Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
May 16, 2005
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, May 16, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. in the Small Conference Room, 3rd Floor, Town Hall.
Members Present: Dirk Coburn, Henry Haugland, David Murphy, Diane Packer, Rick Wynn, Ted Wynne
The administration requested an Executive Session to discuss collective bargaining and to discuss non-represented personnel in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 39, Section 23b of the Massachusetts General Laws. A roll call vote was taken. All members present were in favor of entering into Executive Session.
Michael Cashman arrived at 7:10 p.m.
Others present: James Connolly Superintendent
Mary Ellen Dunn Director of Fiscal & Management Services
Marianne Davis Director of Human Resources
Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary
At 7:33 p.m., Mr. Haugland moved for approval to return to open session. Chair Packer seconded. The regular meeting resumed at 7:40 p.m. in the School Committee Room, third floor, Town Hall.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Haugland moved for approval of the minutes of May 2, 2005. Mr. Coburn 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 that Lilja School is holding its Spring Fair this weekend, May 21 (rain or shine) from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. All are invited to attend.
Mr. Connolly announced that both Kennedy and Wilson finished in the top 26 out of 209 schools in the New England Mathematics League competition, and that student Sam Trabucco was ranked #1 in the student competition. Mr. Connolly will send letters of congratulations to the students.
PERSONNEL ACTIONS
The following personnel actions were reviewed:
RESIGNATION: Professional Staff
John Doyle, Science teacher at Natick High School. Resignation effective June 30, 2005.
Marina Whall, Mathematics teacher at Kennedy Middle School. Resignation effective June 30, 2005.
APPROVAL OF SALARY SCHEDULE FOR NON-REPRESENTED PERSONNEL
Mrs. Marianne Davis presented the School Committee with a salary schedule for non-represented personnel as outlined in her memorandum dated May 12, 2005. Mr. Haugland moved for approval of this schedule. Mr. Wynne seconded. It was unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS
Mr. Alex Popp presented the School Improvement Plan for Bennett-Hemenway School. Mr. Ted Wynne moved for approval of this plan. Mr. Rick Wynn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Ms. Bernadine Small presented the School Improvement Plan for Brown School. Mr. Ted Wynne moved for approval of this plan. Mr. Rick Wynn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Ms. Mary Canner presented the School Improvement Plan for Lilja School. Mr. Coburn moved for approval of this plan. Mr. Rick Wynn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Ms. Beverly McCloskey presented the School Improvement Plan for Memorial School. Mr. Wynne moved for approval of this plan. Mr. Haugland seconded. It was unanimously approved.
The elementary principals discussed changes to the schedule for elementary conferences for the next school year. The spring conferences will now take place in March as opposed to May. They also provided an overview of the kindergarten transition which included parent information night and orientation day. A request was made to provide copies of the kindergarten grant report to the School Committee. Ms. Mary Canner will provide the School Committee with these copies.
STAFFING RECOMMENDATIONS – CLASS SIZE
Mr. Connolly provided the School Committee with enrollment figures for next year (as of 5/4/05) for grades K-4 as well as kindergarten enrollment trends and projections.
APPROVAL OF CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR THE FOOD SERVICE CONTRACT AND APPROVAL OF LUNCH PRICE INCREASE
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn introduced members of Chartwells, Erin Long, Regional District Manager, Gail Oliveira, Regional Registered Dietician and Debbie Vallante, Natick Food Service Director, who presented a review of the Food Service Program which covered nutrition goals, nutrition focus of Chartwells as a corporation and the financial and lunch proposals for the upcoming school year. Extension of the food service contract and price increases will be voted on at the next meeting.
ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn requested the School Committee’s approval of the following donations:
Source Amount Purpose
Jordan’s Furniture $ 200 Class of 2005
Middlesex Savings Bank $ 500 Class of 2005
Roche Bros. $ 100 Natick High School Band
Natick Federal and Savings $1,000 Natick High School Band
Fair & Yeager Ins. Agency, Inc. $ 100 Business Professionals of America
Natick Little League $8,000 Wilson Irrigation Project
Natick Soccer Club $8,000 Wilson Irrigation Project
Mr. Wynne moved to accept these donations. Mr. Haugland seconded. They were unanimously approved.
UPDATE ON ADVANCED MATH & SCIENCE ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL LEGAL FEES
At the School Committee meeting of May 2, Mr. Connolly requested that the School Committee vote to support a legal challenge relating to the Advanced Math & Science Academy Charter School. He provided the School Committee with a letter from area superintendents expressing concern that the proposed school was presented to draw from a four-town area and even before it opens, it is drawing and recruiting from 49 different towns. Impacted school districts are being asked to participate in a legal challenge and are looking for a commitment of $2,000-$5,000 from each district. Mr. Haugland moved for approval to take no action on this request. Mr. Wynn seconded. A discussion continued. It was the general consensus that what is really needed is more dialogue with the state legislators
and the Department of Education regarding the inequities in the funding formula and potential impropriety in the way the whole charter school program is structured. A vote was taken on the motion to take no action on this request. The motion carried 6 to 0. Mr. Murphy had left the meeting prior to this discussion.
REFERRAL OF MOTION
Chair Packer discussed the motion that Mr. Haugland had made at the previous meeting to establish a formal policy that requires both middle schools to offer Algebra 1 in grade 7 and geometry in grade 8. She offered a motion to refer the issue of providing Algebra at 7th grade and Geometry in the 8th grade to the curriculum subcommittee and to request that the Administration and the subcommittee come before the full committee no later than the 2nd meeting in September and present specific recommendations for addressing the needs of our more advanced learners across the curricula. Mr. Wynne seconded. A discussion continued. Members were asked to send questions they may have pertaining to this matter to the Chair. It was unanimously approved to refer
this issue to the Curriculum subcommittee.
At 10:35 p.m., Mr. Wynn moved to adjourn. Mr. Haugland seconded. It was unanimously approved.
James Connolly
Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
Attest:_____________________________ Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
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