LWV OBSERVER REPORT FORM

Main items on the agenda were a second and final reading of the revised bullying policy, an appointment to the Risk Management Advisory Board, reports from the superintendent regarding the 2009-10 operating and capital budgets, and a report on superintendent compensation.

The board unanimously approved the revised bullying policy. Assistant superintendent Tim Dunn stated that the new policy will serve as the impetus for a strengthened commitment to preventing and responding to bullying in the schools. This commitment will be three-fold: 1.) improved communication between the schools, parents, and students; 2.) professional development to train teachers in detecting and handling bullying; and 3.) formation of an anti-bullying committee comprising 20 to 25 members representing parents, students, and staff. These steps will be undertaken within existing budget appropriations. The new policy may be viewed at http://www.whps.org/board/agenda-documents/20090120/5550-P-Bullying%20Behavior%20in%20the%20Schools.pdf.

The board unanimously approved the appointment of Ronald Apter to a second term on the Risk Management Board. The board has 6 members, 3 council-appointed and 3 board-appointed, who oversee all town insurance programs—property/casualty, health, dental, life, etc. They meet once a month throughout the school year.

Superintendent David Sklarz opened a discussion of the 2009-10 budget process by saying that things will work differently this year. Normally at this time, the board would be setting the priorities that shape the superintendent’s budget proposal. This year the board has already declared its main priority by directing the superintendent to prepare a budget with no more than a 3.5% spending increase. Such a budget will require approximately $2 million in cuts from a "current services" spending plan. The process for finding these savings will be 6-fold:

Dr. Sklarz seeks community input to this difficult process, and to that end has installed an electronic suggestion box on the WHPS website at http://www.whps.org/whps/news/100/57.

Additional community input will be gathered at a January 28 joint council/board public forum, which will take place at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall auditorium. Board chair Terry Schmitt expressed the hope that people will suggest things they themselves would be willing to give up, not just programs and services that others use. Bruce Putterman suggested that regional cooperation be looked at, both what we are doing now and what we could do.

On the basis of this process, Dr. Sklarz will present options for spending reductions at the February 3 regular board meeting. Scenarios for 3.5%, 2.5%, 1.5%, and 0% spending increases will be laid out and prioritized for board and public consideration. The Capital Improvement Plan will also be presented on February 3, and Dr. Sklarz warned that it will be a stripped down budget containing only must-do expenditures such as boilers, roofs, and repairs.

In routine matters, the financial statement for the period ending November 30, 2008, projected a year-end budget surplus of $35,000, thanks largely to a $120,000 heating aid check received from the state. Without it, the district would be projecting an $85,000 deficit. Diane Mudge, who presented the statement, warned that an increase in lunch prices is probably coming in the fall. Prices have not gone up for quite a while, and the school nutrition program is self-sustaining through a combination of federal funds and meal revenues. Any surpluses accumulated over the years are used for cafeteria maintenance and improvement. Harry Captain requested that the next financial examiners report include an analysis of Open Choice and interdistrict magnet school revenues and expenditures.

On behalf of the Leadership Planning Committee, parent Dawn Baker and this observer presented to the board an analysis of comparative compensation for school superintendents regionally, statewide, and for 5 towns demographically similar to West Hartford. The report included comparisons of base salaries as well as the often substantial additional compensation packages provided to superintendents. It is available at http://www.whps.org/suptsearch/Superintendent%20Compensation%20Presentation%201-20-09%20RO.pdf.

The next board meeting on February 3 will begin an hour early, at 6:00 pm, with a workshop featuring a panel of reading experts. The regular meeting will follow at 8:00 pm. Both will be held in room 314 at Town Hall.