Georgia Board of School Directors
January 15, 2008 at
Georgia School Library
MINUTES
Board
Present: Ron King,
Doug Bergstrom, Irene Bonin, Casey Hager, Jennifer Petrie
Administrators:
Flora Hurteau,
Frank Calano, Armando Vilaseca
I. Call to Order
The
meeting was called to order at 6:10 PM
II. Public Comment – None.
III. Consent Agenda – None.
IV. New
Business
● Approve FY2009 Budget – Armando distributed a new budget
with the changes from the prior month and including the three retirements. This
budget is at a 4.59% increase. The tax rate decreases this year to $.85. Chris
Sumner prepared a spreadsheet that outlines the exact figures for the foreign
language and kindergarten programs. Doug requested the numbers so that the
board could discuss the issues again. Irene questioned why the issue was coming
to the board again when she felt they had agreed to the numbers at a prior
meeting. Doug stated he feels that at this point the board is not in agreement
on the budget and in the past the board has always agreed unanimously on the
board therefore he wanted to revisit the issue. Armando said that an entire
board should support of an approved budget. Ron brought up the fact that this
year there are monies in the fund budget, next year it will not be there which
will increase the tax rate. Frank presented the numbers of GEMS students taking
a foreign language: 49% freshman, 83% sophomores, 50% juniors, 26% of seniors.
The foreign language option will eliminate a choice class. Doug stated that he
does not support a full day kindergarten and feels it adversely affects
children. He believes the program would be helping the parents, not the
children. Armando stated that the data does not agree with Doug’s blanket
statement.
ACTION:
Motion by
Irene Bonin to approve the FY2009 budget presented at a 4.59% increase,
seconded by Casey Hager, approved unanimously.
Ron stated
that he does not think that the budget will pass. He hopes that if the budget
does not pass that the board will consider some of the issues that he raised.
The board and administration discussed the pros and cons of offering foreign
language. There was discussion about placing issues on articles rather than
into the budget.
ACTION:
Motion by
Ron King to approve the tuition rate, seconded by Casey Hager, approved
unanimously.
Doug read the proposed warning.
ACTION:
Motion by
Irene Bonin to approve the warning, seconded by Jennifer Petrie, approved
unanimously.
V. Other – None.
VI.
Executive Session –
No action taken.
VII.
Upcoming Meetings
Next
Regular Meeting: February
5th, at 6:00 PM, Georgia School Library