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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-12-10-SC-minSC Meeting 12/10/08 page # 1 LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, December 10, 2008 Cary Hall Auditorium 1605 Massachusetts Avenue Present: Superintendent Paul Ash, School Committee Chair Helen Cohen, School Committee Members Rod Cole, Margaret Coppe, Tom Diaz and Ravi Sakhuja. The minutes were taken by Leora Tec. The meeting was convened at 7:39 p.m. I. Call to Order and Welcome (Helen Cohen) II. Members’ Reports / Members’ Concerns Ravi Sakhuja inquired about the proposed early intervention program and its similarity to the one currently in existence at Bridge. III. Discussion Items 1. Presentation of the Superintendent’s FY10 Recommended Budget. Presented by Dr. Paul Ash. Dr. Ash first shared major accomplishments to put the level service budget in context. He is recommending an FY 10 budget of $68,015,286, which is a 5.59% increase over the FY 09 budget. [The presentation is available on the LPS website]. There were questions from the School Committee. 2. FY10 Budget Schedule and Public Hearing Dates The upcoming meeting dates are: Public Hearings on January 31 at 9:00 a.m. at Clarke Middle School and February 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the regular School Committee meeting; Summit meetings: January 15 at 7:30 at the BOS room, February 11 at 7:30 at the BOS room, February 25 at 6:00 p.m. at BOS room; Regular School Committee meetings: January 6, January 20, February 3, February 10, February 24; Executive Session on February 25 following Summit meeting. 3. Four- and Ten-Year Enrollment Forecasts Report. The report was presented by Dr. Ash. [The report is available on the LPS website] There were comments from the Committee and the audience. SC Meeting 12/10/08 page # 2 VI. Action Items 1. Vote on Options to Reduce the FY09 Budget, if Necessary Tom Diaz made a motion to request stabilization funds if the budget has to be cut. After discussion and amendment, the following motion was passed: If funds are needed to cover reductions in chapter 70 or other state aid in the FY09 budget, 2009Town Meeting will be asked to approve a withdrawal from the Stabilization Fund of at least $932, 593; In the unlikely event that cuts are made exceeding $932,593 in FY09 or more than that amount is forecasted for FY10, an additional withdrawal of up to $1.5 million will be requested at the Town Meeting before drastic cuts are made to Town budgets for FY10; The School Committee will ask the school administration to find whatever savings are or become available and will leave any surpluses from FY09 unspent, so that the maximum funds can flow to free cash. (Diaz, Sakhuja). The motion passed 5-0. 2. Vote to Accept a $500.00 Donation from the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund to Support the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Team Motion to accept with gratitude a $500.00 donation from the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund to support the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Team (Coppe, Cole). The motion passed 5-0. 3. Vote to Approve School Committee Executive Session Minutes of December 2, 2008 Motion to approve School Committee Executive Session minutes of December 2, 2008 (Diaz, Sakhuja). The motion passed 5-0. VII. Motion to Adjourn (Cole, Diaz). The motion passed 5-0.