• SC Minutes 12/16/2015


    OPEN SESSION

    SHARON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

    School Committee Meeting

    Wednesday, December 16, 2015

    Sharon Middle School

    75 Mountain Street

    Sharon, MA 02067

    Present: Katie Currul-Dykeman, Jon Hitter, Marcy Kaplan, Laura Salomons, Emily Smith-Lee, Veronica Wiseman

    Also present: Tim Farmer, Jahmal Mosley, Susan Owen

    Open Session was convened at 7:05 p.m.

    PUBLIC FEEDBACK

    Correspondence

    There was one piece of correspondence re: gun violence prevention. Administration has responded.

    SHS Student Representatives

    Recent happenings at SHS:

    • Class updates: Plans are underway for the freshmen dance; Sophomores are being trained in the use of the guidance software tool, Naviance; Juniors will receive their PSAT results on January 7th; Seniors have been measured for caps & gowns

    • Winter Sports are underway

    • Annual Winter Concert: December 17th

    • Open Mike Night: December 18th

    DECISION ITEMS

    Consent Agenda:

    1. Approve Open Session Minutes (12/2/15)

    MOTION: (Smith-Lee/ Salomon) Moved to approve the Executive & Open Session December 2nd minutes as presented. Yes vote: Currul-Dykeman, Hitter, Kaplan, Salomons, Smith-Lee, Wiseman

    DISCUSSION ITEMS

    Restraint Policy

    M. Kaplan explained policy JKAAE-1 Physical Restraint. MASC guidelines/policy of SPS included:

    • Prevention of physical restraint and requirements if used

    • Authority, scope, purpose and construction

    • Definitions

    • Use of restraint

    • Policy, and procedures; training

    • Proper administration of physical restraint

    • Reporting requirements

    The final policy will be presented at the January 6th S.C. meeting for committee approval.

    Quarter One Report

    S. Owen, with the aid of PowerPoint, presented the End-of Year Report (2015) and the First Quarter Budget Review (2016). Areas covered in the presentation included:

    End of Year:

    • 2015 budget had a balance of $45,214.47, which was returned to the Town.

    • Buy-ahead tuitions in the amount of: $548,042.30.

    • Encumbered purchase orders: $563,206.67.

    2016 First Quarter Report:

    • Total budget: $40,001,469

    • Salaries: encumbered through the end of the year

    • Electric: spent 36.56% of the budget – kilowatts & costs are up

    • Gas: spent 5.05% of the budget – therms & costs are down

    • Circuit breaker FY15 – funding received in FY15, $1,262,020 was carried over into FY16 – reimbursement rate was 73.50%

    • Circuit breaker FY16 – projected total $947,332, based on 73% reimbursement – a decrease of $314,688 – one payment received to date: $236,833. Funds will be carried over to FY17

    • Capital Outlay: Balance from FY11-FY15, $11,671.95

    • Grants – FY16 total $1,387,282; FY15 total $1,344,031 – difference is due to an increase in the METCO grant

    • Revolving – Current balance of $508,215.84 – deficit in Early Childhood & Athletics – fees are still being collected

    Fee Recommendations (Transportation, Early Childhood, Kindergarten)

    S. Owen highlighted her December 16th memorandums re: fee recommendations:

    • FY 17 Transportation – recommending no change to the current fee structure.

    • FY 17 Full-Day Kindergarten – Current tuition: $3,100 – recommending no change to the current fee structure. There was a discussion on the carry-over amount ($264,397) and whether there should be a tuition reduction in order to reduce the carry-over dollar amount moving forward. There will be further discussion on kindergarten fees at the January 5th budget subcommittee meeting and the January 6th School Committee meeting.

    • FY 17 Early Childhood – recommending no change to the current fee structure.

    Extracurricular and Sports Fee Presentations

    L. Salomons, with the aid of PowerPoint, presented the budget subcommittee’s proposal for athletics and extracurricular fees. Topics outlined in the presentation included:

    • Goals – consistency amongst all sports; address increasing athletic costs; equity between athletics & extracurricular activities

    • Overview of operating budget vs. fees for FY 10, 13, 15

    • Process for budgeting for athletics – yearly deficit in athletic budget

    • Proposed revised fee structure based on one sport, 2 sports, 3 sports, family cap

    • Establish ultimate Frisbee as a sport

    • One-time fee for extracurricular activities– examine inconsistencies between athletics & extracurricular activities

    • Fee proposal for intramurals & cross-country.

    Following the presentation, there was a lengthy discussion on the pros/cons of charging a fee for extracurricular activities. There will be further discussion on athletic/extracurricular fees at the January 6th meeting.

    FY 2017 Preliminary Budget

    T. Farmer, with the aid of PowerPoint, presented a preliminary FY17 budget overview. Topics covered in the presentation included:

    • Goals – maintain class size, respond to direction provided by Strategic Plan, meet student needs, meet state & Federal regulations, fiscal responsibility

    • Rollover information – Total $1,328,765.92

    • Staffing needs

    • Program and priorities

    • Possible reductions

    • Proposed programming

    • FY17 increase - $1,394,408.83

    The complete PowerPoint presentation will be on the School Department’s website. There will be further discussion on the FY17 budget at the January 6th meeting.

    ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPDATES

    The committee was updated on the recent meeting with the Finance Committee.

    SUPERINTENDENT’S ITEMS

    • S.C. input for the Annual Town Report is due by January 8th. T. Farmer will write and submit the report to the Town.

    • DESE has a deadline of December 18th for towns to determine whether the PARCC testing will be paper and pencil or computerized for the FY16-17 school year.

    Other Business

    There being no other business, V. Wiseman asked for a motion to adjourn Open Session.

    MOTION: (Salomons/Kaplan) Moved to adjourn Open Session and enter into Executive Session for the purposes of discussing negotiations with unionized personnel with the intent not to return to Open Session. Yes vote: Curul-Dykeman, Hitter, Kaplan, Salomons, Smith-Lee, Wiseman

    Meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m.

    Submitted on behalf of the School Committee by: Helen Campanario, Recording Secretary to the School Committee

    Back-up Materials for the December 16, 2015 meeting

    • copy of correspondence

    • copies of consent agenda materials

    • restraint policy back-up materials

    • copy of PP presentation (transportation, early childhood, kindergarten)

    • copy of materials re: extracurricular and sports fees

    • enrollment projections

    • LEAP information

    • copy of Every Student Succeeds Act

    • copy of executive session materials