HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget Hearing and SC Minutes 2022 1 27.pdf FINAL
MINUTES
MINUTEMAN REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
BUDDGET HEARING AND REGULAR SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
JANUARY 27, 2022, 6:30 PM
Present:
Pam Nourse, Chair(Acton) Jeff Stulin, Vice-Chair(Needham)
Alice DeLuca, Secretary (Stow) Michael Ruderman(Arlington)
Steve LeDoux (Concord) Ford Spalding (Dover)
Judith Crocker(Lexington) Dave O'Connor(Bolton)
Absent: Jennifer Leone
Weighted Vote: Weighted Vote present at start of meeting: 87.53%
Others Present: Dr. Bouquillon, Dr. Perreault, George Clement, and Julia Pisegna
BUDGET HEARING ON PROPOSED FY23 BUDGET
1. CALL TO ORDER: OPEN SESSION
The Chair called the Budget Hearing on the proposed FY23 Budget to order at 6:30 p.m.
2. ADOPTION OF REMOTE PARTICIPATION
VOTE: To adopt remote participation by all members of the Minuteman School
Committee pursuant to and in accordance with Sections(2)and(3)of the Executive Order
Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law made by the Governor of
Massachusetts on March 12, 2020, such adoption to be effective until said Executive
Order is rescinded or the Commonwealth's State of Emergency as referenced in said
Executive Order, is terminated, whichever happens first.
ACTION 2022 #11
Moved(DeLuca) and seconded(Crocker)
To approve remote participation
VOTE: 8 members in room at time of vote
Weighted Vote present: 87.53%
Weight needed: >43.76%
Names of towns opposing or abstaining: none
Final percentage results of vote: 87.53%
Final status of the vote: Unanimous
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Roll Call:
Pam Nourse (Acton) (Yes)
Michael Ruderman(Arlington) (Yes)
Dave O'Connor(Bolton) (Yes)
Steve LeDoux (Concord) (Yes)
Ford Spalding(Dover) (Yes)
Judy Crocker(Lexington) (Yes)
Alice DeLuca, Secretary (Stow) (Yes)
Jeff Stulin (Needham)Yes
Dr. Bouquillon reviewed the procedures for the meeting as follows: first will be the budget
presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session from the public, followed by the regular
School Committee meeting where Committee members will pose questions and vote on the budget.
Dr. Bouquillon presented the PowerPoint presentation on the FY23 budget entitled
"Superintendent's Recommended Budget". He highlighted that the budget supports our goals as a
school community as we continue to provide a healthy, safe, supportive campus culture, promote
teacher leadership, use data when making decisions, and use intelligent technology to enhance
learning and teaching. Our core belief at Minuteman is to continue to integrate our curriculum maps,
expand project-based learning and develop a rigorous integration of literacy and math throughout
the curriculum.
He described the overall budget summary which reflects an increase of 4.96% above FY22 and the
FY23 assessment to members, as previously discussed, increased significantly this year.
Dr. Bouquillon shared that the objectives follow the school goals to advance the Minuteman
Academy model, increase the capacity of the facility as we have reached the designed enrollment,
and the operation and management of the athletic fields will be in full operation this spring, as well
as the facilities use component and revenue from the wonderful resource we have. He added that
the MSBA project is scheduled to close out in FY23.
He described some of the major drivers of the budget: currently in the third year of a 3-year contract
with our teachers which calls for a 2% cost of living adjustment. other drivers include health
insurance which is estimated to increase by 10% at this point in our budget, building utilities that
continue to rise as supplies and material costs,supply chain issues, and inflation delays that continue
to be an issue, as well as the OPEB recommendations of the task force which were approved by the
School Committee and carried into this budget. Dr. Bouquillon added that two of our worksite field
trip busses need to be replaced. The capital stabilization fund, created back in 2016, is one of the
strategies regarding the capacity projects.
Dr. Bouquillon broke down the budget further detailing the FY23 operating expense budget in the
amount of$22,092,652 reflecting an increase of 6.57% above FY22; FY23 operating capital,which
includes the escrow lease payment and payment on the 10-year note which was approved for the
athletic field lighting in the amount of$1,235,608, and the MSBA project debt comes in lower in
FY23 at$5,682,363.
Dr. Bouquillon noted that the story for Minuteman, now and the next few years, will be enrollment
as the total enrollment and member town enrollment is increasing. Our projection for the fall is for
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700 students. He added that as the enrollment has shifted, our out-of-district revenue is decreasing,
both from the tuition and the capital fees set by the state, and as a result, the member towns are
picking up more of the costs associated with the operation of the school and paying for the building.
He reviewed the non-member tuition, capital fee reductions, and increased member enrollment slide
and highlighted the funds we have had available to us to reduce member town assessments and
detailed the point in FY19 when the capital fee went into place, and those funds were used in FY20
to reduce member town assessments.
He showed a slide which identified the changes for each member towns average enrollment and
changes in the assessments for FY22-23. He used the example of Bolton, which shows a large
increase in enrollment,but had less of an increase in the assessment because of the four-year rolling
average (as described in the Regional Agreement).
Dr. Bouquillon then presented the member town per pupil assessments from FY19 to FY23 which
highlights the enrollment increases and per-pupil assessments going down and noted that these
numbers do not include the debt except for the two towns that did not exclude it (Lexington and
Needham).
He then identified the enrollment trends with 358 students applying for the year of graduation of
FY26, which includes 270 students from our member towns with 2'/2 weeks to go in this application
season. There is a cap of 175 students for the fall, and while we have the vocational technical space,
we do not have the academic space or the space for special education (47% of our students are on
IEP's and 504's require small group activities). Dr. Bouquillon noted that this trend is continuing
and strong.
Dr. Bouquillon added that as we go into next year, we continue to focus on and maintain member
town enrollment. Minuteman Technical Institute is starting to take off in light of what the state is
doing with the career and technical institute initiative. He added that the new Minuteman website
will be activated shortly, and we want to increase our social media content on student and alumni
successes and continue to enlighten the perceptions about the value of career and technical education
within our member towns. We also continue the strong and vigorous outreach to middle schools and
promotion of the girls in STEM programs.
Next, the FY23 budget includes additional staffing of two student support professionals, one
program web teacher, one robotics/automation aide, one Human Resource support specialist, and a
part-time library/reading aid which will be full-time in FY24. Staff reductions include one internal
in-school suspension professional, one program/web aide, one logistics engineering teacher and one
Human Resource Director. The net increase is modest in terms of FTE's. Dr.Bouquillon announced
that Minuteman just received another$150,000 Capital Skills Grant for logistics engineering in the
warehouse.
He added that the priorities in the Career and Technical Program include development of our Animal
Science and Logistics Engineering Programs, increase shop material and equipment, workplace
clothing and safety gear for all students, and credentialing which is traditionally done out of grants,
will be supported by the district budget.
Dr.Bouquillon defined the two strategies for building enrollment to meet the goal of accommodating
800 students by the fall of 2023 with no increase in debt — strategy #1: fund the capitalization
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account which balance is projected to be $1,434,600 as of July 1St. One capacity building project in
progress is the north metal fabrication expansion opening in the late fall. The second strategy is to
leverage strategic partners and grants in the east campus development area where the veterinary
clinic is. Those two capacity building projects bring approximately 100 additional students, and
with the full-blown east campus development project which would include six more classrooms,we
would reach 800 students without borrowing any additional money.
The OPEB liability, as approved by the School Committee, will be funded more aggressively as of
FY25 when some other liabilities fall off the balance sheets and we will be using some of that money
to fund the OPEB liability.
Dr. Bouquillon provided a review of the non-assessment revenues which illustrates how it has
dropped as we have lost approximately $1.5M in tuition revenue which will be made up from our
member towns, an increase of E&D, and the anticipated increase in Chapter 70 aid, which is
conservative at this time.
He discussed operating and capital, including capital equipment leases and the ESCO project debt
service.
He added that this information is included in the Budget Book and posted on the district website as
v 5.2.
b. Public Comment on Proposed FY23 Budget
Dr. Bouquillon welcomed questions.
Dr. Bouquillon responded to one question on the chat relative to the proposed FY23 Governor's
budget which came out yesterday and anticipates a lower transportation number. What is the impact?
Dr. Bouquillon responded he has been looking at different components of the Governor's budget.
The way they are discussing transportation reimbursement at this point is based upon the actual
usage of transportation during COVID, so he believes that will be corrected with the legislature
because this reimbursement needs to reflect that we are fully operational. He believes there is an
approximately $85,000 deficit now. He thanked the audience for the question and shared that the
District is still digesting the Governor's budget and noted that our estimates have been close.
Therefore,there is no change to anything for the purposes of the preliminary budget and preliminary
assessments that the School Committee will be voting on.
He noted that there were no other questions presented. The chair also asked for questions.
2. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the following vote was then taken:
ACTION 2022 #12
Moved(DeLuca) and seconded(Spalding)
To adjourn the Budget Hearing on the Proposed FY23 budget at 6:52 p.m.
VOTE: members in room at time of vote
Weighted Vote present: 87.53%
Weight needed: >43.6%
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Names of towns opposing or abstaining: none
Final percentage results of vote: 87.53%
Final status of the vote: Unanimous
Roll Call:
Pam Nourse (Acton) (Yes)
Michael Ruderman(Arlington) (Yes)
Dave O'Connor(Bolton)
Steve LeDoux (Concord) (Yes)
Ford Spalding (Dover) (Yes)
Judith Crocker(Lexington) (Yes)
Jeff Stulin, Vice-Chair(Needham) (Yes)
Alice DeLuca, Secretary (Stow) (Yes)
The Chair noted that we will be ending the Budget Hearing and reconvening for the School
Committee meeting at 7:00 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
1. CALL TO ORDER: OPEN SESSION
The Chair called the regular meeting to order immediately following the adjournment of the
Budget Hearing at 7:02 PM.
2. ADOPTION OF REMOTE PARTICIPATION
VOTE: To adopt remote participation by all members of the Minuteman School
Committee pursuant to and in accordance with Sections(2)and(3)of the Executive Order
Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law made by the Governor of
Massachusetts on March 12, 2020, such adoption to be effective until said Executive
Order is rescinded or the Commonwealth's State of Emergency as referenced in said
Executive Order, is terminated, whichever happens first.
ACTION 2022 #13
Moved(O'Connor) and seconded(DeLuca)
To approve remote participation
VOTE: 8 members in room at time of vote
Weighted Vote present: 87.53%
Weight needed: >43.76%
Names of towns opposing or abstaining: none
Final percentage results of vote: 87.53%
Final status of the vote: Unanimous
Roll Call:
Pam Nourse (Acton) (Yes)
Michael Ruderman(Arlington) (Yes)
Dave O'Connor(Bolton) (Yes)
Steve LeDoux (Concord) (Yes)
Ford Spalding (Dover) (Yes)
Judith Crocker(Lexington) (Yes)
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Jeff Stulin, Vice-Chair(Needham) (Yes)
Alice DeLuca, Secretary (Stow) (Yes)
3. FINANCE'S REPORT, Dr. Bouquillon
a. Finance Subcommittee Update—Steve Ledoux
Mr. Ledoux shared that the Finance Committee met and reviewed several iterations of the
Superintendent's budget presentation. He added that the Finance Committee recognizes the kinds of
trials and tribulations that the district is going through by providing services, as well as the impact of the
assessments, and based on review by the Committee, they recommend adoption of the budget as
presented by the superintendent.
Mr. Stulin asked if there were any significant changes in this budget since the last time it was discussed.
He wants it on the record indicates that significant time was spent in reviewing this budget.
Mr. Ledoux stated that there were no significant changes and Dr. Bouquillon stated that there were none.
Mr. Ruderman asked if moving money from E&D was in our last budget. Dr. Bouquillon confirmed that
it was.
Ms. Crocker asked if members could receive an Executive Summary of the budget so that when they go
to their town meetings, they will have the same talking points and the discussion about the increase in
member assessments will be uniform.
Dr. Bouquillon added that he believes the presentation and the budget provide enough talking points and
directed her to the first two pages of the budget book which contains the Executive Summary but
reminded Ms. Crocker that he will attend the meeting and she will not be alone.
Ms. Crocker then asked about how Minuteman is managing the shortage of substitutes.
Dr. Bouquillon shared that it has been incredibly challenging. The district has two full-time year-long
substitutes who are in the building every day and they get assigned throughout the day to different places.
He added that they have been doing a great job and it has worked out to be a great solution.
Mr. Clement added that the old model of daily substitutes is gone, and this is the new trend. People want
more money, more benefits, and this system has worked out well for us. Both of the full-time subs are
over 60.
Ms. Crocker then asked about the notes indicating reclassifications.
Ms. Andrade explained that based on our chart of accounts and our function codes on the Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education system. We report our end-of-the-year information using the
correct function codes.
Ms. Crocker then asked about food services increase of 50%.
Dr. Bouquillon responded that item is the district's support to food services. Food services has been
running in the red throughout COVID because everyone received one free meal, with the option that if
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they wanted an additional meal, they would pay for it. We reduced our staffing in food services,but we
are currently looking at different models of delivering food cafeteria services including the possibility of
outsourcing it.
Ms. Crocker then asked about athletics and the increase in training and transportation costs, and while
she understands the need for additional travel for athletics while our athletic facilities were being built,
why do we anticipate an increase in athletics transportations costs now that we have our own fields?
Dr. Bouquillon responded that we have more students going places. We must use bigger busses than our
small 15-passenger vans. Also,we simply have more sports—varsity,junior varsity, and freshman teams.
Sometimes they do not all play in the same location on the same day. He added that there is more
diversity in sports with more students participating and noted that 210 students participated in fall sports
this year.
He added that there is discussion of getting a volleyball club/team together, as well as softball and track-
and-field because now that we have these great facilities, we can't wait to go out there and use them.
Ms. Crocker then asked about the proposed 50% change with the notation special education and related
evaluation services. It increased from $20,000 to $30,000 in line 9300.
Dr. Bouquillon responded that that has to do with a student who gets a 45-day evaluation outplacement.
Ms. DeLuca thanked Dr. Bouquillon for his work on the Stow budget. She followed up on Ms. Crocker's
previous comment relative to the budget presentations and added that typically for town meetings there
is a set of slides that is particular to each town, and she wanted to confirm that that will be the case for
this year also.
Dr. Bouquillon confirmed that will be done for this year also. He said they were all done.
Ms. Crocker asked that if they are ready, could they send them out. Dr. Bouquillon said he would send
them out the next day.
Dr. Bouquillon then noted that the school committee will take three separate votes. He clarified that the
vote for the excess and deficiency fund has not been certified yet; however, it is a very conservative
estimate, and he anticipates certification very soon. He said the reason why the votes are done separately
is because the assessments cannot go up once we vote on them.
Mr. Ledoux asked what the balance would be in the excess and deficiency fund after the $650,000.00.
Ms. Andrade said there was $950,000.00 so that the remained amount would be approximately
$300,000.00.
Ms. Nourse asked if there were any objections to moving the three items as one vote.
Ms. DeLuca noted for members of the public we should state for the record that we are taking the
following votes:
• To authorize $650,000.00 from the excess and deficiency fund to reduce
member town assessments for tFY23 budget;
• To approve the FY23 Budget of$29,010,622.00 as presented; and
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• To approve the FY23 Preliminary Assessments of$22,395,741.00 as presented
Mr. Stulin congratulated to the Superintendent on his final budget as Superintendent of Minuteman. He
also congratulated him on the enormous improvements made to the presentation of the budget book
during his tenure and commented that the template is exceptionally clear and useful. He also
congratulated him that the budget was done with so little controversy because of the actions of the
Superintendent, Finance Committee, and the administration presenting it in a way that is transparent and
clear.
Dr. Bouquillon acknowledged that it is a team effort and thanked Mr. Ikonen,Ms.Andrade,Ms. Vetrano,
and Ms. Pisegna, as well as the teachers who have a voice in how we spend and budget. He noted that
everyone has ownership and cares about the budget, and that it is truly a collaborative process.
VOTE: To authorize $650,000.00 from the excess and deficiency fund
to reduce member town assessments forthe FY23 budget
VOTE: To approve the FY23 Budget of$29,010,622.00 as presented
VOTE: To approve the FY23 Preliminary Assessments of$22,395,741.00 as
presented
ACTION 2022#14
Moved(Stulin) and seconded(O'Connor)
To move all three motions together as one vote.
To authorize $650,000.00 from the excess and deficiency fund to reduce
member town assessments forthe FY23 budget the, as presented
To approve the FY23 Budget of$29,010,622.00 as presented
To approve the FY23 Preliminary Assessments of$22,395,741.00 as presented
VOTE: 8 members in room at time of vote
Weighted Vote present: 87.53%
Weight needed: >43.76%
Names of towns opposing or abstaining: none
Final percentage results of vote: 87.53%
Final status of the vote: Unanimous
Roll Call:
Pam Nourse (Acton) (Yes)
Michael Ruderman (Arlington) (Yes)
Dave O'Connor(Bolton) (Yes)
Steve LeDoux (Concord) (Yes)
Ford Spalding (Dover) (Yes)
Judith Crocker(Lexington) (Yes)
Jeff Stulin, Vice-Chair(Needham) (Yes)
Alice DeLuca, Secretary (Stow) (Yes)
Ms. Nourse thanked the members of the Committee for passing the budget and acknowledged Mr.
Stulin's comments to all those who worked hard on the budget, including the Finance Committee.
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Ms. Nourse reminded members that Ms. Pisegna will be sending information relative to a remotely held
zoom Executive Session meeting for Thursday next week.
4. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the School Committee took the following vote:
ACTION 2022 #15
Moved(Ledoux) and seconded(Spalding)
To adjourn the meeting at 7:28 p.m.
VOTE: 8 members in room at time of vote
Weighted Vote present: 87.53%
Weight needed: >43.76%
Names of towns opposing or abstaining: none
Final percentage results of vote: 87.53%
Final status of the vote: Unanimous
Roll Call:
Pam Nourse (Acton) (Yes)
Michael Ruderman(Arlington) (Yes)
Dave O'Connor(Bolton) (Yes)
Steve LeDoux (Concord) (Yes)
Ford Spalding (Dover) (Yes)
Judith Crocker(Lexington) (Yes)
Jeff Stalin, Vice-Chair(Needham) (Yes)
Alice DeLuca, Secretary (Stow) (Yes)
Respectfully submitted,
Julia Pisegna Alice Deluca
District Assistant Secretary
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