BANGOR TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS
SPECIAL MEETING
MAY 9, 2005
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Members Present: |
Richard Kowalski, President; Dawn Klida, Vice-President; Barbara Skowronski, Secretary; John Loop, Trustee; Patrick Shaffer, Trustee; Scott Sturm, Trustee
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Members Absent: |
Terrence O’Hare (family business)
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expressions/communications from the public |
None.
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consent agenda
reports
discussion of transportation department cuts
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A motion as made by Barbara Skowronski, supported by Patrick Shaffer, to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:
Mrs. Klida asked that Item 4D be removed and placed under Other Items for Discussion.
Consent Agenda as Revised
Motion carried unanimously.
Board Committee Report: Mr. Sturm reported that the Transportation Committee met today. They reviewed the budget line-item by line-item and discussed issues regarding transportation, transfer runs, and transporting sporting events. The bus inventory was reviewed as well.
At this time Mr. Heinrich began a review of the Transportation Department. He stated that there are twenty-one buses that have regular runs with six spare buses. One of the spares will be taken off the road next year which will leave the district with twenty-one regular and five spares. The plan is to reduce the routes and drivers by two next year which will give the district six or seven spares. He felt that in the next two years three or four buses will probably need to be reviewed to be pulled off the road. He said that the district was not, at this point, ready to buy buses next year, but to look at purchasing or leasing in the future to save money.
Mr. Shaffer asked what the cost was for leasing versus buying. Mr. Heinrich did not have the cost at this time.
At this time discussion was tabled until later in the evening to move on to the student discipline issues.
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student discipline |
Student A: Mr. Kowalski explained that the parents of Student A could request a closed session for this expulsion recommendation. At 5:40 p.m. the meeting went into a closed session at the parents’ request.
At 6:10 p.m. the meeting was reconvened into open session.
A motion was made by John Loop, supported by Scott Sturm, to approve the recommendation by administrators for a 180-day expulsion for Student A. Motion carried unanimously.
Student B: Mr. Wetters reviewed the information involving the recommendation for expulsion of Student B.
A motion was made by Dawn Klida, supported by John Loop, to accept the recommendation by administrators for a 180-day expulsion for Student B. Motion carried unanimously.
At this time Mr. Wetters enquired about the damages that had been done to a staff member’s car and how this should be handled. He was informed by Mr. Allsopp that this should be taken care of through the prosecutor’s office and the court system.
Mr. Heinrich asked Mr. Wetters to communicate to staff members to keep their personal items locked up.
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return to discussion regarding transportation department cuts
other items for discussion
executive session
adjournment |
Mr. Heinrich felt that the district should consider leasing versus buying if we continue to transport students. Specifically for the 2006/07 budget, the district needed to have the money in the budget for buses.
Mr. Kowalski asked if there was a recommendation for anything in particular at this time. Mr. Heinrich said “not for a purchase.” He and the committee had talked about purchasing a used bus from Essexville. He would probably just bring that to the Board sometime this summer. This may give us a little buffer for next year.
Mr. Kowalski stated that the reason he put this item back on the agenda for discussion was because the mechanic position was in the Transportation budget. The Board had approved one-half of a mechanic position plus one bus run which totaled $75,000 in cuts. He said that they should not be penalizing the Transportation Department any more than any other area with the ten percent reduction. The actual cost for reduction was approximately $150,000. This needed to be readdressed. He felt that the Board took a lot more out of the Transportation Department than anywhere else. He also was concerned about the bus run cut and asked what that second cut would impact. He asked where the district’s plan was for the second cut.
Mr. Shaffer asked where the $50,000 figure was coming from that Mr. Kowalski referred to. Mr. Kowalski stated that this was the mechanic position. Mr. Shaffer said that two mechanics were equivalent to $67,980. The Board had voted to approve reduction of one-half of a mechanic. One-quarter of the $67,980 is about $17,000 plus one-half of the benefits.
Mr. Heinrich said that if you take the $67,980 and divide it by two it would equal one mechanic plus twenty-three percent to cover retirement and FICA. The salary for one-half of a position is $50,000 plus twenty-three percent. The savings would be about $35,000 for one-half of a mechanic position. Mr. Kowalski said that he was only espousing the information that he was provided. Mr. Shaffer said that he was not clear on the numbers himself because they did not add up.
Mrs. Klida said that she had asked about this the night it came up. She wanted to make sure that she did not vote for something that put them over the ten percent. She wanted to be clear that she did not support hitting Transportation for more than a ten percent total reduction. If another motion was required, she did not want to exceed $100,000.
Mr. Andress stated that the Board had been given a lot of numbers. They thought they could cut $100,000. Mr. Heinrich had worked on this and assured him they could make this cut.
Mr. Loop said that there was a gray area of where they were going to come up with the extra $40,000 to $50,000. He asked if they could take the bumping conjecture out and have a better idea to get a total of what the savings would be.
Mr. Andress felt confident that, even if they did not reach the $100,000, they would end up with a balanced budget.
Mr. Kowalski was concerned about the custodial position at Bangor North and the union position there that would prevent them from outsourcing that position. He asked if this position was going to be outsourced. Mr. Andress said that they were seriously considering that. Mr. Kowalski said that this was an issue and if they were going to do that they needed to make a decision as a Board that it is what they are going to do. He understood there is some fluidity and wanted to look at what the new numbers were. He wanted to know where they were going to find $48,000
Mr. Shaffer stated that at the time the Board made the cuts they were given numbers. The Board still does not concur about what one-half of a mechanic is going to cost the district. He said that somebody needed to get the board some good numbers to begin with. The Board does not look good because people are not doing what they are supposed to be doing.
Mr. Shaffer asked if there had been four empty classrooms at Bangor Central this year. He asked how many classrooms at Bangor North were used by union employees. Mr. Andress stated “one classroom.” Mr. Shaffer said that person could be moved to Bangor Central and then there would be no problem. He agreed with Mr. Kowalski that they have to live with the union, because he received the same letters and concerns from union members. Some things have got to be done to address these issues.
Mr. Sturm said that, regarding the ten percent, he had looked at the mechanic and bus run plus one additional bus run. He said that Mr. Heinrich stated in the meeting that the mechanic was already part of that. Mr. Kowalski said that the discussion about the process and when the reductions actually happened were reflected in the minutes.
Mrs. Klida did not think it was very clear and that is why there is confusion. I thought that $100,000 was what is in the minutes for a maximum. She stated that she had e-mailed Mr. Lenar some time ago and copied Board members. She requested numbers from Mr. Lenar regarding what the cuts will actually cost. She wanted to see that information soon. If she needed to make a motion to limit the Transportation reduction to $100,000, she would do so.
Mr. Loop agreed about getting the most accurate figures regarding savings. He also thought that settling contracts as soon as possible was a priority so that before summer accurate figures can be given. Mr. Kowalski stated that the district would have labor problems if North was outsourced.
Mr. Loop said that what was voted was to eliminate a custodial position, not outsourcing. Outsourcing was discussed at that time.
Mr. Heinrich said that not very many years ago the North custodial position was filled outside the bargaining unit. He understands the political nature, but they will then need to go back and cut one-half of a custodial position. There is no question that the district could save money if that position was pulled.
Mrs. Klida did not want to do that for one person. It is a school building and the administrator will be part of a union also. She did not want to take jobs away from people, lay them off, to build the fund equity.
Mr. Loop stated that he would like to know that the concerns are not founded.
Mr. Heinrich stated that the Board had charged the administrators to balance the budget. He understood that Mr. Shaffer did not like the numbers, but they are reasonable. Some of them are soft numbers, i.e., the three special education aides. Some things have changed recently within the Transportation budget for the good. Two classrooms are being leased at Bangor Central for a program coming from Reigel. Bangor used to transport students there and this will not be taking place now. He felt they could come up with $100,000 and if the Board wanted to include the mechanic in that amount administration could do it. Mr. Heinrich also explained changes that will take place with bus runs next year.
Mr. Heinrich said that Mr. Lenar would put together a spread sheet for him and Mr. Andress that would give them an idea of how much the budget would be impacted.
Mrs. Klida said that she wanted to know, based on what has already been done, where the district stands now from Mr. Lenar. Mr. Kowalski said that for the next meeting he wanted to go back and look at the total number for the bus mechanic, two bus run cuts, and another $48,000.
A motion was made by Dawn Klida, supported by Scott Sturm, not to exceed $100,000 in cuts from the Transportation Department budget. Motion carried unanimously
Approval to Post John Glenn Assistant Principal Position: Mr. Loop asked if the Board would be making a decision based on the course of action that had been recommended by Mr. Andress. Mr. Loop felt that the best course of action would be to bring someone in for one year because staffing will be reorganized at the high school. He felt it would be prudent to do this to give the district more flexibility the following year to reorganize the budget.
Mrs. Klida thought that the district should contract this position out for a year. If the district hired somebody, they will be in a union. The reality is there will be reorganization next year.
Mr. Andress stated that a flat fee is paid for a contracted person. He agreed with Mrs. Klida.
Mr. Shaffer also supported the idea of hiring from an outside source. He asked if there was a person administration had in mind. Mr. Andress said there was not. Mrs. Klida urged Mr. Andress to make sure that Mrs. Smith has every avenue of input. Mr. Heinrich informed the Board that he and Mr. Andress sat down with Mrs. Smith and reviewed the options.
A motion was made by Mrs. Klida, supported by Barbara Skowronski, to contract the high school position for one year with the specifics that the superintendent gave to the board. Mrs. Klida also asked that the Board be kept informed as the process moves along.
Mr. Heinrich asked if outsourcing this position would be a problem since the administrators were in a union now. Mr. Kowalski stated that there is no contract with that group at this time. Motion carried unanimously.
Superintendent Report: Mr. Andress reported on the following items: 1) placemat advertising, 2) media advertisement, 3) review of MEAP scores.
Custodial Discussion: Mr. Heinrich asked for direction from the Board on this issue. North needs to be cleaned either by a union position or outsourcing. If not outsourcing, he will need to meet with Mr. Balash and discuss other options for budget reductions.
Mrs. Klida said that she would not support outsourcing. Mr. Kowalski agreed. Mr. Heinrich stated that he needed the Board to support it or administration would not go there.
Mr. Sturm said that when a custodial position had been eliminated he thought there would be some moving of personnel and changes in shifts. Mr. Shaffer said he was under the impression since that position had been previously out-sourced it would resort back to that. He misunderstood that the district had one union teacher in that building and one administrator. This was confirmed by Mr. Heinrich. Mr. Shaffer said that if they are in the building, then he would not support outsourcing. If they are in a different building, he would support outsourcing. Mr. Loop said that he had voted to cut a custodial position, not to outsource. He could not see going to war for a small savings. Mr. Kowalski said that he did not have a problem doing that, but this was not enough for them to go to war.
Mr. Heinrich asked how the Board wanted him to communicate with them. Administration needed to go back and reduce a current full-time position to a one-half time position with no benefits. He asked if he needed Board approval for this if the resolution ends up being that the North position is going to be a one-half time position with no benefits.
Mrs. Klida said that she honestly could not answer that tonight. There is not enough information at this time to make a decision. Mr. Kowalski said that cuts are needed and staff members have to adjust.
Mrs. Klida said that this is where it becomes critical. The Board is hearing about problematic personnel in areas. People need to be held accountable to do their jobs. Some of these lay offs are costing the district good employees. There has to be accountability right down the line. People need to do their jobs.
At 7:20 p.m. a five-minute recess taken.
At 7:25 p.m. the Board reconvened and went into executive session to discuss negotiations. At 8:30 p.m. a motion was made by Barbara Skowronski, supported by Scott Sturm, to adjourn the meeting. |
Respectfully submitted, Barbara Skowronski, Secretary