As an example of the school committee’s continuing support for the education of the whole child, including experiential experiences, the school committee approved both the Class of 2016 senior trip to Walt Disney World and a joint Spanish/Science trip to either Costa Rica or Peru in 2017. In an era where many schools are limiting field trips, especially those that require either overnight accommodations or international travel, to concentrate on ELA and mathematics as tested by the state, it’s nice to see support for those myriad aspects of education that make for productive members of society.
In other business the committee continued to look towards a sustainable financial future by voting to accept a Regional Transportation Fund (which I outlined in a prior Superintendent’s Corner). The committee narrowly defeated a motion to have the district ‘officially’ videotape the meetings but will continue to allow both unofficial audio and video taping of meetings recognizing that the only ‘official’ record of the meetings are the meeting minutes. In a related vote, the committee is once again moving forward with holding one meeting in each of Gateway’s towns so that citizens have the opportunity to attend a school committee meeting in their own town.
In what may have been the most discussed item on the agenda, the school committee voted not to support, as a group, a letter requested from GTAC and Wired West representatives regarding the district’s support for broadband services through the auspices of Wired West. There were several members on the committee who felt that the committee should not be involved in ‘town politics’ and therefore should not take a stand on supporting Wired West although acknowledging that broadband access for student education was important in this day and age.
The committee also heard information from business manager Stephanie Fisk regarding establishing an OPEB (Other Post Employment Benefits) Trust Fund to begin the long term process of trying to begin meeting our unfunded liability of approximately $14 million for these benefits, which have accrued since the district’s establishment. It should be pointed out that nearly every school district and town has a similar, unfunded liability for retirement benefits that is required to be reported under federal accounting guidelines.
Despite not having an ‘official’ budget in place, the usual financial work continues in the district including the very beginning of our annual financial audit and closing out the current fiscal year. Thus, even though many staff and students are looking forward to summer break, central office staff, building administrators and their support staff, as well as our custodial and maintenance staff are preparing for a very busy summer season of closing one year and preparing for the next – all highly important work to ensure a continuity of services to our students.
