Easton, Redding & Region 9 Boards of Education
Special Joint Meeting Minutes
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Joel Barlow High School Learning Commons
ATTENDANCE
Boards of Education:
Easton: Bindelglass, Chieda, Hicks, Parker, Shortt
Redding: Denny, Gaspar, Hoffman, Irwin=
Region 9: Coppinger, D’Agostino, Hancock, Hocker, King, Sobel, Johnston (7:59 p.m.)
Administration: McMorran, Pierson Ugol, Pin
Members of the Public: Approximately 5 members of the public/staff were in attendance.
Mr. Hancock called the Region 9 Meeting to order at 7:33 pm.
Mr. Parker called the Easton Meeting to order at 7:33 p.m.
Dr. Irwin called the Redding Meeting to order at 7:33 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
None
BOARD MEMBER COMMENT:
Dr. Irwin thanked Ms. Sobel for her service on the Redding Board of Education and presented her with a token of their appreciation.
Mr. Parker announced that at their meeting on February 15, 2017, the Easton Board of Education agreed to present a 1.1% budget increase to the Board of Finance. He stated that they are looking forward to the year ahead.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION:
2017-2018 CENTRAL OFFICE OPERATING BUDGET
Dr. McMorran presented a document to the Boards detailing the Administration’s Proposed 2017-18 Central Office Operating Budget. The request is for $1,643,839, which represents an increase over last year of 1.85%.
Discussion regarding the Superintendent’s proposed budget for the 2017-2018 school year ensued.
Mr. Hoffman asked why there was a significant increase in the pension contribution. Mr. Coppinger replied that some actuarial assumptions were updated, and that the investment % to meet future obligations was also updated. Mr. Gaspar noted that salaries rose, expected returns are down, and that these changes in benefit plans were similar across many industries.
There was a discussion on the 8% increase in salary for the Human Resource Manager. Mr. Hoffman asked if there was a long-term plan for this position. Dr. McMorran noted that Central Office has a limited number of staff members, and it is challenging to complete the workload associated with both day-to day operations and budget preparations. He mentioned that he felt the Human Resource Manager should receive greater compensation to reflect the demands associated with the position.
Mr. Coppinger made a request for better document management. He asked that updated copies arrive in a more timely fashion to Region 9 Board Members. Dr. McMorran responded that Central Office is squeezed personnel-wise, and that they are doing the best they can. They are currently operating without a full-time Director of Finance, and this is taxing on the staff. Mr. D’Agostino wondered how increasing the compensation for current staff members would address the concerns of Dr. McMorran related to workload. He remarked that he felt it is difficult to justify increasing the Central Office Budget while proposing to reduce the General Education Budget.
Mr. Hancock thanked the Administration for their work during budget season and noted his support of them changing and working with the budget over time. He stated that Central Office is very important and they are instrumental with working with the Boards to support changes and reductions. Mr. Parker stated that he believes that the Administration is asking for what is fair, and that he trusts their decisions and proposals. Dr. Bindelglass mentioned that the Tri-Board’s strategy has always been “get more for less”, and that there will be necessary sacrifices that come along with these decisions.
Motion: Move that the Easton Board of Education approve the Superintendent’s Proposed Central Office Budget of $1,643,839 for the 2017-2018 school year, representing an increase of 1.85%, as presented. Shortt, Chieda. Approved. Unanimous 5-0.
Motion: Move that the Redding Board of Education accept the Superintendent’s Proposed Central Office Budget of $1,643,839 for the 2017-2018 school year, representing an increase of 1.85%, as presented. Gaspar, Hoffman. Approved. Unanimous 4-0.
Motion: Move that the Region 9 Board of Education accept the Superintendent’s Proposed Central Office Budget of $1,643,839 for the 2017-2018 school year, representing an increase of 1.85%, as presented. Coppinger, Hocker. Approved. 5-2 (D’Agostino, Sobel opposed)
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION:
2017-2018 AND 2018-2019 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDARS
The Easton Board of Education noted they had previously voted to approve the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 School Year Calendars as presented.
Motion: Move that the Redding Board of Education accept the School Year Calendars for the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years, as presented. Denny, Hoffman. Approved. Unanimous 4-0.
Motion: Move that the Region 9 Board of Education accept the School Year Calendars for the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years, as presented. Sobel, Coppinger. Approved. Unanimous 7-0.
Discussion regarding the calendars for the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years ensued.
STATUS OF HEALTH INSURANCE RESERVE ACCOUNT
Dr. McMorran announced that the amount was slightly higher than the last couple of years in the same month.
Discussion regarding the status of the Health Insurance Reserve Account ensued.
APPROVAL OF EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
Discussion regarding the employment contracts ensued.
Motion: Move that the Easton Board of Education approve the employment contracts of the Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendent as presented. Shortt, Chieda. Approved. Unanimous. 4-0.
Motion: Move that the Redding Board of Education approve the employment contracts of the Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendent as presented. Gaspar, Hoffman. Approved. Unanimous. 4-0.
Motion: Move that the Region 9 Board of Education approve the employment contracts of the Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendent as presented. Sobel, Coppinger. Approved Unanimous. 7-0.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
None.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENT:
Ms. Chieda stated that she does not like how far the Administration is pushed during these discussions. She noted that the Districts could not risk losing the Superintendent.
Ms. Shortt agreed with Ms. Chieda and added that the Administration is working excessively hard, and that they need to be recognized for their efforts.
Dr. Gaspar pointed out that this was the fourth superintendent in eight years.
Mr. Coppinger stated that his intention was never to give Administration a hard time, but to address issues in a public forum. He agreed that the Administration could not be “burnt out”, but he was not willing to “push aside” issues that were stirring. He noted his appreciation for the work Central Office was doing, and that perhaps the Tri-Board model was inefficient. He would again request timely and up to date information moving forward.
Mr. D’Agostino stated his appreciation for the diligence of the Administration. He recognized that there were tough questions asked, but that the Board’s role was to represent the community and their concerns. The board has a responsibility to play an active role in the budget process and decision-making and that involves asking detailed questions.
Dr. Bindelglass recognized the huge public turnout at the prior evening’s Easton BoE meeting. He noted the mobilization of parents reflected changing views in the Easton community. The public will fight for the education system they believe the town deserves and requires.
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion: Move that the Region 9 Board of Education adjourn the meeting at 8:51pm. Sobel, King. Approved. Unanimous. 7-0.
Motion: Move that the Easton Board of Education adjourn the meeting at 8:51pm. Chieda, Shortt. Approved. Unanimous. 5-0.
Motion: Move that the Redding Board of Education adjourn the meeting at 8:51pm. Denny, Hoffman. Approved. Unanimous. 4-0
Submitted by,
Mike D’Agostino, Region 9 Board of Education
Recorded by,
Elise Cavanaugh