Present: Norman Eames, Chairperson, Gloria Coffin and Theresa Choquette
Also Present: Pauline Plourde, Business Administrator,
Rebecca Hebert-Sweeny, Director of Special Services, Steven Welford, Interim
Superintendent (arrived at 7:20) and Mary Cote, teacher.
Mr. Welford informed the board that he had met with the teachers and staff. Updated Salary Schedules were presented for both teachers and paraprofessionals. For teachers, they will be placed on steps based on experience of which 4 steps were removed at the beginning of the scale to better align first step salaries with the surrounding communities and capped at Step 15. The paraprofessionals will have a 5-Step scale with $.75 increments. It was suggested to place the most experienced para on Step 3 for $10.50 per hour. The paras have also asked for the possibility of benefits to include sick and bereavement days similar to teachers but not the same number of days. As for the principal, Steve informed the board that the staff had asked that Mrs. Urso be given special consideration when negotiating her salary. To that effect, Steve has suggested $42,000 for a $5,150 increase because Kathy will be completing her alternative program and will be a fully certified principal next year. He believes there should be a bigger salary difference from the highest paid teacher.
After discussion on the salary steps and the effect on the budget, it was decided that a new schedule will be formulated removing only 2 steps instead of the 4 and present the effect at the next board meeting.
Other items discussed relative to the budget outside of salaries are as follows:
- 1100-4421 – copier costs are for the lease of a copier. The lease is due for renewal and various options will be investigated.
- 1100-6100 – teaching supplies were revised to increase to better reflect last year’s actual costs.
- 1150 – Becky explained what constitutes Section 504 costs and the various scenarios. Students who are not identified but need extra help or are transitioning out of Special Education may need additional help. Carol Tremblay is now targeted to assist 25% of her time to this budget and 75% to regular education support.
- 1200-1150-15 – a new paraprofessional will be hired for a one-to-one but will be fully reimbursed by the County.
- 1200-3210-35 – an increase is due to the need for additional para support at the high school.
- 1200-8100 – the $200 fee for Medicaid was omitted.
- 1430-3210-35 – summer school para support will decrease to $1,000.
- 2130-1100 – the nurse’s salary will increase by roughly $6,000 due to a student medical need. The nurse will be budgeted for 180 days for 3 ½ hours per day. The lines will be adjusted to reflect this change.
- 2152-3230-35 – there will be a need for speech pathology at the high school level at a projected cost of $1,500.
- 2310-1120 – It was suggested that the Board might want to adjust their stipends for the services they provide. After some discussion it was agreed to increase the chair stipend to $350 and the members to $250 for a slight increase of $150 per member.
- 2722-5190-35 – it was necessary to increase the budgeted amount to $5,760 to allow for transportation to and from school.
- 5251-9310 – the Technology CRF will increase to $2,000.
- 5252-9300 – it was suggested to add $3,000 to the Special Education Expendable Trust.
Tuition Responsibility - Mr. Welford informed the Board that the District has no financial responsibility once a student reaches the age of 19 for a regular education child and 21 for special education.