The Fall River School Committee met on April 8, 2019, to address key operational and budgetary issues facing the district, including the construction of the new B.M.C. Durfee High School, major transportation bids, and the proposed fiscal year 2020 budget. Superintendent Dr. Matthew Malone provided construction milestones, noting concrete footings and foundations were being poured by Suffolk Construction. The committee also accepted donations totaling over $5,200 for various schools and approved contracts, including a renewal for the OneGoal college readiness program at Durfee High School.
A significant portion of the meeting centered on student transportation bids, where Chief Operating Officer Ken Pacheco and consultant Rich LaBrie addressed sharp cost increases. After a motion by Member Kevin Aguiar to reject the bids failed to receive a second, the committee voted 3-2 to approve the three proposed bids for regular education, homeless, and athletics transportation, despite concerns about costs rising to nearly $12 million. The committee also approved district participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) to provide free school meals to qualifying students and approved the job description for a new Instructional Support Liaison position.
Budget deliberations produced lengthy debate between committee members regarding Chapter 70 net school spending. While Member Aguiar attempted to amend the operating budget placeholder to $108,242,648 to anticipate state legislative increases, his amendment failed. The committee ultimately voted to approve a placeholder operating budget of $106,642,648 (101% of the governor’s initial budget) with added language affirming that the final appropriation should represent 101% of the final state foundation budget, and separately approved an $11,959,056 transportation budget on a 3-2 vote. Following an executive session, the committee reconvened and unanimously voted to approve a collective bargaining contract with AFSCME Council 93 Local 1118 representing school maintenance employees.
Topics discussed
- 1:12 · Durfee High School Building Project Update
Dr. Malone provided updates on concrete footings and foundation pours by Suffolk Construction and contractors Rezendes and Joe Marshall. - 3:38 · MCAS Testing and Pep Rally
The superintendent highlighted districtwide online MCAS testing implementation, tech preparation, and a student pep rally. - 7:20 · Student Delegate Reports — approved
Student representatives reported on Youth Violence Prevention Week, a State House trip, anti-bullying Color Run planning, and senior cap-and-gown fundraising. - 11:23 · Spencer Borden and Watson Elementary Donations — approved
Donations were accepted from Fuel Up to Play 60 ($4,000 for Spencer Borden), BayCoast Bank ($600 for instruction), and DonorsChoose ($418.16 and $196 for Watson Elementary). - 12:07 · OneGoal Program Contract — approved
The committee reviewed the OneGoal contract supporting first-generation, low-income juniors and seniors at Durfee High School through college graduation. - 14:28 · Approve grant applications and awards as listed — approved
- 14:47 · FY20 Student Transportation Bids and Routing Software — approved
The committee debated escalating transportation costs, vendor specifications, fleet ownership models, and implementing routing software to reduce routes. - 31:38 · Motion by Kevin Aguiar to reject all three FY20 transportation bids — failed
- 47:20 · 2019-2020 School Calendar — approved
The committee conducted a second reading and formally approved the instructional calendar for the 2019-2020 school year. - 47:54 · Youth Risk Behavior Survey — approved
Dr. Anne Dorgan discussed partnering with local parochial and charter schools on the Youth Empowerment Task Force and a $110,000 DESE grant. - 51:45 · Instructional Support Liaison Position — approved
Human Resources Executive Director Tom Coogan explained the duties and intent of the new Instructional Support Liaison job description. - 54:40 · Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Food Services — approved
Ken Pacheco and Kevin Almeida outlined the CEP program to pre-certify students for free meals across district schools. - 59:19 · Refer FY20 transportation budget appropriation of $11,959,056 to the Fall River City Council — referred
- 1:01:56 · FY20 Annual School Operating Budget Placeholder — approved
Members debated funding net school spending at 101% of the governor’s initial proposal versus projecting the final legislative foundation budget. - 1:09:08 · Motion to amend FY20 operating budget proposal to $108,242,648 — failed
- 1:29:00 · FY20 Transportation Budget — approved
The committee voted to recommend an $11,959,056 transportation appropriation to the city. - 1:33:39 · Approve recommended FY20 transportation budget of $11,959,056 — approved
- 1:43:36 · Proprietary Specifications for New Durfee Construction — referred
Chief Operating Officer Ken Pacheco outlined backend technology and infrastructure items requiring proprietary procurement standards. - 1:44:45 · Approve proprietary items for the new B.M.C. Durfee High School — approved
- 1:44:55 · Approve third quarter revolving fund overtime transfer of $22,295 — approved
- 1:49:00 · Approve year-to-date budget report — approved
- 1:49:49 · Approve executive session minutes for March 18, 2019 — approved
- 1:50:48 · Approve collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME Council 93 Local 1118 (Maintenance Employees) — approved
- 1:55:04 · AFSCME Council 93 Local 1118 Maintenance Contract — passed
Following executive session, the committee voted to approve a negotiated collective bargaining contract with school maintenance workers.