SAU #70 - Norwich School Board

Linda Gray moved and Margaret Cheney seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting and executive session of December 1, 2004, as submitted. Corrections to the minutes were offered: item 3B – in the Assistant Superintendent’s Report, add that the CLA would be dropping; item 5A – there is concern that staff levels would not be able to be maintained if there were additional classes in the existing program; item 8 – change the words “personal matters” to special education issues. The 12/01 minutes were unanimously approved as submitted.

3. Communications and Reports

a) Report of Chair:

(1) Calendar - Chair Sachsse announced that the next Board meeting to address the school budget would be Thursday, January 13, 7:00 p.m. and the final Board meeting for the final budget decision would Thursday, January 20 at 7:00 p.m. at the Marion Cross School Library.

(2) Board Positions – There are two Board positions that are open with filings through January 24. The details for filing are available from the Dresden office. The dates for the Dresden School District officers filing is January 12 through February 1 and the positions that are open include the moderator, clerk, treasurer and auditor.

b) Reports of Administrators:

Principal - Principal Edson reported that he has received 26 surveys regarding family use of outside tutors and that it mostly involved math. The findings will be published in the newsletter.

4. PTO Report- PTO Chair, Cinny Benson announced that there has been only one grant request for fund allocation. The PTO will host a drug/alcohol awareness program on January 25. The next PTO meeting is scheduled for Monday at 8:30 a.m. in the Art Room.

5. Business requiring discussion

a) Highlights of the proposed budget document were reviewed and discussed.

Assistant Superintendent/Business John Aubin reported that the budget was at 129.9 percent of statewide average spending per pupil. He reported that it was very challenging to stay within the 125 percent goal set by the board because of the Dresden budget and the limited number of items that can be altered. John Aubin also explained the tax rate consequences from the drop in the CLA and the expected enrollment. Finally, John Aubin reviewed the revenues, net assessment statistics and the estimated tax rate calculations. The board sought more information on per pupil spending.

Some key issues related to expenses include special education tuitions, medical insurance and heating fuel costs. Linda Gray requested a multiyear budget forecast. There was a discussion about how reimbursement funds are used and predictions that the following year’s budget might require some level of program cuts. The reduction in the 2005-06 music program was characterized as adjustment is not a reduction of staff since it was a response to the program review process.

Principal Edson’s proposal involved reducing the 4th grade French program from four times per week to three times per week and adding a 4th grade teacher. The music program will be decreased from 1.2 FTE to 1.0 FTE. Multiage classes were considered but not recommended.

The staff did not considered all-day kindergarten because it was not proposed by the Board. Principal Edson suggested the need to review the current Kindergarten program’s strengths and weaknesses.

Linda Gray reported that she contacted the Department of Education to determine how much funding for which MCS is eligible for in terms of construction aid.

b) The school district warning articles were discussed and no changes were made.

6. A future agenda item will welcome the town energy committee to address the Board.

7. Margaret Cheney moved and Deb Kaplan seconded a motion to enter executive session in accordance with Title 1, Section 313 for discussion of personal matters at 8:57 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.

8. Adjournment

Margaret Cheney moved and Deb Kaplan seconded a motion to adjourn at 9:18 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.

The meeting adjourned at 9:18 p.m.