Regular Business Meeting Minutes 4.9.25
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Minutes of the
Monson School Committee
Regular Meeting
April 9, 2025
Present: Chair Alison Morgan; Vice-Chair Jamie Murphy; Secretary Karen Nothe-Valley (virtual); Committee Member Colleen Flynn; Director of Business and Operations Leah Zippin; Interim Superintendent Roland Joyal and Recording Secretary Haley Ketterman
Committee Member Peter Wiggins (absent)
Note: This meeting was video recorded.
Mrs. Morgan called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM.
Mrs. Murphy read off the MPS mission statement.
Public session opened @ 5:01 PM
-Erica Nissenbaum - Town resident / parent of MPS students read off personal statement.
Closed public session @ 5:02PM
Review of the FY 26 Budget
-Mr. Joyal discussed with the school committee the different scenarios that were presented last week, and what scenario administration has been working mainly with to proceed for the FY 26 budget.
-One of the main differences with the scenarios presented tonight, is with 5 PreK classes and the other is 4 PreK classes. The scenario with 4 PreK classrooms would mean eliminating one PreK teacher and one ESP.
-Mrs. Morgan asked, with the scenario of maintaining the 5 PreK classrooms, what was taken out of that scenario to maintain those 5 PreK classrooms?
-Mr. Joyal stated that they took away some projections in other accounts, and would also mean raising PreK tuition. The committee has not yet voted on raising the tuition, but in this scenario it is raised to be able to sustain that 5th PreK classroom teacher and ESP. As of now, PreK tuition runs about $445.00 a month per student and are thinking of raising it to roughly $600.00 a month, about a 25% increase. -Ms. Flynn agrees that the tuition should be increased
Mrs. Zippin also said that with any staff leaving she has been updating the spreadsheet to reflect those salary changes of retiring staff vs new hire staff.
Mrs. Morgan asked what else has changed from the last meeting regarding this specific scenario to be able to maintain the 5 PreK classes? -Mr. Joyal stated that with the increased revenue for PreK tuition, staff members leaving and not yet filling those positions / new hire staff starting at a lower salary than retiring staff, rural aid, and school choice numbers increasing that has helped with this scenario.
-Mrs. Morgan has some concerns with increasing school choice numbers at this time with the possibility of eliminating classroom teachers and already increasing classroom sizes.
The school committee discussed PreK full day and half day options and why for special educational purposes it would be in the district and students best interest to maintain the half day option.
-The school committee asked the administration team to look at the scenario of 4 full day PreK classes and the 1 AM and PM classroom structure to see if it would be feasible?
-Ms. Nothe-Valley asked Mr. Joyal that within this scenario it does cut the curriculum director? Mr. Joyal confirmed that is accurate. Ms. Nothe-Valley asked who would be managing the curriculum side of things and who would be writing grants moving forward, ensuring that no money is left on the table? Mrs. Morgan and Mr. Joyal stated that it would be the building based principals facilitating the grant writing. Ms. Flynn informed the committee that the curriculum director position is as recent as the 2021/2022 school year.
-Ms. Flynn confirmed with Mr. Joyal that the sub line number is up to date from the pay increase from fall.
-Mrs. Morgan asked Mr. Joyal regarding the high school online course and confirmed with him that it was put back in the budget to have a staff member monitor the students while completing their online course at school? Mr. Joyal confirmed that it is budgeted for next year.
-This budget scenario also includes the superintendent secretary, school committee dues and training.
-With this scenario there will be an elimination of a custodian, but will still maintain the director of maintenance, the craftsmen and four custodians.
-Ms. Nothe-Valley asked what will happen with the loop? Mr. Joyal and administration have a couple of ideas floating around at this time. Either principals would do their own newsletter or the superintendent secretary would take on the newsletter. Mrs. Morgan stated that she would definitely like to continue that piece of communication with the loop.
-The school committee discussed the chair keeping a running document of “to do’s” that would be shared with the committee, superintendent and principals.
-Mrs. Murphy confirms that with the 5 PreK class scenario that was presented today - that there is an increase across the board for PreK tuition. Mr. Joyal confirmed that is correct - on all levels: full day and half day, tuition will increase.
-Ms. Flynn makes a motion to approve the operating budget for FY26 that was presented tonight that maintains the 5 PreK positions, increases tuition, and moves the classroom setup to one half day model and 4 full day models.
-Mrs. Morgan seconds.
-The committee and Mr. Joyal discussed the motion on the table regarding coverage with changing to the am and pm model for the one PreK classroom.
-Ms. Flynn amends her motion.
-Ms. Flynn makes a motion to accept the operating budget for FY26 as presented with no change in the current PreK model, but with the tuition increase as reflected in the budget.
-Ms. Flynn asked Mr. Joyal and administration to separately explore the option for the one PreK AM and PM classroom, and what that would look like.
-Mrs. Morgan seconds.
-Mrs. Morgan asked Mrs. Zippin if there have been any anticipated changes with circuit breaker or the 240 grant? She also asked Mr. Joyal about the creation of the posting for the superintendent secretary.
-Roll call was placed.
-Motion Carries 4-0
Action Items
-The town is hosting a preview of the town warrant on Wednesday April, 30th @ 6:30 p.m so questions can be answered before the May 12th town meeting to ensure that residents feel informed. There will be two members from the school committee that will be attending.
-The public budget hearing is rescheduled for April 30th at 5:00 p.m.
Scheduled Meetings:
-April 14th Policy subcommittee meeting @ 5:30
-April 16th Search Report with Tracy from MASC @ 6PM
-April 16th Regular business meeting @ 7pm
-April 30th Public Budget hearing @ 5 PM
-April 30th Preview Town warrant meeting @ 6:30
-May 7th Regular business meeting @ 7PM
-May 7th Policy Subcommittee meeting @ 6PM
Mrs. Morgan makes a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:09PM (Ms. Flynn seconds)
Motion Carries 4-0
Documentation for this meeting:
Agenda April 9, 2025
Approved by Committee:
________________________________________
Ms. Nothe-Valley, Secretary
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