MinutesBudgetComm12032020_(1)

COLCHESTER BOARD OF EDUCATION
                                  Colchester, CT



                                   BUDGET COMMITTEE

                               Thursday, December 3, 2020
                          BOE Budget Committee Meeting 9:00AM
                                Virtual Meeting via Zoom

                                           MINUTES

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: ​Jessica Morozowich, Joanne Rose
ADMINISTRATION PRESENT: ​Superintendent Jeffrey Burt, CFO Maggie Cosgrove,
Director of Educational Operations Mario Hurtado
OTHERS PRESENT: ​BOE Chair Mary Tomasi, BOE Member Amy Domeika, Board of
Finance Liaison Michael Egan, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent Amy Trinnaman

1. CALL TO ORDER
   1.1 Call to Order
       Chair Morozowich called the meeting to order at 9:02 AM

2. ADDITIONS/CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
   None.

3. PUBLIC COMMENT
   3.1 Public Comment
       None.

4. *APPROVAL OF MINUTES
   4.1 Approval of November 5, 2020 Minutes
       Motion by:​ J. Rose
       To approve the minutes of the November 5, 2020 Budget Committee meeting.
       Second by: ​J. Morozowich
       Vote: ​Unanimous
       Roll call: ​J. Rose, J. Morozowich

5. *PRIORITY DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS
   None.

6. BUDGET REPORTS
   6.1 Monthly Budget Reports
       CFO Maggie Cosgrove presented the monthly report through the end of November 2020.
       One notable change from last month is in the Unemployment line: claims from the layoff
       of daily substitutes in the Spring when schools closed contributed to the increased costs.
       Under the CARES Act, there is a 50% reimbursement rate for those expenses, which
      must be reported as grant revenue. A supplemental appropriation will be reviewed later
      in the year to be funded through the CARES Act reimbursements.

  6.2 Cafeteria Fund
      CFO Cosgrove presented a Meal Participation Snapshot survey of other districts. Those
      survey results indicate that the majority of school districts are in a similar position with
      cafeteria funds. There has been $63,672 in federal reimbursement but that has not
      covered the loss. Lost revenue in the cafeteria fund cannot be claimed under the CARES
      Act.

  6.3 Health Insurance Reserve
      Activity in this fund has held steady in the last few months. No claims to date have
      triggered individual stop-loss (over $125,000).

  6.4 Use of Schools (Not at this time)

  6.5 Capital Reserve(Not at this time)

  6.6 Special Education Excess Cost Report
      Kathleen Perry shared that two out-of-district placed students enrolled in November.
      Transportation expenses have changed as district instructional models shift from fully
      in-person to hybrid or fully remote learning. Reports that are forthcoming will break out
      educational expenses, transportation, and special education related services for each
      student.

  6.7 Budget Transfers Under $5,000
      Six budget transfers under $5,000 were presented and discussed. They will be presented
      to the BOE as information items on December 8, 2020.

7. OLD BUSINESS
     None.

8. *NEW BUSINESS
   8.1 2021-22 Budget Discussion
       Superintendent Burt shared our budget priorities as efficiency-oriented and focused on
       our ability to provide SRBI intervention. Professional development, tutoring, extended
       school year/day, will lead the priority to adjust staffing requirements to meet the needs
       of students. Budget drivers are capital improvements as well. CTAC program expenses
       may be slightly higher with addition of a job coach and custodial needs.

  8.2 Revised CRF Grant
      We were able to submit an additional request for funding of $150,000. We received
      notice that the request was approved and we are completing the detailed budget
      application to receive that reimbursement under the grant. Personnel expenses are not
      applicable, but PPE expenses are allowed.
  8.3 *Proposed 2021 BOE meeting dates
      Superintendent Burt shared the addition of Budget Workshops to the regularly scheduled
      BOE meetings in 2021. The full BOE will review on December 8, 2020.

  8.4 *Budget Transfer Over $5,000: Non-union Merit Pay
      Motion by:​ J. Rose
      To approve the budget transfer in the amount of $21,031 for non-union merit pay and
      forward to the full BOE for approval.
      Second by: ​J. Morozowich
      Vote: ​Unanimous
      Roll call: ​J. Rose, J. Morozowich

9. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NEW ISSUES RAISED OR SUBJECTS DEVELOPED
    9.1 Public Comment
        None.

10. ADJOURN
    The meeting adjourned at 10:23AM.