WEBSTER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Webster, NY Board of Education Virtual Regular Business and Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes Tuesday, March 1, 2022 The meeting was held virtually via Zoom Video Conference Members present: Administrators present: Others present:
T. Gurowski, J. Richardson, M. Alt, J. Birdsong-Ng, L. Dioguardi, S. LaDelfa, M. Rigillo B. Neenan, B. Freeman, D. Swinson, C. Armstrong, E. Land C. Heinrich, Executive Session only
President Gurowski called the Tuesday, March 1, 2022 Regular Business and Workshop meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. via Zoom Videoconference. M. Rigillo motioned, J. Richardson seconded to move into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing a matter made confidential by attorney/client privilege. Vote: 7: Yes; 0: No. Attendees: Board Members, B. Neenan, B. Freeman, E. Land, D. Swinson, C. Heinrich President Gurowski called the Regular Business meeting to order at 6:09 p.m. There was a quorum. L. Dioguardi motioned, J. Richardson seconded to move out of Executive Session and into open session. Vote: 7: Yes; 0: No. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance REGULAR BUSINESS Resolution Regarding Modification of COVID-19 Measures President Gurowski read the resolution. L. Dioguardi motioned, J. Richardson seconded to approve the resolution. Vote: 7: Yes; 0: No. NOW, THEREFORE, the Board of Education hereby resolves as follows:
1. Appropriate face coverings are no longer required, but recommended as a mitigation measure to 2. 3. 4.
prevent the spread of COVID-19 for students, employees and visitors to the District’s school buildings. The Board directs the Superintendent of Schools to modify the District’s reopening plan to reflect that universal face coverings are not mandated in school settings effective March 2, 2022. The Board shall continue to make informed decisions on COVID-19 mitigation measures upon consultation with the District’s Physician, the County and State of New York Departments of Health. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
Reading of Revised Policy 5160 Vice President Richardson queried board members about questions on the wording of the revised policy and there were none. M. Rigillo motioned, J. Richardson seconded to approve amended Policy 5160. Vote: 7: Yes; 0: No. The Regular business portion of the meeting concluded at 6:12 p.m. and the board immediately moved into the budget workshop. 2022-2023 BUDGET WORKSHOP #1 Vice President Richardson gave opening remarks. One of the primary roles of the Board of Education is to develop, support and adopt an annual budget. The budget supports academic, social emotional, and extracurricular programs and is aligned with the goals of the district. There will be evidence of feedback received from responses to the ThoughtExchange survey including smaller class sizes, mental and social emotional supports for students and staff, diverse opportunities for student pathways and continuing work around culturally responsive educational framework. The building of a school budget is a collaborative effort and ensures financial resources are used efficiently and effectively.
Assistant Superintendent Freeman gave an update on the tax levy. The draft has been submitted to the comptroller and we have the ability to modify it until mid-April. A calculation error on the tax based growth factor has been corrected. The capital levy building aid can reasonably be estimated at $9,220,768 as opposed to $8,199,181. The impact on the tax levy limit went from 3.25% to 2.44%. The tax cap Is currently coming in at 2.44%. The impact on tax rates will be known in the next month or so. Mr. Freeman reviewed the buildings and grounds department preliminary budget. The budget is prioritized into three areas: health and safety, program and curriculum, and aesthetics. Requests were not allowed this year due to staffing shortages and a focus on items that compliment areas of construction. The proposed budget calls for a 1.48% increase. Mr. Freeman reviewed the 100K Capital Outlay project with a potential increase from the state and replacing one unfilled position from a retirement two years ago. The transportation budget was reviewed. Recruiting and training efforts continue. The proposed budget calls for a 1.05% increase. The bus proposition was reviewed and the recommendation is to purchase ten sixty-six capacity conventional buses and four thirty passenger mini buses, two are wheelchair accessible. The total cost is $1,687,500. Borrowing updates were shared. Next year will be the last year for the 2006 capital project and $1,460,625 of debt service will come off. In 2024-25 approximately $3.5 million will come off in debt services for the 2004/2006 capital project. The $100K transfer to capital will depend on state changes. Our overall debt is down slightly next year 1.16%. The components of the Central Services budget were reviewed including BOCES, Finance/Human Resources, Public Information, Superintendent, Board of Education and Liability Insurance. The proposed budget calls for a .49% increase. Mr. Freeman highlighted the breakdown of benefits including pension system rates for TRS and ERS from 2000 through present.. A comparison of rates for FICA, Worker’s Comp, Life Insurance, Unemployment, Health, Dental, Buyouts, HRA and FSA plans were shared beginning with 2019-2020. The proposed budget calls for a 5.03% increase. Total expenditures presented this evening in Budget Workshop #1 are: $89,535,363. Budget Workshop #2 will focus on instructional areas, community ed and athletics. Mr. Freeman thanked Mr. Cunningham, Mr. Flood, Mr. Pustulka and Ms. Reagan for their assistance in pulling their portions of the budget together. Mr. Freeman was thanked for his efforts. ADJOURNMENT J. Richardson motioned, L. Dioguardi seconded to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 7:12 p.m. Vote: 7: Yes; 0: No. Respectfully submitted, Cynthia Cushman Cynthia Cushman, District Clerk
All documents that are duly made a part of these minutes are kept in a supplemental file that corresponds to the date of this meeting.