WACHUSETT REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
HOLDEN ¨ PAXTON ¨ PRINCETON ¨ RUTLAND ¨ STERLING
Minutes
Special Meeting #219 Thursday, March 22, 2001
7:00 PM
Media Center
Wachusett Regional High School
Members present:
Duncan Leith, Chairman David Lowenthal
John Rokicki, Vice-chairman (7:15 PM) Peter MacDonald
Paul Anderson Kelly Maxwell
Kimberly Ferguson Lorraine Neilan
Mary Copeland (7:16 PM) John Nunnari
Sherry Horeanopoulos (7:08 PM) Elizabeth Pape
Jane James Kathleen Singh
Paul James (7:07 PM) Rosemary Warren
Sarah Jordan Jeffrey Wentzell
Members absent:
Jeffrey Gibbs Kenneth Fensin
Administration present:
Alfred D. Tutela, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools
Paul Soojian, Director of Operations
Mary Scott, Director of Administrative Services
Philip Campbell, Director of Student/Information Services
Susan Sullivan, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent
Others present:
Gary Mitchell, Supervisor of Pupil Personnel
Thomas Pandiscio, Principal WRHS
James Connolly, Vice Principal WRHS
Linda Lehans, The Landmark
Richard Halloran, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Mark Ferguson, Chair, Holden Selectboard
Louis Cornacchioli, Chairman Rutland Selectboard
Ronald Johnson, Chairman Paxton Selectboard
Joseph Sullivan, Holden Selectboard
Douglas Briggs, Rutland Selectboard
James Jumonville, Holden Selectboard
James Scola, Holden Selectboard
Brian Bullock, Holden Town Manager
Joseph Giotta, Holden Finance Committee
Bob Rauh, Rutland
Julie Scott, Holden
Christopher Walton, Rutland
Bob Sauer, Princeton
Carol Esperti, Holden
Maureen Floryan, Holden
Melinda Johnson, Paxton
Ginny Belcher, Holden
David Gibbs, Sterling
Dave Clark, Sterling
Jean Theurkauf, Sterling
I. Call to Order
Chairman Duncan Leith called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM.
II. Recommendations of the Superintendent
Motion: To enter executive session to discuss strategies for negotiations
(J. Wentzell)
(J. Nunnari)
Chairman Leith reported that he would not be entering executive session. He appointed Member John Nunnari as acting chair until Vice-chairman John Rokicki arrived.
Roll call vote:
In favor:
Duncan Leith
Paul Anderson
Kimberly Ferguson
Jane James
Sarah Jordan
David Lowenthal
Peter MacDonald
Kelly Maxwell
Lorraine Neilan
John Nunnari
Elizabeth Pape
Kathleen Singh
Rosemary Warren
Jeffrey Wentzell
Opposed:
None
(Motion passed unanimously)
Chairman Leith reconvened the meeting at 8:42 PM.
The Superintendent and Director of Operations Paul Soojian left the meeting at 8:42 PM.
III. Funding Inequities
Motion: To affirm that the WRSD Committee recognizes that a funding inequity exists under the current wealth based funding mechanism of the apportioned costs of the operating budget of the WRSD.
(K. Maxwell)
(K. Ferguson)
Director of Student/Information Services Philip Campbell distributed copies of correspondence from the Superintendent regarding Foundation Budget Review Commission Region Sub Committee Report (attachments 1, 2, and 3).
Roll call vote:
In favor:
Duncan Leith
John Rokicki
Paul Anderson
Mary Copeland
Kimberly Ferguson
Sherry Horeanopoulos
Jane James
Paul James
Sarah Jordan
David Lowenthal
Peter MacDonald
Kelly Maxwell
Lorraine Neilan
John Nunnari
Elizabeth Pape
Kathleen Singh
Rosemary Warren
Jeffrey Wentzell
Opposed:
None
(Motion passed unanimously)
Motion: To direct the chairman of WRSD to form a negotiating committee which will study current wealth based funding mechanism and the impact and process of a per capita based funding mechanism. Considerations should include the ramifications of excess debt and the possible phase in of any proposed changes beginning with fiscal year 2002. This negotiating committee will consist of from each member towns: a school committee member and the chairman of the finance committee or designee. This negotiating committee will report progress at each regularly scheduled school committee meeting. A full report and recommendations will be presented to the school committee no later than July 15, 2001. Within 30 days, the school committee will accept or amend the recommendations and forward to member towns a request to hold special town meeting to act upon Section 4 of the Regional Agreement.
(L. Neilan)
(K. Maxwell)
Motion: To amend the motion to change "July 15, 2001" to "June 1, 2001" and changing "Within 30 days" to "By June 22, 2001".
(P. Anderson)
(K. Ferguson)
Roll call vote on amendment:
In favor:
Paul Anderson
Kimberly Ferguson
Sherry Horeanopoulos
Kelly Maxwell
John Nunnari
Opposed:
Duncan Leith
John Rokicki
Mary Copeland
Jane James
Paul James
Sarah Jordan
David Lowenthal
Peter MacDonald
Lorraine Neilan
Elizabeth Pape
Kathleen Singh
Rosemary Warren
Jeffrey Wentzell
(Motion failed 5-13)
Chairman Leith held a public session for any elected or appointed officials.
Brian Bullock, Holden Town Manager, encouraged the Committee to have an end date of May 1st.
Louis Cornacchioli, Chairman Rutland Selectboard reminded the Committee that this is a critical issue for Rutland and they want to work on the problem.
Douglas Briggs, Rutland Selectboard encouraged the Committee to include the state officials.
Ronald Johnson, Chairman Paxton Selectboard, believes this is a state problem. The Paxton Selectboard would agree to work on a Committee.
Brian Bullock, Holden Town Manager, reminded the Committee that the inequity got worse. He believes that the report distributed does nothing to solve the problem. Encouraged May 1st
Motion: To amend the motion to add "a selectman from each town" after "committee member"
(P. James)
(J. Nunnari)
Roll call vote on amendment:
In favor:
Duncan Leith
John Rokicki
Paul Anderson
Mary Copeland
Kimberly Ferguson
Sherry Horeanopoulos
Jane James
Paul James
Sarah Jordan
David Lowenthal
Peter MacDonald
Kelly Maxwell
Lorraine Neilan
John Nunnari
Elizabeth Pape
Kathleen Singh
Rosemary Warren
Jeffrey Wentzell
Opposed:
None
(Motion passed unanimously)
Motion: To amend the motion by changing "Within 30 days, the school committee will accept or amend the recommendations and forward to member towns a request to hold special town meeting to act upon Section 4 of the Regional Agreement." to "Within 30 days, the school committee will accept, amend, or reject the recommendations."
(P. James)
(E. Pape)
Roll call vote on amendment:
In favor:
Mary Copeland
Sherry Horeanopoulos
Jane James
Paul James
David Lowenthal
John Nunnari
Jeffrey Wentzell
Opposed:
Duncan Leith
John Rokicki
Paul Anderson
Kimberly Ferguson
Sarah Jordan
Peter MacDonald
Kelly Maxwell
Lorraine Neilan
Elizabeth Pape
Kathleen Singh
Rosemary Warren
(Motion failed 7-11)
Motion: To amend the motion by changing "Within 30 days, the school committee will accept or amend the recommendations and forward to member towns a request to hold special town meeting to act upon Section 4 of the Regional Agreement." to "Within 30 days, the school committee will act upon the recommendations and forward to member towns any requests to hold special town meetings."
(J. Rokicki)
(S. Horeanopoulos)
Roll call vote on amendment:
In favor:
Duncan Leith
John Rokicki
Paul Anderson
Mary Copeland
Sherry Horeanopoulos
Jane James
Paul James
Sarah Jordan
David Lowenthal
Peter MacDonald
John Nunnari
Elizabeth Pape
Kathleen Singh
Rosemary Warren
Jeffrey Wentzell
Opposed:
Kimberly Ferguson
Kelly Maxwell
Lorraine Neilan
(Motion passed 15-3)
Motion: To change "July 15, 2001" to "May 1, 2001".
(D. Lowenthal)
(K. Ferguson)
Motion: To move the question
(J. Wentzell)
(R. Warren)
Roll call vote:
In favor:
Duncan Leith
John Rokicki
Paul Anderson
Mary Copeland
Kimberly Ferguson
Jane James
Paul James
Sarah Jordan
Peter MacDonald
Kelly Maxwell
Lorraine Neilan
John Nunnari
Elizabeth Pape
Rosemary Warren
Jeffrey Wentzell
Opposed:
Sherry Horeanopoulos
David Lowenthal
Kathleen Singh
(Motion passed 15-3)
Roll call vote on amendment:
In favor:
Paul Anderson
Kimberly Ferguson
David Lowenthal
Peter MacDonald
Kelly Maxwell
Kathleen Singh
Opposed:
Duncan Leith
John Rokicki
Mary Copeland
Sherry Horeanopoulos
Jane James
Paul James
Sarah Jordan
Lorraine Neilan
John Nunnari
Elizabeth Pape
Rosemary Warren
Jeffrey Wentzell
(Motion failed 6-12)
Motion: To amend the motion by changing "Considerations should include the ramifications of excess debt and the possible phase in of any proposed changes beginning with fiscal year 2002." To read "Considerations should include but not be limited to the ramifications of excess debt, impact on local aid and the possible phase in of any proposed changes beginning with fiscal year 2002."
(J. Rokicki)
(S. Horenopoulos)
Roll call vote on amendment:
In favor:
Duncan Leith
John Rokicki
Paul Anderson
Mary Copeland
Sherry Horeanopoulos
Jane James
Paul James
David Lowenthal
Peter MacDonald
Lorraine Neilan
John Nunnari
Elizabeth Pape
Kathleen Singh
Rosemary Warren
Jeffrey Wentzell
Opposed:
Kimberly Ferguson
Sarah Jordan
Kelly Maxwell
(Motion passed 15-3)
Roll call vote on main motion as amended to read: "To direct the chairman of WRSD to form a negotiating committee which will study current wealth based funding mechanism and the impact and process of a per capita based funding mechanism. Considerations should include but not be limited to the ramifications of excess debt, impact on local aid and the possible phase in of any proposed changes beginning with fiscal year 2002.
This negotiating committee will consist of from each member towns: a school committee member, a member of each town selectboard and the chairman of the finance committee or designee. This negotiating committee will report progress at each regularly scheduled school committee meeting. A full report and recommendations will be presented to the school committee no later than July 15, 2001. Within 30 days, the school committee will act upon the recommendations and forward to member towns any requests to hold special town meetings."
In favor:
Duncan Leith
John Rokicki
Paul Anderson
Mary Copeland
Sherry Horeanopoulos
Jane James
Paul James
Sarah Jordan
Peter MacDonald
Lorraine Neilan
John Nunnari
Elizabeth Pape
Rosemary Warren
Jeffrey Wentzell
Opposed:
Kimberly Ferguson
David Lowenthal
Kelly Maxwell
Kathleen Singh
(Motion passed 14-4)
Chairman Leith took items V and VI out of order in order for District staff to answer questions and then be allowed to leave the meeting.
V. NEASC Draft Report
Director of Student/Information Services Philip Campbell made available copies of Draft NEASC Special Progress Report (attachment 4).
Several Committee members asked questions of Thomas Pandiscio, Principal of WRHS.
VI. High School Alternative Accommodations
Member Rosemary Warren left the meeting at 10:25 PM
Member Mary Copeland left the meeting at 10:25 PM.
Member Elizabeth Pape left the meeting at 10:30 PM.
Member Jane James left the meeting at 10:35 PM
Member Paul James left the meeting at 10:35 PM.
Member Lorraine Neilan left the meeting at 10:35 PM.
Director of Student/Information Services Philip Campbell made available copies of Components to Accommodate Student Enrollments at Wachusett Regional High School Report (attachment 5).
Several Committee members asked questions of James Connolly, Vice-principal of WRHS.
IV. Regional Agreement Modifications
Motion: To amend the Amended Wachusett Regional School District Agreement by deleting section 14.2 which reads:
Section 14.2 This agreement may be amended by recommendation of the Regional District School Committee and approval of member towns of the District by majority vote at an annual or special town meeting provided that not more than one town disagrees. No such amendment shall be made which shall substantially impair the rights of the holders of any bonds or notes of the District then outstanding or the rights of the District to procure the means of payment thereof; provided that this provision shall not prevent the admission of new towns to the District and the reapportionment accordingly of that part of the cost of construction represented by bonds or notes of the District then outstanding and of interest thereon (Chapter 116 of the Acts of 1951)
And by substituting therefore the following:
Section 14.2 This agreement may be amended by recommendation of the Regional District School Committee, by a majority vote of the board of selectmen in any one town, or by a signed petition bearing the signatures of 10% of the registered voters of any member town; and approval of member towns of the District by majority vote at an annual or special town meeting provided that not more than one town disagrees. Said petition shall contain, at the end thereof, a statement by the qualified town clerk or clerks as to the number of registered voters in said town according to the most recent voting list, and that such names as have been placed thereon are the names of registered voters, and that the signatures appear to be genuine. No such amendment shall be made which shall substantially impair the rights of the holders of any bonds or notes of the District then outstanding or the rights of the District to procure the means of payment thereof; provided that this provision shall not prevent the admission of new towns to the District and the reapportionment accordingly of that part of the cost of construction represented by bonds or notes of the District then outstanding and of interest thereon (Chapter 116 of the Acts of 1951)
(K. Singh)
(K. Maxwell)
Motion: To move the question.
(J. Wentzell)
(J. Nunnari)
Roll call vote:
In favor:
Duncan Leith
John Rokicki
Paul Anderson
Kimberly Ferguson
Sarah Jordan
David Lowenthal
Kelly Maxwell
John Nunnari
Jeffrey Wentzell
Opposed:
Sherry Horeanopoulos
Peter MacDonald
Kathleen Singh
(Motion passed 9-3)
Roll call vote on main motion:
In favor:
John Rokicki
Kimberly Ferguson
Sarah Jordan
David Lowenthal
Peter MacDonald
Kelly Maxwell
Kathleen Singh
Opposed:
Duncan Leith
Paul Anderson
John Nunnari
Jeffrey Wentzell
Abstained:
Sherry Horeanopoulos
(Motion passed 7-4-1)
Director of Student/Information Services Philip Campbell distributed copies of correspondence from the Superintendent regarding re-certification of local contributions (attachment 6).
VII. Adjournment
Motion: To adjourn.
(P. Anderson)
(J. Nunnari)
Vote:
In favor:
Duncan Leith
John Rokicki
Paul Anderson
Kimberly Ferguson
Sherry Horeanopoulos
Sarah Jordan
David Lowenthal
Peter MacDonald
Kelly Maxwell
John Nunnari
Kathleen Singh
Jeffrey Wentzell
Opposed:
None
(Motion passed unanimously)
The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Alfred D. Tutela, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
ADT:ss School Committee/Minutes