FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES

DATE OF MEETING:  July 10, 2006                    5:00 PM Room 204 - Cony

MEMBERS PRESENT Sue Campbell, Sue Dowling, Bill Stokes

OTHER BOARD MEMBERS: Larry Ringrose

OTHERS PRESENT: Superintendent Connie Brown, Bobbie Jordan, Curriculum Coordinator,

                                Kathy Casparius and Business Manager James S. Jurdak

 

AGENDA ITEMS DISCUSSED: 

  1. Appropriate use of school computers (desktop and laptop). Committee was updated on the School Department’s Acceptable Use Policy, which requires that every employee use school electronic resources in a professional and acceptable manner.   Committee asked the Administration to look into off premises’ insurance coverage of Department owned laptops.

 

  1. Fiscal year 2006/07 budget transfer.  Superintendent recommended that the Committee approve taking to the School Board a request to transfer $45,000 from the legal expense line to various salary lines to cover the amounts the final negotiated settlements exceeded the budget.  With all the negotiated agreements ratified the funds will not be needed for legal expenses related to negotiations.  Committee voted all in favor to recommend to the full School Board.

 

  1. Human Resources staffing was discussed.  Administration is recommending that the former Director’s position be filled with by an Administration Assistant.  There was discussion about duties and responsibilities for this position.  The Administration Assistant would report to the Central Office Administration and a Central Office Administrator would be responsible for final decisions.  Also discussed was a Superintendent’s proposal to pay to the Curriculum Coordinator and the Business Manager a one-time $1,500 stipend for their extra work during the months of May, June and July.  Committee voted all in favor to recommend to the full School Board.

 

  1. Approval of making the Farrington Dean of Students an Assistant Principal.  Committee reviewed cost data indicating an increase of $8,600 of which $6,000 would be covered by Farmington’s’ Reading First Grant.  The balance of $2,600, would be charged to the salary line in the General Fund.  Committee voted all in favor to recommend to the full School Board.

 

  1. Salary and benefit proposal for the Central Office Administrators.  Superintendent proposed a 3.15% increase, identical to the amount recently approved for the non-represented school department staff.  Also an increase of $250 in the extended benefit similar to the amount other Administrators received.  Committee voted all in favor to recommend to the full School Board.

 

  1. Statements and minutes of the Finance Committee may be viewed on line at http://www.augustaschools.org/schboard/schoolboardopen.htm

 

  1. Foreign student attending from Chelsea.  Committee reviewed cost data related to secondary student State subsidy.  The data shows that Chelsea should include the foreign student in their student count as their net State subsidy is greater than Augusta’s.  Administration recommended that both Chelsea and Augusta share equally.  It was proposed that Chelsea pay the secondary tuition rate during the 2006/07 year less approximately $1,500.  Committee voted all in favor to recommend to the full School Board that they support contingent upon Chelsea’s School Committee agreeing.  Chelsea is scheduled to meet later in July.

 

  1. Next meeting – Monday August 7, 2006, 5:00 PM – Location to be determined.

 

      Meeting adjourned 5:50 PM