Special Meeting
Region 9 Board of Education Budget Workshop
March 9, 2017
MINUTES
ATTENDEES:
Board of Education: Coppinger, D’Agostino, Gombos, Hancock, Hocker, Johnston, King, Sobel
Administration: McMorran, Pierson Ugol, Pin, Lagas, Czudak, Desmarais, McTague, Panos, Roszko, Santangeli, Schemm, Staron
Others: Approximately 20 members of the public
Mr. Hancock called the meeting to order at 7:33 pm
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
MOTION: Move to approve the minutes from the February 28th Regular Board of Education Meeting. Gombos, D’Agostino. Approved. Mr. Johnston and Ms. Sobel abstained.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Kiko Teed, Rockhouse Road, Easton, spoke in support of retaining the art position.
David Monson, Newtown Turnpike, Redding, spoke in support of keeping athletics.
Jim Castonguay, Blueberry Hill Road, Redding, spoke in support keeping athletics.
Brad Dudas, Firehill Road, Redding, spoke in support of keeping athletics.
Heather Satin, Farview Farm, Redding, spoke in support of keeping programs and athletics.
Linda Mitchell, Redding, attended the earlier meeting and thanked the board. She appreciated the thoughtful discussion.
BOARD COMMENT
Ms. Sobel apologized for missing a few meetings due to illness.
Mr. Coppinger said he appreciated all the hard work the administration has done and requested that he have more time to look at the information they provide. He didn’t receive the presentations until a few hours before the meeting.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION
2017-2018 Operating Budget
Gina Pin presented the following documents and answered questions:
• Course Averages By Discipline
• Conference and Travel (Object 580) Breakdown of Reductions
• Special Education Student Exiting Program Projections
• Pay To Participate Options
• Field Usage Data for Revenue
• Incremental Reductions
PUBLIC COMMENT
Linda Meyer, Huckleberry Road, Redding, wanted to know if the state budget cuts don’t get approved can the board put the additional money back into the general operating budget later.
Angele Matsuoka, Sunnyview Drive, Redding, thanked the board and spoke in support of keeping athletics, robotics, the writing paraprofessional and pay to participate fees.
Dana Grey, Lampost Drive, Redding, thanked Mr. D’Agostino for finding $89,000 Education Cost Sharing money from previous budget calculations and putting it back into the budget. She also spoke in support of pay to participate fees and renting the fields and expressed concern over increasing taxes.
Jeanne Wendschuh, Deer Spring Road, Redding, said she would like pay to participate fees listed as revenue and that transparency about these fees was important.
David Monson, Newtown Turnpike, Redding, spoke in support of pay to participate fees.
BOARD COMMENT
Mr. Coppinger said that if the board budgets for less Education Cost Sharing money, but later gest that money, the board can only apply the money to the capital reserve fund, the pension, and health insurance expenses by law. He noted that the money can be returned to the member Towns.
Mr. D’Agostino said he wanted more information about the Learning Commons paraprofessional as well as other data.
Mrs. Gombos reiterated the restrictions on applying budgeted funds for Education Cost Sharing which may be covered by the State.
Mr. King said it was important to listen to the recommendations of the superintendent and administration. He is concerned about micromanagement.
Mr. Johnston said he appreciates all the input.
MOTION: Move to adjourn the meeting. D’Agostino, Coppinger. Approved. Unanimous.
Meeting adjourned at 11:02 p.m.
Submitted by: Catherine Gombos
Recorded by: Paula Darlington