HWRSD School Committee

HAMPDEN-WILBRAHAM REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
School Committee Meeting
Tuesday, September 26, 2006 @ 7:00 p.m.
Minnechaug Regional High School

 Present:
School Committee Members : Scott Chapman, William Bickley, Marianne Desmond, D. John McCarthy, Lisa Morace, Peter Salerno, Gilles Turcotte and Student Representative John Elmore.
Administrators : Paul Gagliarducci, Donna Scanlon and Rich Scortino (consultant)
Guests: Tom Philpott, Director of Student Services; Martin O’Shea, Principal of MRHS; Robert Page and Allen Kinney, Concerned Citizens of Wilbraham; Suzanne McLaughlin, The Republican; Maribel Kane, Rachel Lyons and Andrea Berthiaume, Reps from SEPAC; and Ed Gorski, Hampden resident.
Absent : None

Mr. Chapman called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m.

  1. General (see attached)
    1. Public Comment
      Mr. Gorski asked if some day Mr. Scortino could give a brief explanation of how the per pupil cost is determined as there seems to be much misunderstanding about this. Mr. Kinney asked that the School Committee consider changing the format of the “public comment” section of their policy manual to allow for discussion when the policy is updated.
    2. Minutes
      • Regular Meeting – September 12, 2006
        The Minutes of the September 12 th meeting were reviewed. Mr. Turcotte made a motion to accept the Minutes as written. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was approved. Mrs. Desmond abstained.
      • Executive Session – September 12, 2006
         The Minutes of the Executive Session for September 12 th were reviewed. Mr. Salerno made a motion to accept the Minutes as written. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was approved. Mrs. Desmond abstained.
      • Executive Session – June 27, 2006
         The Minutes of the Executive Session for June 27th were reviewed. Mr. Turcotte made a motion to accept the Minutes as written. Mrs. Desmond seconded and it was approved. Ms. Morace and Mr. Salerno abstained.
    3. Student Representatives
      John Elmore introduced himself, saying he is a 10 th grader who plays football, and explained that he was there to listen.
  2. Financial Issues (see attached)
    1. FY06 Operating Close
      Mr. Scortino explained that he has been reviewing the previous fiscal year operations. The preliminary close in June estimated the District’s financial condition at that time, but some of the numbers did not materialize as expected, on both the revenue and expense sides. As a result, and as Mr. Salerno will detail later, it will be necessary to rescind votes taken by the Committee in June and make new motions.
    2. Motions Relative to FY06 Operations
      FY06Rescind Motions Voted On – June 16, 2006 - Vote 2a, 3a, 5a
  1. Rescind 6/16/06motion to transfer $5,000 from the Rental of Facilities revolving Account to FY06 Budget account 4230 (Maintenance of Equipment).
     Mr. Salerno made the above motion. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was unanimously approved.
  2. Rescind 6/16/06motion to transfer $12,000 from Springfield Tuition revolving Account 2320 (Instructional/Therapeutic)
     Mr. Salerno made the above motion. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was unanimously approved
    2A New Motion: Transfer $7,000 from the Springfield Tuition revolving account to the General Fund Balance to sustain FY06 operations.
     Mr. Salerno made the above motion. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was unanimously approved
  3. Rescind 6/16/06motion to transfer $12,000 from the Insurance Replacement revolving account to FY06 Budget Account 4130 (Utilities)
    Mr. Salerno made the above motion. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was unanimously approved
    3A New Motion: Transfer $7,000 from the Insurance Replacement revolving account to the General Fund Balance to sustain FY06 operation.
    Mr. Salerno made the above motion. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was unanimously approved
  4. Rescind 6/16/06motion to transfer $16,000 from the Medicaid revolving account to FY06 budget account 2330 (Paraprofessional Instructional)
    Mr. Salerno made the above motion. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was unanimously approved
  5. Rescind 6/16/06motion to transfer $25,000 from the High School Parking lot revolving account to the General Fund Balance to sustain FY06 operations.
     Mr. Salerno made the above motion. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was unanimously approved
    5A New Motion: Transfer $8,931 from the High School Parking Lot revolving account to the General Fund Balance to sustain FY06 operations.
    Mr. Salerno made the above motion. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was unanimously approved
  6. Rescind 6/16/06motion to transfer $12,000 from the Early Childhood revolving account to budget account 2430 (Instructional Supplies).
    Mr. Salerno made the above motion. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was unanimously approved.
    FY06 – Additional Recommended Motion
    Vote to transfer $281,000 of voted FY05 reserve to supplement FY06 operations.
     Mr. Salerno made the above motion. Mr. Turcotte seconded and it was unanimously approved

    Dr. Gagliarducci pointed out that these motions are just a necessary accounting procedure.
    1. Motions Relative to FY07 Operations
      Mr. Scortino explained that in the FY07 Operations there are additional cost obligations, including items in the areas of Paraprofessionals, Food Service, and the Minnechaug facility. The following motions were needed to cover these additional cost obligations:

FY07 Establish FY07 Reserve Account

  • Motion: Recommend establishment of FY07 Revolving Operating Reserve Account
     Mr. Salerno made the above motion. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was unanimously approved.
  • Motion ref: line 15 – Motion to transfer $32,000 is anticipated tuition revenue to FY07 Revolving Operating Reserve Account.
     Mr. Salerno made the above motion. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was unanimously approved.
  • Motion ref: line (5) 16-22 – Motion to approve budget transfers from accounts noted in lines 16-22 totaling $168,530 during the FY07 operating year.
     Mr. Salerno made the above motion. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was unanimously approved.
  • Motion ref: lines 27-34 – Motion to transfer funds from accounts noted in lines 27-34 totaling $71,901 to FY07 Revolving Operating Reserve Account.
     Mr. Salerno made the above motion. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was unanimously approved

FY07 REVOLVING ACCOUNT TRANSFERS

  • Transfer $2,244 from the Rental of Facilities revolving account to the above FY07 reserve fund
    Mr. Salerno made the above motion. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was unanimously approved.
  • Transfer $5,000 from the Springfield Tuition revolving account to the above FY07 reserve fund
     Mr. Salerno made the above motion. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was unanimously approved.
  • Transfer $5,000 from the Insurance Replacement revolving account to the above FY07 reserve account
     Mr. Salerno made the above motion. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was unanimously approved.
  • Transfer $14,069 from High School Parking Lot revolving account to the above FY07 reserve account.
     Mr. Salerno made the above motion. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was unanimously approved.
  • Transfer $8,509 from Early Childhood revolving account to the above FY07 reserve account.
     Mr. Salerno made the above motion. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was unanimously approved.
  • Transfer $11,780 from the School Choice revolving account to the above FY07 reserve account.
     Mr. Salerno made the above motion. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was unanimously approved.
  • Transfer $25,299 from “Save Our Schools” revolving account to the above FY07 reserve account.
     Mr. Salerno made the above motion. Mr. McCarthy seconded and it was unanimously approved.
    1. Approve Warrants
      The warrants were approved.

Mr. Salerno read his letter submitted to The Wilbraham-Hampden TIMES in response to articles and letters in their recent issue. He noted the importance of safety in our schools, the need for a quality debate regarding the new high school and providing the best education for the children of the district. Mr. Chapman added that he will not compromise school safety for anyone.

  1. Other Business (see attached)
    1. “MRHS – The Next Five Years”
       Mr. O’Shea, Principal of MRHS, did a Power Point Presentation entitled “Crossing the Threshold: Minnechaug over the Next Five Years”. He started with a quote from “Threshold” magazine, “Unless high school redesign initiatives anticipate the 21 st century knowledge and skills that all students need to succeed and function ethically in civic life, higher education, and the workforce, they will miss their mark.” He then discussed some plans to work toward the upcoming NEASC re-accreditation and other future improvements at Minnechaug. Dr. Gagliarducci added that they are just starting this process and everything will be put on the table for review, including such things as class ranking, prerequisites, graduation requirements, etc. Mr. O’Shea will report back to the School Committee in either December or January.
    2. Update on Changes in Special Education Program
       Mr. Philpott, Director of Student Services, had previously distributed a report entitled “Status Report – Special Education Programming 2006-2007”that he and Dr. Scanlon prepared. They reviewed the information in the report, including background and rationale for change and the three measurable goals: 1) Increase the number of Special Education students who are served in the least restrictive environment. 2) Narrow the gap in mathematics performance between Special Education and Regular Education, and 3) Increase the effectiveness of the Student/Teacher Assistance Program.
    3. Special Education Parent Advisory Council Bylaws (SEPAC)
       Mr. Philpott had previously distributed the “Hampden Wilbraham Special Education Parent Advisory Council Bylaws”. These were presented to the School Committee in March and minor changes were made as a result of that discussion. The bylaws were favorably accepted by the School Committee.
  2. Correspondence/Written Reports Received (see attached)
    1. Superintendent’s Report
       No further comments.
    2. Grants Update Report
       Dr. Scanlon had previously distributed the grants update report. She noted there were very few changes, certainly nothing drastic as some grants were increased while others were decreased.
    3. Misc. Correspondence (green folders)
       Mr. Chapman noted some of the miscellaneous correspondence, including a letter from DOE Commissioner Driscoll notifying MRHS of the 89 students who qualified for the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship and a letter from Channel 22 notifying Mr. Petzold that “As School Match Wits” was being cancelled.
  3. Personnel
    The School Committee noted the following appointments, resignations, leaves of absence, and retirements:
    1. Appointments (replacements unless noted otherwise*)
      • Sherri Assad, Lunch Monitor @ SRS, eff 8-30-06
      • Kristyn Brannigan, Science Specialist @ GM, eff 8-28-06
      • Benjamin Ellis, Para @ WMS, eff 9-15-06
      • Catherine Kielb, Para @ SRS, eff 9-19-06
      • Elizabeth Ouimette, Para @ WMS, eff 9-15-06
      • Johanna O’Toole, Custodian @ TWB, eff 9-11-06
      • Connie-Lynn Salvatore, Lunch Monitor @ SRS, eff 9-12-06
      • Judith Shannon, Morning Scheduler @ MRHS, eff 8-30-06
      • Susan Toomey, Para @ SHS, eff 9-14-06
    2. Resignations
      • None
    3. Leaves of Absence
      • Mary Miller, PE Teacher @ MRHS, eff 8-25-06
    4. Retirements
      • Christine Wrona, History/SS Teacher @ MRHS, eff 06-30-07
  4. New Agenda Items (for upcoming meetings)
     Future agenda items were reviewed:
    1. District Improvement Plan (September)
    2. Capital Projects Review
    3. Review Home Education Plans (October)
    4. Budget Subcommittee Convene (October)
    5. Budget Review Process Begins (October)
    6. Food Service Report (October)
    7. Policy Manual Review Committee (TBD)

As there was no need for Executive Session, Mr. Chapman asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Turcotte made the motion. Mr. Salerno seconded and it was approved. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen W. Belsky
Recording Secretary  

Next Meeting Scheduled For:
* Tuesday, October 10, 2006, at Thornton W. Burgess Middle School *