Town of Natick - School Committee Minutes

Approval of Records

Natick Public Schools

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING

December 2, 2002

The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, December 2, 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, Kristine Van Amsterdam, Ted Wynne

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

Mrs. Van Amsterdam moved for approval of the minutes of November 18, 2002. Ms. Packer seconded. The minutes were unanimously approved.

Mr. Joshua Ostroff came forward and addressed the following items:

· Suggested that School Committee & Selectmen meet on different nights

· Feels more follow up is necessary on parental concerns regarding school bus scheduling and routing

· Would like to see more publicity on the middle school & high school building projects - postings, minutes, agendas, etc. as well as the Technology Subcommittee

· School Website is seriously out of date

· Suggested that the ideal budget is presented - doesn't want to see us lose important programs

UPDATE OF HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECT

Mr. Ken Small, Chairman of the High School Building Committee, reported to the School Committee that the High School Building Committee unanimously approved the concept of building a new high school as opposed to renovating the existing high school. He indicated that a meeting is in the process of being set up with various boards, i.e., School Committee, Selectmen, Finance Committee, Planning Board, Zoning Board, Conservation Committee for December 16 where the architects will discuss the options. This will allow input from the various boards as well as allow them to hear the information first hand. The following concerns were raised:

· a timeline to work with is needed

· hard numbers are needed on the cost of construction vs. renovation and how the state reimbursements are affected

· real projections are needed for operating costs and savings of the more compact new building vs. the renovated building, including utilities and maintenance, etc.

· consensus between school committee and building committee is needed - concern that the building committee is getting ahead of school committee

· should an independent cost estimate or peer review be done?

· questions and answers asked at the last two meetings should be reviewed with these boards

The School Committee gave its consensus to hold this joint meeting on December 16.

REVIEW OF SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 2003/2004 & 2004/2005

Mr. Connolly discussed the following options for the school calendars for 2003/2004 and 2004/2005.

For 2003-2004 School Year

Option A has staff reporting on Monday, August 25, students beginning on Wednesday August 27 and the final day of School June 17th (185 days which includes 5 snow days).

Option B has staff reporting on Tuesday, September 2, students beginning on Thursday, September 4 and the final day of School, June 24th (185 days which includes 5 snow days).

For 2004-2005 School Year

Option A has staff reporting on Monday, August 30, students beginning on Wednesday September 1 and the final day of School June 22nd (185 days which includes 5 snow days).

Option B has staff reporting on Tuesday, September 7, students beginning on Thursday, September 9 and the final day of School, June 29th (185 days which includes 5 snow days).

Please note that Option A in each year continues the practice of beginning school the week before Labor Day. Option B in each year presents a calendar that begins school the week of Labor Day.

The question at hand is, do we want to have consistency where we always start school prior to Labor Day, or do we want to flip back and forth depending on when Labor Day falls?

Mr. Connolly, members of the School Committee and Ms. Hagemeister speaking on behalf of the EAN, reported that the input they received pertaining to the calendar was pretty much split down the middle as far as starting before or after Labor Day. Mrs. Hagemeister indicated that, if the start of school is prior to Labor Day, the teachers favored having the Friday before Labor Day off. A recommendation was made to have the administration come back with Option C for 2003/2004 which would have the teachers returning to school on the Wednesday and Thursday before Labor Day, having Friday off with students returning on Tuesday, September 2. A vote on the calendar will take place at the meeting of December 16, 2002.

UPDATE OF MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM PLANNING

Mr. Connolly provided information on the work being done which is looking at the midddle school program. Visits to various middle schools are and will be taking place. Mr. Connolly indicated that a budget will be developed that will take care of the prospective program changes. He plans to present the changes to the School Committee at its meeting of January 13. The following comments concerns were raised:

· More detailed discussion on problems specific to Natick needs to take place as opposed to those problems outlined in the research

· What are the structural changes

· Concern of being squeezed with the timing

· Differences of opinions - homogeneous vs. heterogeneous

· Recommendation to visit schools in Connecticut

· Urge administration to not be constrained by the budget - go with what you think is best interest

Chair Broekel indicated that if anyone has further thoughts or questions, they should send them through her and she will forward them to Mr. Connolly.

ENDORSEMENT OF FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS MEMBERSHIP

TO ACCEPT COLLABORATIVE

The Franklin School Committee has formally requested membership in the ACCEPT/Metrowest Education Collaborative. The ACCEPT Board has unanimously endorsed Franklin's participation. The addition of a new member school committee requires that an amendment to the ACCEPT Collaborative Agreement be made. All amendments require local school committee ratification. In order for this to happen, the ACCEPT Board of Directors needs to obtain at least 2/3 ratification by member school committees. Mr. Haugland moved for approval to endorse Franklin's membership to the Accept Collaborative. Mrs. Van Amsterdam seconded. It was unanimously approved.

SCHOOL AND DISTRICT PERFORMANCE RATING REPORT

Mr. Schettini reviewed and explained the Massachusetts Cycle II School Performance Rating Report for Natick. The School Performance Rating Process is one component of the comprehensive School and District Accountability System adopted in September 1999 by the Massachusetts Board of Education.

The School Committee reviewed and approved the following policies:

STUDENT RECORDS - JR- changed number of years that a students temporary records are kept from within 5 years to no later than 7 years. Chair Broekel moved for approval of this change. Mrs. Van Amsterdam seconded. It was unanimously approved.

FIELD TRIP POLICY - IFCB - this policy was revised and a standard permission and release from for all field trips was added. Chair Broekel moved for approval of this policy. Mr. Freedman seconded. It was unanimously approved.

PHYSICAL RESTRAINT OF STUDENTS - JKAA - no changes were made to this policy. The Department of Education requires that this policy be reviewed on a yearly basis. Chair Broekel moved for approval of this policy as is. Mrs. Van Amsterdam seconded. It was unanimously approved.

ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS

Ms. Mary Ellen Dunn requested the School Committee's approval of the following donations to the Natick Public Schools:

Lueders Environmental, Inc. - $100

Made on behalf of its Natick Clients for whom it provides lawn and plant care services. These funds would be donated to the Students from Planet Earth.

Cognex Corporation - $1,600

To support the Wilson Middle School Math Team.

The Fusaro Family - $100

In celebration of American Education Week to be used to purchase library books on diversity for the Brown School.

Kennedy P.I.E. - $4,000

Kennedy Partners in Education donation of $3,000 ($50.00 each) for teacher/specialists gifts to be used at their own discretion. In addition, $1,000 for copying expenses.

Edgerly School Leadership Award to the Johnson School - $10,000

To be used at the principal's discretion to benefit the school.

Chair Broekel moved for approval to accept these donations. Mrs. Van Amsterdam seconded. It was unanimously approved.

PERSONNEL ACTIONS

The following personnel actions were reviewed.

RESIGNATION: Professional Staff

Jennifer Riebe, Grade 4 teacher at Lilja School since August 2002. Resignation effective at the end of the day on November 14, 2002.

APPOINTMENTS: Professional Staff

Rebecca Chenard, to be kindergarten tutor [grant funded] at Bennett-Hemenway School effective November 12, 2002 to the end of this school year. Salary, $21.83 per hour.

Jeannie Keohane, to be (.5) grade 1 long-term substitute teacher at Bennett-Hemenway School effective November 12, 2002 to February 7, 2003. She is replacing Marcy Klay who is on a maternity leave.

Susan Doherty, to be literacy specialist [grant funded] at Bennett-Hemenway School effective November 21, 2002 to February 7, 2003. She is replacing Jeannie Keohane. Salary, $14.15 per hour.

Mary Pacione, to be grade 1 long-term substitute teacher at Johnson School effective November 12, 2002 to December 20, 2002. Salary, $131.00 per day.

Maria Richards, to be grade 4 teacher at Lilja School effective November 15, 2002 to the end of this school year. Salary, Bachelors, pro-rated step 6.

Amy Winnick, to be kindergarten long-term substitute teacher [grant funded] at Lilja School effective November 21, 2002 to the end of this school year. She is replacing Maria Richards. Salary, $131.00 per day.

Susan Shrake, to be (.5) school nurse [grant funded] at Natick High School effective December 3, 2002 to the end of this school year. Salary, Bachelors, pro-rated step 6.

Jeanne Elser Smith, to be grade 1-2 long-term substitute at Lilja School effective January 2, 2003 to February 14, 2003. She is replacing Kristen McEnaney who will be on a maternity leave. Salary, $131.00 per day.

APPOINTMENTS: Coaching Staff

Head Coach Ken Brackett Step 3

Sub-Varsity Coach Todd Kiley 3

Freshman Coach Mike Braverman 3

Girls Basketball

Head Coach Danielle Chaisson * Step 3

Sub-Varsity Coach Christina Harris * 3

Freshman Coach Debra Ommundsen 3

Head Coach Joe Doyle Step 3

Sub Varsity Coach Bill Whitfield 3

Freshman Coach Todd Kaplan * 3

Girls Ice Hockey

Head Coach John Brown Step 3

Sub-Varsity Coach Zach Galvin 3

Freshmen Julie Mei * 3

Head Coach - Boys Matt Brenneman Step 3

Head Coach - Girls Dennis Driscoll 3

Asst. Coach Thomas Brenneman 3

Asst. Co-Coach Matt Strother 3

(Salary will be divided between co-coaches)

Head Coach Bob Anniballi Step 3

Sub-Varsity Coach Ed Smith 3

Freshmen Coach David Hamel * 3

Head Coach David Lombardi Step 3

Head Coach Paul Power Step 3

Asst. Coach Jessica Henderson 3

Head Coach Gregory Rogers Step 3

Asst. Coach Lynne OBrien * 3

Head Coach Dan Lussier Step 3

Asst. Coach Jen Pipe 3

Faculty Manager William Presutti Step 3

The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.

Secretary to the School Committee