This was the sixth budget meeting, held at the Library auditorium. It started around 5:06pm. There was an audience of about 45. All Board Members except Resch were present.

Superintendent of Schools Saturnelli: pointed out the Governor has proposed a 4% cap on property tax; looking at a budget coming in lower than that; will begin with recap.

Assistant Superintendent of Finance Pacella: proposed budget so far is $5M lower than prior to Governor's recommended change. $5M lower than prior year, but because aid decreased, cuts were required to minimize tax impact.

Saturnelli: we have not yet entered anything wrt NTA and CSEA negotiations, and the end result will depend on that.

Pacella: Item B additional decrease in utilities expense. An additional $404k decrease in utilities expenses is now expected, bringing the total decrease to $554,484.

Pizzo: may not have a good formula [to use as a baseline?] until April or May.

Vote on Item B to further reduce the utility budget: all Yes.

Itep C/29. Previously the board decided to hire 4 psychologists to address the needs of Special Education, and hire 4 Guidance Counselors to address needs at elementary schools. An additional psychologist is being requested at Meadow Hill and Temple Hill to meet mandates of SED and coordinate health services.

Board President Fucheck: availability of this in Spanish? [referring to some brochure]

Saturnelli: is being done, Noriega will review.

Assistant Superintendent of Student Intervention and Support Services Noriega: this is a pamphlet by Orange County Youth Bureau. We were able to contact the Youth Bureau. They have a new version for 2008/9. Outlines services available to students in the district.

Vote on Item C/29, addition of two Guidance Counselors at Temple Hill and Meadow Hill: all Yes.

[I apologize, my notes indicate that Pacella introduced this as a request for Psychologist positions, but when it came time to vote Fucheck described this as two Guidance Counselor positions. I'm not sure if one of them misspoke, or if my notes are incorrect.]

Item D/30 reconfiguration of Curriculum and Instruction Department. This calls for abolishing three director positions (Elementary Special Ed, Secondary Special Ed, and Guidance Director) and replacing with two directors: (Special Ed, Executive Directory Pupil Educational Services). These will be responsible for Special Ed, ESL, and Bilinugal Services. [I didn't catch the breakdown of responsibilities.]. Both will share responsibility for K-12. The reconfiguration will save $156K. This has been discussed with Principals today, and with the Board.

Board Member Bowles: can someone explain how the Director for Pupil Personnel Services will guide the Guidance Counselors?

Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Forgit: for guidance position will resurect the guidance curriculum. Will use it as a benchmark. Will work through a liaison to insure service is provided.

Bowles: Liaison? who will evaluate them?

Forgit: the Executive Director will do observations and work with principals to evaluate. Looking at grouping Guidance, Special Ed, and Social services together for better coordination.

Fucheck: we will ahve a job description and qualifications provided to us.

Vote to abolish three director positions, and creaet two: all Yes.

Pacella: Item E: increase in budget line for delivery of alternate instruction as dicussed in executive session. [No idea when or where this would have been.]

Fucheck: Vote on increase in the home teaching salary lines of 30%: all Yes.

Pacella: the Board has corrected version of Guidance Counselor to student ratios, along with current caseloads. Also have summary for Specialists and frequency of tasks performed by Social Workers, and similar summary for attendance teachers.

Fucheck: would like to take another consensus on proposal for an attendance position to be eliminated through attrition.

Saturnelli: this information comes from the individuals' logs.

Board Member DeMarco: I wouldn't want to make a decision based on these numbers. [Would rather] talk to staff. What would be result of elimination?

Board Member Poppiti: two other attendance teachers are working in SAC and Save. We've got people stashed away who can pick up the load.

Bowles: would there be a problem moving these people into a certified position.

Saturnelli: they'd have to go into a position they're certified for, not Save or SAC.

Assistant Superintendent Human Resources Leimer: they are in area of attendance, not appropriate for SAC/Save.

[Mass confusion ensues about whether there would be positions for the two attendance certified teachers other than working SAC/Save.]

Pacella: have five attendance teachers. Recommending four. Intention was to eliminate position via attrition. The logs make it seem safe to do that.

DeMarco: would like to table until next week.

Saturnelli: think it's important to review data. Does the Save/SAC room work really consume a full time position.

DeMarco: who oversees the attendance teachers.

Executive Director, Instructional Technology Jensen: me.

[No vote on eliminating an attendance position by attrition.]

DeMarco: on Feb 4 we bubbled elimination of Summer School, and on the 18th it was eliminated. Would it be around $200K to run a Pre-K to 2 program in the summer?

Noriega: $280K.

DeMarco: how many children would be served?

Noriega: last year close to 600 students for 5 weeks.

DeMarco: and you did tell us that biggest gains were at that level?

Noriega: yes, Pre-K to 2 and the intensive literacy program at 7/8.

DeMarco: I'm hoping we can take another look at this before the budget is finalized.

Poppiti: everyone at the table may have things they'd like to revisit. [How to go about discussing this.]

Pacella: need to specify a target, where you want to be and how much fund balance to spend.

Saturnelli: [It's a matter of prioritization.] Need a target, goal of what you want, and remembering the contract negotiations.

[There was some discussion about the "mood in Albany" and likelihood of the aid cuts being as severe as Governor's proposal.]

Poppiti: thinks they'll try to come up w/some money.

Fucheck: does not think there will be more.

Board Member Woodhull: the small cities group was told the Governor's budget is at a $9.5B deficit, and next year is $11B. Director of Budget is saing we won't get more. [Thinks should look at the bubbled items.]

Pacella: it's really only the Reading Specialists. No other bubbled items.

DeMarco: what is in the budget for Professional Development next year?

Pacella: full Teachers Center funding is $203K. Each building Principal has a certain amount spread across various budget codes. If state doesn't fund TC that amount is not a requirement.

DeMarco: utility tax update?

Pacella: increased the local revenue line fro $4.5M to $4.8M. Don't get a large check until June or July.

DeMarco: last year we were left with $2M at the ned of year that went into func balance. Can we estimate expected leftover for next year?

Poppiti: Skartados said we know we're getting federal money, just don't know how much. In that vein, willing to go forward with spending of some fund balance [in anticipation of being able to cover going forward]. Tax impact is now less than 1%, using $1M from fund balance could elimnate tax impact.

Pacella: be aware that some federal money will be going away. IDEA funds and others. Will taxpayers remember that for 2 years there has been zero tax impact.

Bowles: how do Board Members feel about summer school for K-2?

Pacella: cost roughly $300K [including transportation].

Fucheck: [suggests Board Members prioritize what they would bring back.]

Board Member McAfee: do we have a comparison to a year that they were not in summer school.

Noriega: this was first year that we did a pre/post assessment.

McAfee: but do we have June and September scores for those not in the program?

[Comparing the population that attended summer school to that which did not is not a statistically valid way to measure the effect of summer school. The reason is selection bias.]

Fucheck: what was the amount of improvement?

Noriega: would have to get that.

[No vote on Summer School for Pre-K to 2, probably next meeting.]

Pacella: for next time Board will look at attendance, eval Pre-K to 2 Summer program and estimate costs, also forecast of year end surplus.

Fucheck: For the public there is opportunity to speak at regular Board of Education meetings. Can speak about the budget during "public comment on non agenda items" time at the end of regular meetings. The next BOE meeting is next Tuesday at 7pm.

[Meeting ended at approximately 6:15pm.]