Minutes
Budget and Finance Subcommittee Meeting
Monday, May 13, 2013
A meeting of the Budget and Finance Subcommittee was held on Monday, May 13, 2013 at 5:00 pm
in the 2
nd floor Conference Room at the NAGE Building. Present were Mayor Thomas Koch, Mr. Paul
Bregoli, Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Mrs. Emily Lebo, Mrs. Anne Mahoney, Mr. Dave McCarthy, and Ms.
Barbara Isola, Chair. Also attending were Superintendent DeCristofaro, Assistant Superintendent
Colleen Roberts, Mr. Michael Draicchio, Mrs. Mary Fredrickson, Ms. Beth Hallett, Mrs. Jane Kisielius,
Mrs. Joanne Morrissey, Mr. James Mullaney, Mr. Kevin Mulvey, Mrs. Maura Papile, Ms. Madeline
Roy, Mr. Keith Segalla, Mr. Kevin Segalla, Ms. Judy Todd, Mrs. Ruth Witmer; Ms. Jill Gichuhi, President
of the Quincy Parent Advisory Council to Special Education; Ms. Allison Cox, President of the Quincy
Education Association; and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
Ms. Isola called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm. Dr. DeCristofao introduced the preliminary budget
presentation, noting that it is a level-services plus budget, showing incremental improvement in a
number of areas and allowing for building an experienced professional staff.
Mr. Mullaney presented the draft FY2014 Budget of $93,668,165, an increase of $3,650,000 from
FY2013. There are two sources of funding: $91,158,165 from the Mayor’s appropriation and
projected Circuit Breaker funds of $2,500,000. The budget as funded allows for meeting contractual
obligations, including step and level increases and percentage raises. It provides funding to address
class size for academic programs and academic support programs. Additional funding is also
allocated for elementary and middle school libraries, middle school extracurricular activities, and
increased funding for text and learning materials to address the Common Core State standards.
$1,692,000 is available to fund the priorities as recommended.
To begin the budget process, Academic Classroom Teacher positions are analyzed, utilizing
enrollment projections and School Committee Class Size Guidelines; positions are shifted and
reconciled. For this year, an additional 10.5 teachers are needed to accommodate enrollment shifts
and increases, mostly at the elementary level (9 position), with 1 teacher for Gr. 5 at Point Webster
Middle School, and an 0.5 position at Quincy High School. Mrs. Lebo asked for enrollment figures at
Atlantic and Central and Mr. Bregoli expressed concern about Atlantic’s growing population, but the
school is at a comfortable capacity. Including contractual obligations, an $1,677,000 in additional
funding is needed for this budget segment. Mrs. Mahoney asked for a breakout of the figures for
step and level raises vs. the contractual raise.
For Academic Programs, the recommendation is an additional 2.5 ELL teachers to meet growing
population, plus reinstating the ELL High School Department chair position shared between the two
schools. Recommendations also include increasing the Literacy team by 0.5 teachers (at Montclair);
create positions for Library Teachers (2.5 positions) at the middle school level (half time at each of
five schools), increase Chapter 74 programs for NQHS carpentry (0.5), plumbing (0.2), fashion
technology (0.2) to meet successful program demand. Dr. DeCristofaro noted that this new
investment in library services at the elementary ($146,000) and middle school ($122,000) levels is a
total of $268k total and will benefit over 6,000 students. For SPED, 2 additional teachers are needed
at the middle school levels. These additional positions are to meet the needs of students moving up
from elementary schools. The total for this section is a $781,315 increase, including the step and
level and contractual raises.
For Academic Support, the recommendation is to increase the guidance staff by 2.0 positions due to
enrollment shifts – 0.5 at elementary, 0.5 at middle school, and 1.0 at high school levels. 12 longterm substitute positions for elementary library/technology support are also funded in this section.
For Chapter 74, two aides that were grant funded will be absorbed. Funding was also restored for
middle school extracurricular activities. Mrs. Lebo asked why the high school figures were not
appropriated by population and that will be analyzed. Mr. McCarthy asked whether this restoration
exceeded the former budget amount for middle schools; Dr. DeCristofaro confirmed this is an
increase for the middle schools and noted that the high schools were over $40,000 each in the past,
so this is an area for future restoration. Mr. McCarthy asked about the ELL Dept. Chair position; Dr.
DeCristofaro said it will be posted internally.
Mrs. Mahoney expressed concern that Grade 5 students at Point Webster and Sterling would have
access to licensed Library Teachers, while Grade 5 students in elementary schools would not. Mrs.
Lebo agreed about the potential for conflict and thought that more investigation of program options
should happen before a final determination is made. Mr. Bregoli asked whether the half-time media
specialists would qualify for medical benefits; Mrs. Roberts said the goal would be to hire two fulltime and one half-time; all would be eligible for benefits. Mr. Bregoli asked whether principals had
received raises and Mr. Mullaney said they had received similar percentages to those that contract
staff members received.
For Non-Academic Support , there was no change to many of the accounts. Custodial staff would be
increased by 1 to allow for additional staff at the new Central Middle School. Mr. McCarthy asked
about the status of the bus fleet. Mr. Mullaney said that due to School Committee’s ongoing
investment, the age of the fleet is much lower than in previous years and he does not see a pressing
need for new buses in the foreseeable future. The total increase is for this budget segment is
$163,169, including contractual obligations and an increase in the overtime line. Mrs. Lebo asked for
a breakdown of the Supervision travel line.
Subsidized Services will be reviewed at the next Budget meeting on Tuesday, May 21. The proposed
FY2014 Budget does not anticipate any increases in fees for rentals, user fees for athletics or
transportations. Federal mandates may require an increase in meal prices.
Mayor Koch left the meeting at 6:00 pm.
For Academic Expenses, the budget requests level funding for most accounts with the exception of
Textbooks; additional funding is needed for textbooks and learning materials for the Common Core
State Standards. The recommendation is to increase the System Reserve for Textbooks by $400,000
for the purchase of these new materials. A new Reading program is being purchased for
Kindergarten through Grade 5 and payments will be made over the next three years. Ms. Isola
complimented Mrs. Roberts for negotiating a favorable contract. Mrs. Lebo asked for clarification on
the individual school textbook accounts; the money is appropriated on a per student basis for
projected enrollment. Mr. Mullaney noted that this Reading textbook contract encumbers the
budget two years forward, but the publisher is not charging any interest.
For non-academic expenses, contribution of funds from the Rental Revolving account will offset the
additional textbook purchases in Academic Expenses. For most other accounts, there are no changes.
SPED Transportation funding will increase by $99,000 to cover anticipated increase in transporting
special populations. Outside vendor rates have increased, so research will be done for alternate
sources. Mrs. Lebo asked about the Work Inc line item; Ms. Todd said that may be able to be
removed. Increases for uniforms are funded; this is fulfillment of contractual obligations.
Restoration of funding for purchasing student furniture for new classrooms in growing elementary
school populations is also requested.
In Summary, the $1,692,000 available has proposed allocations to Academic Classroom Teachers
(27.68%), Academic Programs (25.6%), Academic Support (22.62%), Non-Academic Support (5.44%),
Academic Expenses (23.63%) and Non-Academic Expenses (-4.96%). An additional 24.8 positions are
being added.
Mrs. Mahoney asked about the number of retirements; Mr. Mullaney said there will be 13
replacement hires for the retirees. Mr. McCarthy thanked Mr. Mullaney for the budget presentation
and then asked whether Special Education programs are going to be moving between buildings. Dr.
DeCristofaro said that discussion is ongoing and information would be available by the end of May.
Mr. McCarthy requested information on the unrestored amounts cut from Athletics and a cost for
funding Freshman sports. Mr. McCarthy asked about the rates being paid to the outside contractors
and asked for a general idea of transportation performance. Dr. DeCristofaro noted that there has
been a significant increase in the transportation of homeless students. Mrs. Mahoney agreed with
Mr. McCarthy’s requests for information. Mr. Mullaney will work with Mr. Rendle on pulling together
the information for next week’s budget hearing. Mr. Bregoli asked if we have considered having all
transportation done by an outside vendor. Mr. Mullaney said it has been explored and there are cost
savings; he will provide this information at the next meeting. Mr. McCarthy said that the Mayor also
requested the sports issue be addressed at the next meeting.
Ms. Isola asked for an alternate proposal to have full-time Media Specialists at each middle school.
Ms. Isola asked for the breakdown of students participating in athletics. Mr. Bregoli asked for
clarification on the space issues at elementary school; Mrs. Roberts said that it varies between
Kindergarten and the upper grades. Mr. Bregoli asked if we would consider redistricting; Dr.
DeCristofaro said that elementary population is up system-wide, not in certain neighborhoods.
Mrs. Lebo thanked the Superintendent, Principals, and Leadership Team for work in developing the
draft budget. Ms. Isola expressed her thanks as well and reminded everyone that the next Budget
and Finance Subcommittee meeting is Tuesday, May 21 at 5:00 pm in the 2nd floor conference room
of the NAGE Building.
Mrs. Hubley made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:25 pm. Mrs. Mahoney seconded the motion
and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.