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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1967-01-16-AC-MIN.pdf 9Y . Meeting of Appropriation Committee, Jan. 16, 1967, 7:30 p.m. Present: John Blaisdell, Acting Chairman; A. Gary; G. Kolovson; A. Kenney; R. Perry, Comptroller; L. Zehner; A. Souza. Board of Selectmen. All Selectmen present Town Meetina Motions John 1iiaisdeii asked for a ruling by Town Counsel as to whether motions read at Town Meeting should be those of the committee making the request or figure as recommended by Appropriation Committee. Selectmen asked for a ryling by Town Counsel as to whether inserting a separate Article for kindergartens was within their rig-t. Torn Counsel sai.- he would give rulings on the above two questions in writing within t__e .reel:. Counsel's opinion on kindergarten expenses was that "failure to appropriate would not ae against the law". Selectmen Ln • have asked for a division of sc..00l expenses into expenses with and without kindergartens. They Favor a separate Article for kindergartens. Mr. Cataldo is getting together figares on the total cost of kindergartens. lie estivatea that, ii kindergarten.:, are not established, two schools could be closed and only t.:e larger schools used., +rit_ savings in building cost and maintenance, Principals' salaries, rental of Old Belfry Club for Hancock gyu progrnu. Question was asked whether Sc ool Committee has jurisdiction to use a building now under their jurisdiction as an Administrative Building, (e.g. convert Monroe to Admin. use) or whether Town has control of such non-teaching uses. No ansn.:er was given, but Selectmen thought that Town could only vote on any neves.;a,; renovations. School Committee: Lembei s of School Commit:,ee present: A. Viano, Ohair=.ian; E. Clarke; A. Farwell; later L. Clarke. Superintendent robert and members of his staff also attended. Frahk Parrish's letter requesting information on the following points formed the basis for mst of the discussion: 1. Job descriptions of the ten top administr..;,ive people in the school department were provided for the committee. Correlation between school administrators' and similar Town administrators' salaries could not be determined until job descri_,tions of Town administrators' duties are provided. Mr. Alaisdell agreed to find or draw up job description of Comptroller's duties to compare with School Business officer. School Business Service administrator is paid x;15,534 (1967), Town executives are paid 12-13,000. Mr. -.Cobert stated that the Dir. of Bus. Serv. , auong other duties, recruits and supervises all t..e non-certified personnel, a.,out 150 people. A partially completed list comparing admin. personnel in Lex. and some neighboring towns was given the Committee; the completedilist will be sent us when the data are available. Some of these Towns use different names for the positions, e.g. A_st. Supt. for Guidance in place of our Dir, of Pupil Personnel Services, but generally tae number of administrators and the job descriptions are similar. 2. Amount of office equipment being purchased in 1967 and possibility of putting non-teaching office machinery under Comptroller's control was discussed. Informal cooperation now exists ax between Comptroller and Dir. of Bus. Serv. Mr. Blaisdell requested official recognition and School Committee Cooperation in instructing administration to implement this next year. Why equipment being purcased for new schools was not included in the Construction Article was discussed briefly. They ran out of money. 2 School Committee believed it was too late to put in a supplementary Article which would be approved by the State for reimbursement. 3. That savings might there be made by reverting to state minimum transportation standards? State requires us to transport pupils who live more than 2 miles. ,ie trinsyort beyond 1 mile for elem. pupils, more than 2 miles for secondary schools, and in special cases, because of traffic hazard, we transport regardless of distance. State gives • 50j0 reimbursement for transportation beyond 11. miles; within that Town pays all expense. School Committee estimated that at least 50 of elemn • school transportation would be saved if we reverted to state minimum. They • will get exact figures as soon as possi'cile. 4. Total school department staff. . How many non—teachers are included • and how does this compare with other towns? No definition of these terms was agreed upon. Mr. Fobert has a listing of professional compared with nonprofessional people, but says it is not clear where to draw a line when they have people whose jobs include a small amount of teaching time plus other duties. For the same reason, comparison with other towns is not available. 5. Metco pro;,ram — how reimbursed? • Tuition is paid at the same r..te as for any pupil from another town. At present, this is $815 (approx. ) for secondary schools, and about w600 for elem. schools. This is determined by taking the total school budget (exclusive of construction) and dividing b-, the number of pupils. Any projections of pupils include those now attending from other towns. 6. Anticipated return. to the Town from PL 874,864 funds. Balance remaining on Dec. 31, approximately $84,000, will be turned over. Anticipate about $165,000 additional will be made available. Exact figure will be voted, probably the first week in February. 7. Groundskeepers. Are school salaries the same as Public Arks Dept. workers who do the same work. School Ctee. stated that they have an agreement with Mr. Cataldo and John Carroll whereby the Town PdD will take care of cutting; grass (an Article nor a mower is in budget). Money is included in the school budget to pay PdD for keeping school grounds. for smaller jobs around the schools, they have custodians and maintenance people whose salaries are comparable with Town workers. 8. Cost of kindergartens. In 1967, cost is $73,000. In 1968 budget, cost will be $29,000. Difxereace is because state aid for kindergartens for 1967 will be paid in 1968; pre—school program will be given in 1967 for those who will enter first grade next fall, will be dropped in 1968. Estimated operating costs of kindergarten program In 1967 budget 16 teachers $7,000 x 1/3 437,333 Materials & supplies for 620 18,755 430.25/pupil Initial instruc.equip.outlay 9,500 Transportation (40) 7,800 $73,388 Annual operating costs iteima. 16 teachers @ $7,000 112,000) 87 599 Mut. and supplies for 620 13,755) ' Transportation 10,300 5,700 ? 93,299 total cost 150,256 less reimb.(93,209) net cost 56,956 less pre=school program —20,000 Increase in budget due to kindergtn 36,956 9 , Jan. 16, 1967, -Appropriation Committee meeting with School Ctee. , cont. • Postage meter rental, annual cost 056. School admin. says s :ving in time makes this worthwhile. Postage meter is used very often, so often that various schools have askef for their own. Various items in the budget were questioned and the following explanations given. p.31 — Science supplies. Per pupil cost is listed the same for ail schools. This is the first year this item has been separated out of the budget and it is likely to change in future yews. At this time they can estimate amount needed for secondary schools but amount needed for elem schools is LrJ uncertain. This is the firs: year a much more experimental program is to �..� be introduced in elementary- schools; for example, children will work with earthworms and direct frogs, making supply budget higher. All eleu. school children take science, not all secondary school children do. p.52. hew ve'.icle included in budget is to transport special class children rather than use taxi. There are enough children requiring transportation to make this economical. Audiovisual equipment — possibility of standardization — a wide variety of names aid prices are included in budget. Audiovisual specialist answered that it would oe unwise to standardize on one type, though they might standardize on two brands of such equipment. Competitive bidding, to be successful in getting the best price, requires enough leeway in specifications that at least two companies can bid. Various kinds of Polaroid cameras included at the request of schools are mainly used for taking pictures for publicity, public relations; some for teaching in High school. Respectfully submitted, Ruth F. Souza Meeting of Appropriation Committee, Mon. Jan. 83, 1967, 7:30 p.m. Presents, F. Parrish, Chairman; J. Blaisdell; R. Gary; D. Grant; G. Kolorson; A. Kenney; D. Noyes; A. Perry, Comptroller; it."'ouza; L. 'Lehner Arthur Burrell, Director of Civil Defense Civil Defense budget requests discussed In 1966 he received funds to pick up supplies for shelter . Now he asks for remaining money to comple:,e this project: 3845 for labor in loading trucks 490 for labor to fill containers with water 0,335 There are now 48,0„0 shelters in towns 25,749 of which are stocked. By the end of 1967 he aims at having 32,000 stocked — enough for the population of Lexington. Training is the next major objective. Mone in 1966 and 1967 budgets allow him to hire someone to give courses, for example, medical self—help course to any group i__ town which requests it. Lrsphasis now is on getting informatioa to the pudic, and working with town employees. They would like to ::ave Univ. of Mass. give a course. Reimbursement 32,283 received in 1966. Estimates 325A-43000 to be reimbursed in 1967. Year end buying was heavy, included replacement of two horns stolen from Fiske School. Committee asked him to see if this w:,s covered by