Final
2005 PENTUCKET REGIONAL AGREEMENT
TASK FORCE
Middle School District Conference Room
MEETING MINUTES
September 21, 2005
I. Call to Order – 7:05 pm
Attendance
Mary Harada
Glen Kemper
Bill Darke
Bonnie Collins
Sandy Venner
Tom Atwood
Maureen Moran
Absent
Member at Large from Groveland
II. Agenda - approved
III. Correspondence – none
IV. Old Business
a. Bonnie to get enrollment numbers from Steve
Get NESDC reports
b. Darke – summarizing 8 regional agreements for next meeting
c. Peter McGinn – Maureen to follow up on Regional Agreement documents
d. Groveland – Member at Large?
e. Maureen Moran – Revenue Numbers from Steve for next meeting
f. EQV Sheet – emailed by Bonnie
V. New business
a. Documents handed out by Bonnie
1) From DOE – Recommended method to determine member town assessments to a regional school district
2) Definition of foundation enrollment
3) DOE website 4/13/2005 – Local and state funding for public schools: Restoring the link with community wealth
VI. Jeff Wulfson visit – Associate Commissioner Department of Education
Sandy Questions
1. Current way foundation budget is being put together for regional school districts
· Foundation Budget is the state’s estimate of what a school district needs to educate the student population. It is based on demographics of the student body.
· State also determines a town’s ability to pay for its school expenditures. This is called minimum local contribution. This calculation is based on a towns wealth factors (income & property).
· Chapter 70 aid is determined by taking a district’s foundation budget less it’s minimum local contribution to arrive at the state’s portion.
· Chapter 70 is not computed differently if you are part of a regional district. Transportation aid is what you receive for being part of a district and this is separate from Chapter 70 aid.
2. Has there been a change in the aid process. Because when we fully regionalized we got a bonus aid. If the three towns de-regionalize would chapter 70 money go down?
· There is no guarantee how the aid will be dispersed once a region splits. Jeff referred to Pembroke when they left the Silverlake Regional School District.
· Single biggest issue is the buildings. There is a building project moratorium – not even accepting application until July 2007. The state (new building aid program) would not give priority to a district if it wanted a new building because it de-regionalized. Jeff’s feeling is the state will be very stingy when appropriating the monies for new school buildings. Jeff referred to Sturbridge and the Tantaskum?? Regional District.
· De-regionalize – you have to look at economy of scales – student offerings (AP classes, variety of electives. The smaller the school district the fewer options available for students.
3. How are tuition in students counted in individual town enrollment numbers and how does state assistance with costs factored into state education aid to the district?
Foundation enrollment is the number of students the district is financially responsible for. It does not account for Tuition In students as their home district is paying for their costs.
Chapter 70 aid will be given to the hometown of the student.
4. What changes are anticipated in near future for calculating Chapter 70 money – three potential changes
· Local contribution – wealth versus what they pay has not been a good relationship (it is true) changing it is harder than you think.
· Foundation Budget – we know a lot more of what it takes to educate children since 1993. Sentiment for raising the foundation budget
· The decision with Hancock vs. Driscoll stated the state is paying its fair share, but the legislature is feeling it’s time again to address education reform.
· K-12 education weathered the recession better than most other state programs like state parks, state colleges, etc. So there is no guarantee the state is going to fund more to education at this time.
· How much should come from local tax payers versus state – respected people say the state should pick up 50% to 60% of the aid
· Obstacles - changes to some communities are favorable and to others it is detrimental, therefore it becomes very political. Politicians vote depending on how it impacts their towns school districts.
· Other Obstacle – the state does not have a lot of money
5. If the two step method upheld in Holden case – will it have an impact on how DOE enforces the 2 step method
· Contract Law does not apply to Regional Agreements. Regional Agreements are governed under Chapter 71
· Holden’s regional agreement currently uses the two step method. It’s the dollars after the minimum local contribution and how they are assessed that is up for discussion. Jeff doesn’t believe Holden will win their case.
· The DOE avoids being the assessment police. They ensure a district is paying its minimum local contribution and if that’s okay they rely on the towns to work out how the dollars are assessed.
· In some cases a town has forced the two-step method upon other towns in a district because one town was not paying its minimum local contribution. If this becomes a hardship, the town can apply for Pot Hole money. This is the case with Triton. Pot Hole money is a time deal.
· Sturbridge uses the two step method for operating costs but uses EQV for capital costs.
2 Step Method
District Budget
Minus Chapter 70
Minus other district income
Equals amount to be assessed
Minus state minimum local contribution for each town
Equals amount above minimum assessment
This portion is assessed per pupil
Next Meeting
1 hour for assessors
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