Town of Pittsfield
December 12, 2007
Budget Committee
Members present: W. Abbott, W. Case, L. Deane, G. Gilman, C. Keuenhoff, A. MacLellan,
R.Morse, J.Prue , H. Schoppmeyer, L. Small (Select Board rep), M. Vaughan, L. Vogt (School
Board rep).
Members absent: F. Hast, L. Okrent
Also present: Scott Brown, Chairman of the School Board; Peter Roche, SAU Business
Administrator; Tobi Chasse, Director of Student Services; Lois Stevens, Coordinator of
Student Services; and Dr. Compton, SAU Superintendent.
Minutes of the December 5, 2007 meeting were approved as corrected.
Tobi Chasse presented very comprehensive information on Special Education.
Special Education is based on law that there be 1) equal opportunity for an education,
2) financial responsibility for all children; 3) the right to a free, appropriate, public education
for the intellectually impaired and 4) guaranteed FAPE for students with severe
disabilities.
Special Education is designed to keep potential or minor problems from becoming a disability,
Attempts to eliminate effects of a disability, offers special instruction in order to succeed in a
typical setting and teaches skills or the use of devices that enables successful functioning in the
student’s environment.
Numbers of identified students as needing special education are
10 out of 11 students in preschool; 58 of 368 students in elementary school; 20 of 94 students
in middle school; and 41 of 188 students in high school.
There was discussion about the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Currently the elementary
and high school are adequate, the middle school in need of improvement in math.
It was noted that if we were testing each child relative to himself and not comparing him to
others, we would not be in need of improvement.
Also noted: 4.5% of the identified students are drop-outs. The current age is 16, but as of
July 1, 2008 the drop out age will be 18.
The committee finished going over the middle school budget and the high school budget.
Proposed totals: Elementary School – $3,512,345 Middle School – $1,720,606
High School – $3,320,214
Final proposed total is $9,937.132
Meeting on December 19, 2007 at the Town Hall at 7PM. The Fire Department Chief will
be present to answer further questions and the committee is free to ask questions on any part
of the budget.
Meeting adjourned at 8:46 PM.
Joan M. Prue, secretary