Meeting Minutes of January 22, 2008

Regular Meeting of
the Amherst School Committee

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

High School Library

Present:            Elaine Brighty,
Chair                                Jere Hochman, Superintendent

                        Chrystel Romero
(left at 10:09 p.m.)        Rob Detweiler, Director of Finance & Operations

                        Andy Churchill                                         Press

                        Kathleen Anderson                                  Public

                                                                                       Debbie
Westmoreland, Recorder

Absent:  Sonia
Correa-Pope

1.  Welcome                                                                                                    9:50 p.m.

A. &
B.  Call to Order/Agenda Review—Mr. Churchill
called the Amherst
meeting to order at 9:50 p.m.

C.   Minutes—None

2.  Announcements and Public Comments                                       
           None

There were no announcements or public comments.

3.  Superintendent’s Update                         
                                               None

4.  Unfinished/Continuing Business                                                              9:54 p.m.

A.  FY09 Budget Discussion— Mr. Detweiler distributed and reviewed the Amherst budget worksheet.  He noted that if the FY09 budget is level
funded with only the known cost increases, it will require an increase over
FY08 of 8.4%, or $1,643,750.  In order to
meet the Amherst Finance Committee guideline of a 2% increase, cuts would be
required totaling $1,254,616.00.  Dr. Hochman noted that such a level services budget retains the
staffing needed to retain class sizes as they are currently, after taking care
of the hot spots that developed when the school year started.  Mr. Churchill asked what factors account for
the major difference between the gaps in the Regional budget and the Amherst budget. Dr. Hochman noted that the Regional budget ended up having a 3%
increase last year while the Amherst
budget increase stayed at 1%.  As a result,
additional staffing that was added was not included in the base budget last year.  Also, he stated that the effects of the new
charter school are now being seen at the elementary level.  Mr. Detweiler noted
that health insurance is another major factor. 
Costs are much higher for the Amherst
budget, purely as a function of who has enrolled for health insurance.  Dr. Hochman stated
that making cuts of this magnitude is extremely drastic, and will redefine what
we do as a district.  He noted that we
will be persistent in painting the picture for the town of what the schools and
budget should look like, now and three years out.  Mr. Churchill asked that as the budget
process goes forward we be absolutely clean on the numbers so we can advocate
effectively.  He noted that there is a
proposed special Town Meeting to talk about budget needs, with the assumption
that Town Meeting members will be able to own the problem along with the School
Committee.  Dr. Hochman
stated that the district will be absolutely transparent throughout the budget
process.  Steve Rivkin,
community member, asked if there has been consideration of reaching a
three-year contract with staff that is contingent on revenues in each
year.  He also asked if thought has been
given to trying to galvanize community support to help make up the deficit
privately.  Ms. Brighty
explained that, while private donations are wonderful, they cannot be used to
support the operating budget.  With
regard to the contract question, Dr. Hochman noted
that the district and School Committee are very mindful of such options and
they are considered during the negotiation process. He noted that private
fundraising has been kicked up a notch over the past few years, noting that the
Amherst Education Foundation significantly increased their fund-raising last
year.   Ms. Anderson asked if there may
be ways of compensating employees creatively, such as providing a tax break to
those who are Amherst
residents.  Dr. Hochman
said that a number of districts nationwide have implemented such creative
compensation methods.

B.  School Choice—This
item was tabled.

5.  New Business                                                                                None

6.  Reports                                                                                          None

7.  Sub-Committee Reports                                                               10:28 p.m.

A.  Schools Organization Committee—Mr.
Churchill reported that the committee has met a few times and they have
developed a draft document that summarizes their research on the topic and lays
out a number of organization scenarios. 
They hope to bring a report to the Amherst School Committee in the
spring.

8.  School Committee Planning                                                          None

A.  Calendar Review

B.  Items for Upcoming Meetings

9.  Adjournment                                                                                  10:30 p.m.

Ms. Anderson made a motion to adjourn at 10:30 p.m.  Ms. Brighty
seconded and the motion passed unanimously. 

                                                                        Respectfully
submitted,

                                                                        Debbie
Westmoreland

Approved 3/25/08