Thursday, July 17, 2008

Where is that money?

And here's 8-169:
(co-sponsored by Monfredo, O'Connell, Hargrove, Foley)

Mr. Monfredo: "we voted to place the $445000" in the teacher account...We did not discuss the middle school.
"The question remains: what will be our priority: can we ensure that our elementary classes will be small enough to be effective?"
"I ask that we consider the $200,000 for K-3...if we can even get our numbers down from 29 to 24...we know what works by what we cut...it's not a great budget, but it's better than we've had in seven years...we need to do all we can in our primary grades"

Motion: use $200,000 for K-3 in numbers over 27, then 4-6 classes over 27, then address the middle school recommendation. Further, asking that it not be referred to subcommittee.

Mullaney: "absolutely opposed voting on this now...far more study...we have kids in 4-6, 7&8, even in high school...fine to talk about children now in K-3...large number of students no longer in K-3 who need to be remediated...people making decisions...you'll see a revolt..vehemently oppose...Mr. Foley needs to weigh in...cannot balance the budget on the backs of one group of kids"
Lukes: "not just taking a vote...without causing a whole lot of trauma...troubled by having this kind of motion this late in the season...his logic is appropriate...I have a difficult time supporting it."
O'Connell: "is it possible to bring this back with a recommendation at our August meeting?"
Caradonio: "It was our understanding that this is what we were going to do...refer to Business...have a 41% mobility rate...31% of buildings foreclosed are 2 and 3 family homes...When this was brought up by the City Council you were there...to change this needs some sort of recommendation by the City Council...they (did this) to (forward the middle school)...consider some sort of communication with the City Council...I think that's only fair to do with the City Council...would give us the time that we thought we had...don't really assign a lot of the teachers until school starts."

Motion: refer to standing committee on Business and notify the City Council

Bogigian: "When the City Council appropriated this money for the school committee...I don't recall having the Council vote on how the School Committee uses funds...all I'm saying, is I support the motions...I don't think that money was given to us with the express purpose with doing the the things that are listed here."
Lukes: "The legal oversights..."basically, yes, it's our authority, but what does it do to our political negotiations? Conflicted.

Motions all passed

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