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01/21/2021 AC Minutes • The budget reflects a full"return-to-school plan"in the fall of 2021. This may not be realistic for some students because vaccines for this age group are not yet available,but it is hoped that the vast majority can return to a classroom setting. • A hybrid teaching program with some in-class sessions and some remote sessions is the most expensive model. It was possible this year because of Federal CARES Act funding. • Contingency plans for addressing FY2022 School Department shortfalls resulting from additional COVID 19 restrictions include program adjustments and cuts as well as additional fees. Other funding sources for revenue shortfalls or unanticipated expenses include: ➢ a$2.0 million set-aside in the budget; ➢ the Reserve Fund; ➢ unallocated free cash; and ➢ potentially additional Federal CARES Act funding. • This year's enrollment decreased, particularly at the kindergarten level, presumably because of COVID-19. • The FY2022 funding for the school budget includes $500,000 from the Special Education Stabilization Fund. This triggered discussion about whether it would be preferable to take the funds from the general-purpose Stabilization Fund. It was agreed that this should be discussed with the Town Manager. The Town may want to replenish any funds withdrawn from either stabilization fund within the next few years. • If the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) does not select, prior to the dissolution of the Lexington 2021 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), Lexington's High School project for a joint Town-MSBA feasibility study, the request for$1.825 million for the feasibility study will be indefinitely postponed. If Lexington's project has been selected, and if the funds are approved by Town Meeting, those funds will be debt financed. The study will not be started until the project has been accepted by MSBA. • $48,000 was transferred from the Department of Public Facilities budget rather than from the School Department budget to the Department of Public Works budget. This reflects work done by the highway department on school grounds. Looking at the"Preliminary Budget— In Summary"page from the White Book, Mr. Parker reviewed the Town Manager's recommendations. Mr. Parker suggested that this Committee review the Program Improvement Requests (PIRs) that are included in the budget and comment on them in this Committee's report to the ATM. It was noted that some additional staff commentary on these items would be helpful. Ms. Kosnoff agreed and responded to additional comments as follows: • It is anticipated that plans to renovate the building at 173 Bedford Street as swing space for the Police Station will be on-hold until there is construction funding for the new station. • The $100,000 PIR requested by the Town Manager's office is for a municipal department assessment to review the Town's organizational structure, best practices, efficiency, etc. • The Police Department currently has a number of openings. The plan is to fill those positions before determining whether an additional patrolman is needed. • A table showing municipal full-time employees (FTEs) is being developed. School FTEs will be added, time permitting. Planning for Committee Report to Annual Town Meeting 2021 Using Mr. Parker's list of warrant articles, Ms. Kosnoff identified articles that are likely to be indefinitely postponed(TPed), changed or removed. Additionally, Committee members identified articles that should be addressed in the report. Mr. Parker agreed to add preliminary assignments and identify consent agenda items on the list. 2