REGION 9 BOARD OF EDUCATION
Special Meeting
Joel Barlow High School – Library Learning Commons
Tuesday, May 15, 2018 – 7:30 p.m.
Minutes
ATTENDANCE
Region 9 Board of Education members: D’Agostino, Coppinger, Hocker, Denny, Johnston, Hancock, Williams, Graziano (arrived 8:20)
Administration: Dr. Pin and six other staff members
Others: Approximately 15 members of public, videographer
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. D’Agostino called the meeting to order at 7:37 pm.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Jeff Fligelman, Redding – encouraged the dissemination of better information about the budget; indicated agreement with eliminating the School Resource Officer (SRO) position if that became necessary.
Kathy Katts, Easton – expressed thanks for the school’s support of the recent mock crash; supports measures to promote student safety; encourages more participation at ERCCC meetings; opposes cuts to the music program.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENT
Mr. Coppinger clarified that the board was prohibited from expending public resources to advocate for passage of the budget.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: 2018-2019 OPERATING BUDGET
Dr. Pin distributed a document itemizing potential cuts to the budget that failed to pass in the May 8 referendum, including three layers totaling 14 items, for a total potential reduction of $293,909. She reviewed each potential cut and its impact. Board members then asked questions and received responses on individual items. After questions and answers, board members individually expressed more general views of appropriate budget reductions.
Motion: Move to approve the reductions itemized in the first two layers of potential cuts, plus the reduction of one English teacher to 0.82 FTE included in the third layer; total reduction would be $251,825, for a total proposed budget of $24,231,628 or 1.86% over the previous year’s approved budget. Hocker, Hancock. Motion failed 3-5; Hocker, Hancock and Denny voted in favor; Johnston, D’Agostino, Williams, Coppinger, and Graziano voted against.
Motion: Move to eliminate the position of the School Resource Officer (SRO) for a savings of approximately $87,000 (note: this was intended as a separate reduction in addition to any other reductions that might be made). Coppinger, Williams. Motion failed 2-6; Coppinger and Williams voted in favor; Denny, Johnston, Hancock, D’Agostino, Hocker, and Graziano voted against.
Motion: Move to approve the reductions itemized in the first layer of potential cuts, the reductions in the second layer of cuts except for the elimination of a Secretary position, and the reductions in the third layer of cuts except for the elimination of freshman basketball programs; total reduction would be $242,961, for a total proposed budget of $24,240,492 or 1.90% over the previous year’s approved budget. Hancock, Williams. Approved 5-3; Denny, Hancock, D’Agostino, Hocker, and Williams voted in favor; Johnston, Coppinger, and Graziano opposed.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Chris Parkin, Redding – expressed dismay at the elimination of the Latin I course and its potential effect on the Latin program at John Read Middle School.
Jeff Fligelman, Redding – expressed opposition to the elimination of the Latin I course.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENT
Each board member made comments, with main points including the need for effective communication with the public regarding the budget and need for more long-range planning.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: move to adjourn the meeting. Coppinger, Graziano. Approved. Unanimous.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:29 p.m.
Recorded and Submitted by
Chris Hocker, Region 9 Board of Education Secretary