Minutes March 29, 2011

Date:

March 29, 2011

Time:

8:15 p.m.

Place:

Bell Middle School Auditorium

Present:

Board of Education
Janet Benton, President
Gregg Bresner, Vice President
Alyson Kiesel
Jeffrey Mester
Randall Katchis

Staff Members
Present:

Mr. John Chambers, Interim Superintendent

Dr. Lyn McKay, Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction

Mr. John Chow, Assistant Superintendent for Business

Theresa Markley, District Clerk / Adm. Asst. to Superintendent

Visitors Present:

Representatives of the Chappaqua PTA, school PTAs, building administrators, faculty, and other interested citizens.

President Janet Benton convened the public session at 6:30 p.m. and moved to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of negotiations (employee contracts) and personnel (superintendent search, staff reduction impact).

At 8:20 p.m. Jeffrey Mester moved to adjourn the Executive Session and reconvene the public session. Randall Katchis seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

In the absence of the District Clerk, President Janet Benton requested a motion to appoint Gregg Bresner clerk pro tem until the Clerk arrives and he is relieved of his duty of recording actions. Alyson Kiesel seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Superintendent Search Announcement

President Benton announced that the board has concluded the superintendent search. She reviewed the extensive search process which began last September with the hiring of Hazard Young Attea to conduct the superintendent search headed by Dr. Bruce Dennis and Ms. Deborah Raizes. They conducted 26 meetings and interviews with stakeholders to collect information to determine characteristics of the future superintendent. Ms. Benton noted that forty-four candidates were recruited or applied and fourteen had screening interviews. Dr. Dennis and Ms. Raizes presented the board with a slate of five candidates from high performing districts. Ms. Benton described the extensive interview process used by the board with each candidate.

President Benton announced that the board has selected Dr. Lyn McKay, Chappaqua's Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, to be our next superintendent of schools. Ms. Benton cited Dr. McKay's expertise in curriculum and instruction, her experience with innovative educational initiatives, her highly collaborative leadership style, and her deep passion for teaching and learning at all levels as the attributes that most influenced the board's decision. Board members and community members offered words of support and congratulations."

Dr. McKay enthusiastically accepted the appointment as the next superintendent of schools. She shared her thinking of what Chappaqua is all about: a highly engaged community that really cares about its schools; high performing students working with talented teachers and administrators; hardworking support staff who keep our schools running smoothly; involved parents who are active in the PTA, district committees, CSF and HGSF; an academic environment characterized by breadth and depth of offerings, strong extra-curriculars, opportunities in the arts, innovative programs, and a commitment to inclusion. Dr. McKay shared her vision of Chappaqua becoming even stronger going forward. She looks forward to listening and learning from community members and plans to engage the community in new ways next year."

Presentations:

• Budget Discussion - 8:30 p.m.

  Athletics

  Steve Young, Athletic Director, recognized the Greeley boys swim team for their second place finish in the New York State championships. The four member relay team placed first in the 400 freestyle. Across all sports, 37 students and two coaches have been honored for their achievements this year."

  Mr. Young presented the 2011-12 proposed athletic budget. The overall budget decrease is $75,000 for a total of $952,603. In an effort order to adjust programs to make necessary reductions, he has collaborated with the Town to provide opportunities to compete utilizing more district fields and coaches. The budget includes decreases in expenditures for in equipment purchases, supplies and travel. Mr. Young also noted that all districts are making necessary budget cuts this year which is reflected in reduced amount of travel because of fewer games played.

  Non-Instructional

  John Chow presented the General Support, Transportation, Community Service and Undistributed Expenditures, portions of the proposed 2011-12 budget. General Support includes Board expenditures, the Central Administration, the Business Office, Legal Expenses, Personnel, Public Information and special items that includes school association dues, judgements/claims, MTA payroll tax, BOCES services, etc.

  Undistributed expenditures include employee benefits totaling $24,382,066, debt service payments of $5,651,970, and interfund transfers to the Special Aid Fund of $260,000 and to the Capital Fund of $100,000. The transportation budget totals $6,132,833 and community services totals $18,977.

  John Chow also described the schedule of debt service payments for the coming years and noted the reduction for this year. He also outlined the details of the district's Transportation contract.

  Fund Balance

  John Chow reviewed the use of Reserve Funds in last year's budget. He discussed appropriate uses and amounts of Fund Balance. He will provide scenarios for use of reserve funds in the 2011-12 budget at the April 5 meeting.

• Response to Questions and Comments - 9:30 p.m.

  HGHS Class Sizes - Instructional Staffing

  Horace Greeley Principal Andrew Selesnick reviewed the proposed high school staffing. He presented a modified staffing plan based on actual student course requests for next year. The new recommendation adds back 3.2 FTE teaching positions to the initial proposal presented on February 15. Mr. Selesnick anticipates this level of staffing will allow the high school to meet student course requests at a level comparable to the current year.

  Middle School - Instructional Staffing

  Dr. McKay explained that if the district wants to provide similar experiences in general music and in terms of lessons in the middle schools, then we need to put back a .4 FTE position in the middle schools.

  Interim Superintendent Chambers Interim Superintendent Chambers summarized the total number of personnel reductions in the budget proposal. The initial proposal on February 15 reduced a total of 33 FTE positions. With 3.6 FTEs put back, the current recommendation is for a reduction of 29.4.

  President Benton asked board members to give some direction to the administration on how to proceed in reference to what we have heard and what additional information we need. Board members thanked administrators for excellent presentations, offered support for the budget process and requested some specific additional data in key areas.

  5-Year Planning

  John Chambers also provided some administrative thinking regarding 5-year financial planning. He discussed the need to look at rolling 5-year budget projections, opportunities for program change, contract negotiation strategies, ideas for non-instructional savings, use of reserves, and lobbying efforts to relieve unfunded mandates.

  5-Year Projections

  John Chow presented 5-year projections that are based on current economic conditions. He indicated that only the expenditures are projected with an assumption that the same programs and staffing are in place using 2011-12 as the base year. Projections are based on ten major categories, with three levels of high, medium and low using three the variables of salaries, pensions, health insurance.

  Finance Advisory Committee Report

  Jeffrey Mester and Randall Katchis described the work of the Financial Advisory Group and thanked all the community members for their time and support of this project. They shared the recommendations of the group including structure, items that need more explanation and categorization. The group suggested five areas that the board should focus on including special education, community development, staffing, professional development, and transportation.

Questions and Comments on topics.

1.

Information Business Affairs

Question and Comments on Report Items

2.

Organization

3.

Approvals

4.

Recommended Action: Personnel

John Chambers made the following recommendations:

5.

Recommended Action: Other

6.

Facilities

7.

Financials

Jeffrey Mester moved to accept the financial reports, approve the recommendations, budget transfers, and bids listed below. Alyson Kiesel seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Questions and Comments

8.

President Benton gave Notice of Future Meetings:

Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at Horace Greeley High School - 8:15 p.m.

9.

Adjournment

At 12:35 p.m. President Benton asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Jeffrey Mester so moved. Randall Katchis seconded. The motion passed unanimously.