Filed subject to approval

 

REDDING BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL MEETING

Redding Town Hall

March 31, 2008

 

Present:  Brey, Gaspar, Goldberg, Joyce-Kirk (6:55), Lewson, Miller

Administration:  Fossbender, Sullivan

Others:  Frank DeSalvo

 

Mr. Lewson called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:  None

 

BOARD MEMBER COMMENT:  None

 

DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION:  2007-2008 OPERATING BUDGET

 

The Redding Board of Finance requested the Redding Board of Education to examine its current operating budget to determine if additional savings or reductions could be made in light of the revenue shortfall experienced by the Town.  The administration determined that some additional reductions could be accomplished, including:

 

Reducing the Health Insurance contribution:                                           $50,000

Defer the re-paving and paving of parking at RES:                                 $25,000*

Reduction of curriculum related salary, printing, and supply costs:           $5,387

Reduction of costs related to JRMS software, professional

  development, and testing:                                                                    $8,800

Reduction of costs related to RES furniture, professional

  development, software, and supplies:                                       $5,300

Reduction of other professional development:                            $8,200

 

*The administration recommended that the paving and re-paving of parking spaces at RES be moved to the Town’s capital expenditures budget to be completed during the summer of 2008.

 

In addition to the identification of the paving of the RES parking as a town capital item, the administration further recommended that the Board make the reductions and cuts described above contingent upon the placement of the following items into the Town capital budget to be accomplished during the summer of 2008:

 

Repairs to the RES West Wing stairs:                                        $25,000

Classroom conversion at JRMS to accommodate additional

  5th grade class:                                                                                    $28,000**

 

**The JRMS classroom conversion was in the Board’s budget request

For 2008/2009.

 

 

Discussion of the administrations recommendations followed.

 

Motion:  move that expenditures from the 2007/2008 be reduced by an additional $102,687, such cuts to be allocated by the superintendent consistent with his recommendation.  Such reduction is contingent upon the Town’s acceptance of the following capital items as capital expenditures to be paid by the Town:

 

  • Repair of the RES West Wing Stairs to be accomplished by September 1, 2008 ($25,000)
  • Paving and re-paving of parking spaces at RES to be accomplished by September 1, 2008

 

Miller, Brey, Unanimous (Joyce-Kirk was not present for the vote). 

 

During discussion of the motion, Ms. Sullivan indicated the Board would discuss the location of any new parking spaces at RES at a future meeting.

 

Motion:  move that the Board’s budget request for 2008/2009 be reduced by $28,000.  Such reduction is contingent upon the acceptance by the Town of the imperative classroom conversion at JRMS as a Town capital expense to be paid by the town.  The reduction is further contingent upon the critical classroom conversion being completed by August 20, 2008.

 

Miller, Gaspar.  Brey, Gaspar, Goldberg, Lewson, Miller in favor.  Joyce-Kirk abstained.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:08 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Lewis Brey, Secretary