EASTHAM SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
AGENDA
Eastham Elementary School 6:30 p.m. |
I. CALL TO ORDER/AGENDA CHANGES
II. CITIZENS SPEAK
III. PRIORITY BUSINESS
A. Administrators’ Reports
Mrs. Helman’s report will be brief, to allow ample time for review of the proposed 2008-09 budget. The Superintendent will present the explanation of accounts requested last fall by Mr. Knight. This may help Committee members and the public more easily understand the budget presentation to follow.
B. Consider FY 09 Budget
As this agenda is being prepared, last-minute adjustments have been made in a number of accounts, including the anticipated Special Education Circuit Breaker reimbursement for expenditures in the current year. The total is slightly more than the figure the Town Administrator gave the Selectmen ($3,150,000). Mrs. Helman has discussed the difference with Mrs. Vanderhoef, and they have agreed that we can move forward with this amount. Because of these late adjustments, the budget is not accompanied by the usual overview from the Superintendent. That will be provided when the budget moves on to the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee.
The Committee need not take action this month, although it is free to do so. A budget should be adopted at the February meeting.
C. Consider Special Education Contingency
At the Sustainable Budget Forum in November, there was discussion of the increasing frequency of unanticipated Special Education costs, arising after the budget’s adoption by Town Meeting. One solution that received support was the establishment at Town Meeting of a Contingency Fund that could be accessed for such expenses only with the approval of the Board of Selectmen.
Mrs. Helman’s recent discussion with Mrs. Vanderhoef came to a different conclusion, one that suits the school department’s needs very nearly as well. In essence, they renewed our decades-old understanding that we do not budget for such costs, and when they arose, we would go to Town Hall for the necessary funding. As long as this is clearly understood by all concerned, there is no need to pursue the supplementary account.
IV. REPORTS AND INFORMATION
A. Cape Cod Collaborative
B. Building Committee Update
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approve regular session minutes of November 27, 2007.
VI. PAYMENT OF BILLS
VII. ADJOURNMENT
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