Meeting Minutes of August 14, 2007

Regular Meeting of
the Regional School Committee

Tuesday, August 14, 2007   7:00 p.m.

High School Library

Present:            Elaine Brighty, Chair                                Jere Hochman,
Superintendent

                        Kathleen Anderson                                  Public

                        Andy Churchill                                         Press

                        Maureen Ecclestone                                Debbie Westmoreland, Recorder

                        Sonia Correa Pope                                 

                        Chrystel Romero

Absent:             Michael Katz, Marianne Jorgensen,
Michael Hussin

1.  Welcome                                                                                        7:08 p.m.

A. & B.  Call to Order/Agenda Review—Ms. Brighty
called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. She then reviewed the agenda and
welcomed everyone to the meeting.

C.   Minutes—Mr. Churchill made a motion to
approve the minutes of March 10, May 22, June 5, June 19 and June 28, 2007.  Ms. Correa Pope seconded and the motion
passed unanimously.

2.  Announcements and Public Comments                                       
7:11 p.m.

Ruth Killough-Hill, parent, spoke to endorse the hiring of
the new guidance counselor at the Amherst
Regional Middle
School. 
She stated that he is a wonderful member of the community who will be an
asset to the Middle School students and staff. 
Several other parents and students also spoke in support of the hiring.

3.  Superintendent’s Update                                                              7:14 p.m.

Dr. Hochman distributed and reviewed an updated list of the
major areas of concentration and the specific goals for the 2007-2008 school
year.  He then reviewed the trainings
that have taken place for staff during the summer months, and distributed a
draft calendar listing the topics that will be covered at School Committee
meetings in FY08.  Dr. Hochman invited
members of the School Committee to attend the school year opening assembly for
all faculty and staff beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 29.  He then reviewed the “Every School” list used
by each principal to ensure they are ready for the opening of school, the
Superintendent’s Checklist, and plans for safety preparation. 

4.  Unfinished/Continuing Business                                                  7:41
p.m.

A.  Stabilization Fund—Dr. Hochman reviewed
the request for the School Committee to approve applying the maximum amount
allowable, which totals $443,747.00, to the stabilization account for use on
capital projects.  He noted that reasons
for having the funds left at the end of FY07 include, among other things, lower
than expected utility costs, savings on salaries due to positions that were not
filled and unexpected health insurance savings. 
Any funds remaining after the maximum amount is applied to stabilization
will be applied to E&D up to the maximum allowable. If there are FY07 funds
remaining at that point, they will be returned to the Towns.  Dr. Hochman reviewed some of the capital
projects that may be funded by the requested stabilization funds, including
High School locker room renovations and Middle School exhaust fans.  After brief discussion, Mr. Churchill made a
motion to allocate $443,747.00 of unexpended FY07 funds to the stabilization
account.  Ms. Ecclestone seconded and the
motion passed unanimously.

B.  High School Activities Fees—Dr. Hochman reviewed
the request to pilot a plan to charge a voluntary ARHS activity fee.  The fee will be assessed to all students, on
a voluntary basis, at a rate of $20 for students not receiving free or
reduced-price lunch, $10 for students receiving reduced-price lunch and no fee
for students receiving free lunch.  Ms.
Anderson expressed concern that this fee will be another way to identify
students who come from low income families, especially if it is collected
during the lunch period of the first two weeks of school as described in Ms.
Guevara’s memo.  Ms. Romero stated that
she believes that assessing a fee to every student regardless of participation
will help students feel more comfortable participating in clubs whether they
can pay the fee or not.  However, she
agreed with Ms. Anderson that the plan for collecting fees during the lunch
period may be problematic. After further discussion, Ms. Brighty made a motion
to approve a pilot program of collecting High School Activities Fee on a
voluntary basis with the understanding that the Business Office will set up a
revolving account for the fees collected. 
Ms. Correa Pope seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

5.  New Business                                                                                            8:08 p.m.

A.  Regional Agreement Subcommittee—Dr.
Hochman noted that the School Committee expressed interest in establishing a
sub-committee to study the Regional Agreement to see if changes are needed,
particularly in the areas of the E&D cap and transportation. Ms. Brighty
explained that under the current agreement, transportation for all of the four
towns’ elementary schools is paid by the Region.  After brief discussion, it was decided that
this issue will be brought forward at the meeting on August 28 since two of the
member towns’ representatives are not present to provide input at tonight’s
meeting. 

B.  Food Services Contract Discussion—Dr.
Hochman reminded the School Committee that the Chartwells Food Services
contract is up for renewal this year.  He
explained that the School Committee can choose to return to an in-house system
for food service, which will involve hiring a director, or go forward with an
RFP to choose a contractor.  Ms. Brighty
noted that one reason the choice was made to move from in-house to a contracted
food vendor in 2003 was that the districts’ food service had been running at a
deficit for a few years prior to the change. 
Mr. Churchill asked for some of the pros and cons of going back to
in-house food service versus an outside vendor. 
Dr. Hochman noted some of the issues with returning to an in-house
system, including costs associated with administration of the food program, the
need for expertise in state and federal nutrition laws, and the reduced ability
of the district to buy in bulk as a corporation does.  The committee requested that Dr. Hochman
provide a list of pros and cons for their consideration so a decision about
whether to go for an RFP can be made at the August 28 meeting.  There was brief discussion of what the
make-up of the RFP committee will be if the School Committee chooses to go
forward with the RFP.  Ms. Romero
expressed interest in serving on the committee.   Ms. Anderson requested that efforts be made
to ensure that parents of color be included on the committee.

C.  Accept Donations—

Ms. Brighty reviewed the seven donations, which include $2,652
from Friends of Amherst Regional Performing Arts, $287.85 from Target Take
Charge of Education Program, $343.33 from Greenfield Savings Bank Civic Action
Program, $523.31 from Greenfield Savings Bank Civic Action Program, $2,500 from
Chartwells Education Division, $125.00 from Roy and Janet Williams in memory of
Anson Tripp, and $500.00 from Ellen Grobman in honor of Middle School Team Onyx
and Barry Brooks. Ms. Anderson made a motion to accept all of the
donations.  Ms. Romero seconded and the
motion passed unanimously.

6.  Reports                                                                                          None

7.  Sub-Committee Reports                                                               None

8.  School Committee Planning                                                         
None

A.  Calendar Review

B.  Items for Upcoming Meetings

9.  Adjournment                                                                                  8:39 p.m.

By roll call vote, the committee entered executive session
to discuss non-union salaries at 8:39 p.m. 
Ms. Brighty noted that the School Committee will not return to open
session.

                                                                        Respectfully
submitted,

                                                                        Debbie
Westmoreland

Approved 8/28/07