MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION held Thursday, June 10, 1999
For the purpose of meeting with Representatives of the Greenbelt Nursery School and Kindergarten (GNSK).

The meeting began at 8:07 p.m. It was held in the Council Room of the Municipal Building.

PRESENT WERE: Council members Rodney M. Roberts, Alan Turnbull, Edward V.J. Putens, Thomas X. White and Mayor Judith F. Davis.

STAFF PRESENT WERE: Michael P. McLaughlin, City Manager; David E. Moran, City Clerk and Joe McNeal, Community Center Supervisor

ALSO PRESENT WERE: Miriam Goldberg, Craig Tooley, Stacy Williams, Roni Krupnick, Pat Schrieber and Brenda Jayne, GNSK and Karl Hille, Greenbelt Gazette

Mr. Tooley summarized the materials provided by GNSK. He stressed the cooperative nature of the school. Mayor Davis asked if it was harder now to get parents to volunteer than in the past. Mr. Tooley responded that the Board tried to balance co-oping and non-co-oping.

Next, Mr. Tooley summarized the curriculum. He stressed the benefits of having GNSK in the Community Center and the community. Mr. Tooley noted GNSK’s participation with the Adult Care Center

Mr. Tooley suggested that GNSK might offer additional parent education programs. Mr. Putens asked about the percentage of Greenbelt residents. Mr. Tooley responded 62%. Mr. Putens also asked about the request for free space. Ms. Schrieber noted that the Community Center had worked with GNSK.

Mr. Tooley summarized the rent history since the move to the Community Center. He noted that GNSK had never achieved the targeted revenue levels in the lease.

Ms. Davis asked about cost cutting measures. Ms. Schrieber responded that GNSK had reduced staffing, eliminated field trips, implemented more on-site programs and cut library expenses, and had actively sought donations from businesses and individuals and a variety of other fundraising activities.

Ms. Krupnick noted that GNSK had increased tuition by 5% which was viewed as the maximum. She also referenced competition from churches whose schools do not pay rent.

Mayor Davis asked why they thought the target revenues had not been achieved. Ms. Schreiber noted that kindergarten enrollment were not as high because of competition and stressed that GNSK wanted to maintain the cooperative aspect.

Mr. Turnbull asked about other revenue sources. Mr. Tooley responded that about an additional $15,000 through fundraising and grants. He noted that GNSK was drawing down on reserves.

Mr. Roberts asked about enrollment levels. Ms. Schrieber responded that there were about 75 families now and this had increased by a third since the move. In response to a question from Mr. Roberts, Ms. Schrieber noted that there was not as much participation in the before and after class programs.

There was considerable discussion of how the GNSK program worked and what the expenses were.

Mr. White asked if the membership had to approve tuition increases. Mr. Tooley responded yes. Mr. White asked if there were other expenses. Ms. Jayne noted that out of $170,000 in expenses $140,000 goes to salaries. Mr. White asked about the educational workshops. Ms. Schrieber explained this grant funded program and expressed a desire to provide addition workshops. Mr. White suggested a possible collaboration with Greenbelt CARES

Mr. Turnbull asked if GNSK provided any benefits. Ms. Schrieber responded that they cover 50% of a health insurance program for employees who have no other source of benefits. Mr. Turnbull asked about pooling with other groups. Ms. Schrieber responded that the cost savings were not significant.

Mr. Tooley summarized the three requests being made by the group.

Mr. White asked what other tenants were paying. Mr. McNeal responded that artists pay $6/SF and GNSK and Adult Care pay $7/SF.

Mayor Davis asked what would happen if GNSK’s rent was reduced to $6/square foot. Mr. McLaughlin responded that it would be about $15,800.

Mr. Roberts expressed a desire to look at the whole rent picture for all the tenants. Mr. Turnbull asked if the Adult Care Center was non-profit and affiliated with a church. Mr. McLaughlin responded it was affiliated with the Baptist Church.

Mr. Putens viewed GNSK as a program instead of a tenant and believed the City should help GNSK survive and suggested subsidizing it with a grant. Mayor Davis suggested contacting the activities directors of the various community management associations as a means of promoting GNSK.

Mr. McLaughlin noted that considerable work went into the original lease and thresholds. He suggested that the original GNSK thresholds might be wrong and suggested comparing them with the reality that GNSK has experienced.

Mr. McLaughlin agreed to provide a refresher on rents throughout the Community Center and also to review the initial assumptions.

The meeting ended at 9:50 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

David E. Moran, CMC

City Clerk

City of Greenbelt, Maryland
City Offices, 25 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770
Phone: 301-474-8000 FAX: 301-441-8248