Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
April 25, 2005
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, April 25, 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.
Members Present: Michael Cashman, Dirk Coburn, David Murphy, Diane Packer, Rick Wynn, Ted Wynne
Members Absent: Henry Haugland
Others present: James Connolly Superintendent
Karen Leacu LeDuc Assistant Superintendent
Mary Ellen Dunn Director of Fiscal & Management Services
Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary
Staff, Parents & Press
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Ted Wynne moved for approval of the minutes of April 4, 2005. Mr. Rick Wynn seconded. They were unanimously approved.
PUBLIC SPEAK
Chair Packer asked if anyone wished to come forward for Public Speak. Mr. Ron Miller, President of the EAN, came forward. He introduced Ms. Camille Napier who will be the next President of the EAN. Mr. Miller’s term ends May 1. Ms. Napier also commented on the successful field trip to England which she conducted with Natick High School students this past April vacation.
COMMUNICATIONS, PETITIONS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Chair Packer announced that the annual NEF Spelling Bee is being held on May 3, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. at Natick High School. Mr. Rick Wynn and Mr. Dirk Coburn volunteered to represent the School Committee at the Spelling Bee. Chair Packer indicated that Mr. Haugland volunteered as well.
CAPITAL BUDGET UPDATE
Mr. Phil Lemnios discussed his plans for establishing a Capital Budget committee consisting of all departments within the town to analyze all the capital needs and to prioritize those needs. He hopes to get this committee together shortly. Projects will be looked at within the tax rate and outside of the tax rate. By getting all departments together, people will understand the needs of other departments. A recommendation will then be made to Town Meeting.
CURRICULUM REPORTS
English Language Arts
Dr. Karen LeDuc introduced members of her staff who presented Literacy K-12
Elementary – Dr. Christy Slavik
Middle School – Mrs. Heather Bishop and Mrs. Judy Coleman
High School – Mr. Carl Bates
Items such as academic expectations of student learning, assessments, use of data, instructional strategies and role of positions were discussed.
NCLB’s Teacher and Paraprofessional Requirements
NCLB (No Child Left Behind) at the Federal level requires all teachers of the core academic subjects to be highly qualified by the end of the 2005-2006 school year. Title 1 teachers hired after January 2002 need to be highly qualified upon being hired. Mrs. Marianne Davis discussed the requirements of teachers to be considered “highly qualified” and outlined ways in which they can reach this level.
Professional Development Update
Mrs. Linda Broderick provided an update on Professional Development which included:
§ Overview of the Natick Public Schools Professional Development Program
§ Support of State and Federal requirements
§ District sponsored professional development
§ Partnerships and external workshops
§ Mentor and induction program
§ Goals for 2005-2006
SCHOOL COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Chair Packer recommended disbanding the Town Budget Committee and the Transportation subcommittee. Mr. Wynne moved for approval to disband these two subcommittees. Mr. Rick Wynn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
The following subcommittee assignments were presented for April 2005 through March 2006:
SUBCOMMITTEE |
SC REP/DESIGNEE FOR 4/2005-3/2006 |
Suburban Coalition Rep |
Dirk Coburn
This is an open meeting – all members are invited to attend if available |
TEC Board of Directors
|
Diane Packer Jim Connolly
This is an open meeting – all members may attend if available |
Natick Education Foundation |
Dave Murphy (Appointed by NEF) |
Policy Subcommittee |
Ted Wynne Dave Murphy Jim Connolly
|
Senior Center Liaison |
Ted Wynne
|
Technology Subcommittee Established November 4, 2002 |
Jeffry Bram Ann Sager Joe Boykin Sean True Ken Goldman Jim
Connolly Brent Koepel Mary Ellen Dunn Catherine Neumann Barbara Kane Richard Savoia |
High School Building Committee |
1 Member appointed by Selectmen – John Ciccariello 1 Member appointed by Town Moderator –John O’Neil 1 Member appointed by Fin Com – Bruce Wright 1 member appointed by Plng Board – Jonathan Freedman 5 Members appointed by the School Committee – Barbara Isaf – Joseph Naughton – Mark Raider – Mysore Ravindra – Mark Sereda
|
NEGOTIATION TEAM |
SC REPRESENTATIVE 4/2005-3/2006 |
Maintenance & Custodians
|
Dirk Coburn Henry Haugland |
Cafeteria
|
Henry Haugland Diane Packer |
Teachers, Nurses & Administrators (EAN Units A,B,C)
|
Henry Haugland Rick Wynn Ted Wynne Dave Murphy (Alternate) |
Secretaries & Clerks |
Michael Cashman Ted Wynne |
Teacher Assistants |
Dirk Coburn Dave Murphy Michael Cashman (Alternate) |
Title 1
|
Diane Packer Dave Murphy |
Non- Represented Personnel |
Henry Haugland Michael Cashman Diane Packer (Alternate) |
All of the collective bargaining sub-committees have the same mission and function. We use a collaborative model with Marianne Davis, our Director of Human Resources and a skilled negotiator and union representatives. There is one exception in that the cafeteria workers use a more traditional model.
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Mr. Coburn moved for approval of the above subcommittee assignments. Mr. Wynn seconded. They were unanimously approved.
Chair Packer announced that Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn will be the representative to the Town Safety Committee.
Chair Packer put forth a recommendation to create a Curriculum Subcommittee. She distributed a description of its charge for the School Committee’s review. This item will be brought back for action at the next meeting.
APPROVAL OF NON-RESIDENT STUDNETS
Mr. Connolly reported that members of the Natick Public School’s professional staff have requested the School Committee’s permission to enroll their children in the Natick Public Schools, effective for the 2005/2006 school year. The children will be entering:
Natick High School Grade 10
Natick High School Grade 11
Memorial School Grade 1
Memorial School Grade 2
Brown School Grade 1
These requests fall within the provisions of Chapter 76, Section 6. There is no conflict with the “choice law” since the Committee has not charged tuition in similar cases. Mr. Ted Wynne moved for approval to allow these children to attend Natick Public Schools as outlined above for the 2005/2006 school year. Mr. Rick Wynn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF FINAL DAY OF SCHOOL FOR 2004/2005 SCHOOL YEAR
Mr. Connolly requested the School Committee’s approval to adjust the date for the last day of school for the 2004/2005school year. Since the system lost four days as a result of inclement weather as of this date, the last day of school for students and professional staff will be Tuesday, June 21, 2005 (early release). This date provides for the completion of the required 180-day school year for students and the 182-day year for the professional staff. Mr. Ted Wynne moved for approval of this date. Mr. Murphy seconded. It was unanimously approved.
ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn requested the School Committee’s acceptance of donations for the purposes of Natick High School students attending the Business Professionals of America competition.
Boyle Transportation $100
Isabelle Clapp $100
H.R. Bazigian $100
Florentine Frames $100
Foreign Motors West $50
Mr. Coburn moved for approval of these donations. Mr. Rick Wynn seconded. They were unanimously approved.
CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn requested the School Committee’s approval to extend the contract with Lefebvre Insurance to provide student accident insurance to our students for the 2005-2006 school year. This is the final year the extension may be granted. There will be no price increase from the 2004-2005 school year. Mr. Rick Wynn moved for approval to extend this contract for the 2005-2006 school year. Mr. Murphy seconded. It was unanimously approved.
At 10:25 p.m., Mr. Coburn moved to adjourn. Mr. Wynn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
James Connolly
Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
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