Falmouth School Board Minutes

Falmouth School Board
Workshop Meeting
School Board/Town Council Budget Development
Monday, October 1, 2007

 

  1. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Falmouth High School Library.  Present were Chairman Beppie Cerf, Linda Cote, Karen Farber, Beth Franklin, Kathy Hillman-Reed, Mark Terison, and Superintendent George Entwistle. (Lydick out)

2.   New Budget Referendum (consultation with Bruce Smith)

  • Process mandated by law, for all units, effective with the ’08-’09 budget planning
  • Format of the budget prescribed – required a line-by-line accounting of 11 cost areas
  • Revenue sources – need to define what is paid for under EPS provisions and what is paid for under local funds
  • Creation of a budget warrant
  • Budget meeting and referendum dates need to be set
  • In council form of government, the budget hearing is held with the Town Council
  • Within 10 days thereafter there needs to be a referendum
  • What can happen at the budget hearing – Town Council has bottom line authority over the school budget
  • Question – does Council get to act on 11 line items or continue to act on the bottom line?  Waiting for clarity…
  • Town Council will decide what the school budget is
  • Formal budget meeting of the council needs to be the last meeting (formal meeting) -- in other words, there has to be on-going discussion and agreement beforehand
  • A budget voted-down needs to be re-worked, re-presented, with referendum scheduled (taking approximately 30 days)

 

3.   Technology resources discussion – Dan O’Shea proposal shared with School Board regarding reallocation of some technology funds to fund a new tech position.

4.   Cool Cities Presentation – Claudia King provided an overview of Falmouth’s Cool Cities agreement – overall effort to reduce the town’s carbon footprint.  The focus is on reduction of energy use (ultimately saving money).  Cool Cities is a citizen action group – presenting to the School Board/Leadership Council for the purpose of exploring opportunities with the schools.  Cool Cities will plan to sponsor a dialogue at the Community Dialogue III.

5.   Adjournment:  The Board adjourned at 8:28 p.m.

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                                                    George H. Entwistle 3rd
                                                                                    Secretary

Last Updated: 10/10/07