Present: Board members Foster, Gray, McNally, Sachsse (7:22), Vitt, Administrators Aubin, Edson, Greenbaum, Weissmann, and approximately 5 members of the public.

1. Call to Order

Vice Chair Gray called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.

2. Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the regular meeting of December 3, and the executive session of December 3 were reviewed for approval. Corrections offered for the December 3 minutes: page 2, #4 (2) under Other Matters- Chair Sachsse spoke with the Selectboard Chair, Liz Blum, regarding allocating the cost of the Rec. Council use of the Marion Cross School facilities. Also, page 2, #4 (2) c) add the following second to last paragraph: $8,000/pupil is the preliminary calculation of the statewide average for 03-04; under Act 68, tax penalties come into play for districts spending 135% of that amount. The Superintendent noted that the initial budget numbers bring Norwich spending to just under 135%. The minutes were then unanimously approved as corrected.

3. Communications and Reports

a) Report of Chair

(1) Calendar -

Vice Chair Gray announced that the next Board meeting will be Thursday, January 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the Marion Cross School library. This is the second of three budget meetings. The public hearing/budget adoption is on Thursday, January 22. The next regular Board meeting will be Wednesday, February 4, 7:00 p.m. in the Marion Cross School library.

(2) Board filings Vice Chair Gray announced that two Board seats are up for reelection in March (Paul Foster's and Margaret McNally's). The Board seats are both three year terms. Filings take place any time from now until January 26, 2004. Candidates must present a petition with 35 signatures of Norwich voters to the Norwich Town Clerk.

The Vice Chair also announced that the Dresden School District has filing dates from Monday, January 12 through 5:00 p.m., Monday, February 2. Filing for School District Officers can be done with either the School District Clerk, Deborah Carter, or at the SAU Office, 45 Lyme Road, Room 207, Hanover. Positions open are:

Moderator one year
Clerk one year
Treasurer one year
Auditor three years

(3) Other Matters -

Chair Sachsse arrived at the Board meeting & was therefore present to state that there were no other matters to report.

b) Communications to the Board

Chair Sachsse reported that there were no communications to the Board.

c) Reports of Administrators

Superintendent's Report -

The Superintendent's items to report were covered in other parts of the agenda.

Assistant Superintendent/Business

Assistant Superintendent John Aubin's items to report were covered in other parts of the agenda.

Principal's Report -

Principal Edson updated the Board on MCS enrollment. The total number of students is at 308, with one additional student in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grade and one student withdrawal from the 6th grade.

d) Committee Reports

Local Action Planning Committee

Principal Edson stated that a LAP Committee update would occur at a future Board meeting.

4. PTO Report

There was no PTO report; the next report would be at the Board meeting on Thursday, January 15.

5. Public Input

There was no public input at this point in time.

6. Business Requiring Discussion

a) 2004-2005 budget presentation

Assistant Superintendent/Business John Aubin began the 2004-2005 budget presentation with an overview of the Marion Cross School Enrollment Projections based on a three year weighted average. The enrollment numbers from October 2003 October 2008 show a K-6 increase of approximately 45 students. A potential increase of nineteen students by October 2004 indicates a recommendation of the following:

A net budget-to-budget increase of 1.00 classroom instructional teacher.
An increase of 1.15 regular education assistants.
An increase in ESL (English as a second language) staffing from 0.50 to 1.00 FTE.
An increase of 0.35 FTE in special education assistants.
An increase of 0.10 FTE in adminstration ed. assistants.

There was a brief conversation regarding the numbers of students for next year in light of the possibility of the new K-2 Willow School that will be located in Norwich. The end result of the discussion was that Principal Edson may more accurately assess numbers after the February 1 registration of students at the Willow School.

Assistant Superintendent Aubin suggested that the Board consider the recommended addition to the budget of a 1.00 FTE classroom teacher for next year and adjust spending accordingly if in fact a teacher is not needed for the 2004-2005 school year.

Assistant Superintendent Aubin discussed the revenues & net assessment for the proposed 2004-2005 budget:

Appropriations 2004-05 2003-04 $ Change % Change

Marion Cross School 3,746,131 3,526,934 219,197 6.21%
Dresden Assessment 4,959,602 4,949,290 10,312 0.21%
Total Budget Expenses 8,705,733 8,476,224 229,509 2.7%

The Assistant Superintendent reminded the Board that numbers would change when the Board knew the results of the Norwich Teacher's negotiation proceedings and the Norwich share of the Dresden/Hanover teacher negotiations. The increase could potentially be $200,000-$300,000.

The Assistant Superintendent shared the total preliminary education tax rate for 2004-05 at 2.459 compared to the 2003-04 tax rate of 2.948.

The Assistant Superintendent outlined the significant changes in terms of maintaining program for the following:

1. Additional Regular Ed. Teacher Salary
2. Ed. Assistant Salaries
3. Tutors-Remedial, Homebound..
4. Medical Insurance
5. Workers Comp. Insurance
6. FICA
7. Retiree Benefits
8. Secretary/Ed. Assistant Salary
9. Principal Salary
10. SAU Assessment
11. Transportation
12. Debt Service

The budget-to-budget change would be approximately $182,378.

Assistant Superintendent for Special Education Jane Weissmann gave a detailed report on the Norwich special education cost changes for 2004-2005. She explained the staffing changes for certified staff and educational assistants. Total staffing changes would be a budget-to-budget FTE change of 0.35 ($8,513). Assistant Superintendent for Special Education Weissmann outlined the change in contracted services (+$31,977) and other special education changes (-12,785). Total special education spending would increase $27,705. There was a discussion on reimbursements & the contingency fund. Irv Thomae suggested showing to Norwich taxpayers the potential savings due to special education reimbursements.

Principal Edson spoke on the 2004-2005 classroom configuration proposals (including .5 Title II class size reduction grant). He presented 5 different scenarios and stated that the Marion Cross staff and the principal would further discuss potential classroom configurations at the next staff meeting.

Principal Edson provided the Board a list of possible budget enhancements. These include:
Technology Equipment $6,000
Regular Instruction Equipment [Music] $1,000
Regular Instruction Equipment [Grade 6] $1,400
Staff Development: [Writing Specialist] & [Math Specialist] $44,000

The budget enhancements list is not in prioritized order. There was a brief discussion on each item.

In response to a request from the Norwich School Board, the Principal compiled information that he presented to the Board on the Unified Arts Instructional Program at MCS. The Principal outlined the history of the 'Specials' over the past 15 years, showed the current program, and detailed the staffing levels since 1989. He also presented a master schedule of the MCS school week from the start of the school day until the end of the school day. His recommendation to the Board was to keep the staffing as it presently exists. There was a brief discussion on the future possibility of implementing a Spanish program at MCS.

Principal Edson spoke on the current staffing pattern of educational assistants and special education assistants at MCS. He defined each type of position, showed the designated number of weekly hours according to the grade level, and raised the question of how to more effectively and/or efficiently staff these positions. The Principal will continue to look into ways to improve this program for the future.

Assistant Superintendent/Business John Aubin spoke briefly on the excess spending calculation. The eligible FY2005 construction costs, including principal and interest is $450,423. The eligible FY2005 construction costs per pupil is $624.94. The per pupil figure to use for excess spending would be $9,969.12 [124.6% of statewide average spending]. The Assistant Superintendent reminded the Board that these numbers do not take into account the Norwich teacher contracts. There was a brief discussion on the teacher negotiation procedure in VT and NH.

b) Norwich School District budget comparison data

John Aubin will share information regarding how Marion Cross School compares with other Vermont School Districts at the January 15 Board meeting.

c) Possible repeal of Act 144 -

Norwich resident Irv Thomae explained to the Board that due to the passage of Act 68, the Finance Committee has reexamined indepth the impact of Act 144 on many Norwich taxpayers. Mr. Thomae defined both Act 144 & Act 68 & recommended that the Board consider adding an article to this year's warrant that would rescind Act 144. He gave a thorough rationale as to why the Finance Committee supported Act 144 last year and then explained his analysis concerning the relative benefits of rescinding Act 144 and allowing capital costs to be taxed under the school's budget in accordance with the provisions of Act 68. Board members concurred with Mr. Thomae in terms of drafting a warrant article that would repeal Act 144.

d) School District Warrant

The Superintendent discussed the draft of the proposed School District Warrant for the March 1 Norwich District Meeting. The warrant will be in final draft form in the next week or so. The Board briefly discussed the warrant articles and will further discuss the warrant at the next Board meeting on Thursday, January 15.

7. Business requiring Action

a) Approval of benefit changes

Linda Gray moved and Margaret McNally seconded a motion to approve the revised SAU Administrative I, II, and Administrative Assistant/Support benefits as revised and attached to the original minutes of the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

8. Future Agenda Items

There were no future agenda items aside from further budget talks at the next Board meeting on Thursday, January 15.

9. Adjournment

Margaret McNally moved and Paul Foster seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously. (9:30)

Respectfully submitted,

Amy Nickerson
Recording Secretary