School officials agreed to return $160,000 to the town's general fund after meeting with the Finance Committee on the eve of Town Meeting. The funds were approved in 2007 for capital items that were not purchased. They include a fire alarm system at the high school that was budgeted for $90,000.

School Committee members said the $90,000 was meant to add onto an existing system. They were later told that new, stricter laws on fire alarms mandate a whole new fire alarm system. The estimates for a new system range from $150,000 to $250,000.

At a special School Committee meeting on May 1, Dr. Galton took responsibility for taking funds from the operating budget to pay for computer lab upgrades. The funds were approved as capital items at the 2007 annual Town Meeting.

Dr. Galton said she was trying to free up more funds to cover the added costs of the fire alarm system. After consulting with their attorney, she realized she could not use the funds that way, Dr. Galton said.

Because of the tug of war with town officials over the money -— in a tight budget year — School Committee member Russell Kleber said, "Perception is so important in town. We can't say 'We're the school. We can do what we want.'"

Mr. Kleber said in future dealings, "Let's reach out to them" referring to town officials. He said they should assume "an overabundance of caution so we're not perceived as doing whatever we want."

"I do reach out," Dr. Galton said.

Per pupil costs

School officials and the Finance Committee decided to wait until next year to address how they calculate school funding. Jane Loos, chairman of the Finance Committee, said FinCom agreed to support the budget proposed by the schools for fiscal 2009.

The town administrator wanted the schools to include more of the town services provided to them in the per pupil budget calculations.

The per pupil costs are used by the state to determine whether the town is meeting its mandates for net minimum spending.

Replacing Bob Kowalczyk

The School Committee decided to "advertise" for a new member to replace Robert Kowalczyk who passed away on April 18. They said they would accept applicants until May 28 and would meet with selectmen in June to decide on a replacement.

By Peggy Aulisio

paulisio@eastbaynewspapers.com