REDDING BOARD OF EDUCATION
Regular Meeting With Budget Workshop Minutes
John Read Middle School Community Room
January 9, 2020
ATTENDANCE
Board of Education: Parkin, Hoffman, Oulton, Pilato, Reilly
Absent: Hoeing
Delayed: Whaley (Arrived at 8:35 p.m.)
Administration: McMorran, Ugol, Reiss, Hammond, Amori, Wallin, Del Conte, Hankla
Members of the Public: Approximately 5
CALL TO ORDER
C. Parkin called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENT
C. Parkin referenced that the Board has been made aware of a vacancy and suggested the Board approve adding the vacancy to the agenda to allow for discussion.
Motion: Move that the Board approve the following revision to the agenda: Add Board Vacancy as new item 4A. (Reilly, Oulton). Unanimous
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: VACANCY
C. Parkin explained that L. Hoeing has announced her resignation from the Board and in accordance with Board Bylaws, the vacancy was officially being announced publicly in the meeting. Discussion of how to proceed with filling the vacancy followed. Schedule options were discussed and C. Parkin suggested the vacancy be announced on Board Social Media outlets.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: 2020-2021 OPERATING BUDGET
S. Reiss informed the Board that some small adjustments needed to be made to the printed version of the budget previously provided to the Board such as an additional $5,500 for the JRMS Principal Search, an additional $800 for Curriculum & Instruction textbooks, and the subtraction of the extra PE teacher at RES.
Discussion continued to the topics of the Latin Program at JRMS, Workers Comp Insurance, Human Resource budgeting, Health Insurance, Private School Tuition, use of legal counsel in Special Services, any upcoming changes to Pension Funding, Transportation, lease to own equipment plans, regionalization opportunities, advocacy opportunities at the State-level, class-size, and Art and Music staffing.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
M. D’Agostino, Glen Hill Rd, Redding, M. D’Agostino suggested that the Board announce any anticipated schedule changes to offerings at JRMS before the budget vote to help people understand the impact. He asked for more clarity into how staffing reductions will be distributed and shared his concern that reductions might impact retention of staff members. He also shared his perspective on the transition from paras to BTs over the years in Special Services.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENT
C. Parkin thanked J. Wyss from the Board of Finance for attending the meeting.
H. Whaley thanked C. Parkin for moving the meeting along.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: move to adjourn the meeting. (Hoffman, Whaley). Unanimous
The meeting adjourned at 9:31 p.m.
Recorded and Submitted by Colleen Pilato
Redding Board of Education Secretary