Superintendent Goals Update (10 minutes)

Transcript (~4 min @ 54:05)

Speakers identified by voice; unnamed voices are numbered within this recording. Auto-caption text — verify against the video.

▶ 53:57 Speaker 1: Driscoll and any discussions, concerns, questions, seeing none. All in favor, that passes six in favor and no abstentions, and one absent. And that concludes finance and facilities for this evening. Thank you very much. Thank you.

▶ 54:29 Speaker 6: Thank you, Mr. Ozzy Thomas.

▶ 54:35 Margaret Raymond Driscoll: Next on our agenda is the superintendent, uh, goals update. Uh, you will recall that on September 21st, um, superintendent ero, um, provided a memo to us relative to the superintendent's goals for 2324. Uh, and number one, goal number one, uh, was financial and identified as the first bullet. Um, by date, it's, uh, indicated that by October, 2023, payroll validation will be systematized into a predictable monthly process. So I will invite the superintendent to speak to that, please. Sure.

▶ 55:14 Speaker 3: Thank you, Madam Chair. As you the note of the, the document that we gave you, uh, was what we've currently have been doing, and then the new processes that are in place. So the Melrose Public Schools and City Weekly payroll. So we have two payrolls. We have a weekly payroll, and we have a bi-weekly payroll. And the weekly payroll combined deals with our hourly employees, and the biweekly is with salaried employees. And so part of the new process that we have in under fiscal 24, as you'll see down, is that salaries for paraprofessionals, administrative assistants and transportation drivers are all encumbered. So we wanted to make sure that that's all set. And then if you go over to the weekly, um, Melrose Public Schools biweekly payroll, the same thing on in regards to the assistant to the Director of finance primary role to oversee the payroll operations, which was previously in HR and a biweekly payroll was one role. Um, we have training sessions now to implement best practice with Munis in the process. Salaries for teachers and administrators are all encumbered, which is important for us so that we, there's no surprises there. Pivot table based spreadsheet proof now used to balance with the municipal proof. So we are constantly checking back on what's happening. Uh, an muni error reporting run for each payroll cycle and a biweekly now submitted to the city auditors for review prior to the treasurer's process for payroll. And that was started actually, um, before my time. So, um, and then you'll notice that, um, the next steps on both areas. Uh, we're looking to move from paper sheets to Munis employee self-serve system that's in the future ed stations to start entering their own payroll in the near future and explore PD opportunities for payroll professionals, uh, to build best practices. And on the biweekly move from paper, again to Muni employee and explore professional development opportunities. So these things that are in place are, um, we believe are helping us move forward and better understand our budget.

▶ 57:32 Margaret Raymond Driscoll: Very good. Any questions or comments for the superintendent?

▶ 57:36 Margaret Raymond Driscoll: Seeing none, I think this is an ex excellent progress. It's great to see it in writing, and it shows also, um, a thoughtful process, uh, collaborating with the city, uh, to take advantage of, uh, shared opportunities.

▶ 57:50 Speaker 3: And, and if I might add, I mean, these are my goals, but I can't accomplish these goals without Ken Kelly and the business department on the great work that they've been doing, as well as working with our city, uh, on this. So I really appreciate their work.

▶ 58:04 Margaret Raymond Driscoll: No, INT Mr. Kelly, teamwork. Teamwork. Thank you very much.

▶ 58:09 Speaker 6: Um, next on our agendas, the update on the superintendent's search, I will invite Mr. O'Connell to share, uh, his experience. Thank You. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, interviews started last night. Um, they will continue through this week. Uh, we have a great screening committee, uh, great diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Uh, our colleague, Ms. With's, leadership of the committee has been exemplary. We have, um, some very good candidates, likewise, great diversity of background, experiences, perspectives, and we expect to have, uh, finalists for the school committee, uh, the school committee's consideration, uh, in short order. Uh, I, I would just note, uh, by way of thanking the screening committee members, uh, we've met twice previously. Uh, we met last night. We'll be meeting two more times this week. And we've reserved next Monday as a meeting date, if and as needed. So it's a fair more than a fair amount of work, uh, for these folks. Uh, and on behalf of the committee, I would just like to publicly, uh, thank the screening committee for this work.