013fLincoln Finance Committee
January 9, 2007 Meeting
Present: P. Giese, S. Haber, M. Hartman (vice-chair), J. Koenig, P. Phillipps, J. Robinson
Not present: R. Steinbrook (chair)
Minutes submitted by: M. Hartman
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm in the Donaldson Room at Lincoln Town Hall.
The meeting began with a discussion with Lincoln Public Schools K-8 staff (Mickey Brandmeyer, Paul Naso and Buck Creel) and members of the School Committee (Julie Dobrow, Laurie Manos and Sharon Antia) regarding next year’s grade 2 class-size vis-à-vis the FY ’08 budget. The Finance Committee members attempted to identify extenuating circumstances that would warrant an exception to the existing class-size policy. The group also discussed whether establishing class-size policy should be part of the budgeting process or established by the School Committee and adhered to when making budgeting decisions. Pat Phillipps explained the history behind the class-size policy and stressed that adherence to the policy is important to maintain open, objective and independent
relationships among the various town committees.
The committee next heard a presentation by LSRHS administrator Judy Belliveau and John Ritchie (with the Sudbury School Committee in attendance) regarding their preliminary FY ’08 budget request. Level staff, level class size and preferred budgets were presented at an increase of 6.63%, 7.79% and 8.69% respectively. All three scenarios would require an override and those present believed that Sudbury Finance Committee would be likely to support an override this year. In addition, Lincoln’s apportionment will increase slightly from 14.19% to 14.67%.
Finally, the Finance Committee deliberated on the discussion with Lincoln K-8 and unanimously agreed that they could not support an exception to the current class-size policy for FY ’08. A memo was send to the School Committee outlining the Finance Committee’s position and encouraging the School Committee to re-visit and potentially re-establish class-size policy for future years. The memo also reminded the School Committee that the Finance Committee is committed to fund, via a Reserve Fund Transfer, additional class sections in the event that enrollment exceeds maximum class-size policy. For grade 2, this would happen once enrollment reaches 73 students.
The minutes of the meeting of Dec 19, 2006 were approved and the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 pm.
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