January 10, 2008
Minutes
Filed subject to approval.
Present: Allan, Cohen, Katz, Maiorano, Treidel, Underberger
Administration: Fossbender, Mas, Sullivan, Fox-Santora, Doak, Dekle
Others: a representative of the Connecticut Post
Dr. Katz called the meeting to order at 7:37 pm.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: move to accept the minutes of the December 12,
2007 meeting as corrected. Allan,
Treidel. Approved. Unanimous.
Correction: page 1, under Administrators’ Priorities, the Library/Media position is a para-professional position.
DISCUSSION ESTIMATED
COST AND EXPENDITURES FOR 2008-2009 SCHOOL YEAR
Dr. Fossbender began the discussion with an overview of progress during the 2007-2008 school year. He highlighted strides being made to advance personalized learning, improve student performance, maintain class size, advance curriculum, improve professional development, maintain conducive school environment, and to maintain facilities.
The working draft of the 2008-2009 budget included an increase of 5.4% needed to maintain the current programs and services. This number included one additional grade 6 teacher and an additional 0.2 music teacher at HKMS.
Proposed improvements, a budget increase of 2.0%, would include a writing specialist at SSES (0.4 FTE increase), textbooks for social studies and mathematics, an autism teacher (0.4 FTE increase), a paraprofessional in the Media Center (HKMS) (0.5 FTE increase), data analysis and data management, capital improvements, technology replacement at SSES, Special Education paraprofessional (HKMS), social worker (SSES) (0.6 FTE), and a Tri-State Evaluation. Additional information was provided by the administrators.
Board members were asked to email questions or requests for additional information to Mrs. Sullivan.
Dr. Fossbender stated that additional information will be available within the month, including more data on insurance costs, oil prices, and retirements. In addition, the concept of a unified bus schedule (K-8) is being explored. The unified schedule would reduce fuel consumption and allow for near concurrent start times at both schools.
Additional discussion was scheduled for the January 15, 2008 meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: move to adjourn the January 10, 2008 meeting. Allan, Underberger.
The meeting adjourned at 8:32 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Al Treidel, Board of Education Secretary
Recorded by Mary Maday