School Committee Continues with New Building Process

Upon hearing the report given by Superintendent Willis about the ongoing exchange of information between the architectural firm Dore & Whittier and the school district, Chairman Gerald Venezia stated that it was time to create more opportunity for community input.

Venezia plans on contacting community activists in an effort to reach out to residents interested in participating in the planning of the school building project. Resident Julie Koeplee already expressed her concerns at a recent meeting of the Secondary School Building Committee (SSBC) about traffic at the . 

The committee noted the inadequacy of current parking at the high school and agreed on the importance of giving the community a voice in planning.

Recent administrative input

The administrative team of high school principal Jon Bernard, middle school principal John Faucer and Director of Pupil Services Patricia Bullard reported on the needs of the special education staff and the students they service to the SSBC.

"It was an outstanding report," said Willis. "It will serve the community well as we go forward planning for the needs of all the students the building will accommodate."

State to redistribute funds

Director of Finance and Operations Carl Nelson delivered good news. The state is prepared to return some of the money taken from the FY12 budget due to revisions made in the final budget passed by the legislature on July 1, 2011.

In addition, Representative Brad Jones informed Town Administrator Greg Balukonis that the exact amounts the cities and towns will receive has not yet been recalculated. Once amounts are determined and the governor signs the budget, the funds will be distributed in October.

Some funds are coming from the Chapter 70 "circuit breaker" account, which helps districts recoup special education expenses. Other monies will be returned through Unrestriced General Government Aid.

"It may not be a great deal of money," said Nelson. "But it will give us a cushion."

The committee voted all in favor of having the selectmen approve the appropriated funds for school use. Willis will prioritize the list of  underfunded accounts.

Regulatory relief from No Child Left Behind Act 

Mel Webster spoke to the issue of the expired legislation on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), commonly refered to as No Child Left Behind.

"The  ESEA is more than three years past due for reauthorization," explained Webster. "As the letter you have been given tonight from the American Association of School Administrators and the National School Board Association points out the regulations add a financial cost and an allocation of teaching resources which could be better spent."

Willis said she had no objection to signing the letter to Congress and to the Secretary of Education calling for reauthorization or regulatory relief without sanctions to districts. The committee voted all in favor of sending the letter to Washington.

Budget Booklet   

Carl Nelson reviewed the capital budget plan noting that the 1995 Special Education transportation vehicle was not approved for replacement.

"Contracting for the service is almost as costly in the first year as the total cost of a van," said Nelson. "At times we have relied on an employee's vehicle."

While that issue remains unresolved the district is consulting with experts regarding the replacement boiler at the and moving forward with the purchase of technology for the classroom to the extent provided for in the town warrant.

The Budget Booklet is available online.

Mistake corrected

Nelson reported that the dollar amount of $600,000 was mistakenly entered in the wrong category on the budget document. The error was caught and corrected but not before it was received by the state. The error has the effect of inflating the per pupil expenditure by aprroximately $200 more per pupil than is actually spent.

The superintendancy and leadership 

Superintendent Kathleen Wilis joined a conference on school leadership and strategies for achievement along with other state superintendents on Cape Cod in early July.

She reported to the committee that she and her administrative team have read the book recommend by the keynote speaker. They will discuss the strategies suggested and their implementation.

"I will be dovetailing the knowledge I've gained from the conference speakers with my entry plan for the district," Willis said. Further updates of her plans are expected.