The meeting began around 6pm in the library auditorium. It went straight to executive session "to discuss the employment history of an individual." The executive session lasted an hour.

At 7pm the meeting resumed. There was an audience of about 20. Board Members Freeman-Resch and Giudice were not present.

There were the usual introductions.

Assistant Superintendent of Finance Pacella: budget-to-budget decrease is at 3.95m. Cuts total 6.444m. Without using fund balance at a 1.03% increase in tax levy.

Pacella: Recomendation for an additional maintenance position at a cost of $56k. There is a need to retain a position slated for elimination due to EPA law requiring recycling and tracking of mercury filled lightbulbs. The mandate will cost ~15k without personnel.

Board Member Vesely: is $56k step 7 civil service?

Assistant Superintendent Human Resources Leimer: salary might be around $39k, total includes benefits.

Pacella: this change avoids a layoff.

Vote to add a maintenance position: all Yes.

Pacella: Recommendation to fund a violence prevention program, at cost of $250k.

Superintendent of Schools Saturnelli: we're close to finalizing budget. Community sessions have been held about proactive actions that can be taken to prevent violence. As a district can keep buildings open more, and provide opportunities beyond academic. Can provide safe places for kids to go with organized programs. Opportunity to expand Council for Unity at High School; violence prevention coordinator could use additional help. It's an amount of money we could do a lot with in a lot of places. Could also do some kind of intramural program.

Board Member DeMarco: last week proposed guidance counselors. That was defeated and maay have helped with these issues. Concerned about adding positions.

Board Member McAfee: this is an important area, perhaps more important than early literacy program. Would like to see an hispanic counterpart to Mark Wallace.

Woodhull: also supports. Concerned about FBI warnings; sees this as a way to demonstrate support.

Board President Fucheck: School Resources Officers are also something we support, but that's only three people.

Board Vice President Poppiti: supports. But concerned about open endedness of program.

DeMarco: can you provide examples of program, who and when.

Saturnelli: expand programs with Wallace and Harvey during the day. Intramural programs after the school day. Needs to be flexible and organized, safe places for kids to go.

DeMarco: supports. But concerned about having to make reductions next year. Would hate to set something up to be first thing to go next year.

Poppiti: you're not adding new positions to do this

Saturnelli: correct.

McAfee: would like to see additional position to work in violence prevention area.

Vote on addition of 250k to budget for violence prevention programs: all Yes.

Pacella: that wraps up Senior Staff recomendations. Athletics budget was an additional topic that we await Board's direction on.

Vesely: don't see where additional cuts can be made.

McAfee: thought we were interested in a 2.5% cut.

Pacella: board didn't have a consensus on that.

Bowles: supports 2.5% cut.

DeMarco: any suggestions from Athletic Director.

Pacella: never asked.

Poppiti: no big items to reduce, you'd have to pick a sport to cut to accomplish this kind of cut. When follow through on reorg may be ways to save, bug percentage doesn't work.

Fucheck: largest line item involves stipends which can't be addressed because it's contractual.

DeMarco: security and supervision amounts to close to 98k.

Pacella: for supervision, whatever number Board chooses sets the level. We will manage within that level.

McAfee: there have been cuts with CSEA, NTA, Administrators, asking for same to happen in athletics. Thinks a 2.5% cut is reasonable and appropriate. Not all children are involved in the program.

[discussion about Miscellaneous line item, and BOCES line item]

McAfee: frustrated that can't seem to make cut in this area.

Bowles: support 2.5% cut.

Fucheck: Proposal to cut athletic budget by 2.5%

Bowles: still in budget for this year is 180k.

Fucheck: coaches get paid at end of season.

DeMarco: Recommend that leave as is, and deal with percentage decrease with more notice next year.

Fucheck: Proposal at this point, to leave athletic budget as is: McAfee: No, all others Yes.

Pacella: Last week requested data from other school districts about how hearing process is handled...
[he is interrupted]

Saturnelli: proposal was to add back the administrator. We're not going to do that.

Pacella: budget to budget decrease of 1.5%, decrease of $3.6m, tax levy (using zero fund balance and no changes due to contract negotiations) would be 1.36% increase.

DeMarco: if use 2m of fund balance.

Pacella: -.76% tax levy.

Poppiti: we just have to present budget amount, final calculation of tax levy and how much fund balance to use comes up later.

Pacella: If do use fund balance, should know that if additional spending is required (due to contract outcome or expenses that come up) that has a negative impact on the 2011-12 school year.

Fucheck: 7pm tomorrow [Tuesday, April 20] there will be a special meeting to vote on the bduget and then a Board Workshop meeting.

Fucheck: appreciates the hard work of everyone at the table, proud of their work at this difficult budget time.