DRAFT MINUTES - PITTSFIELD SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.
Pittsfield Town Office Building
AGENDA
1. Call to Order: Kris calls the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. with A.J. and Richard Seaman present.
2. Amendments to the Agenda: None.
3. Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting: December 13, 2017
4. Community Engagement/Public Comment: None.
5. Action/Discussion Items
□ New Business:
o Payment Order #5: Ironwood School ½ secondary tuition $7,565; Sharon Academy ½ two secondary students $22,695; Addison Central School 1 secondary student $16,673; Killington preschool ¼ 2 students $1,589; US Treasury employer tax $191.25; Vermont Tech tuition 1 student $1,790: Total $50,503.25. A.J. moves to approve, Kris seconds, so moved.
o FY 2019 Budget Work: The board discusses Richard’s proposed budget based on prior input. We identify the potential surplus in the account as a concern and strategize as to how best to assure we are not asking for more in taxes than is required. We discuss the aspects of the education budget that are out of our control, including numbers of children, individualized costs for some children, administrative costs and state-wide tax rate decisions. We discuss aspects that we do have control over, including assuming continuing savings from prior years for special education and administration costs and keeping track of where each student will be attending and budgeting accordingly. Given the surplus, Kris moves to amend the budget to delete the two primary and two secondary student spots that we had in place to account for historic trends of students moving in to town during the new year. We also deleted an excess cost special education cost that was not strictly tied to an existing child, and delete prior year (bill back) costs. This would reduce our surplus but Richard will review costs and provide a revised budget to assure we are not carrying over more than is appropriate, about $100 to $200k. Budget tabled until special meeting to be determined later this meeting.
o FY 2018 Directors’ Report discussion:
□ Old Business:
o Review and Approve Checkbook Reconciliation: Tabled until next month.
6. Reports: None.
7. Agenda Setting for February Meeting: Town Meeting preparation.
8. Adjournment: Kris moves to adjourn at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by A.J. Ruben
Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.
Pittsfield Town Office Building
AGENDA
1. Call to Order: Kris calls the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. with A.J. and Richard Seaman present.
2. Amendments to the Agenda: None.
3. Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting: December 13, 2017
4. Community Engagement/Public Comment: None.
5. Action/Discussion Items
□ New Business:
o Payment Order #5: Ironwood School ½ secondary tuition $7,565; Sharon Academy ½ two secondary students $22,695; Addison Central School 1 secondary student $16,673; Killington preschool ¼ 2 students $1,589; US Treasury employer tax $191.25; Vermont Tech tuition 1 student $1,790: Total $50,503.25. A.J. moves to approve, Kris seconds, so moved.
o FY 2019 Budget Work: The board discusses Richard’s proposed budget based on prior input. We identify the potential surplus in the account as a concern and strategize as to how best to assure we are not asking for more in taxes than is required. We discuss the aspects of the education budget that are out of our control, including numbers of children, individualized costs for some children, administrative costs and state-wide tax rate decisions. We discuss aspects that we do have control over, including assuming continuing savings from prior years for special education and administration costs and keeping track of where each student will be attending and budgeting accordingly. Given the surplus, Kris moves to amend the budget to delete the two primary and two secondary student spots that we had in place to account for historic trends of students moving in to town during the new year. We also deleted an excess cost special education cost that was not strictly tied to an existing child, and delete prior year (bill back) costs. This would reduce our surplus but Richard will review costs and provide a revised budget to assure we are not carrying over more than is appropriate, about $100 to $200k. Budget tabled until special meeting to be determined later this meeting.
o FY 2018 Directors’ Report discussion:
□ Old Business:
o Review and Approve Checkbook Reconciliation: Tabled until next month.
6. Reports: None.
7. Agenda Setting for February Meeting: Town Meeting preparation.
8. Adjournment: Kris moves to adjourn at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by A.J. Ruben