Town of Natick - School Committee Minutes

Approval of Records

Natick Public Schools

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING

October 21, 2002

The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, October 21, 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,

Kristine Van Amsterdam, Ted Wynne

Diane Packer arrived at 7:35 p.m.

Others present: James J. Connolly Superintendent

Patrick Schettini Assistant Superintendent

Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary

Abigail Shatkin-Margolis Student Representative

Community Members, Parents,

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Ms. Van Amsterdam moved for approval of the minutes of the retreat held on September 8, 2002. Mr. Freedman seconded. They were unanimously approved.

Ms. Van Amsterdam moved for approval of the minutes of October 7, 2002. Mr. Haugland seconded. They were unanimously approved.

Chair Broekel asked if anyone wished to come forward for public speak. No one came forward.

COMMUNICATIONS, PETITIONS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Chair Broekel announced that the School Committee will hold an Executive Session to discuss strategies for Collective

Bargaining on November 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Chair Broekel reported on a message she received from the Natick Food Pantry who is in dire need of food/personal hygiene products for clients. She has offered to get the word out through school community. Anyone wishing to help may contact Sandy Mamakos, the Assistant Director at 508-655-1791 whose offices are located at 11 Pond Street.

Mr. Schettini announced that Johnson School has been named to receive the Edgerly School Leadership Award due to their being in the top rank of academic improvement in the state for achieving one of the ten highest gains in this year’s MCAS tests. William Edgerly, Chairman of the Foundation for Partnerships, is a former chairman of State Street Corporation, who set up this foundation upon his retirement. He has offered to attend a school assembly in the next month or so to present this award.

AWARDING OF CERTIFICATE OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Mr. Connolly introduced two students from the Class of 2003 who stood in rank order one and two in their class at the end of their junior year. He awarded Ms. Katharine Smith and Mr. David Silvestri Certificates of Academic Excellence, which were instituted by the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents to honor students who have distinguished themselves in the pursuit of academic excellence. The Administration and the School Committee congratulated these students on this achievement.

REPORT ON 2002 MCAS TEST RESULTS

Mr. Patrick Schettini presented an overview of the 2002 MCAS results, which included significant findings, a process to analyze the results, and how to use the information to improve in the future. School Committee members voiced their opinions on the importance of early awareness and connectivity between grades K-12.

PERSONNEL ACTIONS

The following personnel actions were reviewed:

RESIGNATION: Support Staff

Gaetano Alibrandi, Student support facilitator (.5) at Natick High School North Star Program. Resignation effective at the end of the day on October 4, 2002.

Cynthia Maressa, Student support facilitator at Wilson Middle School. Resignation effective at the end of the day on October 8, 2002.

EXTENDED LEAVE OF ABSENCE: Professional Staff

Lisa Briones, Grade 4 teacher at Bennett-Hemenway School. Maternity leave of absence is effective February 24, 2003 to May 24, 2003.

Andrea Dubbs, Grade 5 teacher at Wilson Middle School. Maternity leave of absence is effective November 29, 2002 to April 17, 2002

Marcy Klay, Grade 1 (.5) teacher at Bennett-Hemenway School. Maternity leave of absence is effective November 6, 2002 to February 7, 2003.

Rebecca Schneekloth, Special education teacher at Kennedy Middle School. Maternity leave of absence is effective December 15, 2002 to the end of the 2002-2003 school year

Karen Kraemer, Grade 1 teacher at Bennett-Hemenway School. Maternity leave of absence is effective December 5, 2002 to March 14, 2003.

CHANGE IN ASSIGNMENT: Professional Staff

Suzanne Beatty, from school nurse at Natick High School to school nurse at Memorial School effective October 7, 2002

Jayne Worthington, from (.5) to full-time school nurse at Natick High School effective October 11, 2002.

APPOINTMENTS: Support Staff

Anne Cantin, to be technology support facilitator at Natick High School Language Lab effective October 21, 2002. Salary, Step 3

Carlton Conaway, to be instructor in the middle school ASAP program effective October 9, 2002. Salary, $11.67 per hour

Kirsten McDonough, to be student support facilitator at Wilson Middle School effective October 7, 2002. Salary, Step 3

Jonna Yager, to be (.5) student support facilitator at Natick High School North Star Program effective October 7, 2002. Salary, Step 1

APPOINTMENTS: Grant Funded Programs

Effective for the 2002-2003 school year

Literacy Specialists

Viola Carter – Memorial

Adrienne Taylor – Memorial

Kindergarten Tutors

Carol Hookway - Memorial

Linda Williams - Brown

Maureen Killgoar - Lilja

Mary Kenny – Johnson

APPOINTMENTS: Professional Staff

Charles Maguire, to be mathematics teacher at Natick High School North Star program effective October 1, 2002. Salary, Masters +30, Step 3

Janet Vodvarka, to be (.5) school psychologist at Natick High School effective October 7, 2002. Salary, Doctorate, Step 10

Rainelle Currier, to be elementary long-term substitute teacher at Johnson School effective November 1, 2002 for the remainder of the 2002-2003 school year. Salary, $131.00 per day

Alicia Keats, to be special education long-term substitute teacher at Kennedy Middle School effective December 15, 2002 for the remainder of the 2002-2003 school year. Salary, $131.00 per day.

REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE

Mr. Connolly reported that the High School Building Committee last met on September 18 at which time the architects presented cost estimates. They will be meeting tomorrow at the high school with members from the Department of Education. The next meeting will be October 23. There will be a formal presentation given to the School Committee at one of the November meetings.

REPORT OF MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE

Mr. Connolly reported that the Middle School Building Committee will meet again on November 6. The project is on time with very few change orders. They are currently looking at furnishings and equipment. Some of the School Committee members have toured the building and others are invited to tour if they wish.

VOTE ON RESOLUTIONS & BY-LAW AMENDMENTS BEING DISCUSSED AT THE

ANNUAL MASC MEETING

Chair Broekel reviewed the resolutions and By-Law Amendments being discussed at the annual MASC Meeting being held on October 30, which Mr. Cashman will be attending on behalf of the School Committee. They are as follows:

Resolution 1 – Education Funding Fairness Study (MASC is supporting the creation of an Education Funding Fairness Study to be carried out by a special commission appointed by the legislature to study and report on the potential inequities in the distribution of state education aid to communities that (1) have median incomes below the state average, and (2) currently receive less than 25% of their net school funding from Chapter 70, and that the commission submit a report with recommendations including proposed legislation and proposed rules or regulations to the House and Senate Committees on Education, the Governor, and the Foundation Budget Review Commission within six months of the passage of an enabling act.

Chair Broekel moved for approval not to support this resolution. Ms. Packer seconded.

Mr. Cashman moved for approval to support this resolution. Mr. Wynne seconded.

Chair Broekel called for a vote on Mr. Cashman’s motion to support this resolution. The motion lost 6 to 1.

Chair Broekel called for a vote on her motion not to support this resolution. It was unanimously approved to not support this resolution.

Resolution 2 – MCAS as Requirement for Graduation (MASC is reaffirming that it is in opposition of MCAS being a graduation requirement and asserts the right of local school committees to grant high school diplomas to all students who meet their school districts’ requirements for graduation and who have demonstrated competency in a common core of skills measured by a variety of assessment instruments).

The School Committee discussed Resolution 2. Chair Broekel moved for approval to not support this resolution. Mr. Haugland seconded. It was unanimously approved.

Resolution 3 – Bilingual Education in Massachusetts (MASC is calling upon the public to reject the bilingual education initiative ballot question on Election Day, November 5, 2002, and, instead, to entrust the Massachusetts General Court to devise comprehensive legislation to revise transitional bilingual education in such a way so as to offer school districts and students the right to decide as to the alternatives, program options, and policies that will most appropriately meet the needs of the students and families).

Chair Broekel moved for approval to support Resolution 3 as outlined above. Mrs. Van Amsterdam seconded. It was unanimously approved to support Resolution 3 (which means a “No” vote no on the bilingual education initiative ballot question on Election Day).

By-Law Amendment 1. – Policy Relative to Associate Membership (outline of dues relative to Associate Memberships)

Chair Broekel moved for approval to support By-Law Amendment #1. Mrs. Van Amsterdam seconded. It was unanimously approved.

By-Law Amendment 2. – Eligibility for Board Membership

Chair Broekel moved for approval to support By-Law Amendment #2. Mr. Haugland seconded. It was unanimously approved.

The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

Secretary to the School Committee