At tonight’s school committee meeting the committee will discuss how the district will make adjustments in the budget if former Governor Patrick’s proposed budget cuts to regional transportation go forward. Superintendent Dr. Joseph Maruszczak said in December, “The governor’s (Former Gov. Patrick) action would take the fiscal year 2015 reimbursement rate of 86 percent and bring that down to the fiscal year 2014 rate of 61 percent… that represents $310,846 less revenue to the district.”
The committee will also discuss whether or not to join a coalition of regional schools looking to hire legal counsel to fight the cuts as they disproportionately affect regional school districts. According to Maruszczak the coalition is citing a law that was passed in 2010 that basically states you can’t cut regional funding at a greater percentage than chapter 70 and there have been no cuts in chapter 70. The committee questions whether or not the cut is in fact legal.
Maruszczak said in December, “There is a great deal of political wrangling going on about this…Nobody at this juncture, in a lame duck session, knows if this is really going to take place.”
In December the committee wanted more time and information about the coalition to determine if this was something the district should join. Maruszczak said he would find out what other regional school districts are doing.
See https://uptondaily.com/2014/12/23/mendon-upton-school-committee-discuss-regional-transportation-cuts
Below is a copy of the complete agenda. The meeting is tonight at 7 p.m. at Nipmuc High School.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA
Professional Development Center – Nipmuc Regional High School
January 5, 2015
7:00 pm
7:00 pm Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
7:02 pm Approval of Agenda/Minutes
Approval of Agenda
Approval of Open Session Minutes- December 8, 2014
7:05 pm Community Comments
7:20 pm Student Comments
7:25 pm Superintendent Comments
Miscoe Hill Well Filtration System- Update
iPad Insurance Program
FY15 Budget Update
7:35 pm Subcommittee Updates
Policy Subcommittee
Second Reading & Approval of Policy GCCD: Domestic Violence Leave
Policy
Second Reading & Approval of revised Policy DJE: Bidding
Requirements
Second Reading of revised Policy ADDA: Background Checks
Budget Subcommittee
7:45 pm Old Business
Massachusetts Association of Regi0nal Schools Legal Defense Fund- Update
7:55 pm New Business
Status of MURSD Action Plans for 2014-15
8:05 pm Correspondence
8:07 pm Other matters not anticipated by the Committee within 48 hours of the posted meeting
8:09 pm Future Agenda Items
First Pass MURSD FY16 Budget- January 26
Turf Field Feasibility Study Results- February 9
MURSD Calendar for 2015-16- March 16
8:10 pm Adjournment
UPTON DAILY 