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Agenda Items:
Decisions/Actions
Welcome & Introductions
Steve Hemmen opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. Each person
introduced themselves
Professional Development
Steve explained the Professional Development Program designed for new
regional superintendents
Regional Superintendent Mentor Steve
explained that MARS will be assigning a mentor to all new regional
superintendents. This mentor is separate from the mentor provided by
MASS
MARS Goals 2008-09
Steve passed out the MARS Goals for 2008-09, complete with information
regarding how the goals were met
Final FY2009 Financial Report
Steve distributed the final financial report for FY2009. One member
requested a breakdown of budget to actuals
MARS Calendar 2009-2010
Steve distributed the meeting calendar for 2009-2010. The next meeting
will be the General Meeting on October 13, 2009. Guest speakers will
present at the general meetings
Goals for
2009-2010 Steve distributed the Goals for
2009-2010. Mindy asked that MASC be added to Goal #2
E&D and
Stabilization Steve provided a handout regarding 603
CMR 41.06 Excess and Deficiency Funds and Chapter 71, Section 16G1/2
regarding Stabilization Funds. He explained that regional school
committees cannot use either of these funds without notification to the
member towns. Christine Lynch stated that further work is needed to
clarify how school committees may provide such notification.
Recording
Secretary Barbara Ripa was nominated and
approved by the Board to serve as recording secretary.
MARS Budget FY2009-2010 The
proposed budget for FY2009-2010 was distributed. The proposed budget in
the amount of $47,489.95 is based on 70 regional school districts paying
the $750 membership fees. As of the date of the meeting, 63 districts
had paid. The proposed expenses would yield a balance of $5,010.05.
Legislative Consultant
Joe Gianinno has requested an increase in his stipend. A copy of his
duties was distributed. The Board voted to increase his stipend from
$10,000 to $12,000.
Steve requested the Board establish the
position of Assistant Director. This individual would assist the
director in completing tasks such as providing professional development
for new superintendents and representing the organization at particular
superintendent roundtables, particularly in western Mass. The Board
approved the position with one member voting in opposition. The stipend
was set at $3000.00.
Forming Standing Committees Steve
asked that each of the Standing Committees have at least one Board
member on the committee. Members volunteered to serve on the following
Standing Committees:
Legislative –
Dan Durgin, Marty O’Shea, Lynn Ryan
Budget and Insurance – Bruce
Kaiser, Barbara Renzoni
Regionalization – Donna Harlan, Mindy ? , Lynn Ryan, Maureen Marshall
MSBA
– Michael Zepantis, David Papagni, Lynn Ryan
Professional
Development – Barbara Ripa
Gants – Cheryl
Duval
EOE Regionalization-proposed The
Renney Center is sponsoring a forum scheduled for October 16th
at Fitchburg State. Steve is
Legislation putting together a
panel of superintendents to present current issues in regional
districts. Dr. Antonucci will serve as the moderator. A copy of MASC
position statement on regionalization was distributed. The MARS position
statement still needs to be developed.
Mike Zepantis
stated that readiness schools are part of the state’s initiative to
secure “Race to the Top” dollars. Donna Harlan would like time at a
future meeting to share an update regarding the status of Readiness
Centers in Massachusetts. The Readiness Centers are located in community
colleges. Donna is a newly appointed Regional Assistance Director,
assigned to District School Assistance Centers in western MA. The
centers are established to help districts that are in trouble by
providing them with resources, professional development, coaches,
mentors – whatever needs to be done.
A list of the
bills to be heard on September 15th was distributed. Concern
regarding House 269 was raised. Steve will contact Joe Gianinno and Stan
Rosenberg to inquire about the origin of the bill.
MSBA proposed
changes Mike Zepantis shared a handout regarding his
September 9 meeting with MSBA, which is
looking to no
longer allow three percentage points for community use of proposed
school
building. The
three points would be rolled into the category of creating new regional
school
districts. Mike
also noted that no points are given to existing regional districts that
want to
expand. Mike
also stated that model school points are not available for elementary or
middle
schools.
Central Office
Study DESE contracted MARS to conduct a survey of
regional schools to study who performs 17
functions of
Central Office staff. Sarah Carleton from DESE is compiling the results,
which came
from 43 regional
districts. She is still working with the data, but will soon send it out
to the team
that prepared
the survey and then send it out to the membership.
MASBO A handout regarding
performance contracting was distributed. Chris Lynch stated that
participation in
performance contracting can affect net school spending. Ed Reform
addresses
operating
expenses. Lynn asked how districts can participate if it becomes a
capital cost without
going to the
towns. Chris stated that up front capital costs would have to be
budgeted and posted.
However, there
is confusion regarding where it would be posted. Is it capital or
operations?
Districts need
to consult their regional agreements to see how capital costs are
defined. The DESE
definition of a
capital cost is anything that is non-instructional and costs over
$100,000, but the
DESE will need
to respond formally regarding reporting.
Next
meeting: Full MARS meeting on October 13,
2009 at Nashoba Valley Technical High School
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