Holyoke School Committee Local Control Subcommittee Meeting, April 23, 2024

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CITY OF HOLYOKE 

SCHOOL COMMITTEE 

LOCAL CONTROL SUBCOMMITTEE AGENDA

DATE: MONDAY, APRIL 23RD, 2024 

TIME: 5:00 PM 

LOCATION: FIFIELD ROOM, HOLYOKE HIGH DEAN CAMPUS, 1045 MAIN ST, HOLYOKE, MA 01040

 

On March 29, 2023, Governor Healey signed into law a supplemental budget bill which, among other things, extends the temporary provisions pertaining to the Open Meeting Law to March 31, 2025. Specifically, this further extension allows public bodies to continue holding meetings remotely without a quorum of the public body physically present at a meeting location, and to provide “adequate, alternative” access to remote meetings. The language does not make any substantive changes to the Open Meeting Law other than extending the expiration date of the temporary provisions regarding remote meetings from March 31, 2023 to March 31, 2025.

Members of the public can access the meeting here: 

https://hps-holyoke-ma-us.zoom.us/j/85266232176?pwd=ci9tWEs3cG81SkQxdXZrWW5GenBXQT09

• CALL TO ORDER ~ ROLL CALL ~ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

      Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, s. 20, I am hereby informing all attendees that a video and audio recording is being made of the meeting and the meeting is being live-streamed and run live on the City’s community TV channel.

• NEW BUSINESS

○ Item #1 – Holyoke Public Schools School Committee Capacity Building– Budget section

• Maintain an established budget subcommittee.
• Collaborate with HPS administration to prepare and recommend the annual budget to the Receiver for approval.
  • Subcommittee members participate in school/district operational planning meetings. 
  • Conduct budget presentations and discussions at the subcommittee and full committee levels. 
  • Vote to recommend the annual budget to the Receiver.
• Engage the HPS administration in discussions of quarterly budget updates.
  • Recommend to the Receiver budget transfers as necessary.
• Review warrants and payroll with the Receiver.
• Assign a representative to observe collective bargaining.

○ Item #2 – Discussion on next steps for capacity building around budget.

○ Item #3 – Approval of minutes of 3-25-2024 meeting.

The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not

all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the

extent permitted by law.* The Holyoke Public Schools makes available a public discussion period for persons in the audience to address the Committee on specific agenda items. In order to hear as many speakers as possible, the Committee asks individuals to continue their remarks for two (2) minutes. Any person wishing to submit longer testimony should give copies to the Committee Secretary before the meeting so that they may be distributed to Committee members. The speaker can then summarize this testimony at the meeting within the two (2) minute time period. Persons wishing to speak should register with the Committee Secretary immediately before the meeting begins. Individuals who request specific items to be included on the Committee’s agenda should mail a written request fifteen (15) days in advance of a Committee meeting date to Shaena Gubala, in care of the Receiver’s Office, 57 Suffolk Street, Holyoke, MA 01040.

HPS Operating Budget Calendar (FY24 Budget Pages 42- 44)

DECEMBER 2022

⮚ Initial budget planning and allocation planning meetings are held.

⮚ Current year budget projections updated.

⮚ Initial budget outlook to the Superintendent.

⮚ Bi-monthly meetings are held with Chiefs and department heads to review current year budget.

JANUARY 2023

⮚ Memo of FY 2024 budget instructions and budget reductions are sent out to all Chiefs and

Principals.

⮚ First meeting with cabinet is held to initiate the FY 2024 budget request.

⮚ The Governor’s FY 2024 (House I) proposed budget is announced and analyzed

⮚ Bi-monthly meetings are held with school principals to review current year budget.

FEBRUARY 2023

⮚ FY 2024 budget requests are submitted by each cabinet chief.

⮚ Budget team begins vetting budget requests and second meetings are held with appropriate

budget managers.

⮚ Targeted reductions to original budget requests are submitted.

⮚ School-based staffing allocations are completed.

⮚ Analyzing of budget requests continue.

⮚ Presentation to School Committee of preliminary budget deficit.

⮚ Final budget review meetings are held with all Chiefs and Superintendent.

⮚ Bi-monthly meetings are held with Chiefs and department heads to review current year budget.

MARCH 2023

⮚ Budget update provided to receiver and School Committee based on updated assumptions.

⮚ School Supervisors meet with school principals to support individual school budget planning.

⮚ Meetings are held with Chiefs to review current year budget.

APRIL 2023

⮚ House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee (House II) releases budget in early April.

⮚ Meetings are held with Chiefs and department heads to review current year budget.

⮚ School Supervisors meet with school principals to support individual school budget planning.

MAY 2023

⮚ Senate releases budget

⮚ Meetings are held with school principals, school supervisors and Chiefs to review current year budget.

JUNE 2023

⮚ Potential changes to budget appropriation made based on the State’s final adopted budget.

⮚School Committee and Public Hearing on the budget is held.

⮚ City Council hearings on City departmental budgets.

⮚ Mayor submits recommended budget to City Council

⮚ Superintendent approves budget

⮚ Bi-monthly meetings are held with Chiefs and department heads to review current year budget.

JULY 2023

⮚ Send communication to all departments regarding their approved FY 2023 budget.

⮚ Debriefing on the FY 2024 budget to be held.

⮚ Meetings are held with school principals, school supervisors and Chiefs to review current year budget.

AUGUST 2023

⮚ Regular meetings are held with Chiefs and department heads to review current year budget.

SEPTEMBER 2023

⮚ Regular meetings are held with school principals, school supervisors and Chiefs to review current year budget.

OCTOBER 2023

⮚ October 1st student enrollment numbers posted by the Department of Elementary and

Secondary Education.

⮚ Preliminary FY 2025 school-based staffing allocation adjustments made.

⮚ Regular meetings are held with Chiefs and department heads to review current year budget.

NOVEMBER 2023

⮚ Preliminary FY 2025 budget projection completed.

⮚ The Budget Team begins developing plans and communications for FY 2025 budget.

⮚ Regular meetings are held with school principals, school supervisors and Chiefs to review current year budget.