REPORTS - RULE 53

Transcript (~4 min @ 7:23)

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▶ 7:23 Michael P. Zwirko: from committee we're now at a section of the meeting where there it's under rule 53 there are reports this section of the Board of Aldermen meeting for any member of the Board of Aldermen that serves on a subcommittee or a commission which they could update us on any of the business of which that said committee or Commission has met from the last time we've been here this evening I do want to say before we begin that alderman Forbes is unable to attend the meeting this evening he contacted me he had a family engagement that he could not make it so he does sit on our water and sewer committee and he will be unable to update us on that any other aldermen that sit on any committees alderman

▶ 8:01 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: Lipper-Garabedian sure I just wanted to provide this the board with a quick update from the school committee as you probably know the school committees in the process of reviewing drafts and assessing options for the fiscal 19 budget in January the superintendent provided a summary of the school's priorities and needs and that document is available online for the public and for you to take a look at fundamentally the enrollment numbers are going to drive the budget request and you may know that we are exceeding the projections on which the city relied when undertaking all the school construction that happened over last summer for example right now they're projecting we're going to need another kindergarten class so we already added I think one this year and there'll be an additional sixteenth kindergarten class next year they're also projecting that numbers at that middle school and high school will increase our English language learner enrollment is increasing and then based on some state mandates there will be curricular changes related to computer science to a potential civics requirement new high history and social science standards that will require additional materials they're also in the process of finishing negotiations on four collective bargaining agreements these are with the secretaries the paraprofessionals the admins and transportation next year there will be negotiations with the teachers transportation costs for the buses that are used for extracurriculars are also increasing and then of course there's always health insurance so since being named to the liaison I attended the March 20th meeting at which the first draft budget was presented to the school committee last week a second draft was presented and tomorrow night there'll be a third draft with a public hearing currently the projected Delta between what the schools would like to request and what we actually have in revenue is about $800,000 so the school committee is going to be focusing on how we address that deficit next week they hoping to have a final vote or a vote excuse me on the final version of the fiscal 19 budget that would be on April 10th and if you do have the time to pull up the draft number three which is on our the is on the public agenda I would draw your attention to the district comparisons that come at the very end of the packet so this is using state data they've taken a look at how we compare both regionally in our close catchment and then also in the Middlesex Athletic League we have the lowest per pupil spending in both lists you may also note that we have the lowest spending on teachers part of that is reflecting that our teachers are relatively younger and earlier in the stage of their careers than in other districts and as you know there are steps and lanes for the salaries so I'm happy to report back after the next at the next full board meeting to let you know how the school committee is doing on their budget thank

▶ 10:50 Michael P. Zwirko: for that Alderman Lipper-Garabedian. Any other members of the board recently attended