Oct. 21, 2014 Budget Sub Meeting

Agenda

Quincy School Committee
Budget and Finance Subcommittee
Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Chair
Coddington Building
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
5:30 p.m.

  1. Quarterly Budget Status Report - Mr. Mullaney

  2. Adjournment – Thank You!

Minutes

Quincy School Committee
Budget & Finance Subcommittee Meeting
Tuesday, October 21, 2014

A meeting of the Budget and Finance Subcommittee was held on Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at 5:45 pm in the Coddington Building. Present were Mr. Paul Bregoli, Mrs. Anne Mahoney, Mr. Dave McCarthy, and Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Chair. Also attending were Superintendent DeCristofaro, Deputy Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Mr. James Mullaney, and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.

Mrs. Hubley called the meeting to order at 5:45 pm.

Mr. Mullaney presented the Professional Staff Reconciliation. For FY2015, 35 new positions were established in Academic Classroom Teachers, Academic Programs, Academic Support Staff. Adjustments were made to add and remove classroom and program teachers at the elementary, middle, and high school levels to reflect shifts in student populations, with a net loss of 0.6 positions, which will be reserved for future considerations during the school year as the funding remains in the budget.

Mr. Mullaney then presented the Quarterly Budget Review for the first quarter of FY2015. He reviewed the salary budget for Academic Classroom Teachers, Academic Programs, Academic Support, and Non-Academic Support. All line items are within expected ranges for this point in the year; all step and level increases are accounted for. All salary needs are anticipated to be covered by the FY2015 budget.

For Academic Expenses, current expenditures are typical for QPS historical spending, with expenditures for textbooks, supplies, and testing. This includes the expenditures for the Common Core text and learning materials that will be paid over three years. For Non-Academic Expenses, funding has been encumbered for natural gas and electricity by the issuing of purchase orders. Other lines are on target; the other major account is transportation, the majority of which is Special Education and that spending is on track.

Mr. Mullaney noted that Special Education tuition and transportation line items are partly reimbursed by Circuit Breaker funding and we are anticipating a slightly higher rate of reimbursement $226,000.

Mr. Bregoli asked about equipment for Athletic Trainers and if we look into the investment it would take to acquire some of these items. Mr. Mullaney asked if the trainers can generate a list, we can look at funding some items through the Athletics revolving fund. Dr. DeCristofaro noted that some of our partners may be resources for providing some of these items.

Mrs. Mahoney asked for clarification of the staff reconciliation. Sterling was reduced by one Grade 5 teacher due to enrollment. Sterling, Point Webster and Broad Meadows have fewer sections of Grade 8 French than what was budgeted. Mrs. Hubley asked for clarification on the Special Education staffing change; minor adjustments have added up to -0.20 position.

Mrs. Mahoney asked about middle school mathematics curriculum instructional videos that were available online last year. The videos are not available on the publisher’s website at this time, but we have inquired with the sales representative about future availability.

Mr. McCarthy made a motion to approve the Quarterly Budget as presented. Mrs. Mahoney seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.

Mr. Bregoli made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:15 pm. Mrs. Mahoney seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.