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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-01-13-LHS-min V -i il G 1--i S (", or LEXINGTON 1"10 0 L Andrew Stephens, Ed.D. (781) 861-2320, ext. 69103 Principal astephens@lexingtonma.org LHS School Site Council January 2020 Meeting Minutes LSH School Site council met on January 13th, 2020 from 6:00-7:30 in Room 505D in the World Language Building Present: Andrew Stephens, Cathy Swan, Karen Griffiths, Sheera Knecht, Liz Curtain, Ling Yang, Kate Vogelzang, Ed Li, Angela Chang, Katie Cutler, Suzanne Lau, Nancy Shepard and Kate Riley Absent: Erin Barrett, Khoi Le, Sam Offsey Guest: Betsy Wilkinson Approved the December meeting minutes Updates on Budget *Budget -Budget is a fiscal process and a political process -It is important for two citizens to educate themselves on the budget process -School Committee approves school side of budget and then Town Meeting approves budget in March -Majority of won bunds (about 74%) are used to pay for LPS -Most of the school budget is used to pay salaries and benefits (84%) and the rest is spread out in many ways -Each year there is an increase in salaries (about 3%) as staff moves up pay scale *Context -Over the last 5 years, K-12 enrollment in LPS schools has increased by 608 students which has had a direct impact on the School Department's operating budget each year to accommodate these new students and maintain the level of programming and services offered by LPS -Town income is down -School budget is down $1.4 million for level services (take budget this year and add 3% for built-in raises) -Past Budget Cycles have had healthy increases -FY 2016: 8.5% increase -FY 2017: 7.2% increase -FY 2018: 6.6% increase -FY 2019: 6.9% increase -FY 2020: 5.4% increase *FTE (Full Time Equivalent) Positions -One way flexibility is incorporated into the budget is by having unallocated reserve FTE positions for general and special education -Summary of past FTE increases -FY 2016: 50.58 increase -FY 2017: 49.34 increase -FY 2018: 15.81 increase -FY 2019: 33.25 increase -FY 2020: 28.07 increase *FY 2021 -Increase is only 4.3% -We aren't getting anything new from what we had last year -LHS asked for a new dean team (dean, secretary, counselors) and an additional school monitor -these requests were denied -We will be ok for next year as student numbers are not going up -FTE -FY 2021 : 3.19 increase (to meet legal and contractual mandates) *Future Years -We are entering a period of challenging fiscal times -A decrease in the percentage increase, combined with higher overall enrollments, will impact school budgets -We will have to look at things creatively -We will have to see if there is anything that can be cut -Town people will have to understand if the school budgets decrease, the education that is currently being offered, will change New LHS Website *Went live *It is a work in progress -What is working well? -What is not working well? -In process of gathering feedback *Adding content to website is centralized in tech department -Process in place to add to website -Counseling department goes to google link site to be able to add -need to mesh old counseling department and new tab -Always had to dig deep to find things -Not always intuitive -Can be difficulty to navigate, especially for families who are new to USA school system Discussion *Traffic at LHS is terrible -Traffic study is needed -how will it be paid for? -The traffic on the side of the building is better- using 3 people - that is all we have -The traffic in the front of the building is terrible -Every other school in Lexington has a crossing guard but LHS doesn't -Next year we will have a start time of 8:30 am -8:30 is currently when LABBB starts- they are going to theirs 10 min or so earlier -Next year pick up will be at 3:10 -Buses will need to get in and out because they need to make their other routes -Middle school gets out first next year so buses will be coming to LHS instead of waiting for students -Perhaps make the front of LHS buses only during drop off and pick up Meeting adjourned Next meeting is Monday, March 9th, 2020