Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
February 23, 2004
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, February 23, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. in the School Committee Room, third floor, Town Hall. Chairman Haugland 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 of Schools
Karen Leacu LeDuc Assistant Superintendent
Mary Ellen Dunn Director of Fiscal & Management Services
Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary
Staff, Parents & Press
INTRODUCTION OF DEPUTY TOWN ADMINISTRATOR
Mr. Connolly introduced Mr. Philip Lemnios, Town Administrator who introduced the newly appointed Deputy Town Administrator, Mr. Stephen Lisauskas. Members of the School Committee welcomed him to the Town and look forward to working with him.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mrs. Van Amsterdam moved for approval of the minutes of January 21, 2004. Ms. Broekel seconded. They were unanimously approved.
Ms. Broekel moved for approval of the minutes of February 2, 2004. Mr. Wynne seconded. They were unanimously approved.
Ms. Broekel moved for approval of the Executive Session minutes of January 21, 2004. Mr. Wynne seconded. They were unanimously approved.
Ms. Broekel moved for approval of the Executive Session minutes of February 2, 2004. Mr. Freedman seconded. They were unanimously approved.
COMMUNICATIONS, PETITIONS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Mr. Connolly discussed the legislative breakfast meeting that the School Committee has been invited to which is being held on Monday, March 1, 2004 at Keefe Tech. Mr. Connolly plans to attend as well as Mr. Haugland. Anyone else wishing to attend should let Mrs. Sharon Reilly know.
Mr. Connolly discussed the reorganization meeting of the School Committee which was tentatively scheduled for April 1. Mr. Connolly suggested having the reorganization of the School Committee take place on Monday, April 12, 2004 as part of the regularly scheduled meeting. Ms. Packer moved for approval to cancel the April 1 meeting. Ms. Broekel seconded. It was unanimously approved. The reorganization of the School Committee will take place on April 12.
Ms. Packer announced a number of meetings that the TEC organization is holding. She also discussed the last TEC Board of Directors meeting where Dr. Keefe discussed collaboratives. Ms. Packer hopes that the new Director of TEC, John Connolly, will attend one of our School Committee meetings this spring.
Ms. Tina Furdon, NEF Board of Director, announced that all are invited to the NEF Shining Light and Community Business Awards event on Monday, March 22, 2004 at Whitney Place from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m..~ There is no charge.~ The evening will include entertainment, and refreshments will be served. The event is meant to recognize an individual with the Harriet F. Siegel Shining Light Award, along with a large and a small business awards.
REPORT ON MIDDLE SCHOOL SURVEY
Dr. Karen LeDuc reviewed the outcome of the Middle School Parent Survey and the Middle School Staff Survey. The results have been presented at each of the middle schools. The school councils will review and action steps will be taken. Dr. LeDuc has held and will continue to hold weekly meetings with the Middle School principals to improve the middle schools. Dr. LeDuc will be back to present a clearer picture at the meeting of April 26. A request was made to obtain the current regulations for Physical Education at the elementary, middle and high school levels. A recommendation was made to put the survey results out on the website.
PERSONNEL ACTIONS
The following personnel actions were reviewed.
RESIGNATION: Professional Staff
James Whealan, Title I teacher at Kennedy Middle School. Resignation effective at the end of the day on January 15, 2004.
RESIGNATION: Support Staff
Edward Smith, Student support facilitator at Natick High School. Resignation effective at the end of the day on January 30, 2004.
EXTENDED LEAVE OF ABSENCE: Professional Staff
Sheila Curran, Art teacher at Kennedy Middle School. Maternity leave of absence is effective April 26, 2004 to the end of this school year.
Laura Pestana, Physical education teacher at Johnson School. Maternity leave of absence is effective May 10, 2004 to the end of this school year.
APPOINTMENTS: Professional Staff
Sally DeGeorge, to be (.6) special needs preschool teacher at Bennett-Hemenway School effective January 21, 2004 to the end of this school year. Salary, Masters, Step 12.
Allan Ebeling, to be English long-term substitute teacher at Wilson Middle School effective January 26, 2004 to the end of this school year. Salary, $131.00 per day.
Lisa Hughey, to be physics teacher at Natick High School effective February 9, 2004 to the end of this school year. Salary, Bachelors, Step 1.
Sarah Simon, to be Spanish long-term substitute teacher at Kennedy Middle School effective January 30, 2004 to the end of this school year. Salary, $131.00 per day.
APPOINTMENT: Support Staff
Michael Dempsey, to be student support facilitator at Kennedy Middle School effective January 26, 2004. Salary, Step 1.
APPROVAL OF OUT OF COUNTRY TRAVEL
Mrs. Ruth Evans requested the School Committee’s approval of out-of-country 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 March 25-28, 2004. Mrs. Evans provided the School Committee with the trip itinerary, which included chaperone and transportation information. Mr. Freedman moved for approval of the trip. Ms. Packer seconded. It was unanimously approved.
CONTINUED DISCUSSION OF FY05 BUDGET
After discussing the FY05 budget over the last several School Committee meetings, Mr. Connolly recommended an amount of $34,746,015 for the FY05 school department budget. Ms. Broekel moved for approval of this amount. Ms. Packer seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn provided the School Committee with a prioritized list of capital improvements for FY05 amounting to $725,000. Mr. Freedman moved for approval of this prioritization. Mrs. Van Amsterdam seconded. It was unanimously approved.
DISCUSSION ON TOWN MEETING ARTICLE
FEE BASED TRANSPORTATION
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn provided a history of the fee based transportation program, the FY05 transportation budget and warrant article #14. The School Committee will act on the transportation program at next weeks meeting.
TO ACCEPT DONATION
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn requested that the school accept a donation from Gold’s Gym – 60 weights for the high school fitness facility in the amount of $2890. Ms. Packer moved for approval of this donation. Mrs. Van Amsterdam seconded. It was unanimously approved.
CO-SPONSOR THE AFTER THE PROM PARTY
Mr. Connolly received a letter from the Co-Chairs of NADAC requesting that the School Committee co-sponsor the upcoming 17th annual After the Prom Party to be held on May 14, 2004. Mr. Freedman moved for approval for the school committee to co-sponsor this party. Ms. Packer seconded. It was unanimously approved.
RATIFICATION OF CONTRACTS
Ratification of contracts for the Cafeteria, Custodians and Title 1 will be rescheduled to the meeting of March 1, 2004.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
James Connolly
Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
Attest:_____________________________ By: Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
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