Employees and Bargaining Committee

of Lisbon/M.S.A.D. No. 75 RPC

Minutes

January 16, 2008

The Employees & Bargaining Sub-committee of the Reorganization Planning Committee (RPC) met during the breakout session on Wednesday, January 16, 2008, at Mt. Ararat Middle School in Topsham, Maine.

Employees and Bargaining Committee members present were: Steve Harris (Chair). Kim Totten, Prudence “Prudy” Grant, Jim Henderson, and Kim Benjamin.

Also present was Lisbon Superintendent Shannon Welsh.

Chair Harris called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m.

Superintendent Welsh distributed the “Proposed Administrative Organizational Chart for Lisbon/M.S.A.D. No. 75 Regional School Unit” and the “Maine Department of Education Model Budgeting and Staffing Levels for System Administration for School Year 2007-2008” for discussion purposes.

Superintendent Welsh directed the Sub-committee to the email from Jennifer Pooler, Maine Department of Education, indicating we are no longer required to submit a revision by February 1, 2008. All proposed RSU’s must submit their plans to the Department of Education for final review no later than March 28, 2008. Dr. Welsh noted, as a matter of clarification, that the Superintendents would submit all required lists under Section 7 as of that date. The Sub-committee concurred.

Superintendent Welsh went through each position on the “Proposed Administrative Organizational Chart” with an explanation of each position, from where the funds were derived, and answered relevant Sub-committee members’ questions. It was noted that Adult Education is not required to consolidate under the Law, although listed on the Organizational Chart. In addition, under the new plan, payroll would be processed in house. Services shared with other towns were also discussed, such as Adult Education with Brunswick and Food Services with St. John’s.

The Maine Department of Education models were discussed. The first observation noted by the Sub-committee was the third model only encompassed 3,500 students while the combined Lisbon/M.S.A.D. No. 75 RSU would contain 4,500 students. It was also noted there were no Human Resources or Accounts Payable positions listed under the State’s plan. Our plan includes an Accountant, which the State does not include. Superintendent Welsh has requested clarification from the State, with no response.

The Sub-committee agreed to review the documents over the next two weeks. In addition, in order to make an informed recommendation, the Sub-committee will need the following additional information:

(1) What positions are included in the State’s model as it relates to System Administration (i.e.: HR and Accounts Payable)?

(2) If they are not included in System Administration, to what extent will the State fund the positions not included?

(3) Request a model from the State for 4, 500 students—ask Jay Bartner to assist here.

(4) Ask the Business Managers to provide specific dollar amounts, per pupil, with the proposed Organizational Chart, including HR and Accounts Payable.

(5) Ask the Business Managers to provide specific dollar amounts, per pupil, with the proposed Organizational Chart, excluding HR and Accounts Payable.

The Sub-committee discussed that if the proposed Organization Chart equates to a per pupil cost of more than $204, then the local towns of the RSU will need to cover the difference between the actual cost, per pupil, and the $204 per pupil cost.

The total plan’s outstanding items were discussed. In order to finalize the RSU plan, the Finance Sub-committee will need the Organizational Chart recommended cost from the Employees and Bargaining Committee as well as to finish calculating the cost sharing, based on the proposed new law.

The Sub-committee concluded by discussing how communication to the public will be important, especially in explaining what we will do to get to $204 per pupil and where our cost savings are.

The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. for RPC group debriefing.

Respectfully submitted,

Kim Benjamin

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