Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School Committee
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Compiled By Caitlyn Kelleher Journal Reporter

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The school committee discussed how to bring the community into the discussion of whether to support an override or where to cut the budget.

Committee Chairman David Christianson said that there is a need to example how much of the increases in the budget are under each area.

"We are always just a few steps away from disaster because we aren't in control of the funding mechanism," Christianson said.

The state and towns determine how much of the budget to fund and how to fund it.

Superintendent Michael Zapantis is proposing a $28.2 million budget for the 2008 fiscal year. The budget is about a $2.2 million increase over the previous year.

Christianson also said if there is a reduction of $2.2 million in the budget then there are going to be effects that parents and students can see.

"People want to know what you can cut before we affect the classrooms, I don't know," he said.

The committee asked Zapantis to draw up a list of alternatives if the additional funding does not pass.

Committee members said they have heard a lot of concerns about the possible override. "We are hearing about the number but not the pieces of the number," Holmes agreed.

"It is not our job to decide for the public if they can or cannot afford it," said Committee member Laura Weiderman. "We are giving them a very sound budget."

In other news: + Only one person attended the committee's public hearing on the budget. Westminster Advisory Board Brian Ruland questioned the school committee about budget issues from the new transportation contract to special education transportation to salary amounts and new curriculum expenditures.

Rulan asked if the school district's use of additional funds will be used to make the state Annual Yearly Progress school improvements.

Zapantis said English-language arts programs will be seeing more money to buy supplies and there will be new social studies curriculum supervisors.

Committee members Ellen Holmes said this district is more value added in its approach, which looks at individual student growth throughout the 13 years a student attends the district. This is addition of looking at the results of a graduating class.

The school committee will host another public hearing at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

+ The school committee ratified a vote taken in executive on Tuesday, Feb. 6. The vote allows Zapantis to negotiate with Ashburnham town officials to create a rental agreement and security plan that will permit Town Hall employees to relocate into Oakmont Regional High School.

"This isn't a done deal," Christianson said.

Ashburnham residents Jane and Bill Clabaugh asked the school committee to ensure the quality of the ACE program, which will be relocated to accommodate the Town Hall employees. The ACE program is a special education program geared for students 18 to 22 years, which teaches job and life skills.

"You have my wholehearted support, faith and trust, as you relocate this classroom," said Bill Clabaugh. "Because you have earned it."

The Clabaugh's wrote a letter to the school committee outlining their concerns. Jane Clabaugh said that she wants to make sure her children can continue their education when they enter the program this fall. She said that the needs of the students should remain the top priority.

Committee member Gwen Farely said there was a discussion about student safety and about offering a quality education in the ACE program now or in the future during the executive session meeting.

Zapantis the ACE program will be moved close to the EXEL program - the special education program for high school-aged students - and this move will let the district offer the same educational options.

Christianson said that if there are problems negotiating a contract then the deal might be off the table.

Zapantis the timeline for this project is still undefined. But he would prefer that there be no changes at Oakmont until after the school year.

The committee voted 6-0 in favor of the negotiations, with committee member Jeffrey Boudreau abstaining from the vote because he missed the executive session discussion.