The workshop meeting of the Great Meadows Regional Board of Education was held on Monday, January 31, 2005, at Great Meadows Middle School, Independence Township. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM by Glenn Williams, President. A statement was read that adequate notice of the meeting had been given in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act.

Flag salute.

ROLL CALL:

Present: Helene Armstrong, Susan Cullen, Amy Dieteman, Robert Jones, Cynthia Russo, Steve Tierney, and Glenn Williams.

Absent: Peggy Faulborn and Joe Mahal.

There were 12 members of the public in attendance.

Public Comment:

Joe Keric, Liberty Township, inquired about the most recent editorial in the Warren Reporter by William VonderHaar dated January 28, 2005, in particular the series of questions asked in the editorial by Mr. VonderHaar, who was not in attendance at this meeting. Mr. Keric was advised that the questions had been asked and answered publicly more than once in the past, but that the Board was willing to answer them again, in public, at this meeting. Christina Sharkey, Business Administrator, and members of the Board provided the following information:

With respect to the question regarding Hackettstown High School Tuition:

The Superintendent and Business Administrator review the enrollments each year and "promote" our current 8^th grade students to freshman in High School and "graduate" the 12th grade students from High School to arrive at a starting point for enrollment numbers for next academic year. The Superintendent and Business Administrator consult with the Guidance department to determine how many students have indicated an interest in attending a high school other than Hackettstown High School. Depending on the number received, the 9th grade enrollment is reduced accordingly. Because there is no guarantee that a student's initial interest in a private high school will result in acceptance in that school or that the student will not change his or her mind, the Superintendent and Business Administrator have been conservative in calculating those reductions in freshman enrollment projections in the past. The projected freshman enrollment numbers are then provided to the Hackettstown High School Superintendent and Business Administrator. The current Hackettstown High School enrollment numbers are used for projecting grades 10 through 12. Hackettstown establishes the amount of tuition per student that the sending districts are to pay based upon Hackettstown’s budget and guidelines provided by the New Jersey Department of Education. Great Meadows Regional, as a sending district does not determine the tuition it will pay to Hackettstown. Great Meadows Regional is then notified what the tuition rate per pupil will be. The tuition amounts determined by Hackettstown are audited and adjustments are made three years following, based upon the actual cost to educate the high school student versus the amount charged to the sending districts on a per pupil basis for that particular year based on the actual number of students.

The tuition adjustments questioned in the editorial were the result of the actual audited figures of tuition costs and enrollment numbers for three years prior. The 2001‑2002 adjustment is paid in the 2004‑2005 school year. This procedure is established by Department of Education guidelines.

Example:

2001‑2002 Great Meadows Regional estimated its high school enrollment to be 400 students. Hackettstown charged Great Meadows Regional the tuition rate of $9,200 per student.

Three years later, the audited results reflect the following:

2001‑2002 estimated enrollment was 400 students.

The actual average daily enrollment was 400.5 students.

2001-2002 tuition rate charged was $9,200 per student.

The actual audited cost per pupil was $9,559.

Adjustment to be paid 3 years later for the 2001-2002 academic year is as follows:

you take what was paid based on the

estimate = $9,200 x 400 = $3,680,000

and compare to what is owed based on the

actual = $9559 x 400.5 = $3,828,380

Great Meadows Regional owes Hackettstown $148,380

In the Great Meadows Regional 2003‑2004 budget, Hackettstown owed Great Meadows Regional $168,085. For 2002‑2003, Hackettstown owed Great Meadows Regional $175,934. The number has been steadily decreasing.

This adjustment in Great Meadows Regional’s favor helped offset increases in tuition in the past, where as now it does not.

The projection for 2004‑2005 was 450 students. The current enrollment at Hackettstown is 457.

The only variable Great Meadows Regional controls each year is the “projection” of the number of students who will attend Hackettstown High School. The other variable, the tuition charged, is determined by Hackettstown High School. Reconciliation’s are made every year for 3 years prior.

With respect to the question regarding the level of spending in relation to the state determined levels of T/E – thorough and efficient spending.

Mr. VonderHaar states in his article that the school was over the thorough and efficient level by $904,784. The correct amount was $823,909. Dr. Severns, our former Superintendent, pointed this out in her budget presentation to the public. The county office approved the district budget and by law the district is allowed to spend more than the "minimum" state set thorough and efficient level as long as it is put on the sample ballot and mentioned at the public hearing for the budget. Both of which were done. The district spent $554 more per student than the state thorough and efficient level. The district budget was significantly increased in the areas of textbooks and student supplies.

With respect to the question about the status of the Child Care program balance:

It has been acknowledged that the audited figures numbers for the 2003‑2004 showed a short fall of $2,252. The original plan when the Child Care program was established was to take any money remaining at the end of the school year and purchase materials to improve the program for the next year. The Child Care program ended the 2002‑2003 school year with a balance of $6,160. The Superintendent and Child Care Director decided to purchase mats and supplies for the child care program. The expenditure was made in the 2003‑2004 school year. This caused the yearly figures in 2003-2004 to show expenditures exceeded revenues. It has been noted several times that the net result of the two years is a positive balance of $3,908.

With respect to the question of the Cafeteria Deficit:

The Board of Education has chosen to run its own cafeteria program. Districts who run their own in‑house program often run a deficit because the district does not qualify for the purchasing discounts that food service companies do. After the June, 2003 audit, the Superintendent did look at the way the programs were being run and attempted to reduce costs by cutting the number of hours worked by some staff members in light of the move of the 5th graders. The price per lunch was also raised to the maximum. This was the first time the price was raised to the maximum. The plan at the end of 2003 was to look into a food service management company for the 2005 school year.

With respect to the question about the budgeting of the lunchroom aides:

It has been acknowledged that with all of the respective changes to the budget, the aides were not included in the budget but a transfer was made to cover the costs in July of 2004.

Mrs. Freidan, Independence Township, asked if the Hackettstown tuition increase is subject to S1701 and 3% cap? Diane Morris, of NJ School Boards, who was in attendance, provided some guidance at the request of the Board. She was told yes it was.

Jerry Cavanaugh, Independence Township, asked if the cafeteria aide that is now with the Kindergarten class that moved from Central to the Middle School, has been replaced? She was told Deb Healy, Middle School Cafeteria Aide, is now with the Kindergarten class at the Middle School and that the Cafeteria Aide at the Middle School has not been replaced.

Mrs. Cavanaugh also asked if there were any results from the mold testing? Mr. Alercia reported that a sample of each classroom carpet was taken in the 1960 wing. Cultures from three rooms, Mrs. Williams kindergarten classroom, the computer lab, and Mrs. Wauhop’s 3^rd grade classroom indicated the presence of mold and those cultures were sent to the lab to identify the type of mold that was present.

She also asked if they will be notified of the results after the results come back? She was told they will be put in the bulletin and all will be notified.

Mr. Freidan, Independence Township, asked if we tested the Library. Mr. Alercia responded that given the costs associated with testing, the administration was focused only on the areas where there is some indication of a problem, and not on testing every room in the district.

Motion by Amy Dieteman, seconded by Steve Tierney, to approve the execution and submission of the Educational Facilities Construction Financing Act Grant Agreement for the School Facilities Project #5041000 and EDA Project #1785-050-04-1000 for the grant amount of $189,500 (State share $75,800 and Local Share $113,700) to the NJ Economic Development Authority along with the required application and documentation.

Motion carried in a voice vote – motion carried.

(Williams – abstained)

Motion by Amy Dieteman, seconded by Steve Tierney, to approve the School Business Administrator, Christina Sharkey, to supervise the Educational Facilities Construction School Facilities Grant Agreement Project #5041000 and EDA Project #1785-050-04-1000.

Motion carried in a voice vote – motion carried.

(Williams – abstained)

Motion by Amy Dieteman, seconded by Steve Tierney, to approve a contract with Gianforcaro Architects as Design Consultants and Architect of Record to prepare all plans, specifications, etc., for the Educational Facilities Construction School Facilities Project #5041000 and EDA Project #1785-050-04-1000.

Motion carried in a voice vote – motion carried.

(Williams – abstained)

Motion by Amy Dieteman, seconded by Steve Tierney, to approve the Central School Mold-Flooring project to be advertised for bid, and receive bids upon receiving all necessary approvals by the Department of Education for the Educational Facilities Construction School Facilities Project #5041000 and EDA Project #1785-050-04-1000.

Motion carried in a voice vote – motion carried.

(Williams – abstained)

Motion by Bob Jones, seconded by Helene Armstrong, to approve the execution and submission of the Educational Facilities Construction Financing Act Grant Agreement for the School Facilities Project #5042000 and EDA Project #1785-050-04-2000 for the grant amount of $115,650 (State share $46,260 and Local Share $69,390) to the NJ Economic Development Authority along with the required application and documentation.