City of Norwalk

Board of Education

Special Meeting

January 4, 2010

 

ATTENDANCE:      Glenn Iannaccone, Chair; Jack Chiaramonte, Vice Chair;

                                    Susan Hamilton, Secretary; Jody Bishop-Pullan; Heidi

                                    Keyes, Steve Colarossi, Erin Halsey; Migdalia Rivas (8:07 p.m.)

 

STAFF:                      Dr. William Papallo, Interim Superintendent; Tony Daddona,                                              Assistant Superintendent of Schools; Dr. Dan Cook, NPS

                                    Finance; Rita Gablo, NPS Finance; Cindi Rodriguez, NPS

                                    Finance.

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

Mr. Iannaccone called the meeting to order at 7:50 p.m.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

Mr. Iannaccone led those present in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

PRESENTATION OF SUPERINTENDENT’S 2010-2011 OPERATING BUDGET

 

Mr. Iannaccone thanked everyone for attending the meeting and said that Dr. Papallo would be presenting the budget for 2010-2011.

 

Dr. Papallo said that he had been working on budgets since 1973 and he had just been at a BET meeting upstairs. At the earlier meeting, there had been a discussion about the fact that the compounded problem was last year the Board only had a 1.7% increase.

 

In the preface, he pointed out that the new programs were listed and that in this economic times, everyone has been affected.  The District is already working on what will happen below the 3.9% request and the staff continues to work on reducing the expenditures. 

 

Dr. Papallo then indicated that while the high school and middle school enrollments have remained flat, the enrollment numbers had increase in the elementary schools. 

 

Dr. Papallo then reviewed the figures for the benefits and salaries and reminded everyone that the District is a labor intensive effort.  He also pointed out that the Special Education services were frequently mandated by the State. 

 

Dr. Papallo said that the District has already reduced the budget significantly, but also pointed out that two of the three new positions were mandated by the State.  He explained that the budget is minimal and there is no virtual increase.   He also reviewed the situation regarding 1.1 million that the District had a few years ago, which was turned back over to the City and how that affected the budget figures.

 

Dr. Papallo said that several people had been trying to get information about the insurance, and were frustrated when they were told that the District did not have the staff. He said that not having the staff was not an excuse, it was a reason.  Dr. Papallo then pointed out that when he was present in 2000, there were far fewer emails and additional requests for information.

 

He added that if the Board passes the budget at the meeting tomorrow night, it would be presented to the City for their approval. 

 

Ms. Bishop-Pullan asked if the staff would comment on the growing enrollment in the elementary schools.  Dr. Papallo said that there were seven reserve teachers in the budget.  He said that the schools would be watching the areas where there were overages.  Great care will be taken with the placement of 99s or other students.

 

Mr. Colarossi asked about the cuts of the aides for Rowayton and Marvin.  He asked about the details for those two schools cuts.  Dr. Cook said that when staff was being moved around in the schools, the salaries shifted around, also.   Mr. Colarossi said that it appeared that those two schools had real losses and he didn’t understand the details of this.  Dr. Cook said that he would do a detailed analysis and get the information to the Board. 

 

Ms. Rivas joined the meeting at 8:07 p.m.

 

Mr. Colarossi asked about the legal services budget.  Dr. Papallo said that he felt that the number was based on history.  Dr. Cook said that an RFP for legal services was being prepared and that the legal expenses were under review.  Mr. Colarossi said that he still had concerns about the use of outside legal services for Special Education. 

 

Mr. Colarossi then asked about the overtime budget of $25,000 in IT.  Dr. Papallo explained that since the IT Director has been gone for a number of months, the department is busy.  Dr. Cook pointed out that items like the setting up of email accounts and other installations have to be done when then overall system is not in use. That occurs primarily during the nights and week-ends. 

 

Mr. Colarossi asked about the Human Resources Department, particularly the advertising appropriation and the substitute teachers.  Dr. Papallo said that the State site for vacancies has been transferred to the individual Boards of Education, along with the cost.  Regarding the substitute teachers, there are contractual issues having to do with the preparation periods. 

 

Mr. Colarossi asked about the expulsion hearings and the fact that there were two line items.  Mr. Daddona referred everyone to page 75 of the budget.  Mr. Daddona pointed out that an independent expulsion officer had to be hired.  Mr. Colarossi then asked about the other items listed.  Mr. Daddona explained that contractual agreement requires the superintendent’s designee to be present and the details regarding how this came to be.

 

Mr. Colarossi asked about the staff development technology position.  Mr. Daddona reviewed the salary and benefits for this position.

 

Mr. Colarossi then asked about the transportation budget in Code 511.  Dr. Cook and Mr. Daddona will check this.

 

Mr. Colarossi then said that the construction services had increased.  Dr. Cook explained that Naramake and Rowayton may need one additional modular at both schools.  He said that the conservative approach was to include those items in the budget.

 

Mr. Colarossi asked why the trash hauling was the same since the recycling program is now underway and the amount of trash should be reduced.  Dr. Cook said that Mr. Gorian would be working on the program in the coming week.  Mr. Iannaccone explained that the District pays by the number of dumpsters, not by the tonnage.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

 

Dr. Lynne Moore, the principal of West Rocks, came forward and greeted the Board.  She said that she had been attending the BET meetings since October 2009 and that she had heard that the City was expecting a zero budget from all the departments.  She said that the budget does not address in any way, any busing or the inequity of the buildings.  She said that the subgroups are not being addressed.  She then asked how the budget would be reconciled to a zero balance increase. She said that she felt the District needed to go in with a strong suit and make their case.

 

Mr. Bruce Mellion, the NFT President, came forward and said that he supported Dr. Moore’s comments.  He said that the advertising was done in professional journals to get the high quality teachers.

 

Mr. Mellion then went on to point out several concerns in the budget, as follows:

Page 18 – the enrollment of the NHS and BMHS, the student/teacher ratios at the two schools shows a disparity.  He then asked about the CGS students and staff being counted in the overall figures.  Figures are also mentioned on page 22.

 

Page 78 – The District is hurting in the Human Resources office since one position was cut.  He said that the one remaining person was in charge of health insurance, which is the second largest item for the District.

 

Page 80 – Mr. Mellion pointed out that there was a possible typo.

 

Page 82 – Mr. Mellion said there was an adjustment under secretaries and asked for clarification.

 

Page 83 – He felt there was a projection of 40 teachers retiring and that he believed the number would be closer to 50.

 

Page 89 – There was a major presentation last year about English Language Learners program and there is nothing about this program in the current budget.

 

Page 95, - NFT is against the reduction for the Speech and Language Teacher position

 

Page 96 – NFT supports the insurance clerk being restored.

 

Page 98 – It is important that the Board make it clear that the union negotiations would have substantial savings if the contract is worked on before the deadline.  He also mentioned substantial savings for HAS.

 

Page 117 – Mr. Mellion said that the trash pick up should be reduced because of recycling.

 

Page 120 – Student transportation for Industrial Arts – Mr. Mellion asked for clarification.

 

Page 125-127 – Revenue – Show all revenue that comes into the District, including the gate receipts for the sports, rental income, along with any other sources of revenue.

 

Ms. Kerry O’Neill , the President of Silvermine PTO, came forward and asked how long the District was going to keep chipping at the bare bones budget and muddling through. She then asked when the Board was going to address the community about this.

 

Mr. Iannaccone asked if there was anyone else present who wished to address the Board at this time.  No one came forward.  Mr. Iannaccone repeated the request. No one came forward.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

** MS. HAMILTON MOVED TO ADJOURN.

** MS. HALSEY SECONDED.

** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m. 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Sharon L. Soltes

Telesco Secretarial Services