REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AGREEMENT

WORKING GROUP

MEETING MINUTES  December 13, 2000

 

Members Present: David Coombs, Dawn Rand, Elaine Kelly, Charles Millett, Many Healey, Lynne Winter, Karen Gadbois, and Jeff Amberson.

 

7:05: David Coombs convened the meeting.

 

I. Discussion of the Draft of the Dissolution of the Regional School District section of the Regional Agreement.(See Attached Draft.)

 

Section (b) subsection (1) & (2): There was agreement on these two sections.

 

Section (a) subsection (I): It was suggested that the number of members of the Transition Committee should not be defined. It should be up to the two Boards of Selectmen to make that decision.

 

Section (a) subsection (7): What would happen if either or both of the Towns do not approve the warrant article formally dissolving the District? Should there be a sunset provision to dissolve the regional school committee? It was suggested that the Working Group table this section and give it some more thought.

 

Dept. of Education Jurisdiction over Dissolution of the Region: Charlie Millet expressed a concern that we find out what the Dept. of Ed. guidelines are and if the Dept. of Ed. has jurisdiction over the dissolution of the regional school. Many Healey thought that the Dept. of Ed would not look favorably on dissolving and the notion bothers him that the Dept. of Ed. can dictate the fate of the school system. He felt that we should go to someone else first to get an opinion. David Coombs expressed the opinion that if the voters wanted to dissolve, it would happen without the approval of the Dept. of Ed. Elaine Kelly felt that if the Region no longer provided for quality education and the benefits are not there, the Dept. of Ed. would agree that the region should be dissolved. Charlie Millet asked what was the opinion rendered by the Dept. of Ed. on the other regional districts with regard to dissolution. Many Healey responded that the other districts did not ask for their opinion.

 

It was decided that Many Healey would draft a letter to request an opinion on this issue.

 

Section (c): One town can act under this section by either the Board of Selectmen or ten voters subWitting a warrant article.

 

Section (d): The committee referred to in this section is the Regional School Committee.

 

II.                     Definitions for Regional Agreement: First Draft (See attached)

Karen Gadbois reported that she and Susan Satori had not received any comments on the definitions. It was suggested that these definitions be reviewed by the Treasurers of the two

towns, the district treasurer and Mary Carney of Fleet Bank who handles the bonding for all three entities.

 

Karen Gadbois and Susan Satori presented three questions in their draft. The superintendent's union document addresses question one. The Working Group should get a copy of this document. Lynn Winter will find out how extended day programs and other non‑school groups pay their share of the operating/capital costs now.

 

The Working Group tabled the definitions until the answer to these questions is obtained.

 

III.       Assets:

 

The Working Group agreed that to value the land and the contents is easy. The difficulty is the value of the building. At the last meeting, it was reported that another district agreed to $1 value for its regional school building. Some agree that this may be the best solution. The high school building is paid for and has depreciated in value. On the other hand the building must have some value even though it is in need of repairs and upgrading. It was agreed that the Regional School Committee should have the building professionally appraised.

 

There was concern expressed that the Town of Northborough may get stuck with a building that would be too large for its needs. On the other hand, it might hold the other Town hostage and force it to stay. Maybe there should be a penalty clause if a town is forced to stay. In any case, neither town wants to leave the other town with a problem.

 

Ms. Kelly felt that there should be a commitment that the district not be permitted to dissolve before the debt is paid. It was also suggested that maybe there should be two separate sections allocating the assets before and after adding onto and renovating or a new build.

 

The next meeting is January 3, 2001 at the library in Algonquin Regional High School.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m.

 

Janice C. Conlin

Town Administrator

 

[Janice$/Regiona( School District Agreement Minutes November 8, 2000]

Section         Dissolution of the Regional School District

 

(a)           The District may be dissolveû in accordance with the terms of either sectio,.

~'~) or section (c), below. Upon an affirmative vcte(s) to dissolve the District ::‑. accordance with the terms of either section (b) or section (c), below, the following shall take place:

 

(1)                 the Boards of Selectmen for Northborough and Southborough shall

           appoint a Transition Committee consisting of seven members from each

           town;

(2)                 the Transition Committee shall within 90 days prepare and submit to the

           Boards of Selectmen a report, including a time line and a transition plan

           for the dissolution of the District and for the creation of two K‑12

           school systems, one in Northborough and one in Southborough;

(3)                 upon approval of the time line and transition plan by both Boards of

           Selectmen the Transition Committee shall implement the transition plan;

(4)                 each town shall remain liable for any operating costs incurred prior to

           the affirmative votes) for dissolution and during the transition plan,

           according to the existing terms of this Regional Agreement;

( 5 )               each town shall remain liable for its share of the indebtedness of the

           District outstanding at the time of dissolution of the District, according

           to the existing terms of this Regional Agreement;

(6)                 the existing assets of the District shall be apportioned equitably between

           the two towns; and,

(7)                 upon completion of the transition plan the Transition Committee shall

           present to the towns of Northborough and Southborough a warrant

           articles) formally dissolving the District.

 

(b)       One member town of the district unilaterally may cause the dissolution of the District provided that, within any twelve month period, the member town:

 

(1)                 by an affirmative vote of at least 2/3 of the voters present, approve at

           an annual or special town meeting a warrant article in favor of

           dissolution according to the teams of this section, and

(2)                 by an affirmative vote of at least 3/5 of voters casting ballots, approve a

.‑                        ballot question in favor of dissolution according to the terms of this

section.

 

(c)        The two member towns of the district may, through joint action, cause the dissolution of the District provided that, within any twelve month period, both member towns approve at annual or special town meetings warrant articles in favor of dissolution according to the terms of this section.

 

(d)             No vote or other action by the Committee shall be required under this section.

DEFINITIONS FOR REGIONAL AGREEMENT.' FIRST DRAFT

Section IV Apportionment and Payment of Costs Incurred by the District

 

CAPITAL COSTS:

 

Capital Budget:

 

Amount of funds appropriated by town meeting in a single fiscal year for all capital requests: capital projects, equipment purchases, etc.

 

Capital Improvement Project:

 

Major, non‑recurring expenditures, for one of the following purposes:

 

acquisition of land for public purposes; Construction of a new facility or extension/expansion or major rehabilitation of an existing one. Any planning, feasibility, engineering or design study related to a capital project or to a capital improvement program consisting of individual projects. Replacement/purchase of equipment with a useful life of at least 5 years and a cost of $25,000 or more.

 

Capital Costs shall also include payment of principal and interest on bonds and other obligations issued by the District to finance capital costs.

 

Capital Expenditure

 

Capital Expenditures not meeting the definition of a "Capital Improvement Project" should be financed through inclusion within the operating budget.

 

Capital Improvement Program/Plan:

 

A (six year)* plan for future capital expenditures. The Capital Improvement Program/Plan identifies each capital project, with anticipated start and completion dates; the amount to be spent each year and the method of financing the plan. * WE REQUIRE A 6‑YEAR PLAN IN NORTHBORO, WHAT ABOUT SOUTHBORO?

 

OPERATING COSTS:

 

Operating Costs shall include all costs not included in Capital Costs as defined, but including interest on temporary notes issued by the District in anticipation of revenue.