Town of Natick - School Committee Minutes

Approval of Records

Natick Public Schools

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING

The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, May 20, 2002 at 7:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria of Natick High School. Chair Broekel called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.

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

Ted Wynne, Kristine Van Amsterdam

Others present: James J. Connolly Superintendent

Patrick Schettini Assistant Superintendent

Mary Ellen Dunn Director of Fiscal & Management Services

Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mrs. Van Amsterdam moved for approval of the minutes of May 6, 2002. Mr. Freedman seconded. They were unanimously approved.

Ms. Packer moved for approval of the Executive Session minutes of May 6, 2002. Mrs. Van Amsterdam seconded. They were unanimously approved.

Chair Broekel asked if anyone wished to come forward for Public Speak.

Mr. Jeff Briskin, resident of Park Avenue, came forward and requested that the administration consider that a two-week refund policy (after the start of school) be added to the contract for fee-based transportation so that parents may opt out of the busing if their 20 minute bus ride turns into a 45 minute bus ride.

PUBLIC HEARING ON REDISTRICTING

Mr. Connolly reviewed the redistricting plan which was presented at the meeting of May 6. This plan will go into effect beginning with the 2003/2004 school year. He provided information on the problem, the history, the process, the solution and the plans for implementation. Streets affected and maps were made available. The public was invited to speak to the plan.

The following comments/concerns were raised:

· request was made to look at a 7-year redistricting plan taking all the new housing starts into consideration

· consider a comprehensive analysis of the redistricting with the new busing plan to ensure fiscal responsibility

· consider grandfathering, particularly the eighth grade students, who will be redistricted for one year and then move on to the high school

· lottery system is a cruel way to handle grandfathering requests

· move teachers, where necessary, with the students in order to maintain reasonable class sizes

· consider grandfathering at all grades – look at each individual request

· hope that when the middle schools set up their teams, they look to keep the children who are redistricted somewhat together

· average class sizes at Memorial will increase with the redistricting plan – what are the provisions to handle all the new housing that will be coming along?

· would like to see a more aggressive plan which would last 4-5 years, along with the impact on class sizes

· new housing starts are not the only concern – turnover of homes owned by elderly will have impact also

· neighborhoods of Woodland/Morningside/Woodleigh/Clover Lane/Clover Terrace not part of plan now but may be in the future and given the close proximity to Memorial, they don’t feel they should be redistricted when other neighborhoods are located two or three times the distance from Memorial.

Mr. Connolly requested that if anyone had any further comments or questions to forward them to him and he would share the information with the School Committee. The School Committee will take action on the redistricting plan at its meeting of June 3, 2002.

COMMUNICATIONS, PETITIONS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Mr. Connolly congratulated Mr. John Hughes for his appointment as Principal-Elect for Natick High School for the 2003/2004 school year. Chair Broekel, on behalf of the School Committee, recognized Mr. Hughes and stated that the School Committee looks forward to working with him in this role.

Mrs. Van Amsterdam reported on a budget subcommittee meeting she recently attended. Mr. Charlie Hughes, Chair of this subcommittee, has requested that all departments prepare a preliminary budget estimate for FY04. They will meet again on June 19.

PRESENTATIONS OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS

Mr. Peskin reviewed the goals of the School Improvement Plan for the Bennett-Hemenway School. He responded to questions. Mrs. Van Amsterdam moved for approval of this plan. Mr. Freedman seconded. It was unanimously approved.

Ms. Small reviewed the goals of the School Improvement Plan for the Brown School. She responded to questions. Mr. Freedman moved for approval of this plan. Mr. Cashman seconded. It was unanimously approved

Mr. Hughes reviewed the goals of the School Improvement Plan for the Kennedy Middle School. He responded to questions. Mrs. Van Amsterdam moved for approval of this plan. Mr. Haugland seconded. It was unanimously approved

Dr. Parker reviewed the goals of the School Improvement Plan for Natick High School. He responded to questions.

· there are other issues which should be considered

· hope to get more information on grouping at the middle schools and how it ties into the high school

· look at what our offerings are and compare them with like communities

· encourage the high school administration to continue to work with our existing staff and resources to provide additional elective options which would address the problem of an increased number of study periods that have resulted from the schedule change to a 6-8-8 cycle

Mr. Cashman moved for approval of this plan. Mrs. Van Amsterdam seconded. The motion carried 6 to 1.

TO APPROVE SALARY INCREASE FOR NON-REPRESENTED PERSONNEL

Mrs. Davis reviewed the following adjustments for non-represented personnel:

Tutors/Handicapped/Homebound

Recommend increasing the hourly rate for Tutors to $24.00

Director of Specialized Summer Support Program

This is a new program which is self sustaining – Establish a range of $4,000.

Director of Summer Academics Program

This program is self sustaining - Recommendation: Establish an annual range or rate of $6,500 and as listed below for other program staff:

Junior Counselor Establish a range of $9.00-$13.00/hour

Lifeguard Establish a range of $15-$18/hour

After-School Teacher Establish a range of $15-$18/hour

Teacher Establish a range of $18-$35/hour

Admin. Assistant Establish a range of $15-$21/hour

Director of Adult Education

This program is self-sustaining - Recommendation: Establish an annual rate of $5,835

Secretarial Substitute

Recommendation: Increase the hourly rate to $11.00

Teacher Assistant Substitutes

Recommendation: Increase the hourly rate to $12.00

Teacher Assistant Long Term Substitute (more than 20 days)

Recommendation: Establish an hourly rate of $14.14

ASAP (After School Activities Program) Lead Instructor

This program is self-sustaining -Recommendation: Establish a range of $12.00 to $20.00 per hour

Mrs. Van Amsterdam moved for approval of the changes as outlined above. Mr. Freedman seconded. They were unanimously approved.

PROCEDURE FOR SELECTION OF KENNEDY MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Mrs. Davis reviewed the procedure and timetable for the selection of a principal for Kennedy Middle School. She requested that the School Committee appoint a member to the paper screening subcommittee and the screening committee for the structured interviews. Ms. Packer volunteered to serve on the paper screening subcommittee. Mrs. Van Amsterdam or Chair Broekel will serve on the interviewing committee, depending on their schedules.

TO APPROVE THE LEASE WITH NATICK EXTENDED DAY

Mr. Connolly requested the School Committee’s approval to extend the Lease for the Natick Extended Day Program, located at the Bennett-Hemenway School, for another school year with the rent at the same level as last year of $4,000 per year. The lease period will be August 26, 2002 through June 30, 2003. Mr. Haugland moved for approval to extend the Lease for the Natick Extended Day Program as outlined. Mr. Freedman seconded. It was unanimously approved.

PERSONNEL ACTIONS

The following personnel actions were reviewed:

RESIGNATION: Professional Staff

Marina Menicucci Bottiglieri, Kindergarten teacher at Johnson School since December 1999. Resignation effective at the end of the day on May 24, 2002.

Francesca Adelman, Lead instructor in the Wilson ASAP program since January 2001. Resignation effective April 2, 2002.

APPOINTMENTS: Support Staff

Mark Linehan, to be instructor in the Wilson ASAP program effective April 11, 2002. Salary, $11.33 per hour.

Ellen Livshin, to be instructor in the Wilson ASAP program effective May 7, 2002. Salary, $11.33 per hour.

TO APPROVE THE 24th AMENDMENT TO THE TEC AGREEMENT

The School Committee was provided with copies of the 24th Amendment to the TEC Agreement for its approval. Mrs. Van Amsterdam moved for approval of the Amendment. Mr. Freedman seconded. It was unanimously approved.

UPDATE ON WILSON MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE &

NATICK HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE

Mr. Connolly provided an update of the Middle School Building Committee and the High School Building Committee. Both committees met last Wednesday. The mason work is going well at the middle school. The scheduling and requisitions from the contractor are constantly being reviewed. They will be meeting again next month.

The High School Building Committee has been meeting on the high school program. The architects are looking at various designs. The High School building committee will meet again next month.

TO APPROVE OUT OF STATE TRAVEL

The School Committee reviewed a request for the Natick High School speech team to travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from May 23-May 27 to compete in the Grand National Speech Tournament. Mrs. Van Amsterdam moved for approval of this trip. Ms. Packer seconded. It was unanimously approved. Mr. Freedman requested that the bus arrangements be reviewed to ensure the safety of the students.

The meeting adjourned at 11:00 p.m.

Secretary to the School Committee