NORTH
KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Wednesday,
January 30, 2002
7:00
PM School Budget Hearing/Worksession Meeting
Central
Administration Building 100 Fairway Drive
“Challenging Student Excellence” |
I.
Pledge of Allegiance
II.
Budget Hearing
A listing of personnel standards, a per pupil cost comparison of four
high schools closest in size to North Kingstown based on information from
Infoworks 2000, The Comprehensive Study of North Kingstown School Operations
for the North Kingstown Town Council, and projections of school rankings
were available to the audience.
¨
Mr. Bee brought
forth the following issues:
1.
How is
cost/student measured?
2.
The wall
construction materials at the high school.
3.
Cost/Benefit
Study for custodians.
4.
Custodians
based on per pupil basis.
5.
Budget “wiggle
room”.
6.
Cost/Benefit
analyses of non-instructional positions and the outsourcing of labor.
7.
Athletic field
landscaping services.
8.
Active review
of the budget by the school committee.
¨
Dr. Halley said
that alternatives are being looked at for the walls of the high school. Maintenance and cleaning are also
important. The superintendent mentioned
a need to look at ability to pay.
Twenty five percent of the budget comes from the state. Seven years ago, thirty three percent of the
budget was state funded.
¨
Mr. Mudge asked
questions on the following topics.
1.
Custodian
operational expenses at the high school.
2.
Utilities
costs.
3.
Operations and
maintenance expenses for plant.
III.
Call To Order The
worksession was called to order at 8:20 PM.
A. Roll Call Present: Chairperson Lynne Haft, Vice Chairperson Karin L. Forbes, Michael R. Northup, and Patricia E. Watkins
Absent: Denise Coppa, Dr. Janice
DeFrances, Carol H. Hueston, and Cathy Kaiser, Jamestown School Committee
Representative
Administration Present: James M. Halley, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, William J. Daly, Director of Human Resources, and Maureen Buck, Controller
Absent: Daniel J. McGregor, Ph.D., Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Barbara A. Fitzsimmons, Curriculum Director, and Joseph F. Quinn, Jr., Director of Administrative Services
IV.
Open Forum
¨ Muriel Camarra, President of the North Kingstown Taxpayers Organization, questioned the cost efficiency of the new high school, the flooring materials used at the high school, cost per student spending, and the budget figure for operations and maintenance.
¨ Mr. Mudge asked questions about equipment at the high school. Furniture and the septic system at the high school with regard to bond referendum money were also questioned.
V.
New Business
A.
2002-03 School
Budget, clock counter 1:40:00.
The school committee discussed the following
items.
1.
Custodian
costs.
2.
The status of
the high school.
3.
The role of
paraprofessionals.
4.
The in-house
management of Food Services and Transportation with respect to cost efficiency.
5.
The budget is
based on a set of standards.
VI.
Comments
¨ Mr. Mudge asked what projected revenues are, what is the projected number of Jamestown students, and who is liable for injuries at the high school.
¨ David Burnham commented regarding custodians at all the schools; likes the use of standards; had questions regarding furniture and following the budget; and when a shortfall is experienced, there is a need to prioritize and this will continue.
VII.
Motion to Adjourn was made by Mike
Northup/Pat Watkins (4/0) at 9:49 PM, clock counter 2:45:14.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________________________
Donna
F. Keough
School
Committee Secretary