Budget account by account...with some comments first

(I'll break as these entiries get long)
Monfredo asks when we will see funding above the minimum level, speaks of Mediaid and grant cut

O'Connell asks how much we're saving on the contract. Allen $5.46 million
O'Connell asks how many positions (if it were only going to staffing positions)...Allen says 85 positions
O'Connell asks how many positions that would leave us having lots...Allen: if it were only teachers, we'd add teachers...it would not reduce any positions at all if we were to put them in the salaries

Day-by-day subs

Monfredo: not a frivilous account
Biancheria asks if we've looked into what other districts have done
Luster says we have not looked at it, and they will
Passes as proposed

FY10 budget update

One of the biggest responsibilities of the former Business, now FO committee is a quarterly update of the current year budget.

FY10 budget update (as of Dec. 31, 2009)
30.7% of the budget has been expended so far this year (teachers get paid through the summer, which counts on this fiscal year, which is why we've spent 30% of the budget at 50% of the year)

saved money on final actuarial study from city $386,000

lower sped tuitions $350,000--placements that didn't happen
cooler than usual summer; warmer than usual winter= savings on utilities

more outside legal (sped and regular legal) than past years; collective bargaining up (which costs money for the attornies who negotiate)

Health insurance (we hired a few more teachers) and we have less grant funding

plant maintenance (that fat, oil, grease ordinance from the city)

day-by-day substitutes; we assumed a vacancy factor, but it has not panned out this year (or last, come to that)

unemployment comp has been extended by fed and state; we aren't being reimbursed for this.
So far it's $127, 136 over

Have not spent fiscal stabilization funds so far this year ($15.9 million), asks Foley; how are we doing this?
State has not yet gotten the money from the fed; they're supposed to get them during the third quarter, and can spend them retroactively if needed, back to July 1 of this past year.

"worker's comp is the School Committee's snow account", says Foley

Day-by-day subs

Mr. Bogigian speaks on standards of day-to-day subs.
"One of the reasons we can't get subs is the pay" (this is disbuted by administrators to my left)
He'd like to see us put in a raise.
Ms. Luster addresses this: most subs have BA's at least. Received accolades for program now that they have an automated program. "It's not the same as when the regular teacher is in the classroom."
Mr. Monfredo: good subs...do we know who they are?
Principals can give certain subs priority to their vacancies; some schools will thus have a harder time finding subs.
Mr. O'Connell is asking if that's a motion on raising sub pay.
Mr. Foley "caution about asking for an increase" Is there an impact of the economy on this? Recommendation from administration on this, please.