Lyme School District
Regular School Board Meeting
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Lyme Elementary School
Meeting Minutes
Approved w/changes 1/22/09

Board Members Present: Peter Glenshaw, Audrey Brown, Emily Dentzer, Tom Goodrich, Kevin Kerin, Dan Parish, Mark Schiffman. Administrators Present: Gordon Schnare, Jeff Valence. Recorder: Audrey Brown.

Call to order 6:10 by chair
Purpose of meeting is to discuss changes to budget since our last meeting.

Biggest change relates to $100,000 designated for high school trust. Plan with original budget had been to put $100,000 into the trust. That money would have come from this year’s surplus, but if it doesn’t go into the trust, it could instead could remain with surplus as part of tax rebate. Because the school has a bubble class (one of two very large classes) entering high school in fall 2009, it’s logical to consider drawing down, rather than contributing to, the high school trust.

Request at last board meeting was for administration to draw up a draft budget with closer to a 0% increase. Presuming a surplus associated with the budget under consideration, presuming we can get the school budget to a 0% increase, and presuming no changes to state revenues, school budget could help to reduce the tax burden to the town. We do not yet know how potential changes in state revenue will impact the current budget. It was noted that due to unexpected changes in high school and special education costs, last year we had a surplus that effectively reduced the budget by 3%, meaning that the overall increase last year ended up at 0%.

Budget under discussion, as drafted, is up .05% from last year’s budget with no impacts directly on program. In this budget there is no professional librarian (estimated savings of $12,329), there is a reduction of .5 FTE due to moving on of large eighth grade class (estimated savings of $34,000); there is a reduction in high school tuition costs due to expectation that several additional students will choose St. Johnsbury Academy over Hanover High School (estimated savings of $14,000); and there is no money designated for the high school trust fund (savings of $100,000). Included in this budget is a 4% pay raise for support staff and administrators; an estimate of cost of various items currently under discussion in teacher contract negotiations; a math enrichment/differentiation coordinator position (at an estimated cost of $27,422); and a writing instructor ($10,000).

Budget reflects a 3.9 percent increase in core Lyme School elementary/middle school budget. This is within the school’s strategic plan and town’s original request.

The board doesn’t know at this point what high school tuition increases will be. The hope is that increases will be low as all schools are trying to keep costs down this year.

One concern that is expressed is that the elementary and middle schools continue to be underfunded. Surpluses in high school budgets have allowed that to continue. Concern is that if we underfund high school budgets, there’s no cushion for unexpected expenses (to building, technology, necessary hires, food service, etc.) at the elementary/middle school.
There is board agreement with the superintendent’s recommendation that the board look to funding certified librarian position as soon as possible, but given the current budget situation, this should be temporarily put on hold.

Both the writing instructor and math differentiation coordinator positions are key to school operation and to keeping future costs manageable. Current situation at the school is that there are only two classes that are not at a “tipping point” in size. By giving adequate attention to special needs (both remedial and enrichment) the school will be less likely to have to split large classes, which would lead to significant additional teacher and facility costs, and will be more likely to keep students out of special education, which can be very costly.

It was asked whether it would be possible to bring increase down to a solid 0% increase. Sense is that it is possible by making small cost reductions from various line items, particularly in cost of out-of-district special education placements, which look like they will be less than anticipated at start of budget process.

The board will meet again on Thursday, December 18, to review final changes to budget and to look at revenue figures.

Into nonpublic at 7:23 for discussion of staffing and personnel issues and teacher negotiations.

Non Public Session Minutes

Returned to nonpublic at 8:15

Adjourn at 8:20 p.m. (Brown, Kerin).