Approval of Records
March 26, 2001
Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
March 19, 2001
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, March 19, 2001 in the School Committee Room, Town Hall. Chairman Filledes called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Members Present: Peg Broekel, Tassos Filledes, Jonathan Freedman, Henry Haugland, Irene Kessel,
Kristine Van Amsterdam
Diane Packer arrived at 7:20 p.m.
Others present:
N. Jerome Goldberg Superintendent
James Connolly Assistant Superintendent
Patrick Schettini Assistant Superintendent
Audrey Seyffert Assistant Superintendent
Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary
Ori Korin Student Representative
Community Members, Staff,
Parents & Press
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ms. Broekel moved for approval of the minutes of February 26, 2001. Ms. Van Amsterdam seconded. They were unanimously approved.
PUBLIC SPEAK
Chairman Filledes asked if anyone wished to come forward for public speak. No one came forward
PERSONNEL
The following personnel actions were presented:
RESIGNATION: Professional Staff
Kathleen Hawes, Kindergarten teacher at Lilja School since August 1994 and currently on a leave of absence. Resignation as kindergarten teacher is effective February 26, 2001.
Amy Sutherland, Elementary teacher at Memorial School since August 1994 and currently on a leave of absence. Resignation effective February 28, 2001.
RESIGNATION: Support Staff
Brian Kelly, Teacher assistant (.5) at Bennett-Hemenway School since August 2000. Resignation effective at the end of the day on February 16, 2001.
EXTENDED LEAVE OF ABSENCE: Professional Staff
Carey Perkson, Grade 2 teacher at Brown School since August 1998. Leave of absence for maternity is effective May 14, 2001 and extends without pay through the 2001-2002 school year.
Natasha Stevens, Science teacher at Natick High School since September 1993. Leave of absence without pay is effective for the 2001-2002 school year.
CHANGE IN ASSIGNMENT: Support Staff
John Moran, from Senior Custodian at Bennett-Hemenway School to Jr. Custodian I (nights) at Natick High School effective February 26, 2001.
David Moores, from Assistant Senior Custodian at Natick High School to Senior Custodian at Bennett-Hemenway School effective February 27, 2001.
APPOINTMENTS: Support Staff
Joseph Green III, to be teacher assistant at Wilson Middle School effective February 26, 2001. Salary, pro-rated step 2.
REPORT ON SUBCOMMITTEES
Dr. Goldberg and Ms. Packer discussed a TEC Board of Directors Meeting they attended this past Friday where a forum was held with State Legislators. The discussion focused on Special Education Costs and School Finances. The School Committee will have an opportunity to meet with Senator Jacques, Senator Magnani and Representative Linsky at the beginning of their meeting on April 2 in a joint discussion with the Board of Selectmen.
Ms. Kessel reported that the Policy Subcommittee met last week and are reviewing the policies on gift giving and commercialism. Anyone wishing to provide input on these policies should get in touch with Policy Subcommittee members.
Dr. Goldberg discussed the ASCD conference, which he recently attended in Boston. He shared with the School Committee members two Digi-Block books, which were written by two of our teachers, Mrs. Lynne Hunt and Mr. Jed Stefanowicz.
HIGH SCHOOL RENOVATION REPORT
Mr. Jonathan Freedman, School Committee Member and Chair of the High School Renovation Committee provided background information on the formation and role of the High School Renovation Committee. He introduced the members as follows:
Kirk Buschenfeldt, Appointed by Town Administrator
John Ciccariello, Member of the Planning Board
Charlie Hughes, Member of the Board of Selectmen
Mysore Ravindra, Appointed by the School Committee
Bruce Wright, Finance Committee Member
Gerald Rufo, Appointed by the Board of Selectmen
The Committee was assisted by Jim Connolly and Bob Graham. Members of the Board of Selectmen were invited and were present for this presentation. Mr. Freedman indicated that copies of the report are on file in the superintendent’s office, at the Morse Institute Library and on the Natick website: www.natick.k12.ma.us. An Executive Summary is also available. Mr. Freedman introduced Mr. Dan Bradford from the firm of Knight, Bagge, and Anderson, Inc., the firm retained to
evaluate options and requirements for renovating Natick High School. Mr. Bradford reviewed three options, which were developed to accommodate the current and future needs of the high school. They are as follows:
Option 1, Scheme A: Perform a complete renovation of the building, construct a new science wing between the “A” and “S” wings (20,000 S.F.) (renovate existing science labs), and provide a small library addition (2,500 S.F.). $43,000,000 – reimbursement range 56.31 - 62.31%
Option 1, Scheme B: Perform a complete renovation of the building, construct a new science wing in the location of Gyms 4 & 5 and locker rooms (26,000 S.F.) (convert existing science labs to general-purpose classrooms), and provide a small library addition (2,500 S.F.). $42,000,000 – reimbursement range 56.31 - 62.31%
Option 2: Construct a new high school with the capacity for 1,400 students (est. 238,000 S.F.) $51,000,000 – reimbursement range of 51.31 – 57.31%
Mr. Bradford responded to questions.
It is the recommendation of the High School Renovation Committee to endorse Option 1, Scheme B.
A recommendation was made to look into cost data on adding a swimming pool.
Mr. Haugland moved for approval for the School Committee to accept this report. Ms. Broekel seconded. It was unanimously approved.
JAPANESE EXCHANGE PROGRAM
Ms. Kristen St. George, Vice Principal of Kennedy Middle School, provided an outline of the Japanese Exchange Program with Kennedy Middle School and the Higashi School which will be taking place this weekend. Approximately 30 students from Japan will be arriving on Friday, March 23 and paired up with their host families. They will spend the day with their host families on Saturday, March 24 and will attend a friendship dance at 7:30 p.m. at the Longfellow Sports Club. On Sunday, March 25 they will be bused to Boston with their host student to attend a Boston Celtics game. On Monday, they will spend the day at school and attend a reception and dinner at Kennedy Middle School beginning at 5:00 p.m., hosted by the Boston Higashi School. Ms. St. George, on behalf of Mr. Hughes, thanked the
Committee who has worked so hard on this exchange program. They are as follows: Mary Breen, Akhiro Takamatsu, Ann Barbo, Jayne Blute, Nancy Cerulo, Kathie Fair Chandley, Tara Crowley, Beth Gibson, Nancy Griffin, Jennifer Johanson, Nancy Hardy, Terri Laurence, Hiroko Schafer, Gladys Scippa, Margaret Sleeper, and Susan Zucker.
FY2002 BUDGET
Dr. Goldberg recommended that the School Committee vote on a FY2002 budget amount of $31,697,424 which is the number that the Town Administrator has recommended. A discussion continued on whether or not to table this vote until the levels of cuts are reviewed. Ms. Broekel moved for approval to vote on the amount of $31,697,424 for the FY2002 budget. Mr. Freedman seconded. The motion carried 4 to 3. The Administration will present more detail on the level of cuts at the meeting of March 26, 2001.
NATICK PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEWSLETTER
Dr. Goldberg discussed a newsletter he hopes to produce and mail quarterly to all Natick households, providing a summary of the major issues underway in the Natick Schools. Newsletter printing and distribution will be entirely funded by discrete underwriting sponsorships. Ms. Broekel moved for approval to authorize the issuing of a newsletter on behalf of the School Committee under the direction of the Superintendent. Ms. Packer seconded. The motion carried 6 to 1.
EVALUATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
Chairman Filledes reviewed the process used in evaluating the superintendent. He reviewed the performance rating descriptions as follows:
There are four categories of performance upon which the superintendent was rated:
Exceeds (4): Consistently exceeds performance expectations. Performance at this level is of unusually high quality and clearly surpasses key objectives and standards.
Achieves (3): Consistently achieves performance expectations. Performance at this level is of expected quality and key objectives have been accomplished.
Marginally Achieves (2): Performance meets minimum expectations, though improvement is needed to become fully proficient.
Fails to Achieve (1): Performance at this level is of inadequate quality and key objectives have not been accomplished.
Chairman Filledes reviewed each of the goals, the combined rating for that goal and a sampling of comments. The superintendent received an overall combined rating on all goals of 2.9. Ms. Packer announced that the entire evaluation document is a public document if people wish to review it. Mr. Haugland moved for approval to put this document on the website. Ms. Van Amsterdam seconded. It was unanimously approved.
TO APPOINT AN ATTENDANCE OFFICER
Mrs. Seyffert recommended that the DARE Officer be designated as Natick’s Attendance Officer. Ms. Broekel moved for approval to designate the DARE Officer as the Attendance Officer. Mr. Freedman seconded. It was unanimously approved.
OUT OF STATE TRAVEL
Mr. Hughes requested the School Committee’s approval for out-of-state travel for Kennedy Middle School Eighth Grade students to travel to Washington, D.C. on May 2-4, 2001. Ms. Broekel moved for approval of this trip. Mrs. Van Amsterdam seconded.
The meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
N. Jerome Goldberg
Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
By: Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
Attest:_______________________________
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