Approval of Records
March 21, 2005
Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
March 7, 2005
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, March 7, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. in the School Committee Room, third floor, Town Hall. Chair Packer called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Mr. Connolly was absent for this meeting. Mrs. Audrey Seyffert took the roll call.
Members Present: Peg Broekel, Jonathan Freedman, Henry Haugland, Diane Packer,
Ted Wynne
Members Absent: Rick Wynn
Mr. Murphy joined the meeting at 7:45 p.m.
Others present: Karen Leacu LeDuc Assistant Superintendent
Audrey Seyffert Assistant Superintendent
Mary Ellen Dunn Director of Fiscal & Management Services
Timothy O’Brien Student Representative
Staff, Parents & Press
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Freedman moved for approval of the School Committee minutes of February 28, 2005. Mr. Haugland seconded. They were unanimously approved.
PUBLIC SPEAK
Chair Packer asked if anyone wished to come forward for Public Speak. No one came forward.
COMMUNICATIONS, PETITIONS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Chair Packer announced Natick Education Foundation’s Shining Light Award event being held on Monday, March 14 at Whitney Place at 7:00 p.m.
APPROVAL OF OUT OF STATE TRAVEL
Mrs. Ruth Evans requested the School Committee’s approval for out of state travel for grade 8 students of the Wilson Middle School to travel to St. John’s, New Brunswick, Canada on April 7-10th to participate in the annual basketball exchange program with Barnhill Memorial School. Mr. Haugland moved for approval of this trip. Ms. Broekel seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Mr. Hughes requested the School Committee’s approval for three out of state travel requests:
1. Natick High School Band to travel to Quebec City to participate in the Quebec Music Festival competition on May 13 to May 16, 2005. Mr. Haugland moved for approval of this trip. Ms. Broekel seconded. It was unanimously approved.
2. Natick High School request from the English Department for students to travel to London, England during April vacation, April 15-23, 2005. Mr. Haugland moved for approval. Mr. Freedman seconded. It was unanimously approved.
3. Natick High School trips to Germany and France next April vacation (2006).
a. Trip to Germany, April 13-22, 2006 organized by Ms. Alese Ruggaber
b. Trip to France – April 13-22, 2006 organized by Mrs. Joanne DiGiandomenico
Ms. Broekel moved for approval of these two trips. Mr. Haugland seconded. They were unanimously approved.
PERSONNEL ACTIONS
The following personnel actions were reviewed.
RETIREMENTS: Professional Staff
[Retirements effective June 30, 2005]
Judith Bickelman, physical education teacher at Wilson Middle School.
Margaret Crump, family & consumer science teacher at Natick High School.
Susan Getty, grade 1 teacher at Bennett-Hemenway School.
Kathleen Joffe, grade 5 teacher at Wilson Middle School.
Mary Joyce, grade 2 teacher at Memorial School.
Maureen McClain, grade 6 teacher at Wilson Middle School.
Marie McDade, business teacher at Natick High School.
Diane Mehal, grade 6 teacher at Wilson Middle School.
Robert Williamson, social studies teacher at Wilson Middle School.
RESIGNATION: Professional Staff
Caryn Cheverie, math teacher at Natick High School and currently on a leave of absence. Resignation effective February 24, 2005.
Jennifer Oriel, grade 1 teacher at Memorial School and currently on a leave of absence. Resignation effective February 25, 2005.
EXTENDED LEAVE OF ABSENCE: Professional Staff
Sandra Lemon, grade 5 teacher at Kennedy Middle School. Leave of absence for maternity is effective February 28, 2005 to the end of this school year.
APPOINTMENT: Support Staff
Carlton Conaway, to be part-time long-term substitute student support facilitator at Bennett-Hemenway School effective March 2, 2005 to the end of this school year. Salary, $14.64 per hour.
APPOINTMENTS: Professional Staff
Kendra Dwenger, to be kindergarten long-term substitute [grant funded] effective March 7, 2005 to the end of this school year. Salary, $136.00 per day.
Danielle Hildebrand, to be elementary permanent substitute teacher effective February 9, 2005 to April 1, 2005. Salary, $91.00 per day.
Lauren Horsfall, to be long-term substitute grade 1 teacher at Lilja School effective April 15, 2005 to the end of this school year. She is replacing Hannah Cross who will be on a maternity leave. Salary, $136.00 per day.
Melissa Jewart, to be long-term substitute grade 3 at Lilja School effective April 11, 2005 to the end of this school year. She is replacing Kendra Chase who will be on a maternity leave. Salary, $136.00 per day.
Sarah Prew, to be long-term substitute grade 5 teacher at Wilson Middle School effective March 14, 2005 to the end of this school year. She is replacing Suzanne O’Neill who has resigned. Salary, $136.00 per day.
Marsha Sirull, to be long-term substitute grade 5 teacher at Kennedy Middle School effective February 28, 2005 to the end of this school year. She is replacing Sandy Lemon who is on a maternity leave. Salary, $136.00 per day.
Kelly Steinmuller, to be long-term substitute reading specialist at Lilja School effective April 7, 2005 to the end of this school year. She is replacing Lisa O’Brien-Smith who will be on a maternity leave.
David Wray, to be long-term substitute mathematics teacher at Natick High School effective February 28, 2005 to the end of this school year. He is replacing Anu Karna who has resigned.
REVOLVING FUNDS
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn provided an update on the revolving funds. Mrs. Dunn will come to a future meeting in May with a presentation on fee increases for food service. She will also be bringing forward a revised fee schedule for rental of facilities. Other changes in programs discussed were:
§ Instrumental Music Lesson Program – eliminate semi private/group lessons at secondary level and only offer private, fourth grade lessons moved from during the school day to before school.
§ Revolving fund terminations: Child Development Tuitions – program is being eliminated from the high school (not the actual class - the preschool children will not be housed at NHS).
§ EASE Program (Elementary After School Enrichment Program) – merge all elementary after school enrichment program funds into one single fund rather than one fund for each school.
CAPITAL FUND
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn reported that the Capital Fund Subcommittee met on Saturday and toured the various buildings requiring capital equipment repairs. $400K is all that is available for the schools this year. Mrs. Dunn requested the School Committee’s approval of three prioritized items to be completed this year:
1. Johnson Roof Repair
2. Kennedy Loop and Parking Lot
3. Brown Redesign of Rear Courtyard
A discussion continued. Mr. Ted Wynne requested that the Town Administrator be invited to a future School Committee meeting, prior to Town Meeting to discuss capital needs and to discuss long range capital planning which is to be in place for the Fall Town Meeting. Ms. Broekel moved for approval to send the above three projects forward to the Finance Committee’s Capital Subcommittee. Mr. Haugland seconded. It was unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF DONATIONS
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn requested the School Committee’s approval of the following donations:
1. (19) - 19 inch monitors from Cognex
2. Stop & Shop to Wilson Basketball Program - $1,000
3. Citizen Bank to Wilson Barnhill Account - $500
Mr. Wynne moved for approval of these donations. Mr. Haugland seconded. They were unanimously approved.
The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
James Connolly
Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
By: Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
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