Town of Natick - School Committee Minutes

Approval of Records

Natick Public Schools

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING

The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, March 3, 2003 at 7:30 p.m. in the Natick High School Cafeteria. 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

Ruth Evans Principal Wilson Middle School

Kristen St. George Principal Kennedy Middle School

Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary

Abigail Shatkin-Margolis Student Representative

Community Members, Parents,

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Ms. Packer moved for approval of the School Committee Meeting minutes of February 24, 2003. Mr. Freedman seconded. They were unanimously approved.

Chair Broekel asked if anyone wished to come forward for Public Speak. No one came forward.

CONTINUED DISCUSSION ON PROSPECTIVE CHANGES TO THE

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM

Mr. Connolly provided a summary of the past two meetings regarding the prospective changes to the middle school program

What are our major goals?

What are we guided by?

What accountability and support structures are needed to achieve our goals?

What will be new about our special subjects?

Review of what actions need to be taken by the School Committee

Mr. Schettini provided an overview of tonight's presentation which consisted of :

· The effect the proposed model has on the Special Subjects (Art, Music, Technology Education, Wellness and World Language)

· The justification for including a Special Educator on each team

· The professional development that has and will occur in preparation for implementation of the Middle School Model

Mrs. Ruth Evans, Principal of Wilson Middle School, and Mrs. Kristen St. George reviewed the effect the proposed Middle School model has on the special subjects for each of their schools. They showed a comparison by grade on the number of periods the specials meet in this current school year vs. the 2003/2004 school year.

Mr. Schettini reviewed the advantages and disadvantages on the effect the Middle School model has on specials at both schools.

Mrs. Seyffert presented the justification for including a Special Educator on each team.

The administration responded to questions raised. The following is a summary of comments/questions raised:

· Concern with the changes in the middle school band program - very disturbing if we wish to continue with the quality of our high school band - there is no advocate for the music department - there has not been any system wide director for many years.

· Support expressed by Foreign Language teachers on the World Language model

· Concern that sample 7^th grade schedule has not been presented.

· Questions pertaining to keyboarding in the 5^th grade will they get anything out of 15 class periods. What is the requirement beyond 5^th grade?

· Would like to see the wellness program delineated before the School Committee agrees

· Can something be done in place of general music for those students who are involved in other musical programs out of school?

· Could some of the areas in the wellness area be made electives?

· If we kept general music at 30 periods as it is currently, what impact would that be in offering more band and chorus

· What happens to children now seeing reading specialists under the new structure? Are we certain that students will come out ahead with reading integrated into English and Language Arts?

· Concern that children receiving pullout services will miss opportunities for band and chorus since there are no longer any study periods - could they be pulled out of lengthened academic classes during some group reinforcement time

· Request for another meeting to address Special Education concerns. Mrs. Seyffert offered to address middle school parent's concerns at one of the upcoming PAC meetings.

· Professional development very crucial part of this program. Would like to see some follow-up in the future on professional development offerings.

Other questions/comments were submitted on cards and will be reviewed by the administration and School Committee.

Chair Broekel requested that at future meetings, discussions take place on the wellness program and music offerings, and leveling of 7^th and 8^th grade math.

CONTINUATION OF FY2004 BUDGET DISCUSSION

Mr. Connolly presented the School Committee with a recommended budget amount of $33,898,522, a reduction of $410,000 from his original request of $34,387,498. In late January, Governor Romney reduced FY 03 state aid to Natick by $440,000. The Town Administrator recommended a $410,000 reduction in his FY 04 School Department budget recommendation and would use funds originally allocated for FY 04 to cover the reduction in FY 03. The amount was recommended to be taken from the School Department budget in the accounts set aside for prospective salary adjustments. The School Department was the only department that included any funds for prospective salary adjustments. If the School Committee accepts this new recommended budget amount of $33,898,522 an additional $78,946 would need to be reduced. Mr. Connolly suggested that the School Committee vote on a budget amount this evening and revisit the budget at a later date to make any final end of the year adjustments. It is his feeling that the high school grant funded math position will be maintained by covering the expenses under another grant. Outstanding issues are a nursing position for the Bennett-Hemenway/Wilson Schools and a potential need for a kindergarten position at Lilja and Johnson. Mr. Connolly also reported that Governor Romney has not made any changes to the SBAB funding program other than a moratorium has been put in place until the end of this fiscal year. Chair Broekel requested information on the types of grants we will be seeking in the future, the annual report of grants received, and any other ideas to seek funding for co-curricular programs.

Mr. Freedman moved for approval of the superintendent's recommended budget amount of $33,898,522. Mr. Cashman seconded. It was unanimously approved.

Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn presented the School Committee with bus transportation program recommendations for the 2003/2004 school year. They are as follows:

Program Recommendation:

ü Provide one bus route per student to and from the bus stop closest to the residence of record;

ü Accommodate 5 day a week daycare to and from the same bus stop every day of the week;

ü Institute stricter waiver and registration deadlines;

ü Continue Late Bus for Middle and High School Students

ü Continue Current Bus Registration Caps:

· High School 45 Students (2 to a seat);

· Middle School 55 Students (2 or 3 to a seat)

· Elementary 60 (2 or 3 to a seat)

ü Continue Fee: $250, Family Cap $500;

ü Allow up to two bus route assignments per child. This exception is for families with documented Joint Custody, Day Care, or student employment. The family will purchase the second seat at $125 per seat. The Family Cap will not apply. The fee applies to Eligible and Fee Based riders. Single Route Riders have priority in placement before assigning Second Route Riders.

Mr. Wynne moved for approval to accept the program recommendations for the 2003/2004 school year as outlined above. Mr. Haugland seconded. A discussion continued. Mr. Cashman moved for approval to amend the motion for the Family Cap of $500 to apply if a family were to purchase a second seat. There was no second.

Chair Broekel called for a vote on Mr. Wynne's motion to accept the program recommendations outlined above. The motion carried 6 to 1.

MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATE

Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn provided an update on the Middle School project. The furniture bids for Wilson came in and are slightly under budget. Preliminary planning and design has been done for Kennedy. Detailed plans will be ready at the end of March. There will be a bid for some new furniture and equipment for Kennedy going out this spring. Mrs. Dunn is still waiting for a report from Edvance on the technology equipment for Wilson. At a later date more detail will be provided on the Kennedy renovation and its parity with Wilson. Mr. Haugland asked if a tour of Wilson could be provided for students, including current fourth graders. Mr. Connolly will follow up.

PERSONNEL ACTIONS

Mr. Connolly reported that he has met with the four final candidates for the Johnson School Principal position and will be making a decision shortly. He announced that the pool of candidates for the Wilson Vice Principal position has been narrowed down to the following four finalists:

Loretta D'Alessandro - currently a reading specialist in the Lincoln Public Schools

Ken Henderson - currently a science teacher at Wilson Middle School

Anna P. Nolin - currently a language arts teacher at Fuller Middle School in Framingham

Frederick Randall - currently serving as the Assistant Principal for the Overlook Middle School, part of the Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District.

Each candidate will visit Wilson for a day next week and will also be interviewed by Ruth Evans and the central office administrators.

Initial interviews for the Vice Principal of Natick High School will start tomorrow.

The following personnel actions were reviewed:

RESIGNATION: Support Staff

Rosemary Hills, school year secretary at Brown School. Resignation effective February 11, 2003.

Leigh Nagle, part-time clerical for Adult Education program. Resignation effective December 16, 2002.

TERMINATION: Support Staff

Linda Ambrosino, part-time food service worker at Lilja School. Termination effective January 30, 2003.

TERMINATIONS: Elimination of grant-funded programs

Nancy Hooley, part-time clerical for Enhanced School Health Services program. Termination is effective at the end of the day on February 14, 2003.

Elizabeth Cross, (.5) school nurse at Bennett-Hemenway School for Enhanced School Health Services program. Termination is effective at the end of the day on February 14, 2003.

Lynn Hersh, (.5) school nurse at Kennedy and Wilson Middle School for Enhanced School Health Services program. Termination is effective at the end of the day on February 14, 2003.

Susan Shrake, (.5) school nurse at Natick High School for Enhance School Health Services program. Termination is effective at the end of the day on February 14, 2003.

Anne LaPlace Zernicke, literacy coordinator at Johnson School. Termination is effective at the end of the day on February 14, 2003.

CHANGE IN ASSIGNMENT: Professional Staff

Anne Freeman, from full-time to (.8) school nurse at Johnson School effective February 24, 2003 to the end of this school year.

APPOINTMENTS: Support Staff

Zita Lounsbury, to be part-time food service worker at Memorial School effective February 10, 2003. Salary, Step 1

Savita Shrestha, to be part-time clerical for Adult Education program effective January 6, 2003. Salary, $11.00 per hour.

Denise Towne, to be long-term substitute student support facilitator at Kennedy Middle School effective February 10, 2003 to the end of this school year. Salary, $14.14 per hour.

Christine Crosby, to be school year secretary at Brown School effective March 10, 2003. Salary, Step 3

Margaret Jones, to be part-time food service worker at Lilja School effective February 24, 2003. Salary, Step 3

APPOINTMENTS: Professional Staff

Carole Bell, to be special education long-term substitute teacher at Kennedy Middle School effective February 10, 2003 to the end of this school year. She is replacing Carie Scagliarini who is on a maternity leave. Salary, $131.00 per day.

Marina Bottiglieri, to be grade 1 long-term substitute teacher at Memorial School effective January 2, 2003 to the end of this school year. Salary, $131.00 per day.

Pamela Costello, to be kindergarten long-term substitute teacher at Brown School effective January 14, 2003 to the end of this school year. She is replacing Jennifer Risi who is on a maternity leave. Salary, $131.00 per day.

Jan Merson, to be science long-term substitute teacher at Wilson Middle School effective January 8, 2003 to indefinite. Salary, $131.00 per day.

Daniel O'Leary, to be MCAS long-term substitute teacher at Natick High School effective January 27 to May 1, 2003. Salary, $131.00 per day.

Patrick Brown, to be permanent substitute teacher at Natick High School effective January 27 to May 1, 2003. Salary, $88.00 per day.

Jennifer Ward, to be wellness coordinator at Natick High School effective February 24, 2003 to August 26, 2003. Salary, Masters +30 pro-rated, Step 8.

APPOINTMENTS: Coaching Staff

Head Coach John Brown 3

Sub-Varsity Josh Hanna 3

Freshman Stan Winston * 3

Head Coach Dave Tullgren 3

Sub-Varsity Coach Kirk Buschenfeldt 3

Freshman Coach Robin Caccavelli * 3

BOYS' OUTDOOR TRACK

Head Coach Matt Brenneman 3

Assistant Coach Mark Mortarelli 3

Freshman Coach Matt Strother 3

GIRLS' OUTDOOR TRACK

Head Coach Tom Brenneman 3

Assistant Coach Dennis Driscoll 3

Freshman Coach Tara McDonald * 3

Head Coach Kenneth Brackett 3

Head Coach James Grein * 3

Sub-Varsity(Boys/Girls) Vera Larkin 3

BOYS' VOLLEYBALL

Head Coach Arthur Taddeo 3

Sub-Varsity Coach Ken Stanley 3

Head Coach Nate Kittler

Sub-Varsity Coach Mike Braverman

Head Coach Bill Zall *

Sub-Varsity Coach Melissa Graham *

ATHLETIC TRAINERS

Head Trainer Dan Lussier 3

FACULTY MANAGER Bill Presutti 3

APPROVAL OF OUT-OF- STATE TRAVEL

Mrs. Ruth Evans requested the School Committee's approval of out-of-state and overnight travel for Wilson Middle School students in grade eight to participate in the Barnhill Exchange. Students will be traveling to St. John's New Brunswick, Canada on April 3-6, 2003. Mrs. Evans provided the School Committee with the trip itinerary, which included chaperone and transportation information. Sample permission slips were provided as well as a copy of the certificate of liability insurance. Mr. Freedman moved for approval of the trip. Mrs. Van Amsterdam seconded. It was unanimously approved.

The meeting adjourned at 10:45 p.m.

Secretary to the School Committee