June 25, 2020 Minutes

Minutes of the Special Board Meeting

of

RSU #74 Board of Directors

Thursday, June 25, 2020

6:00 p.m.

At Carrabec High School

Directors Present: Judi Dunphy, Robert Demchak, Troy Dunphy, Heather Longley, Ellen McQuiston, Michael Cahill, Kevin Sousa, David Royce, Valerie Pinkham, Robert Lindblom, Laura Layman, and Deron Whittemore.

Directors absent with notification: Grace Carreiro

Directors Absent without notification: Bobbi Sue Harrington and Dwight Barron

Staff Members Present: 18

Students Present: 0

Citizens Present: 41

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

Upon motion by Troy Dunphy and seconded by Laura Layman, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to elect Phil Curtis as Moderator and Erik Carey as Deputy Moderator.

a. Superintendent Michael Tracy announced that Phil Curtis was elected Moderator and Erik Carey was elected Deputy Moderator and administered the Oath of Office to the both of them.

b. The Moderator administered the Oath of Office to the Ballot Clerks

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

Anson: Nancy Gove

Embden: Christine Jablon

New Portland: Kristen Mitchell

Solon: Leslie Giroux

A motion was made to allow anyone who is not a resident of RSU #74 to speak on articles 1-20. 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 $3,888,176.00

Upon motion by Victoria Greene and seconded by Dave Ela, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative. Vote was 26 yes and 21 no.

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

School Board Recommends $1,633,284.00

Upon motion by Erik Carey and seconded by a member in the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative. Motion passed.

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 Elaine Aloes and seconded by a member in the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative. Motion passed.

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

School Board Recommends $224,907.00

Upon motion by Erik Carey and seconded by a member of the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative. Motion passed

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

School Board Recommends $808,285.00

Upon motion by Erik Carey and seconded by Dave Ela, the article was open for discussion.

Upon motion by Maddy Pierce and seconded by a member of the audience the motion was made to amend the original motion to $809,285.00. The residents voted by show of hands 23-23 motion failed.

The motion to add the amendment was challenged by 7 people. The residents re-voted by show of hands 22-24. Motion failed

The residents voted by show of hands on the original article 28-24. Motion passed.

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

School Board Recommends $376,778.00

Upon motion by Erik Carey and seconded by a member in the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative. Motion passed.

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

School Board Recommends $626,952.00

Upon motion by Robert Demchak and seconded by a member in the audience the article was open for discussion.

Upon motion by Ellen McQuiston and seconded by Elaine Aloes the residents voted to amend the motion to $620,352.00. The residents voted by show of hands in the affirmative to amend the motion.

Motion passed.

The residents voted by majority of hands on the original article as amended in the affirmative. Motion passed.

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

School Board Recommends $669,840.00

Upon motion by Erik Carey and seconded by a member of the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative. Motion passed.

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

School Board Recommends $1,718,024.00

Upon motion by Erik Carey and seconded by Dave Ela, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative. Motion passed.

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

School Board Recommends $435,875.00

Upon motion by Eric Carey and seconded by a member of the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative. Motion passed.

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

School Board Recommends $0

Upon motion by Erik Carey and seconded by a member of the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative. Motion passed.

ARTICLE #12

To see what sum the Regional School Unit will appropriate for the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 as described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act and to see what sum the Regional School Unit will raise and assess as each municipality’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 in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15688.

Recommends Amounts set forth below:

Total Appropriated (by municipality):

Total raised (and Regional School Unit assessments by municipality):

Town of:

Town of:

Anson:

$

4,173,747.73

Anson:

$

1,095,574.66

Embden:

$

1,209,781.95

Embden:

$

1,203,246.13

New Portland:

$

824,065.76

New Portland:

$

622,089.00

Solon:

$

1,648,131.50

Solon:

$

768,374.66

Total Appropriated

(Sum of above)

$

7,855,726.94

Total Raised:

(Sum of above)

$

3,689,284.45

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 Erik Carey and seconded by a member in the audience, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative. Motion passed.

ARTICLE #13 (WRITTEN BALLOT REQUIRED) TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL RAISE AND APPROPRIATE IN ADDITIONAL LOCAL FUNDS (Recommend $1,923,105.00), WHICH EXCEEDS THE STATE’S ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ALLOCATION MODEL BY (Recommend $1,923,105.00) AS REQUIRED TO FUND THE BUDGET RECOMMENDED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.

THE SCHOOL BOARD RECOMMENDS $1,923,105.00 FOR ADDITIONAL LOCAL FUNDS AND GIVES THE FOLLOWING REASONS FOR EXCEEDING THE STATE’S ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FUNDING MODEL BY $1,923,105.00: 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 Scott Lehay in the audience and seconded by a citizen in the audience the article was open for discussion.

Upon motion by Tammy Murray and seconded by a member of the audience it was discussed to amend the motion to reduce it by $600,000.00.

Tammy Murray withdrew the amended motion.

Upon motion by Tammy Murray and seconded by a member of the audience the residents voted by show of hands to amend the motion to reduce the article by $200,000.00 23-26. Motion failed

Upon motion by Larry Dunphy and seconded by a member of the audience the residents voted by majority of hands to move the question.

Upon motion by Elaine Aloes and seconded by a member of the audience the residents voted by show of hands to amend the motion to reduce the article by $100,000.00 23-27. Motion failed.

Upon motion by Erik Carey and seconded by a member of the audience the residents voted to amend the article to $1,916,505.00 27-24. Motion passed.

articLE #14 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL AUTHORIZE THE SCHOOL BOARD TO EXPEND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2020 and ending june 30, 2021 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 board recommend $10,379,121.00

Upon motion Elaine Aloes and seconded by Larry Dunphy, the residents voted to amend the article to $10,372,521.00 by majority of hands in the affirmative.

ARTICE #15 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL RAISE AND APPROPRIATE FOR THE SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM WITH AUTHORIZATION TO EXPEND ANY ADDITIONAL, INCIDENTAL, OR MISCELLANEOUS RECEIPTS IN THE INTEREST AND FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM.

SCHOOL BOARD RECOMMENDS $10,000.00

Upon motion by Elaine Aloes and seconded by a member of the audience, the residents voted to amend the article to $5,000.00 by show of hands. Motion failed.

Upon motion by Erik Robert Demchak and seconded by Laura Layman, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative on the original article. Motion passed.

ARTICLE #16 SHALL THE SCHOOL BOARD BE AUTHORIZED TO ESTABLSIH A NEW OPERATIONS AND MAINETENANCE OF PLANT RESERVE FUND; TO TRANSFER $100,000.00 FROM AVAILABLE FUND BALANCES TO SAID CAPITAL RESERVE FUNDS; AND TO EXPEND SAID FUNDS DURING THE 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR FOR UNANTICIPATED OPERATIONS AND MANTENANCE COSTS?

Upon motion by a member of the audience and seconded by a member of the audience, the motion was to vote no. The residents voted by show of hands in favor of the article. Motion passed.

ARTICLE #17 SHALL THE SCHOOL BOARD BE AUTHORIZED TO ESTABLISH A NEW SECONDARY INSTRUCTIONAL REERVE FUND; TO TRANSFER $50,000.00 FROM AVAILABLE FUND BALANCES TO SAID CAPITAL REERVE FUNDS; AND TO EXPEND SAID FUNDS DURING THE 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR FOR UNANTICIPATED ELEMENTARY UNSTRUCTIONAL COSTS?

Upon motion by Scott Lehay and seconded by a member of the audience, the residents voted by show of hands in the affirmative. Motion passed.

ARTICLE #18 SHALL THE SCHOOL BOARD BE AUTHORIZED TO ESTABLISH A NEW ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTIONAL RESERVE FUND; TO TRANSFER $50,000.00 FROM AVAILABLE FUND BALANCES TO SAID CAPITAL RESERVE FUNDS; AND TO EXPEND SAID FUNDS DURING THE 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR FOR UNANTICIPATED ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTIONAL COSTS?

Upon motion by Erik Carey and seconded by a member of the audience, the residents voted by show of hands in the affirmative. Motion passed.

ARTICLE #19 SHALL THE SCHOOL BOARD BE AUTHORIZED TO TRANSFER AMOUNTS EXCEEDING 5% OF THE TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR ANY COST CENTER TO ANOTHER COST CENTER OR AMONG OTHER COST CENTERS FOR THE 2020-2021 FISCAL YEAR, PROVIDED THAT TRANSFERS SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED TO INCREASE THE AUTHORIZED TOTAL SCHOOL BUDGET?

Upon motion by Scott Lehay and seconded by a member in the audience, the residents voted by show of hands 23-14. Motion passed.

ARTICLE #20 IN ADDITION TO AMOUNTS APROVED INT EH 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 AND OTHER PROGRAM EXPENDITURE OF OTHER FUNDS NOT PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED?

Upon motion by Erik Carey and seconded by a member of the audience, the residents voted by show of hands 26-8. Motion passed.

The Moderator declared the meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

_________________________________

Michael Tracy

Superintendent