3/19/25 - Finance Subcommittee Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the 

Monson School Committee

Finance Subcommittee Meeting

Date 03-19-25

Present: Karen Nothe-Valley, (Chair), Alison Morgan, Leah Zippin, Roland Joyal. 

Ms. Nothe-Valley called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.

Meeting information: 

FY 26 Budget Update

Leah gave a brief update on the foundation budget and Chapter 70 aid. 

Roland Joyal reviewed revised options involving program and staffing cuts.  We initially presented a budget to the Town of $11,619.00.00, which is $970,000 over FY 2025.  Alison and Karen expressed concern about adding back in a math interventionist, as extra math support is necessary.

As we discussed the revised Scenario B, it appeared this would reduce the $970,000 over FY 2025 to approximately $498,000.  Karen raised general concerns about ECC cuts and Alison specifically questioned the elimination of an ECC counselor.  There appeared to be a consensus that these reductions are concerning especially when tied to a proposed reduction in ESPs.  Lack of a counselor at Granite Valley also is of concern. 

Alison and Karen asked about potential changes to the administration and it was restated that that the goal is to have a principal in each building.  

After reviewing the revised scenarios A through C, Alison asked what happens if going beyond C? Roland stated that it could involve shared administration (no principal in each building) and that it could mean things like no music program. 

Karen asked for the rationale as to why the Town cannot give the school district more than $75,000? Karen stated that the $75,000 offered only brings us back to $10,777, the level funded, not level services, number that the schools have been operating with annually for about 9 years. It was also discussed that other town departments benefitted during this time period including while the schools used ESSER funds. 

Alison raised the disconnect between how salary negotiations and budget increases are handled by the Town vs. Schools.  Alison pointed out that we have 3 times as many employees, so while the Town side is increasing by $120,000 to accommodate their negotiated increases, the School side number isn’t being offered a proportional number of $360,000.  

There is still no clear answer from the Town as to why we are only being offered $75,000. 

Finance Subcommittee Meeting Minutes for Approval 

The following School Committee Finance Subcommittee meeting minutes were approved.

Meetings dated:  12/4/24, 12/10/24, 12/19/24, 3/5/25, 3/11/25 

Karen Nothe-Valley made the motion to approve meeting minutes for each of the 5 dates. Alison Morgan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 

The meeting was adjourned at 6:04 PM

Documentation for this meeting: Agenda

Distributed at meeting: None 

Approved by Committee:

_________________________________________________

Karen Nothe-Valley, Secretary