Town of Natick - School Committee Minutes

Approval of Records

September 23, 2002

Natick Public Schools

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING

September 9, 2002

The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, September 9, 2002 at 7:30 p.m. in the School Committee Room, Town Hall. Chair 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

Others present: James J. Connolly Superintendent

Patrick Schettini Assistant Superintendent

Audrey Seyffert Assistant Superintendent

Mary Ellen Dunn Director of Fiscal & Management Services

Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary

Community Members, Parents,

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mr. Freedman moved for approval of the minutes of August 26, 2002. Mr. Wynne seconded. They were unanimously approved.

Mrs. Shirley Hui, parent of a 7th grade Wilson School student, raised her concern that she has had no response from a letter she sent two weeks ago expressing concern with the bus stop which her child is assigned to. The stop requires her son to cross Route 27. She feels there is no process in place to correct mistakes and no process to prevent safety issues.

CAPITAL BUDGET REQUESTS

Mr. Robert Graham reviewed a detailed list of the school department’s capital projects and their estimated costs. He was asked what the highest priority items were from a safety standpoint. He indicated these items to be:

· Replacement of Domestic Water Heater at Memorial School

· Replacement of cafeteria tables at Johnson and Memorial

· Repavement of driveway at Memorial School

· Replacement of Floor Scrubbers

Total – approximately $99K

Mr. Connolly indicated that the installation of acoustical ceilings in Brown and Lilja School should also be a high priority.

Ms. Packer alerted the public that capital expenses come out of the town budget as opposed to the regular school budget.

The following actions resulted:

· Administration to check and see if there are any remaining funds in the renovation accounts from Brown and Lilja

· Request that the school department reconnect with the Finance Committee Capital Subcommittee

· Put forward the request for serious consideration those items that present a safety issue

· Discuss with the Department of Public Works the need to repave Rutledge Road (from Route 27 to the Wilson Middle School).

COMMUNICATIONS, PETITIONS, & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Chair Broekel acknowledged the maintenance and custodial staff who assisted with the arrangements for the Rosh Hashanah service, which was held at Natick High School this past weekend.

Chair Broekel announced the Natick High Boosters Pasta dinner being held at Natick High School on Wednesday evening, September 18.

Chair Broekel reported to the Board of Selectmen, through Mr. McKinley, the School Committee’s position on the changes, which the Charter By Law Review Committee is requesting pertaining to the School Committee’s budget process. She also provided them with information from Mr. Paul Bento regarding the amendment to the by-law, which the Charter By Law Review Committee is proposing relative to Natick’s representatives to the Keefe Tech School Committee.

Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn announced that Mike Quinn will replace Melanie Colella (Friedman) as Food Service Director, effective September 18.

UPDATE ON FEE BASED TRANSPORTATION

Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn provided the School Committee with an update on the fee-based transportation program. A discussion took place. Recommended changes, which may be considered for next year, were discussed. They are as follows:

· Institute a definitive cut off date for registrations with additional applications being accepted after the first few weeks of school

· Respond in some way to letters being sent in at least alerting parents that their letters have been received and reviewed

· Communicate changes to bus stops more effectively (not through word of mouth)

· Update website with any changes

· Review patterns of students who are or are not taking the bus and the traffic of crossing guards

Mrs. Dunn indicated that letters for changes are being reviewed and any changes will be conducted in the next couple of weeks.

TO APPROVE A SALARY RANGE FOR NON-REPRESENTED PERSONNEL

Mr. Connolly reviewed a request by Mrs. Marianne Davis, Director of Human Resources, to establish a salary range for the Staff Development Specialist. The recommended range is $35 - $45 per hour. Mr. Haugland moved to approve this salary range. Ms. Packer seconded. It was unanimously approved. Mr. Schettini indicated that this position is a 20-hour/week position.

SUMMER CURRICULUM REPORT

Mr. Schettini provided the School Committee with a sample curriculum unit that was written by a group of elementary teachers and a sample of common writing prompt and rubric developed by a team of middle school teachers over the summer months. Mr. Schettini indicated that work is being conducted which would allow several curriculum units to be posted internally for staff members via the “intranet”. A recommendation was made for Mr. Schettini to share this information with the various PTO groups.

PERSONNEL ACTIONS

RESIGNATION: Professional Staff

Deborah Herring, Mathematics teacher at Natick High School North Star Program. Resignation effective September 3, 2002.

RESIGNATION: Support Staff

William Burnham, teacher assistant at Natick High School. Resignation effective June 18, 2002.

Catherine Furlong, teacher assistant at Natick High School. Resignation effective June 18, 2002.

CHANGE IN ASSIGNMENT: Support Staff

Matthew Casey, to be student support facilitator at Natick High School effective August 26, 2002.

APPOINTMENTS: Support Staff

Joanne Andersen, to be student support facilitator at Bennett-Hemenway School effective August 26, 2002. Salary, Step 3

Andrew Bell, to be student support facilitator at Natick High School effective August 26, 2002. Salary, Step 1

Matthew Brenneman, to be student support facilitator at Natick High School effective August 26, 2002. Salary, Step 3

Marissa Carli, to be student support facilitator at Bennett-Hemenway School effective September 3, 2002. Salary, Step 2

Carol Gavelis, to be student support facilitator at Brown School effective August 27, 2002. Salary, Step 3

Renee Matter, to be part-time data entry clerk for the MA Family Network effective September 5, 2002. Salary, $15.46 per hour

Stephen Mixon, to be (.6) student support facilitator at Bennett-Hemenway School effective August 26, 2002. Salary, Step 1

Marianne Toole, to be part-time food service worker at Kennedy Middle School effective August 30, 2002. Salary, Step 1

Marylee Watkins, to be student support facilitator at Bennett-Hemenway School effective August 26, 2002. Salary, Step 1

APPOINTMENTS: ASAP Program

Effective for the 2002-2003 school year

Lizbeth Borges, to be program instructor. Salary, $11.67 per hour

Ashley Constantine, to be program instructor. Salary, $11.67 per hour

Bonnie Kepper, to be early riser instructor. Salary, $15.91 per hour

APPOINTMENTS: Coaching Staff

Head Coach Tom Lamb Step 3

First Assistant Mark Mortarelli Step 3

Assistant Varsity Todd Kiley Step 3

Assistant Varsity Brian Chamberlain Step 3 *

Assistant Varsity Matt Strother/Josh Hanna Step 3

Head Freshmen Bob Ghilani Step 3

Assistant Freshman Brian Linton Step 3

Track/Cross Country

Head Coach Dennis Driscoll Step 3

Assistant Coach Don Burnham Step 3

Head Coach Lou Papadellis Step 3

Sub Varsity Coach Andy Rollins Step 3

Freshman Peter Manna Step 3

Head Coach Franco Bruno Step 3

Sub-Varsity Coach Denise Trubiano Step 3

Freshmen Coach Anson Smith Step 3 *

Head Coach Katie Gentile Step 2

Sub-Varsity Coach Christine Taber Step 1 *

Freshmen Coach Beverly McGee Step 3

Girls’ Volleyball

Head Coach Arthur Taddeo Step 3

Sub-Varsity Coach Debbie Ommundsen Step 3

Freshmen Coach Andrea Smith Step 3

Girls’ Swimming

Head Coach Jen Dutton Step 3

Assistant Coach Joan Flanagan Step 3

Head Coach Dave Lombardi Step 3 *

Head Dan Lussier Step 3

Assistant Jen Pipe Step 3

Faculty Manager William Presutti Step 3

* New Appointment/Resume attached

APPOINTMENTS: Permanent Substitute Teachers $88.00 per day

Effective for the 2002-2003 school year

Daniel O’Leary - Natick High School

Leola Stewart – Natick High School

Linda Cooper - Kennedy Middle School

Jan Merson – Wilson Middle School

Brenda Kenny – Elementary School

APPOINTMENTS: Grant Funded Programs

Effective for the 2002-2003 school year

Literacy Specialists 15 hours per week/170 days

Meghan Gilmore – Bennett-Hemenway

Sharon Walsh – Brown

Jane Teepe – Lilja

Maureen Killgoar – Lilja

Kindergarten Long-Term Substitutes $131.00 per day

Kathleen McCall – Bennett-Hemenway

Alissa Merrifield – Bennett-Hemenway

Carol Frutkoff – Brown

Susan Kaminsky – Brown

Carol Anderson – Lilja

Maria Richards – Lilja

Shilpa Patel – Memorial

Deborah Gobron – Memorial

APPOINTMENTS: Professional Staff

Effective for the 2002-2003 school year

Alyce Burnell, to be mathematics teacher at Natick High School. Salary, Bachelors, Step 3.

Stacey Klasnick, to be special education program supervisor. Salary, stipend $7396.00

The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Secretary to the School Committee