Than I started thinking about the other building the new superintendent now resides in, and FYI wants to buy , according to the minutes I read in Warwick, Selectboard meeting .
Town of Warwick
Selectboard
February 9, 2016
Minutes
Members present: Dawn Magi, Lawrence Pruyne
Member absent: Nick Arguimbau
Others present: Town Coordinator David Young, Town Secretary Rosa
Fratangelo, PVRSD Superintendent Ruth Miller, PVRSD School Committee
member Martha Morse, Susan Wright, Steve Ruggiero, Jon Calcari, Rachel
Rapkin (Greenfield Recorder)
I. Call to Order
Chair Magi called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm in the Town Hall.
Members of the Finance Committee had been invited but were unable to
attend.
Young read aloud two letters sent to the Selectboard from students in
Ms. Mullen's 3rd and 4th grade class at Warwick Community School (WCS).
The letters thanked the Board for allowing the students to keep all the
sports equipment that had belonged to the Recreation Committee.
II. Presentations and Discussions
1. FY 17 PVRSD Proposed Budget--PVRSD Superintendent Ruth Miller began
by praising WCS, noting it is consistently a Level 1 school with an
amazing principal and a team that works really well together. She
characterized WCS as "very impressive".
Superintendent Miller started with the revenue fact sheet which showed
Warwick's proposed FY 17 minimum contribution at $484,645.00 and the
total assessment at $833,309.00. She noted that Warwick's assessment,
which is based on enrollment, reflects an increase of 1.57%. Miller
explained the figures on the revenue sheet in some detail, including
state aid and local aid. The total revenues for all four towns were
listed at $13,847,927.00.
Miller said that she had tried to keep the budget in line with
revenues so as not to have to come back to the towns. She said that it
was clear that the towns have been very supportive of the District, but
have struggled over the past few years of increased assessments. The
fact sheet for Warwick assessments showed the percentage of increases
for FY 14 - 5.79%; FY 15 - 5.03%; FY 16 - 2.30%; proposed FY 17 - 1.57%.
Also noted were the enrollment figures over the past few years: FY 14 -
925; FY 15 - 892; FY 16 - 889; FY 17 842. Miller said that enrollment
numbers for Leyden and Warwick have remained about the same, while
Northfield has now lost 26 or 27 students and Bernardston is down to one
class per grade from two classes per grade.
Miller said that seven Instructional Assistants (paraprofessionals)
positions are slated to be cut,( remember in the newspaper it was 8 )
and noted that these are not those who
assist with special education. One position is in Northfield, four are
in Bernardston with one of those being a result of retirement and not
filling the vacancy, and two from the library at the high school. She
said that the High School loses between 25 and thirty students every
year and that raising the budget does not make much sense when
enrollment declines annually. She said that she favored bringing back
pep rallies, making junior varsity and varsity sports more competitive,
and that the District needs more promotion to let the area communities
what they have to offer. Miller noted that recently some students have
been leaving PVRHS for specific programs at other schools. She pointed
out that the high school loses more students each year than any other in
Franklin County. Miller said that great schools attract families and
Warwick has a great school. She said that she has started a Facebook
page for PVRSD and wants the elementary schools to do the same to
promote what they each have to offer. Pruyne suggested using a student
from GCC or UMass Amherst as a publicity intern for the District.
Miller noted that the teachers are really committed and that they care
and work hard. She explained the finer points of the numbers for the
various accounts listed on the proposed FY 17 budget sheet. She also
explained how the numbers worked with special education with respect to
money from grants and the streamlined budget. She pointed out savings in
electricity and fuel.
Young said that future capital costs for technology are now reflected
in the budget. He noted that the Pioneer bond debt will be retired now
that the final Warwick payment of about $55,000.00 is being paid in FY
16.
Miller discussed the building in which the Superintendents office is
currently located and asked for opinions on purchase versus continuing
to rent. She asked the Board's opinion about the future of the District
offices which have moved to rented space. Steve Ruggiero suggested he
might favor buying the building and being a landlord of any unused
space.
There was a consensus that purchase of the building would be a good
idea if the building is in good shape and offered at a good price.
Miller said that she wanted more input from the towns because ultimately
it is they who ultimately pay the bill.
Magi said that she had a much better feeling about the budget talks
this year. Miller said that the budget was not perfect but that it was
doable.
2. Public Comment-- None.
III. Adjournment
At 7:10 p.m., Pruyne MOVED to adjourn. Magi SECONDED. Motion CARRIED
2-0-0.
Documents consulted at this meeting:
*Two letters to the Selectboard from Students in Ms. Mullen's 3rd and
4th grade class at Warwick
Community, both dated February 4, 2016
*Revenue Sheet for PVRSD
*Warwick Assessment for PVRSD by fiscal year (FY 14 - FY 17) for PVRSD
*Proposed FY 17 budget for PVRSD
( Miller said that she had tried to keep the budget in line with
revenues so as not to have to come back to the towns,and than it comes
"the BUILDING" Just in case your wondering , this building
is listed at $450,000.00. )
http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/19421248/168-Main-Street-Northfield-MA/
Now lets think about the new building.
1- It cost over 3600.00 to rent ( what was the security deposit, and where
did the funds come from for it? As well as the rent. )YOUR A TAXPAYER IT'S YOUR MONEY ,
YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW .
2-What is the monthly cost for the electric, heat, air conditioning,water,sewage,
security system,( I am sure it has one) and the insurance as well to cover cost of computers and
other office equipment ? Again where is that money coming from?
YOUR A TAXPAYER IT'S YOUR MONEY ,YOU HAVE A RIGHT
TO KNOW .
3- The fact is they are throwing away valuable resources for a major rental cost they should have
seen coming. I mean they must of had a plan on what they were going to do right? After all the other
building was suppose to be temporary 20 years is a long temporary . Again you have to ask yourself,
Did the school committee have a plan to replace them?
When?
Why after all this time ? (20 Years ) If its a small amount of mold that was an issue as to why it was
moved,than why wasn't more than one contractor hired to do an evaluation, to ensure the school
committee that money wasn't being wasted? Was this done? I am sure tax payers will want to
know. As well as the heating and cooling . Remember what we heard from Scott McKusick at the
School Committee meeting, this was not as bad as we were told.
4- Again where is this money coming from, and explain how the expense will not hurt the children
and education funds down the road., and tax payers.
5-At the end of the day we have a temp building sitting empty ,that a contractor
stated was not in bad shape and could be cleaned up cheaply, and another
building costing money, and will continue to cost money and nobody is saying how
it's being funded. Personally I think the Superintendents building should be
located next to the school, not miles down the road .
6-Now here is some info you are not aware of.In Templeton where Miller
is from, one of the first things she did was move the Superintendents office to
a new location. hmmmmm
From a Templeton citizen ,
Our Office story here was a renovation of the former industrial arts and she
spent or 85,000.00 on just that alone. Easily could have had the job
done for half or less but it’s not her taxes she was spending. There
are many things she did related to money that made the budget shrink
quickly.
She has just started with Pioneer funds but with a warning this time to be
under a close watch.
We have been warned .
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