NEWTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE

MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING – JUNE 14, 2001

EDUCATION CENTER, FRAZIER ROOM, 7:30 P.M.

PRESENT: Chairperson Verne Vance, Vice-Chairperson Anne Borg, Susan Albright, Rodney Barker, Susan Heyman, Nancy Levine, Andris Vizulis, Mayor David Cohen

ABSENT: Anne Larner, student representatives

CALL TO ORDER

Chairperson Verne Vance noted that this is a continuance of the recessed 6/11/01 regular meeting, for the purpose of completing discussion and action on the FY02 budget.

Mayor Cohen acknowledge the securing of the $600,000 METCO reimbursement, thanks in large part to a number of Newton and METCO parents who lobbied the legislature and to Senator Cynthia Creem for offering the amendment in the Senate. Finally, he wished to thank Senate President Thomas Birmingham for his assistance as well. In discussions with the Superintendent, they have come to agreement on ways to close all but $70,000 of the remaining gap and are confident they will be able to provide details on that balance soon.

On behalf of the Committee, Verne Vance thanked everyone who was instrumental in getting this additional funding.

Superintendent Jeffrey Young went over the final budget and list of adjustments. In terms of the remaining $200,000 gap and how that is to be addressed, the school system's contribution will be a $50,000 reduction in Instructional Support Staff (ISS). This is an area that had a $100,000 surplus, so they will be reducing that by half. The Mayor's contribution will be to cover the $80,000 MCAS grant that they are applying for, if it is not realized. The bottom line of the budget is $113,175, 197, or $5,178,877 (4.8%) over last year's spending.

Anne Borg noted that she will not put her motion from the last meeting back on the table to increase the elementary pilot programs by $26,000 because it is her understanding that the school system is investigating grant funding for this purpose. She asked about the secretarial cut in the transportation department.

Sandra Guryan, Assistant Superintendent for Business, Finance & Planning, explained that in trying to share the burden systemwide, cuts have been made across the board in teachers, aides, secretaries, and custodians. They felt that the cut should not come from the school level and this position has been vacant since March. The office includes the functions of both transportation and purchasing. It is their intention to manage with reduced staff.

Anne Borg expressed concern about how thin both the secretarial and custodial staff are, but understands the need to share the burden. While it is a difficult cut, she will reluctantly support the decision.

MOTION: It was moved to approve the FY02 budget

of $113,175,197.

(Heyman - Albright)

Discussion:

Nancy Levine will support this budget, although she would have preferred to pass the Superintendent's original proposal. This budget does not include many important items. However, she is grateful to the people who helped get them to where they are this evening and realizes they could have been in an even worse situation.

Susan Albright acknowledged the concerns expressed by the public around the Chinese language program at Underwood Elementary School and the high school auto body program. She hopes the former can continue in some manner through grant funding and that the latter can be addressed through the auto mechanics course.

Andy Vizulis stated that each year they develop budget guidelines that reflect the direction in which they feel the school system should be heading, only to reach a point where they need to make cuts to the program and never realize their goals. This must be as frustrating a process for the administration as it is for the School Committee. They must try to find other means of funding education. This will be a challenge for the community and future school committees.

Susie Heyman noted that it is very difficult to have to determine what to preserve as core during difficult financial times with many competing interests. The Committee mourns every cut they are forced to make. However, this budget preserves the integrity of what is most important to the system.

Rodney Barker is not as pessimistic as others and actually is surprised that it took so long for them to reach this dire financial situation, which he was certain would have happened several years ago. The City has done remarkably well in terms of fiscal management. It is fairly obvious how they have gotten to the point they are at, given that education is funded through property taxes, which are then limited to an increase of no more than 2 1/2%. That amount cannot meet the rate of inflation. In addition, special education mandates eat up a great deal of this funding. An override is the only way in which they can get additional money for the schools.

Verne Vance agreed with Mr. Barker's statements. It was certainly an easier time when school committees had fiscal autonomy and they were able to achieve the high reputation for which Newton is noted. He recalled the attempt in 1989 to pass an override, which failed most likely because it was premature, which is probably no longer the case. The budget they passed this evening represents the best they feel they can do with available funds.

Senator Cynthia Creem thanked the Committee for their kind words of praise for her efforts in obtaining the additional funding, but noted that it was really the work of many people lobbying the legislature, her colleagues on both the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as Senate President Birmingham and Senator Montigne, who had to find the money in a budget they had already deemed closed.

Jeffrey Young stated that the administration and staff are committed to making this budget work next year. It will require a Herculean effort on the part of everyone in the system and he has no doubt that people will rise to the occasion. He paid particular kudos to the principals, who manage the buildings on a daily basis, with limited support and resources, and who do an exceptional job. He stands ready to work with everyone to return them to the glory days of education in Newton.

Verne Vance echoed the Superintendent's comments with regard to the work of the principals, which he experienced firsthand this year in his tours of every school.

Vote on motion to approve budget: 8 - 0 - 1

Absent: Larner

PUBLIC COMMENT

Amy LeClair, 12 Jenison St., Copresident of the PTO Council, stated that while this is a painful budget, the Council is committed to helping the administration in whatever way they can to make it work.

Bette Lupo, President of the Newton Educational Secretaries Association (NESA), stated that earlier this week they had a field trip planned. At 6:50 a.m., they were alerted that a handicapped child that originally was not slated to go on the trip was going to attend. They were not able to contact anyone in the transportation department to work out the logistics until 7:40 a.m. The transportation secretary used to be in that office at 7:00 a.m. These are the type of situations they can expect given this cut. She noted that the cut amounts to 4% of their workforce. Their association members are feeling very undervalued and demoralized. The ISS cuts will also have an impact on secretaries, who must see that all classes are covered by these aides when a teacher calls in sick. This is only going to be more difficult.

Faye Ruopp, 25 Groveland St., thanked the Mayor for his efforts in helping to close the gap. However, there are still many frustrated parents who do not understand why surrounding communities have been able to override Proposition 2 1/2 to obtain necessary education funding. Newton's educational budget has been decimated for so many years and staff and students work under adverse conditions. She is surprised so many people continue to hang in and stick out these horrible times.

Barry Golden, 114 Eliot Ave., talked about students at Day Middle School, who are currently being warehoused with no teacher because of lack of funding in the substitute account. He has concerns about this impacting on their safety and hopes this practice will not occur again next year.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.