April 25th Minutes

Minutes of the Special Board Meeting

of

RSU #74 Board of Directors

Thursday, April 25, 2019

6:00 p.m.

At Carrabec High School

Directors Present: Judi Dunphy, Robert Demchak, Troy Dunphy, Tammy Murray, Grace Carreiro, Dwight Barron, Kevin Sousa, Valerie Pinkham, Robert Lindblom, Laura Layman, and Deron Whittemore.

Directors absent with notification: Jessi Campbell and Bobbi Sue Harrington

Directors Absent without notification: Dulcie Welch and Scott Lehay

Staff Members Present: 20

Students Present: 1

Citizens Present: 37

Article 1A: TO ELECT A MODERATOR TO PRESIDE AT THE MEETING.

Upon motion by Troy Dunphy and seconded by Tammy Murray, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to elect Phil Curtis as Moderator.

a. Superintendent Michael Tracy announced that Phil Curtis was elected Moderator and administered the Oath of Office to the Moderator.

b. The Moderator will administer the Oath of Office to the Ballot Clerks

Phil Curtis, Moderator, appointed the following to serve as ballet clerks:

Anson: Nancy Gove

Embden: Sharon Bemis and Ruth Blake

New Portland: Kristen Mitchell and Marilyn Gorman

Solon: Christy Jablon and Leslie Giroux

A motion was made to allow anyone who is not a resident of RSU #74 to speak on articles 1-16. The residents voted by unanimous consent to approve this motion.

ARTICLE #1 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE DISTRICT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR REGULAR INSTRUCTION.

School Board Recommends $3,820,195.00

Upon motion by a citizen in the audience and seconded by a citizen in the audience, the article was open for discussion.

Upon motion by Keith Gallagher and seconded by a citizen in the audience, the residents voted to amend the article to $3,313,105.67. Motion failed.

Upon motion by a citizen in the audience and seconded by a citizen in the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands on the original article in the affirmative.

ARTICLE #2 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE DISTRICT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.

School Board Recommends $1,752,564.00

Upon motion by a citizen of the audience and seconded by a citizen in the audience, the article was open for discussion.

Upon motion by Keith Gallagher and seconded by a citizen of the audience, the residents voted to amend the article to $1,200,564.00. Motion failed.

Upon motion by a citizen of the audience and seconded by a citizen of the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands on the original article in the affirmative.

ARTICLE #3 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE DISTRICT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

School Board Recommends $0.00

Upon motion by a citizen of the audience and seconded by a citizen of the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative.

ARTICLE #4 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE DISTRICT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR OTHER INSTRUCTION.

School Board Recommends $240,913.00

Upon motion by a citizen of the audience and seconded by a citizen of the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative.

ARTICLE #5 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE DISTRICT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR STUDENT AND STAFF SUPPORT.

School Board Recommends $838,639.00

Upon motion by a citizen of the audience and seconded by a citizen of the audience, the article was open for discussion.

Upon motion by Keith Gallagher and seconded by a citizen of the audience, the residents voted to amend the article to $598,639.00. Motion failed.

Upon motion be a citizen of the audience and seconded by a citizen of the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands on the original article in the affirmative.

ARTICLE #6 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE DISTRICT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR SYSYTEM ADMINISTRATION.

School Board Recommends $365,865.00

Upon motion by a citizen in the audience and seconded by a citizen in the audience, the article was open for discussion.

Upon motion by Keith Gallagher and seconded by a citizen in the audience, the residents voted to amend the article to $265,865.00. Motion failed

Upon motion be a citizen of the audience and seconded by a citizen of the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands on the original article in the affirmative.

ARTICLE #7 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE DISTRICT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION.

School Board Recommends $609,013.00

Upon motion by a citizen in the audience and seconded by a citizen in the audience, the article was open for discussion.

Upon motion by Keith Gallagher and seconded by a citizen in the audience, the residents voted to amend the article to $509,013.00. Motion failed

Upon motion by Elaine Aloes and seconded by a citizen in the audience, the residents voted to amend the article to $604,578.00. Motion failed

Upon motion be a citizen of the audience and seconded by a citizen of the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands on the original article in the affirmative.

ARTICLE #8 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE DISTRICT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR TRANSPORTATION AND BUSES.

School Board Recommends $733,672.00

Upon motion by a citizen in the audience and seconded by a citizen in the audience, the article was open for discussion.

Upon motion by Keith Gallagher and seconded by a citizen in the audience, the residents voted to amend the article to $533,672.00. Motion failed

Upon motion by a citizen of the audience and seconded by a citizen in the audience, the residents voted to amend the article to $728,475.00. Motion failed

Upon motion be a citizen of the audience and seconded by a citizen of the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands on the original article in the affirmative.

ARTICLE #9 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE DISTRICT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR FACILITIES AND MAINTENANCE.

School Board Recommends $1,774,612.00

Upon motion by a citizen in the audience and seconded by a citizen in the audience, the article was open for discussion.

Upon motion by Keith Gallagher and seconded by a citizen in the audience, the residents voted to amend the article to $1,500,000.00. Motion failed

Upon motion be a citizen of the audience and seconded by a citizen of the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands on the original article in the affirmative.

ARTICLE #10 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE DISTRICT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR DEBT SERVICES AND OTHER COMMITMENTS.

School Board Recommends $448,012.00

Upon motion by a citizen of the audience and seconded by a citizen of the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative.

ARTICLE #11 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE DISTRICT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR ALL OTHER EXPENSES.

School Board Recommends $0

Upon motion by a citizen of the audience and seconded by a citizen of the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative.

ARTICLE #12

Explanation: The Regional School Unit’s contribution to the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 as described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act is the amount of money determined by state law to be the minimum amount that the Regional School Unit must raise and assess in order to receive the full amount of state dollars.

Upon motion by a citizen in the audience and seconded by a citizen in the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative.

ARTICLE #13 (WRITTEN BALLOT REQUIRED) TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL RAISE AND APPROPRIATE IN ADDITIONAL LOCAL FUNDS (Recommend $1,947,090.00), WHICH EXCEEDS THE STATE’S ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ALLOCATION MODEL BY (Recommend $1,947,090.00) AS REQUIRED TO FUND THE BUDGET RECOMMENDED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.

THE SCHOOL BOARD RECOMMENDS $1,947,090.00 FOR ADDITIONAL LOCAL FUNDS AND GIVES THE FOLLOWING REASONS FOR EXCEEDING THE STATE’S ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FUNDING MODEL BY $1,947,090.00: THIS AMOUNT IS NEEDED TO COVER COSTS OF REGIONAL SCHOOLS THAT STATE’S FUNDING MODEL DOES NOT RECOGNIZE INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING: 1) COSTS OF MAINTAINING STUDENT-TEACHER RATIOS, 2) COSTS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMING, 3) COSTS Of EXTRA-CURRICULAR AND CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMS, AND 4) TRANSPORTATION COSTS.

Upon motion by a citizen in the audience and seconded by a citizen in the audience, the residents voted by written ballot 43 yes and 28 No, by majority the motion passes.

ARTICLE #14 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL AUTHORIZE THE SCHOOL BOARD TO EXPEND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2019 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2020 FROM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE TOTAL COST OF FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION FROM KINDERGARTEN TO GRADE 12 AS DESCRIBED IN THE ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FUNDING ACT, NON-STATE FUNDED SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, ADDITIONAL LOCAL FUNDS FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES UNDER THE MAINE REVISED STATUTES, TITLE 20-A, SECTION 15690, UNEXPENDED BALANCES, TUITION RECEIPTS, STATE SUBSIDY AND OTHER RECEIPTS FOR THE SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS.

SCHOOL RECOMMNEDS $10,583,485.00

Upon motion by a citizen in the audience and seconded by a citizen in the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative.

ARTICE #15 IN ADDITION TO AMOUNTS APPROVED IN THE PRECEDING ARTICLES, SHALL THE SCHOOL BOARD BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND SUCH OTHER SUMS AS MAY BE RECEIVED FROM FEDERAL OR STATE GRANTS OR PROGRAMS OR OTHER SOURCES DURING THE FISCAL YEAR FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES, PROVIDED THAT SUCH GRANTS, PROGRAMS OR OTHER RESOURCES DO NOT REQUIRE THE EXPENDITURE OF OTHER FUNDS NOT PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED?

Upon motion by a citizen in the audience and seconded by a citizen in the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative.

ARTICLE #16 IN THE EVENT THAT THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT RECEIVES MORE STATE EDUCATION SUBSIDY THAN THE AMOUNT INCLUDED IN ITS BUDGET, SHALL THE SCHOOL BOARD BE AUTHORIZED TO USE ALL OR PART OF THE ADDITIONAL STATE SUBSIDY TO INCREASE EXPENDITURES FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES IN COST CENTER CATERGORIES APPROVED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD, AND/OR DECREASE THE LOCAL COST SHARE EXPECTATIONS, AS DEFINED IN TITLE 20-A. SECTION 15671A(1)(B), FOR LOCAL PROPERTY TAXPAYERS FOR FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION AS APPROVED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD?

Upon motion by a citizen in the audience and seconded by a citizen in the audience, the article was open for discussion.

Upon motion by Elaine Aloes and seconded by a citizen in the audience the residents voted to amend the article to say, “ In the event that the Regional School Unit receives more state subsidy than the amount included in its budget, shall the School Board be authorized to use all of the additional state subsidy to reduce the local tax burden as defined in Title 20-A, section 15671A(1)(B).”

Upon motion by a citizen in the audience and seconded by a citizen in the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative of the amended motion.

ARTICE #17 DO YOU FAVOR THE FORMATION OF A REGIONAL SERVICE CENTER PURSUANT TO AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR THE WESTERN MAINE REGIONAL SERVICE CENTER, AS APPROVED BY THE GOVERNING BODIES OF THE PARTIES THERETO AND THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION?

Upon motion by a citizen in the audience and seconded by a citizen in the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative.

The Moderator declared the meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

_________________________________

Michael Tracy

Superintendent