Town of Natick - School Committee Meeting

Approval of Records

Natick Public Schools

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING

The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, April 23, 2001 in the School Committee Room, Town Hall. Chairwoman Broekel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

Members Present: Peg Broekel, Michael Cashman, Jonathan Freedman, Henry Haugland, Diane Packer,

Members Absent: Kristine Van Amsterdam

N. Jerome Goldberg Superintendent

Patrick Schettini Assistant Superintendent

Audrey Seyffert Assistant Superintendent

Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary

Community Members, Staff,

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Ms. Packer moved for approval of the minutes of April 2, 2001. Mr. Freedman seconded. They were unanimously approved.

Mr. Joshua Ostroff, Co-President of the Natick Education Foundation came forward to invite everyone to the Taste of Natick event being held on May 6, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. at Jordans Furniture. This annual event, sponsored by Natick Education Foundation, is being held to honor the recipients of the Natick Education Grants for the next academic school year. Entertainment is being provided by the Natick High School Choral group and the Natick High School Jazz Ensemble. Tickets are available by calling Joshua Ostroff, Sue Sullivan or via the website at www.natickedfoundation.org.

TO APPROVE CHANGES TO THE NATICK HIGH SCHOOL HANDBOOK

This item was postponed to the meeting of May 7. Mr. Haugland requested that when the changes to the high school handbook are presented at the next meeting, he would like to discuss the reporting of class rank – many schools have done away with this. He also wanted to see what the possibilities would be of allowing students, in good standing, to take an exploratory class which would not be reported on their transcripts should they not do well.

COMMUNICATIONS, PETITIONS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Dr. Goldberg provided a report on four trips recently taken by Natick High School Students:

· Ms. Jean Doherty and Ms. Denise Trubiano took 14 students to Spain

· Mr. Jekyl took five students in the Latin Class to Italy

· Ms. Annibali and Ms. Ruggaber took 12 students to Germany and Switzerland

· Ms. DiGiandomenico and Ms. Mandell took 11 students to France with a special visit to the cemetery at Normandy.

Ms. Broekel announced a dance that the Natick High School PTSO is sponsoring at the Officers’ Club on Saturday, April 28th at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available through Tina Furdon and Gary Sutherland.

Mr. Schettini discussed two recent initiatives taken for recruiting new teachers to Natick. Staff members attended a minority job fair in New York City and attended the Massachusetts Education Recruiting Consortium held in Boston. Mr. Schettini reported that the positive response which Natick received from individuals attending these job fairs is something Natick should be very proud of, “Natick’s reputation in the education community is stellar.”

PERSONNEL ACTIONS

The following personnel actions were reported:

RESIGNATION: Professional Staff

Michele Burns, learning center teacher at Wilson Middle School since August 1995. Resignation effective at the end of the 2000-2001 school year.

Hope Pulick, learning center teacher/chairperson at Lilja School since August 2000. Resignation effective at the end of the 2000-2001 school year.

RESIGNATION: Support Staff

Christopher Russell, Jr. Custodian I at Wilson Middle School since August 2000. Resignation effective at the end of the day on April 20, 2001.

TERMINATION: Support Staff.

Clifford Kaiser, food service truck driver since October 2000. Termination effective April 5, 2001.

Christopher Tonelli, custodian at Johnson & Memorial Schools since November 1999. Termination effective March 30, 2001.

EXTENDED LEAVE OF ABSENCE: Professional Staff

Kelli Connelly, elementary teacher at Lilja School since August 1995. Maternity leave of absence is effective May 7, 2001 to the end of this school year.

CHANGE IN ASSIGNMENT: Support Staff

Robert Harvie, from Jr. Custodian I Natick High School cafeteria to Jr. Custodian I truck driver effective April 23, 2001.

APPOINTMENT: Support Staff

Lawrence Chapski, to be Jr. Custodian I at Wilson Middle School effective April 30, 2001. Salary, Step 1.

Nancy Hooley, to be part-time secretary for the Enhanced School Health Service Grant effective April 23, 2001. Salary, $15.00 per hour.

SUBCOMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

The following subcommittee assignments were presented.

SC REP/DESIGNEE FOR 4/01-3/2002

Athletic Advisory Committee

Kristine Van Amsterdam

Suburban Coalition Rep-Ted Wynne

This is an open meeting – all members are invited to attend if available

TEC Board of Directors

This is an open meeting – all members may attend if available

Natick Education Foundation

Kristine Van Amsterdam

Senior Center Liaison

Town Budget Planning Committee

Kristine Van Amsterdam

Middle School Building Committee

1 Member appointed by Selectmen – Mysore Ravindra

1 Member appointed by Town Moderator –Dight Crain

1 Member appointed by Fin Com – Patrick Haswell

1 member appointed by Plng Board – John Ciccariello

5 Members appointed by the School Committee

Charter By-law Review Committee Liaison

Curriculum Council Representative

High School Renovation Committee

Legislative Representative

Community Farm Liaison

Superintendent Evaluation Subcommittee

NEGOTIATION TEAM SC REPRESENTATIVE - 4/01-3/2002

Maintenance & Custodians

Peg Broekel, Henry Haugland

Henry Haugland, Diane Packer

Teachers, Nurses & Administrators (EAN Units A,B,C)

Jonathan Freedman, Henry Haugland,

Kristine Van Amsterdam

Secretaries & Clerks

Henry Haugland, Ted Wynne

Jonathan Freedman, Ted Wynne

Diane Packer, Michael Cashman

Open Alternate for all negotiation teams

Recommendations were made for the Committee to reinstate the Technology Subcommittee. Dr. Goldberg reported that a Technology presentation will be given on May 7th, and it may be more appropriate to wait until after this presentation to see if the reinstitution of a Technology Subcommittee is warranted.

A request was made for the Superintendent to work with the Human Resources Manager to establish a timeline for collective bargaining training.

Consensus was given on the above subcommittee assignments.

TO APPROVE THE FINAL DAY OF SCHOOL FOR 2000/2001

Dr. Goldberg presented June 18, 2000 (early release) as the last day of school for the 2000/2001 school year due to the fact that the system lost three days as a result of inclement weather as of this date. This date provides for the completion of the required 180-day school year for students and the 182-day year for the professional staff.

Mr. Haugland moved for approval of this date. Ms. Packer seconded. It was unanimously approved.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE

The School Committee was presented with a draft list of School Committee meeting dates for the next school year. This schedule was prepared in such a way to avoid scheduling meetings on the same night as the Selectmen. Due to holidays and school vacations there will be some nights where the School Committee and Selectmen will be meeting at the same time. For the most part the School Committee will be meeting the first and third Monday of the month and the Selectmen will be meeting the second and fourth Monday of the month. Mr. Haugland moved for approval of the meeting schedule as follows. Mr. Freedman seconded. It was unanimously approved.

Summer Meetings TBD

August Monday August 27

September Tuesday September 4

Monday September 10 Spotlight on Education

Monday September 24 Student Advisory Board

October Monday October 1

Monday October 29 Spotlight on Education

November Monday November 5

Monday November 19 Student Advisory Board

December Monday December 3

January Monday January 7 Budget Session

Tuesday January 8 Budget Session

Monday January 14 Student Advisory Board

February Monday February 4 Public Hearing on FY2003 Budget

Monday February 11 Spotlight on Education (Subject to Change)

March Monday March 4

Monday March 18 Student Advisory Board

Wednesday March 27 Reorganization Meeting

April Monday April 1

Monday April 29 Spotlight on Education

May Monday May` 6

Monday May 20 Student Advisory Board

June Monday June 3

*Spotlight on Education Meetings will be held in the Morse Institute Library – all other meetings will be in the School Committee Room, Town Hall (subject to change). Meeting start time is generally 7:30 p.m.

APPROVAL TO STANDARDIZE PROPRIETARY PRODUCT SELECTION

Mr. Robert Graham, Director of Facilities, recommended that the Natick Public Schools standardize certain products that are installed in its buildings. Standardization through proprietary specifications will allow the Natick Public Schools to have a consistency of parts, service and operations as well as a uniformity of systems in all of its buildings.

They are as follows:

System or Product Product Name or Manufacturer

Fire Alarm System Simplex

Locking Hardware Sargent

Direct Digital Energy Control Automated Logic Corporation

Mr. Freedman moved for approval of this recommendation. Mr. Haugland seconded. It was unanimously approved.

APPROVAL OF OUT OF STATE TRAVEL

Mr. Haugland moved for approval for high school students enrolled in Spanish classes and/or the Spanish Club to travel to New York City on April 27, 2001. Mr. Freedman seconded. It was unanimously approved.

Ms. Broekel announced that the School Committee will be holding a retreat on Saturday, April 28, 2001 from 9:00-1:00 at 264 Newbury Street, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA. They will provide a report of this retreat at the next meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

Secretary to the School Committee

Attest:_____________________________ By: Sharon Reilly