BELMONT SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES
CHENERY MIDDLE SCHOOL COMMUNITY ROOM
OCTOBER 1, 2008
Present: Mr. John Bowe, Chair
Ms. Ann Rittenburg, Secretary
Ms. Elizabeth Gibson
Ms. Leslie Walker
Ms. Laurie Graham
Ms. Becky Vose
Dr. Patricia Aubin, Superintendent of Schools
Mr. Denis Fitzpatrick, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Gerry Missal, Director of Finance and Administration
1. EXECUTIVE SESSION
1.1 No executive session
2. OPENING BUSINESS
2.1 Call to Order
At 7:02 p.m., Mr. John Bowe called the meeting to order in the Chenery Middle School Community Room.
2.2 Superintendent's Report
None
2.3 Chairman’s Report - None
2.4 Citizens’ Concerns - None.
3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
No unfinished business was discussed.
4. MAJOR BUSINESS
A joint meeting among the School Committee, the Board of Selectmen, the Warrant Committee, and the Education Subcommittee of the Warrant Committee, this meeting was requested by John Bowe and chaired by Mr. Phil Curtis, chairman of the Warrant Committee. Mr. Curtis organized the agenda with input from all committees.
4.1 Mr. Curtis asked Tom Younger, Town Manager, to review the comments Mr. Younger compiled and distributed from the June 23, 2008, Citizens’ Forum. Mr. Curtis asked those in attendance for any additional impressions from that meeting.
4.2 Mr. Curtis led a discussion about ways to make the budget and the budget process more accessible and understandable to the community.
4.3 Mr. Curtis led a discussion about the various budgets that the town and school will need to develop in the next few months. The School Department will be developing the Superintendent’s recommended budget based on input from principals and directors, a level service budget based on existing services going forward, and an available funds budget based on revenue projections from the town. Tom Younger indicated the town will be developing a level services budget, an available funds budget, and a below-available funds budget. Participants urged both sides to inform the community as soon as possible about the likely cuts necessary to meet the various budgets.
4.4 Mr. Curtis led a discussion about the various kinds of override proposals that might be offered for voter approval. No decisions were made.
4.5 Mr. Curtis asked the School Department and the Town to consider possible areas for consolidation of services.
4.6 Mr. Curtis distributed a schedule of Warrant Committee meetings and urged citizens to attend these meeting. Budget presentations are scheduled for December 10.
4.7 Mr. Curtis asked that the update on the Senior Citizen Center be deferred to another meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
At 9:30 p.m., on a motion offered by Mr. Bowe and seconded by Ms. Gibson, it was
VOTED: unanimously to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully submitted by _____________________________________
Ann Rittenburg
Secretary
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