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Agenda:LOPATCONG TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION 321 Stonehenge Drive Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING: The Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, March 2, 2004 at 7:30pm at Lopatcong Township Middle School located at 321 Stonehenge Drive. The meeting will be held in the Cafetorium. To gain admittance, please use the entrance at Stonehenge Drive. The meeting will be open to the public at 7:30pm. AGENDA
There will be no public comment during this meeting.
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Minutes:MINUTES OF THE LOPATCONG TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION President Kish called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. Mrs. Barna read the following opening statement, “I would like to announce and have placed in the minutes that adequate notice of this special meeting of the Lopatcong Township Board of Education has been provided in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act by publication in the Express-Times. A copy of this notice has also been filed with the Township Clerk and posted in two school locations.” The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present. ROLL CALL Present: Donna Drake, Ernie Gallant, Joe Kennedy, Frank Kish, Greg McGann, Timothy McGuinness, Jesse Rozycki, Raisy Stammherr and Bill Taggart. Absent: None Others Present: Albert V. Purdy, Superintendent; Teresa E. Barna, Business Administrator/Board Secretary; Rosemary Kowalchuk, Principal; and three members of the public. Mr. Kish stated that this meeting was scheduled for the purpose of discussing the 2004-2005 school year budget. The public will not be given an opportunity to comment on the discussion. Mr. Kish asked Mrs. Barna to summarize the budget process. Mrs. Barna stated the Finance Committee has met a couple of times. Wish lists were collected from the entire staff. All requests including staffing recommendation from the Education Committee were included on the preliminary budget. After entering all of the information into the State Budget Program, the district was $1,000,000 over the CAP. At this point, Mrs. Barna began preparing a list of items that would have to be removed from the 2004-2005 school year budget. Such items included all staffing requests made by the Education Committee and all other requests that would improve or enhance any school programs. The Finance and Education Committee Chairmen have requested a full Board meeting to discuss program cuts. The budget presented to the Board this evening is a status quo, budget with a tax impact of 18 cents on the tax rate. The large tax impact was due to the following:
Mr. Kish asked Joe Kennedy to advise the Board on the staffing recommendations from the Education Committee. Mr. Kennedy stated that the Education Committee recommended the following positions based on enrollment increases and need:
Mr. Kish asked Mr. McGuinness to speak on behalf of the Finance Committee. Mr. McGuinness stated that increase in programs and personnel were originally included. The budget had to be reduced by $1M to get within CAP. The budget is currently under CAP. Even after the $1M reduction, the tax impact is 18 cents on the tax rate. The committee did not feel it could make any further decisions since program decisions are made by the full board. This is forcing the district to have large class sizes next year, approaching 30 students per class. The budget does reflect two reduction in force positions which are two Lunchroom Supervisor positions. Mr. Purdy discussed the enrollment projections for next year. In relation to the demographic study, the district’s enrollment is meeting the projections made by Mr. Averbach. The district’s fund balance is at three percent, which is the State designated minimum. In order use additional fund balance, the district must first get approval from the County Superintendent. Mr. Purdy also stated that the Board should consider getting rid of the Delaware Park School. Bill Taggart stated that he would like to see the district attract tuition revenues and/or provide in house programs to students with special needs in order to reduce the amount of tuition we are paying to other schools. Mrs. Kowalchuk explained that in order to provide an in house program, the students in the class must be within a four year age span and a lot of support must be provided as well as specialized equipment. Donna Drake wanted to make everyone aware and to conscience of the re-evaluation of properties in the township this year. Mrs. Drake also wanted to clarify that the current seventh grade which has four classes will be going into five classes next year. Mr. Purdy confirmed that is true. Jesse Rozycki recommended that the district provide a financial forecast for the next year or two. Mr. Rozycki is concerned that we are going backward instead of forward. Ernie Gallant stated that the ratables did not go up as they have in recent years. Mr. Gallant does not want to see a reduction in programs or to eliminate co-curricular programs in which stipends are offered. Mrs. Barna re-evaluated the Health Benefit line item and has received new information from the insurance company regarding premium increases for the 2004-2005 school year. Blue Cross/Blue Shield is offering 19 percent increase in medical premiums and 16 percent in prescription drug card premiums. The insurance broker is recommending that the district accept the offer. The original projections were for 21.5 percent on medical and 25 percent on prescription. After doing an analysis with this new information, the health benefits line item can be reduced by $62,000 although it is a bit of a risk. Greg McGann believes that the Board should propose the 18 cent budget to the voters. There is no luxuries being proposed. The 18 cents reflects maintaining the programs that are currently in place. Donna Drake also agreed to propose the 18 cents to the voters. Raisy Stammherr stated that she does not want to cut programs. Joe Kennedy stated that he does not want to cut programs. Cutting staff means cutting programs and the biggest tax dollars are in salaries. Comfortable with cutting the health benefit line item even with the risk associated with it. Bill Taggart agreed to the 18 cents and would like to look at bringing some special education students back into district. Tim McGuinness agreed with 18 cents and we have to sell this to the public. Ernie Gallant stated that there are a few items that he would feel comfortable cutting that would not impact programs as much such as, Field trips, Budget new teachers at first Locator, health benefits, Summer Custodian, Maintenance Agreements on Equipment and Staff Development. A short discussion took place regarding keeping the Assistant Principal position and to re-instate the lunchroom supervisor positions. Mrs. Barna was directed to include the Asst. Principal and the Lunchroom Supervisor and make cuts to the health benefits and maintenance agreements. The Finance Committee will meet on Monday, March 8, 2004, prior to the next Board meeting. EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion by Taggart, seconded by McGuinness, WHEREAS, Section 7 of the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, P.L. 1975 (R.S. 10:4-13), permits the exclusion of the public from a meeting or portion of a meeting of this public body in certain circumstances; and WHEREAS, the Board of Education must consider matters involving legal matters, the disclosure of which could constitute and unwarranted invasion of privacy; now THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education adjourn to executive session at 9:25pm to discuss the above mentioned matter to the exclusion of all others. Matters discussed may or may not be made public this evening. Any resulting action will be taken after re-entry into regular session. Vote: 9 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by McGuinness, second by Rozycki, that the Board of Education return to regular session at 9:40pm. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. Hearing no further business, the Board adjourned at 9:41pm on a motion by McGann, second by McGuinness. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. Respectfully submitted, Teresa E. Barna, RSBO Business Administrator/ Board Secretary
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