HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-03-05-AC-MIN.pdf APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 1996
ROOM G-15, 7:30 PM
Present: P Lapointe, J Pagett, M Miley, M Mairson, M Hastings, R Colwell,
R Borghesani, J Ryan
Absent: R Leone, L Peck
Also Present: J Miller, F Rosenberg, J Young, S Guryan, S Chamberlain, J Moynihan
* P Lapointe opened the meeting
* J Miller gave an overview of Article 24, the Augusta property. It is currently 3rd on the
Conservation Commissions prioritized list. Augusta estate is currently in bankruptcy and
William Dailey has been having discussions with the executor of the estate. The Town
has placed an offer of $ 150,000 for the property.
J Miller also discussed Article 25 the Winning Farm. It has been difficult contacting the
trustees of the property and it is believed that a purchase/sale agreement has been
entered into with a developer from Burlington. The possibility of purchasing the property
may become a mute question if there is in fact a purchase/sale agreement in place.
* School personnel made a presentation on their capital request focusing on the technology
component. It is estimated that the cost to erect a network will be in the area of
$ 500,000 with an additional $ 700,000 required in order to upgrade the electrical system
in order to support the network.
* S Chamberlain discussed the impact on the operating budget. The budget request
includes $ 90,000 in order to hire part time aids as technical assistants as well as a full
time network technician.
* School department has applied for both federal & state grants as well as local fund
raising. Most federal funds are going to less affluent communities and there is a small
amount of state funds available. In order to be eligible for state assistance the school
district must a technology plan in place which networks the schools.
* S Chamberlain and J Young discussed the use of the Internet and WWW as educational
tools and the amount of information available to students in this forum. J Young stressed
the need for technology as a tool to assist the teacher with a wide spectrum of ability
within a classroom. It allows the students to progress at their own pace.
* R Colwell asked if there was any data supporting increases scores due to the use of
technology. S Chamberlain indicated that it is difficult to determine and perhaps too
early to do so. J Young stated that technology assists with discreet skills in an integrated
learning center.
* J Young responded to questions raised relating to controlling long term costs. Will
technology allow an increase in class size? Probably not. Technology will improve the
quality of the educational product but will probably not translate into larger class size.
* J Pagett asked about use of technology in special education. J Young responded that it
is an excellent tool in repetitive teaching with the use of adaptive equipment.
* S Chamberlain discussed the handouts she had prepared highlighting training.
* The current estimated cost of the technology program is $ 9,000,000 over the next five
years with an additional $ 1,000,000per year to sustain the programs.
* General discussion followed in the areas of enrollment and space. Current enrollment
estimates need to be adjusted to reflect an additional 100 students in the out years in
addition to the projections already made.
* Of the capital request this year, $ 308,000 is requested in order to make changes in
existing schools in an attempt to accommodate the additional 260 students for the next
school year. It is anticipated that the work will be completed this summer. If the
funding for this project is through a bond authorization, Emergency Finance Board
(EFB) approval will be necessary may delay the work. Should appropriation come from
free cash??
* The school capital request includes $ 500,000 for architectural services for the estimated
$ 5,000,000of renovations requires in accordance with the BFC report. An architect with
experience in educational buildings and the use of the space is a requirement in order to
insure that the town is maximizing its use of the existing space. If this request is approved
then the SC will request construction funding at the 1997 Annual Town Meeting.
* general discussion of the enrollment problem. J Young indicated that he did not think
that there were any easy solutions. Historically if the funds were not available then
programs were eliminated. There is a need to find another solution since it does not
appear that the problem is getting any simpler or that it may disappear in the near future.
* General discussion of privatization. Schools are currently operating with five fewer
custodians than one year ago. In the short term, privatization will be more costly and
long term the savings are not significant. Our costs per square foot are less than the
national average and significantly less than the average in New England per J Moynihan.
* S Gurayn indicated that the schools have a couple of problems this year. The $ 230,000
in state aid is an issue as well as a possible special education shortfall of around
$ 150,000.
* The school department personnel departed.
* P Lapointe discussed and seems to think that there may be an additional $ 150,00 in
school fees as well as an additional $ 350,000 in state aid for education.
* P Lapointe discussed the MMRVHS assessment and his meeting with his counterparts
in Arlington an Bedford.
MOTION: To instruct the MMRVHS to modify the fiscal 1997 assessment to the
minimum contribution levels as defined by the DOE. APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY
It is estimated that this action would reduce the overall assessments by $ 474,000
Lexington, Belmont and Arlington will present this motion to N Barnett and R Fitzgerald.
* MOTION to approve the minutes of February 27, 1996. UNANIMOUS
* MOTION to adjourn UNANIMOUS
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