Tonight we had our board reorganization meeting, closed session and our regular meeting. We were still done by 8:30 due to the light agenda of our regular meeting.
The board reorganization meeting went as I expected with only one change.
President - Susan Fox received 4 votes and Peter Sobol received 3 votes.
Vice-President - Jessica Ace received 6 votes (not sure why not seven as she was the only nominee after Susan Manning declined the nomination).
Treasurer - Susan Manning received 4 votes and I received 3 votes. (Peter declined nomination)
Clerk - Lionel Norton received 4 votes and Peter received 3 votes (Jill List declined nomintation)
Fox, Manning and Norton remain in their current position, while Ace replaces Sobol.
The board then voted to reinstate the standing committees. Those committees will be the Business Service, Policy and Curriculum committees. There was some discussion on possibly adding some additional ad-hoc type committees, but that will be discussed at a future board meeting to get into specifics. With the committees returning it was decided that the board would return to one meeting a month on the 2nd Wed of the month. Those dates will be subject to holiday and school schedules. The meeting will also continue to alternate between Glacial Drumlin and the District Office.
In the abreviated regular meeting the 2 topices for discussion and approval were the walk zone as it related to the budget and board policy 185. The walk zone was removed as a potential budget cut on a 7-0 vote. The board policy was revised on a 6-1 vote.
I was the lone dissenting vote because I believe the policy puts too much control of the committee appointments in the hands of the board president. Neither the former version nor the new version require board approval of the appointments. I think that should be a requirement. While I think it would be a formality I still think it should be part of the policy. Otherwise I think it is a sound policy.
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Hi Jason, Has the Board come any closer to balancing the budget or are you done attempting to do so for 10-11?
ReplyDeleteI would say for this year there may be some minor tweaks, but nothing that I would consider subtantial. We will be short of a balanced budget for the 10-11 school year by about $190k. This will come from our fund balance and keep us out of compliance with our 15%+ goal and cost us more in interest as we will have to borrow more.
ReplyDeleteLet's review.
ReplyDeleteVote to delay decision on Maywood 4-3.
Susan Fox elected president 4-3.
Susan Manning elected treasurer 4-3.
Lionel Norton elected clerk 4-3.
At least the board is consistent.
Jason, there's a lot of talk about going to the taxpayers for an operating referendum. While I want to support our district and the education of it's children, I can't see how I could support a referendum when the board isn't doing it's job of balancing the budget and protecting the fund balance. It would be like "lending" money to the down-and-out uncle who won't give up his extravagant lifestyle. How can the taxpayers feel assured that it will be spent appropriately and wisely?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteI think a referendum will be needed. However, I don't think I could support one at this time. I think we as a board have not done enough to show that this district can operate with a balanced budget. Until we do that even for one year, I think it is unreasonable to ask the public to for additional funds.
This 4-3 thing you guys have going on really stinks. It is unhealthy. Are the seven of you going to have your act together for this next budget cycle? Or will we, the public, have to wonder what to think about conflicting information we are getting from the board because you guys can't play nicely in the sandbox together? Maybe you need to borrow one of our kindergarten teachers to run your meetings.
ReplyDeleteI would like to borrow one of those kindergarten teachers to tell us when it is nap time at those late night meetings.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the board needs to be on the same page before a referendum can be considered. I don't know if that would happen at this time or not. I think lots will depend on how the operating budget looks in Oct./Nov./Dec. We hopefully have a teacher contract by then and will have more information on how the future looks. A lot of impact on our budget comes out of Madison and we know how things will look next year, but after that it is a guessing game.
People put too high of an importance on "balancing the budget". Every year we get less and less money coming from state/national government and yet we still have state/national mandates. How much more can we cut? Its time to make a long term plan and lets go to referendum. The vast majority of the budget is teachers salary because that is what a school is - teachers. Teachers are already underpaid, schools are too crowded(esp in CG) and continuous cutting of the budget effects not only the kids learning but our property values. Lets pony up where we need too!
ReplyDelete