Approval of Records
February 24, 2003
Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
February 3, 2003
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, February 3, 2003 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lower Meeting Room of the Morse Institute Library. Chair Broekel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Members Present: Peg Broekel, Michael Cashman, Jonathan Freedman, Diane Packer, Ted Wynne
Members Absent: Henry Haugland
Kristine Van Amsterdam arrived at 7:35 p.m.
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
Abigail Shatkin-Margolis Student Representative
Community Members, Parents,
Staff & Press
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chair Broekel moved for approval of the minutes of January 15, 2002. Ms. Packer seconded. They were unanimously approved.
PUBLIC SPEAK
Chair Broekel asked if anyone wished to come forward for Public Speak. No one came forward.
COMMUNICATIONS, PETITIONS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Chair Broekel announced the following:
· the Natick Education Foundation will be holding its annual Spelling Bee on the evening of May 1st, 2003 at Natick High School. The School Committee will be putting forth a team as well as the administration.
· The Natick Community Organic Farm will be holding their annual pancake breakfast on March 1st from 8:00-11:00 a.m. at the Memorial School. This breakfast is a fundraiser for the Natick Community.
Ms. Packer announced that a group has met to establish a chapter of the League of Women Voters. Their first event will be to co-sponsor a candidate's night with the Parents Coordinating Council and the Natick Education Foundation. Ms. Mary Avalos and Ms. Joan Craig are the co chairs.
Mr. Schettini announced that Mrs. Kane has put links out on the Natick School s web page pertaining to the prospective changes in the Middle School program. (www.natick.k12.ma.us)
PUBLIC HEARING ON FY2004 BUDGET
Mr. Connolly provided an overview of the FY2004 budget request. The budget request is in the amount of $34,387,498, a 3.86% increase above FY03 or $1,278,946. Given the reduction in local aid for Natick in the amount of $440,000, the Town Administrator will be looking to the school department to reduce its budget since $410,000 was included in the school budget for collective bargaining and other town departments had not included any funds for collective bargaining. In addition, the School Department will have to layoff (4) .5 school nurses due to the reduction in the Enhanced School Health Services grant. The Community Partnership for Children grant program has also been reduced by 11%. Mr. Connolly reviewed Teacher Staffing - recruitment, selection, retention, and training. He reviewed
the FY2004 budget goals:
· No Layoffs
· No Program Elimination
· Maintain Reasonable Class Sizes
· Implement Redistricting
· Develop Middle School Staffing
and he reviewed the long term objectives - academic performance and facility renovations.
The following is a summary of questions/comments/concerns raised:
· Recommendation to put budget presentation on website
· Natick High School is understaffed - teacher shortage
· There is a need for more electives
· Class sizes are erratic - not an optimal way to measure the needs of the school
· Some students are not meeting the 990 hour requirement of Ed Reform
· Limited course offerings put our students at a disadvantage in competing with other high schools for college admission
· Last year s enrollment projections for high school were off by 40
· 6-8-8 schedule needs to be examined - was presented two years ago as revenue neutral
· 6-8-8 schedule is not to blame - parents and staff like the 6-8-8 schedule - electives are lacking
· have to address electives sooner rather than later - Mr. Hughes as Principal elect should be included
· support of staff and teaching positions that support the middle school program changes - the need for the ELA Curriculum Position K-4 needs to be demonstrated at future meetings
· Is it possible to set money aside for electives and have teachers hired part time with no benefits
· Please don't cut math position at high school
· High school should receive equitable staffing positions as other schools
· If you do cut math position at high school - what classes will be impacted
· 6-8-8 is not the problem - more $ is needed - School Committee needs to step forward with great thought and attention beyond this years budget and increase next year's budget
· identify educational standards you want for this community - let town meeting members know
· school committee should get more involved in the high school - listen to the students
· What are other towns doing with curriculum coordinators?
· What elective offerings are available for next year given time slots available and staffing?
· What contingencies are in place should we not be able to fund the high school math position under the No Child Left Behind grant? What are the contingencies for other grant funded positions that may be in jeopardy?
· Request for justification for additional vice principal for Wilson Middle School
· Is there a better way to meet 990-hour requirement rather than filling the gaps with directed studies?
· What will one or two additional kindergarten teachers cost if they are needed?
· What is the cost of the nurses that were laid off?
· There is no tinkering with this budget - this budget contains no $ for collective bargaining - people need to understand this
· What is the cost for 9 FTE at Natick High School?
· Where have the 9-10 teachers been hired over the past few years and what are they teaching?
· Would like to see comparative data for 1997 vs. today on electives - what have we added. What are the teacher loads?
· When will the Town Administrator be holding his mini town meetings - is there a schedule?
· Would like better understanding on the 6 net teachers at Wilson include special education positions. What staffing is program dependent?
Mr. Wynne requested that individuals email him as to what they think is needed at Natick High School for electives tedw3@rcn.com. He would be happy to take a lead on an operative override. This discussion will be continued at the School Committee meeting of February 24.
UPDATE ON NATICK HIGH SCHOOL CLASS RANK STUDY
Dr. Parker provided the School Committee with an overview of this evenings presentation on class rank. He introduced Mrs. Jan Parsons who provided a history of how class rank at Natick High School has been calculated over the years. Dr. Janet Gillmore, School Council member and Co-Chair of the Class Rank subcommittee provided a status report on the work of the subcommittee which has been studying class rank for Natick High School. Dr. Gillmore reported that the subcommittee is made up of four students, four parents and 4 faculty members. The subcommittee has been gathering information from many surrounding towns and has been looking at the various issues. They are working to bring a recommendation forward as soon as possible. A concern was raised that the subcommittee may be doing
more that what was charged - the charge of the subcommittee is: should we have class rank and if so, how will you report it? Dr. Gillmore indicated that the subcommittee will be reporting its information to the School Council, working with Dr. Parker who will in turn report the information to Mr. Connolly who will bring a recommendation forward to the School Committee. The School Committee requested that it receives the membership lists of both the Natick High School Council members and the Class Rank Subcommittee.
UPDATE OF FEE BASED TRANSPORTATION
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn provided an update on the Fee Based Transportation Service. She provided two options of fees and levels of service for the upcoming school year. The School Committee will need to approve what fee and level of service they wish to go with for the upcoming school year. Draft copies of the parent packet were also provided. This item will come back to a future meeting.
PERSONNEL ACTIONS
The following personnel actions were reviewed:
EXTENDED LEAVE OF ABSENCE: Professional Staff
Jennifer Risi, Kindergarten teacher at Brown School. Maternity leave of absence is effective January 13, 2003 to the end of the 2002-2003 school year.
Jennifer Smith, Grade six teacher at Kennedy Middle School. Maternity leave of absence is effective April 12, 2003 to the end of the 2002-2003 school year.
APPOINTMENTS: Support Staff
Rosemary Hills, to be school year secretary at Brown School effective February 10, 2003. Salary, Step 3
APPOINTMENTS: Professional Staff
Deborah Dubourdieu, to be Spanish long-term substitute teacher at Kennedy Middle School effective January 28, 2003 to May 20, 2003. Salary, $131.00 per day.
UPDATE OF MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE
Mr. Connolly provided an update on the Wilson Middle School project. The project is moving along well. There was a period of time in December when the operation had slowed down a bit but has now seen much improvement at the site. Wall board and painting is now being done. The bids are out for furnishings and equipment. The estimated completion date is mid-May.
UPDATE OF HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE
Mr. Connolly reported that the High School Building Committee will be meeting this Wednesday. A decision needs to be made as to whether or not the committee may suspend its operations for a period of time until there is a better sense of where this project is going.
The meeting adjourned at 11:10 p.m.
James J. Connolly
Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
Attest:_____________________________ By: Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
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