new .6 High School Guidance Counselor salary of $7,800. be deleted. However, a transfer from within junior high or ele- mentary counseling should be made in order to staff the new high school guidance program. 2. Reduce from $21,000 to $5,000 the amount budgeted for the newly created positions of 4 female custodians at the high school. The $5,000 will allow an experimental pilot program for one year and give the committee an opportunity to consider its cost effec- tiveness. 3. Reduce tram $20,000 to $15,000 the requested salary for the Stu- dent Activities Advisor. I am not in a position to know for cer- tain if this is feasible, however, a $15,000 salary might be suf- ficient, if not I am sure the difference could be made up in the personal services budget. 4. Reduce the request for 2 new maintenance men @ $11,440 each to one for this year.