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Home My WebLink About1979-01-13-SC-min Page 6 January 13, 1979 The Lexington School Committee meeting was held on Saturday, Janua- ry 13, 1979, at 9:00 a.m. , at the School Administration Building. Those in attendance were: Brown, Swanson, Michelman, Hoffman, Gaudet. Also present were: Lawson, Maclnnes, Monderer, Pierson, Barnes. Dr. Lawson began the presentation of the 1979-80 Preliminary Budget 1979-80 and stated that the Lexington school budget for 1979-80 of $16,556,377 re- PRELIMINARY flected the efforts of administrators and staff to provide an educational BUDGET program of continued quality for approximately 6,400 students, and, at the same time, responded to the opposing pressures of declining enrollment (minus 502 students) and escalating costs (eight to nine per cent inflation estimated for 1979) . He said the difference of $346,537 or a 2.1`7, in- crease was divided between personnel services ($229,205 or 1.77,) and non- personnel services ($117,332 or 4.87) . He added that this marked the fourth consecutive year that the per cent of budget increase had decreased. He said this was accomplished despite: - a wage settlement for all employees - mandated state programs - uncontrollable cost increases in instructional materials, fuel, transportation, and equipment The initial budget request from staff of $17,026,108 (5.1% increase) was reduced as a result of savings from: - the decline in student enrollment (minus 502) resulting in pro- fessional staff reductions of 19.57. - The School Couuuittee decision to close Munroe School, effective September, 1979. - administrative efficiencies - consolidation of positions and tasks - increased effectiveness of program budget planning and accounting - more use of 3-5 year planning and purchasing The Superintendent noted the budget was the result of a grass roots effort involving all interested staff over a ten-month period. Needs had been stated, reviewed, and expressed in terms of priorities. These priori- ties had been related to specific programs and served as guidelines during budget development. The 1979-80 budget request represented the best effort, to date, to responsibly relate financial needs to educational outcomes dur- ing difficult economic conditions. He said imagination, ingenuity, insight, and understanding (the signs of a vibrant staff) will continue to be applied to provide the best education possible for Lexington students. He then outlined the assumptions and constraints of budget development. ASSUMPTIONS - Enrollment will continue to decline at all levels - K-6 = 11%, 7-9 = 47,, 10-12 = 5`7, (1977 census data) . The 1977 census in- dicated an 18% decrease in number of children born during that year. Page 7 January 13, 1979 - Enrollment and Junior High districts will continue to change reflecting the reassignment of students accord- ing to the Report on the Committee to Reassign Pupils. - Staffing ratios used during the 1977/78 and 1978/79 budget planning will continue to guide the staff in de- veloping the 1979/80 budget. CONSTRAINTS - State aid will not significantly alter the cost of edu- cation to local government. - Class size reduction will be accomplished only through different utilization of existing staffing ratios and must be within LEA/LSC contract agreement. - The digit inflation will continue and significantly raise the cost of most learning materials. - Energy prices will continue to increase the costs of the Operation and Maintenance Programs. - Negotiations (approximately one million dollar increase because of 5.5 increase to groups) He noted that the following priorities affected the budget: Instruction Programs - Regular Evaluate Elementary Social Studies and Language Arts Programs. Establish Spelling Program K-6 Evaluate Secondary Reading Program. Implement recommendations of Grouping Study. Instruction Programs - Special Design an integrated Occupational Education Program 7-12. Implement a Health Program K-12. Assess reliability and validity of Kindergarten Screen- ing Program. Instruction Support - Improvement Services Professional Training and Development - Improve the skills of professional staff through more alternative approaches to in-service education Develop improved system of personnel support with emphasis on improvement of instruction. Page 8 January 13, 1979 General Support Operation and Maintenance of Plant - Respond to recom- mendations of Energy Conservation Task Force. Respond to NEASC study of Lexington High School. Following the Superintendent's remarks, Mr. Michelman stated that he felt the budget was very responsive to the general guidelines of the School Committee. He then asked the Superintendent whether he anticipated any State fiscal control in the near future. Dr. Lawson responded that there was a def- inite possibility of capping on school or municipal spending. He said it was incumbent upon School Committees to be vigilant to the possibility that some type of constraints upon schools may occur. He noted that if this did occur, he would talk with the management team and ask them for recommendations as to where it would be possible to cull out expenditures. Mrs. Gaudet asked the Superintendent when this constraint might occur with School Committee budgets. The Superintendent responded that his information would indicate that July 1, 1979, would be the date. Mr. Brown said that on Tuesday, January 16, the School Committee would meet with the Selectmen at 7:30 p.m. , in the Selectmen's Office and discuss the State fiscal situation with Representative Lincoln Cole and Senator Samuel Rotondi. He said that he hoped that at that time he would have a better indication as to the feeling of the State. A school information packet pertaining to the 79/80 preliminary budget PRELIMINARY was presented to the School Committee. It noted that the increase in bud- BUDGET get was 2.1% with the Munroe School closed. The 78/79 budget of $16,209,840 INFORMATION reflected a difference and increase of 2.1% of $346,537 for a sum total of PACKET. $16,556,377. The School Committee then reviewed the individual pages of the preliminary budget. The Superintendent reviewed the 79/80 Personnel Services Budget request which indicated a difference and increase of 1.7`. or $229,815. It was noted that the major part of this Personnel Services increase was $204,428 due to the following reasons : Negotiations (Adjustment 5.5() +719,175 Increments +275,787 Staff Changes Reductions - Professional -320,854 Reductions - Classified - 71,946 Munroe Closing -126,100 Changes in Staff (ins/outs) -271,634 Additional increases of $24,777 were attributed to items as: early retirement, stipends, and severance pay. The School Committee then reviewed the professional staff reductions which amounted to (with Munroe School closed) 25.15 professional staff mem- bers and 10.527 classified staff members. Classroom teachers accounted for 16.58 of this total. The School Committee then reviewed the individual staff reductions and increases . Mr. Spiris indicated that he had some discomfort in the area of specialists due to the fact that it was necessary to have prop- er time to go from one school to another. Also, this year' s budget reflected a reduction in specialists due to concern with equity which had been done in the past two to three years in categories such as librarians. Mr. Michelman asked Mr. Spiris if it were possible to prepare an alternative recommendation that might relieve some of his discomfort. Mr. Spiris responded in the af- Page 9 January 13, 1979 firmative. Mrs. Swanson said since these were only planning figures, and the School Committee was always concerned with equity, that if there were problems in September, they could easily be solved with the addition of staff as has been in the past. Mr. Brown said that this had always been the posture of the School Committee and it was the consensus of the Couuuit- tee to continue in this manner. It was VOTED: to adjourn at 10:15 a.m. {Michelman, Gaudet, Unanimous) Respectfully submitted, Richard H. Barnes Recording Secretary /c