HOLDEN ¨ PAXTON ¨ PRINCETON ¨ RUTLAND ¨ STERLING
Minutes
Wachusett
Regional School District Committee
Special Meeting
#220, Tuesday, May 8, 2001
7:00 p.m.
Media Center
Wachusett
Regional High School
Committee Members Present:
Duncan Leith,
Chairman Sarah
Jordan
John Rokicki,
Vice-Chairman David
Lowenthal
Paul Anderson Peter
MacDonald
Mary Copeland
(7:05 PM) Kelly
Maxwell
Kenneth Fensin
(7:04 PM) John
Nunnari
Kimberly Ferguson Elizabeth
Pape
Jeffrey Gibbs Kathleen
Singh
Sherry
Horeanopoulos (7:09 PM) Rosemary
Warren (8:07 PM)
Jane James (8:28
PM) Jeffrey
Wentzell
Paul James (7:03
PM)
Committee Members Absent:
Lorraine Neilan
Administration Present:
Alfred D. Tutela,
Superintendent of Schools
Philip Campbell,
Director of Student/Information Services
Susan Sullivan,
Executive Assistant to the Superintendent
Others Present:
James Scola,
Municipal Representative
Linda Lehans, The
Landmark
Richard Halloran, Worcester
Telegram & Gazette
Maureen Floryan,
Holden
Melinda Johnson,
Paxton
Chairman Leith
called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM.
II. Recommendations of
the Superintendent
Motion: To
enter into executive session to discuss strategies for negotiations, to return
to public session.
(J.
Wentzell)
(P.
Anderson)
Roll call vote:
In favor:
Paul
Anderson
Kimberly
Ferguson
Jeffrey
Gibbs
Sarah
Jordan
David
Lowenthal
Peter
MacDonald
Kelly
Maxwell
John
Nunnari
Elizabeth
Pape
Kathleen
Singh
Jeffrey
Wentzell
Opposed:
None
(Motion passed
unanimously.)
The
Superintendent reported that Municipal Representative James Scola was properly
notified and would be in attendance at the executive session.
Chairman Duncan
Leith did not enter executive session.
Chairman Leith reconvened the meeting at 7:41 PM.
Member Kenneth Fensin left the meeting at 7:42 PM.
Member Sarah Jordan distributed copies of correspondence from
Timothy Bragan, Executive Secretary to the Town of Sterling (attachment 1).
Motion: To approve and
authorize the Town of Sterling to expand the parking at Houghton/Chocksett
Schools funded by the Town of Sterling, pending review by District staff
(S.
Jordan)
(P.
MacDonald)
Vote:
In favor:
Duncan Leith
John Rokicki
Paul Anderson
Mary Copeland
Kimberly Ferguson
Jeffrey Gibbs
Sherry
Horeanopoulos
Paul James
Sarah Jordan
David Lowenthal
Peter MacDonald
Kelly Maxwell
John Nunnari
Elizabeth Pape
Kathleen Singh
Jeffrey Wentzell
Opposed:
None
(Motion passed unanimously)
Chairman Leith distributed the School Committee Self Evaluation
Forms (attachment 2).
III.
Recommendations of the Business/Finance Subcommittee
Budget Reduction Guidelines
Subcommittee Chairman Paul Anderson
reviewed the actions of the Business/Finance Subcommittee.
Motion:
The Superintendent is directed to budget the District for FY02 to the
guaranteed appropriation of the towns.
All funds set aside in escrow by member towns shall not be included in
the budgetary revenue of the District.
The School Committee recognizes mandates and requirements that cannot be
reduced and the District’s previous efforts to reduce operational overhead.
The Superintendent is directed to focus
reduction in the following priority:
1.
Reduce transportation to the requirements of state law;
2.
Reduce non-required Central office instructional support, including
after-school unfunded programs;
3.
Reduce non-required teacher aides, including kindergarten aides;
4.
Reduce instructional staff.
The Superintendent is solely responsible
for all personnel actions within the District and has the final determination
of all reductions.
(P.
Anderson)
(J.
Wentzell)
The Superintendent distributed Timeline –
Budget Process if FY02 Appropriation is not Approved by Four Out of Five Member
Towns (attachment 3) and copies of the motions for appropriation from the Town
of Sterling and the Town of Holden (attachments 4 and 5).
Motion:
To move the question.
(M.
Copeland)
(J.
Wentzell)
Roll call vote:
In favor:
Duncan
Leith
Paul
Anderson
Mary
Copeland
Jeffrey
Gibbs
Paul
James
John
Nunnari
Jeffrey
Wentzell
Opposed:
John
Rokicki
Kimberly
Ferguson
Sherry
Horeanopoulos
Sarah
Jordan
David
Lowenthal
Kelly
Maxwell
Elizabeth
Pape
Kathleen
Singh
Rosemary
Warren
Abstained:
Jane
James
(Motion failed 7-10-1)
Motion:
To table the motion until Committee members have copies of the entire
budget.
(S.
Jordan)
(D.
Lowenthal)
Roll call vote:
In favor:
Sherry
Horeanopoulos
Sarah
Jordan
David
Lowenthal
Peter
MacDonald
Kelly
Maxwell
Kathleen
Singh
Opposed:
Duncan
Leith
John
Rokicki
Paul
Anderson
Mary
Copeland
Jeffrey
Gibbs
Jane
James
Paul
James
John
Nunnari
Elizabeth
Pape
Rosemary
Warren
Jeffrey Wentzell
(Motion failed 7-11)
Motion:
To move the question.
(J.
Gibbs)
(J.
Wentzell)
Roll call vote:
In favor:
Duncan
Leith
John
Rokicki
Paul
Anderson
Mary
Copeland
Jeffrey Gibbs
Jane
James
Paul
James
John
Nunnari
Elizabeth
Pape
Rosemary
Warren
Jeffrey Wentzell
Opposed:
Kimberly
Ferguson
Sherry
Horeanopoulos
Sarah
Jordan
David
Lowenthal
Peter
MacDonald
Kelly
Maxwell
Kathleen
Singh
(Motion failed 11-7, two-thirds
required.)
Motion:
To amend the motion by striking the four options and to direct the
Superintendent to investigate reducing the budget by $1.4M in a way that will
have the least educational impact on the school District. The Superintendent is solely responsible for
all personnel actions within the District and has the final determination of
all reductions.
(S.
Horeanopoulos)
(K.
Maxwell)
Roll call vote:
In favor:
John
Rokicki
Paul
Anderson
Sherry
Horeanopoulos
Paul
James
Peter
MacDonald
Kathleen
Singh
Opposed:
Duncan
Leith
Mary
Copeland
Kimberly
Ferguson
Jane
James
Sarah
Jordan
David
Lowenthal
Kelly
Maxwell
John
Nunnari
Elizabeth
Pape
Rosemary
Warren
Jeffrey
Wentzell
(Motion failed 7-11)
Motion:
To amend the motion by providing a substitution motion which reads: to
authorize the Superintendent to spend the budget as appropriated by the School
Committee regardless of money being put into escrow.
(J.
Gibbs)
(J.
Rokicki)
Roll call vote:
In favor:
John
Rokicki
Jeffrey
Gibbs
Sherry
Horeanopoulos
Sarah
Jordan
David
Lowenthal
Opposed:
Duncan
Leith
Paul
Anderson
Mary
Copeland
Kimberly
Ferguson
Jane
James
Paul
James
Peter
MacDonald
Kelly
Maxwell
John
Nunnari
Elizabeth
Pape
Kathleen
Singh
Rosemary
Warren
Jeffrey
Wentzell
(Motion failed 5-13)
Roll call vote on the main motion, which
reads, The Superintendent is directed to budget the District for FY02 to
the guaranteed appropriation of the towns.
All funds set aside in escrow by member towns shall not be included in
the budgetary revenue of the District.
The School Committee recognizes mandates and requirements that cannot be
reduced and the District’s previous efforts to reduce operational overhead.
The Superintendent is directed to focus
reduction in the following priority:
1.
Reduce transportation to the requirements of state law;
2.
Reduce non-required Central office instructional support, including
after-school unfunded programs;
3.
Reduce non-required teacher aides, including kindergarten aides;
4.
Reduce instructional staff.
The Superintendent is solely responsible
for all personnel actions within the District and has the final determination
of all reductions:
In favor:
Duncan
Leith
John
Rokicki
Paul
Anderson
Mary
Copeland
Jeffrey
Gibbs
Jane
James
Paul
James
John
Nunnari
Rosemary
Warren
Opposed:
Kimberly
Ferguson
Sherry
Horeanopoulos
Sarah
Jordan
David
Lowenthal
Peter
MacDonald
Kelly
Maxwell
Elizabeth
Pape
Kathleen
Singh
(Motion passed 10-8)
Member Paul James left the meeting at 10:10 PM.
IV. Motion to Rescind the following motion
of March 22, 2001: 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:
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)
(J. Wentzell)
(J.
Gibbs)
Motion: To
challenge the actions of the Chair
(K.
Singh)
(S.
Jordan)
Roll call vote:
In favor:
Kimberly
Ferguson
Sarah
Jordan
David
Lowenthal
Peter
MacDonald
Kelly
Maxwell
Kathleen
Singh
Opposed:
Duncan
Leith
John
Rokicki
Paul
Anderson
Mary
Copeland
Jeffrey
Gibbs
Jane
James
John
Nunnari
Rosemary
Warren
Jeffrey
Wentzell
Abstained:
Sherry
Horeanopoulos
Elizabeth
Pape
(Motion failed 6-9-2)
Motion: To
move the question
(M.
Copeland)
(
J. Wentzell)
Roll call vote:
In favor:
Duncan
Leith
Paul
Anderson
Mary
Copeland
Kimberly
Ferguson
Jeffrey
Gibbs
Jane
James
John
Nunnari
Elizabeth
Pape
Rosemary
Warren
Jeffrey
Wentzell
Opposed:
John
Rokicki
Sherry
Horeanopoulos
Sarah
Jordan
David
Lowenthal
Peter
MacDonald
Kelly
Maxwell
Kathleen
Singh
(Motion failed 10-7, two-thirds required)
Roll call vote on the motion to rescind:
In favor:
Duncan
Leith
John
Rokicki
Paul
Anderson
Mary Copeland
Jeffrey
Gibbs
Jane
James
John
Nunnari
Rosemary
Warren
Jeffrey
Wentzell
Opposed:
Kimberly
Ferguson
Sherry
Horeanopoulos
Sarah
Jordan
David
Lowenthal
Peter
MacDonald
Kelly
Maxwell
Kathleen
Singh
Abstained:
Elizabeth
Pape
(Motion passed 9-7-1)
Motion: To adjourn.
(J.
Wentzell)
(R.
Warren)
Vote:
In favor:
Duncan
Leith
John
Rokicki
Paul
Anderson
Mary
Copeland
Kimberly
Ferguson
Jeffrey
Gibbs
Sherry
Horeanopoulos
Jane
James
Sarah
Jordan
David
Lowenthal
Peter
MacDonald
Kelly
Maxwell
John
Nunnari
Elizabeth
Pape
Kathleen
Singh
Rosemary
Warren
Jeffrey
Wentzell
Opposed:
None