Approval of Records
April 7, 2003
Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
March 17, 2003
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, March 17, 2003 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
Audrey Seyffert Assistant Superintendent
Mary Ellen Dunn Director of Fiscal & Management Services
Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary
Community Members, Parents,
Staff & Press
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mrs. Van Amsterdam moved for approval of the School Committee Meeting minutes of March 3, 2003. Mr. Wynne seconded. They were unanimously approved.
Mrs. Van Amsterdam moved for approval of the minutes of the Executive Session of February 24, 2003. Mr. Wynne 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 made the following announcements:
· Philip Lemnios, Town Administrator, will be addressing all town employees at a meeting on March 20, 2003 at 4:30 p.m. in the cafeteria of Natick High School. He will be discussing the situation the town is in pertaining to the FY2004 budget.
· Natick Center Associates will be holding their annual dinner on March 30th, 6:00 p.m. at the Dolphin Restaurant, honoring The Center of the Arts in Natick (TCAN). Tickets are available for those interested.
· Natick Education Foundation will be holding its annual Spelling Bee on May 1, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. in the Natick High School Cafeteria.
· The Natick Booster's Club is holding a fund raiser golf tournament on June 2, 2003 at the Wayland Country Club. They are looking for teams to register. Anyone interested should contact Al Ebeling at 508-647-0288 or email at ebeling1@attbi.com.
· Volunteers are needed to participate in the planning for a program "Natick Walks" , an annual walking event that will be held this spring. There will be a meeting on Thursday, March 20th from 1:00-3:00 p.m. in the Morse Institute Library for anyone interested in helping out. Interested parties may contact Tim Collins at 617-840-0827.
· Mr. Connolly reported that Natick High School established a chapter of the Business Professionals of America this year, a national student organization dedicated to providing opportunities for students to develop leadership, communication and business skills. Four students competed in the state conference held March 8-10 as a team in the Network Design and Implementation category. The Natick team placed first of four teams competing which qualifies them for
the National Conference being held in Dallas on April 30-May 4. The team consisted of Timur Alperovich, Ted Cooper, David Harrow and Nicholas Vandervelt. All students competed in the open categories of which Ted Cooper won first place in the PC Servicing and Troubleshooting test.
· Mr. Cashman will provide copies of an article entitled "Misdiagnosis of Special Education Costs" written by Sheldon H. Berman and David K. Urion. He would like to see how Natick compares to other districts with this information. Mr. Cashman also reported that he will be attending an MASC District Meeting in June and will report back.
UPDATE ON SKATE BOARD PARK
Mr. Connolly reviewed the status of the skate board park - due to its concerns for liability and the safety of park users, the Natick School Committee voted unanimously to close the skate park at its Dec. 16, 2002 meeting and that the park would remain closed until the Recreation Department resolves the issue pertaining to helmet usage. Mr. Connolly introduced Mr. Dick Cugini, Superintendent, Natick Parks and Recreation who reviewed what steps have been taken to resolve the helmet usage problems at the skate park. Mr. Cugini reported that notices have been sent home to parents seeking their help to serve as volunteers to supervise the park. Only a few responses have been received to date. He would like to see if more responses come in by the end of the week. Mr. Cugini
also discussed a new law which the state is trying to pass which would ask the Commonwealth to absolve cities and towns from liability for injuries relating to skate park usage. If this law were to pass another system would have to be put in place to monitor entrance into the park. Ms. Christine Polito, founder of the Skate Park Association, is looking into some fundraising activities which would enable them to hire a supervisor for the park. Mr. Haugland requested that Mr. Cugini discuss with the police department a process which would have the police monitor the park and:
· for a first time offense - confiscate the skateboard of any individual who was not wearing a helmet. The individual could reclaim it from the police after coming to the station with their parents
· for a second time offense - the skateboard would be taken away permanently
Mr. Wynne suggested discussing this process with Town Counsel before proceeding.
It was requested that Mr. Cugini report back to a future School Committee meeting to see if there are any resolutions so that the School Committee may take further action.
PERSONNEL ACTIONS
RESIGNATION: Professional Staff
Jennifer D'Antonio, Guidance counselor at Johnson School and currently on a leave of absence. Resignation effective February 12, 2003.
Molly Green, Special Education/primary links long-term substitute teacher at Bennett-Hemenway School. Resignation effective at the end of the day on March 14, 2003.
Kerry Welch, Special education teacher at Kennedy Middle School. Resignation effective at the end of the day on February 24, 2003.
EXTENDED LEAVE OF ABSENCE: Professional Staff
MaryAnn Silvestri, Guidance counselor at Bennett-Hemenway School. Maternity leave of absence is effective April 28, 2003 to the end of this school year.
APPOINTMENTS: Professional Staff
Barbara Brown, to be Principal of Johnson Elementary School effective August 1, 2003. Salary, $90,918.
Jennifer Johnston, to be grade 3 long-term substitute teacher at Bennett-Hemenway School effective March 3 to April 11, 2003. She is replacing Nina LaPlante. Salary, $131.00 per day.
Jonathan Loiacono, to be social studies long-term substitute teacher at Natick High School effective January 27, 2003 to indefinite. He is replacing Diane Langley. Salary, $131.00 per day.
Lauren Metzner, to be special education long-term substitute teacher at Kennedy Middle School effective March 10, 2003 to the end of this school year. She is replacing Kerry Welch. Salary, $131.00 per day.
Juliet Murphy, to be elementary permanent substitute teacher effective March 3, 2003. She is replacing Jennifer Johnston. Salary, $88.00 per day.
Michelle Vogel, to be grade 4 long-term substitute teacher at Bennett-Hemenway School effective February 24, 2003 to May 24, 2003. She is replacing Lisa Briones. Salary, $131.00 per day.
FY2004 BUDGET UPDATE
Mr. Connolly reported that at the meeting with the Finance Committee last week, the Finance Committee approved the School Committee's reduced recommended budget of $33,898,552. The administration will be looking at areas which may need to be reduced and plans on coming back in late April or early May to address any outstanding issues.
MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATE
Mr. Connolly reported that additional information on the Middle School Program will take place as follows:
April 7
· music programs for 7th and 8th grades
· Extra curricular activities and handling of high performance students
· A vote on the middle school world language recommendation and math leveling - is it possible to offer a full algebra course for those students who can do it in 7th grade, followed by geometry in 8th grade?
May 19
Staff Development plans for Middle Schools
Accountability - How will it be coordinated with Curriculum Chairs, SPED Chairs, etc.
MISCELLANEOUS
Mrs. Kristine Van Amsterdam, on behalf of the School Committee, acknowledged Chair Broekel for serving as Chairwoman for the past two years. This meeting was Ms. Broekel 's last meeting as Chairwomen - her two-year term has ended. Chair Broekel was presented with gifts which included three library books to be donated to the Morse Library in her name.
At 8:45 p.m. the School Committee requested an Executive Session to discuss negotiations with non-represented personnel in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 39, Section 23B of the Massachusetts General Laws. A roll call vote was taken with all members in favor of entering into Executive Session.
Returned to open session at 9:05 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 9:06 p.m.
James J. Connolly
Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
Attest:_____________________________ By: Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
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