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