Wentworth School Board

January 2, 2006 
BUDGET WORK SESSION
Wentworth Elementary School

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Mrs. Dustin, Mrs. Mack

OTHERS PRESENT:

Mrs. Gaides, Mr. Keene

PUBLIC PRESENT:

Mrs. Melanson, Mrs. Douchette, Mrs. Gaudette

CALL TO ORDER:

Mrs. Dustin called the meeting to order at 6:38 PM.

During public session, Mrs. Melanson brought up the fact that some teachers are not getting a Wentworth contract. She also stated that the board could cut $33,000 for the anticipated SpEd placement. However, the school board did not vote to do it. The SpEd aides were discussed. Mrs. Melanson stated there was a need for 3 SpEd aides. One for grade 7, one for grade 8, and one for the Resource Room. The fourth aide was discussed (for the grades one/two combined classroom).

The school board did not want to cut the teacher ($41,168). They decided they would find the $41,168 in the budget. So the school board made the following cuts:

Level fund books and print media to save $1,111.

Change the percentage increase for Kindergarten to 5% (instead of 7%) to follow the cut the Rumney board made for tuition (Montview).

Substitute Salaries: Cut down from 100 days to 75 days to save $1,500.

Dues and fees: level fund to last year to save $2,212.

Aides: Cut 1 SpEd aide (Penny who has left anyway) to save $13,091.

Put one of the aides as a regular education aide to work with teacher in grades 1&2. Take the aide out of the SpEd budget to reflect SpEd VS. regular education aide.

Cut Gifted and talented to $1.00 to save $1,999.

Cut Replacement of Equipment (athletics) to $1.00 to save $999.

Cut building services new equipment (security to front door) to save $2,675.

Cut building services replacement of equipment (back stop) to save $3,175.

Cut new equipment to save $6,000. (Q Hut/new storage shed).

The board members want to know IF school board members need to be paid. They are willing to work for free.

NON-PUBLIC SESSION:

At 6:38 PM, the Board moved into Non-Public session. The school board discussed the 4 teachers’ contracts that are not Wentworth’s contracts.

PUBLIC SESSION:

At 7:15 PM, the Board moved back in public session and voted to make all 4 contracts Wentworth contracts for the time the 4 teachers are in Wentworth. They gave Mrs. Gaides permission to call the 4 teachers. The savings on the 4 contracts will put the budget over the $41,168.

Adjourned at 7:30 PM

Respectfully Submitted,

Ethel Gaides
Assistant Superintendent