Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
September 12, 2005
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, September 12, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. Chair Packer called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the School Committee Room, 3rd Floor, Town Hall.
Members Present: Michael Cashman, Dirk Coburn, Henry Haugland, David Murphy, Diane Packer,
Rick Wynn, Ted Wynne
Others present: James Connolly Superintendent
Karen Leacu LeDuc Assistant Superintendent
Audrey Seyffert Assistant Superintendent
Mary Ellen Dunn Director of Fiscal & Management Services
Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary
Sasha Smalky Student Representative
Staff, Parents & Press
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Coburn moved for approval of the minutes of August 29, 2005. Mr.Wynne seconded. Ms. Packer abstained from the vote as she was absent from that meeting. All others approved the minutes of August 29, 2005.
Vice Chairman Wynn moved for approval of the Executive Session minutes (those amended and distributed at the meeting) of August 29, 2005. Mr. Haugland seconded. Ms. Packer abstained from the vote as she was absent from that meeting. All others approved the amended Executive Session minutes of August 29, 2005.
PUBLIC SPEAK
Chair Packer asked if anyone wished to come forward for Public Speak.
Mr. Joshua Ostroff came forward on behalf of Barbara McGrath, local children’s book author, requesting support from the schools and community for “Books for Biloxi”. Barbara is leaving on September 18th to speak to students at St. James School in Gulfport, Mississippi which is the neighboring town to Biloxi. It is the first school in the area to reopen after hurricane Katrina. Barbara is looking for either new or used books with a note or picture from our Natick students in Grades K-6. She would like a volunteer from each elementary school as well as 5th and 6th grades at Wilson and Kennedy to help coordinate the effort. Books can be dropped off by the end of this week to 17 South Avenue, opposite Natick Radiator between 9:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Ms. Alyssa Leonard, parent, came forward to express her concern of a bus incident that occurred last year when her child passed in front of the school bus. She implored the School Committee to look at having school buses with safety gates added to the bid specifications for the new bus contract. These gates allow the bus driver to see the small children when they cross in front of the bus. Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn will look into this matter. In addition, Mrs. Dunn indicated that they are trying to eliminate any bus stops which would necessitate the children crossing the street to board the bus. Mr. Wynne requested that a cost analysis be done on what it would cost to use buses with gates for the remainder of this year.
Mr. Cashman provided an update from the CPA study, of which he is the representative for the School Committee. The CPA study has prepared a report in which they are in support, by majority vote, which will be submitted to the Finance Committee, Selectmen and Town Meeting, etc. A concern was raised that given Mr. Cashman is the School Committee’s representative to this Committee; he speaks only as an individual and not the entire School Committee. The question was raised as to whether the entire School Committee should be reviewing the report and voting to endorse it or not – or do they even have any jurisdiction to take a position. This warrant article will be before the Finance Committee on September 27.
Ms. Shirley Brown came forward to invite interested parties to attend a meeting on Monday, September 19th at 6:30 p.m. in the School Committee Room, third floor, Town Hall to hear an internationally acclaimed scientist and EPA award recipient speak on a non-chemical approach to manage the milfoil in Lake Cochituate.
REPORT OF CURRICULUM SUBCOMMITTEE
Dr. Karen LeDuc and Vice Chairman Wynn presented the work done thus far by the Curriculum Subcommittee summarized below:
§ The Curriculum Subcommittee has met six times over the summer since its creation last spring
§ Curriculum Subcommittee took up discussion of the referral motion made by the full School Committee to further study the motion to offer Algebra as a formal course in the 7th grade by Fall 2006.
§ Curriculum Subcommittee has reviewed current assessment tools for evaluating student proficiency, performance and placement, as well as evaluating long-term teaching effectiveness
Þ State assessments (e.g. MCAS)
Þ Norm-referenced tests (e.g. Terra Nova)
Þ District-created assessments and initiatives (e.g. “Looking at Student Work”, etc.)
§ Curriculum Subcommittee has discussed practices for more effective public communications at the district level as well as at the individual school level
Recommendations
§ Curriculum Subcommittee recommends that the School Committee take no action on the motion regarding 7th Grade Algebra at this time, but that the motion not be withdrawn, pending discussion with the middle school principals and implementation by the middle schools beginning next fall. The School Committee should leave the motion in place in case they wish to make use of it in the near future.
§ Curriculum Subcommittee believes that a sufficient population has been identified to investigate offering honors algebra to identified grade 7 students
§ Curriculum Subcommittee further recommends that parallel offerings be evaluated in subject areas outside of mathematics
Areas Identified for Additional Discussion
§ Continued discussion regarding middle school math and a specific recommendation to the full School Committee regarding the referral motion on grade 7 Algebra
§ Discussion of broad effectiveness of teaming approach in the middle schools—as a teaching modality—not just for math
§ Potential provision of additional district math support at each level (elementary, MS and HS) be appropriate? Should we institute “Math Specialists” in elementary schools—similar to the “literacy specialists” we have for reading—to provide similar support in math?
§ Potential provision of more challenging curriculum for advanced learners in disciplines other than math. Initially identified areas for potential additional instruction – English Language Arts, Foreign Languages.
Mr. Coburn made a motion for the School Committee to approve the following resolution:
That the Natick School Committee directs the Curriculum subcommittee to collaborate with relevant administrators of Natick Public Schools and also at each school as appropriate, to assess the English and Language Arts programs within Natick Public Schools with particular regard to the following topics:
· Curriculum that represent educational stretches appropriate for students of all aptitudes and at all levels of achievement to date.
· Ability of each student to focus in a sustained manner on materials, assignments, and discussions relevant to his or her aptitude and current level of achievement
· Rational paths of progression from kindergarten through 12th grade, with particular focus on available differentiation by subject matter and by conceptual sophistication at the high school and upper middle school levels
· Opportunities to master higher concepts in reading major genres of literature including classics, non-fiction, fiction, drama, poetry, and criticism.
· Opportunities to master key skills in writing including expository essays, persuasive essays, journalistic chronicling, narration, description and analysis, and style-modeling.
· Additional challenges for motivated and advanced learners, including possibly leveled class structures to accommodate focus on appropriate conceptual levels.
· Consistency of implementation both across school districts and in the students’ experiences as they move from grade to grade, including appropriate means of measurement and assessment.
The Natick School Committee further requests that the Curriculum subcommittee collaborate with the administrators as noted above to recommend a program of improvement taking the above bullet points and any other appropriate statements as goal-seeking standards, for implementation in the 2006-2007 academic year.
Mr. Haugland seconded. A discussion continued.
Chair Packer called for a vote on Mr. Coburn’s motion. All were in favor.
Mr. Wynne had to leave the meeting at 8:50 p.m.
BUDGET & OPERATIONS UPDATE
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn provided the School Committee with an update on budget and operations:
§ Still waiting for FY05 closing numbers.
§ Fuel price increases may cause budget to be over between $100K-200K
§ Buildings opened very well – maintenance and custodian staff had buildings is very good shape
§ Bus transportation –
· 100 riders short of what was projected
· Influx at high school level
· 150 registered after deadline – had to be waitlisted
· All riders have now been placed
· Contract for transportation services will be out to bid soon
ENROLLMENT UPDATE
Mr. Connolly provided the School Committee with enrollment data – projected vs. actual over the past five years. He recommended that, based on the actual numbers and trends over the past 5 years, the School Committee should take no action on the warrant article they submitted for design fees for expansion to the Kennedy and Memorial Schools. If new facts come that decision may need to change. The numbers right now are relatively flat and the schools are operating at capacity. If the numbers change, they may have to go forward with expansion plans. Mr. Connolly will review the enrollment figures to the Finance Committee and also at the upcoming Town Meeting so that they are aware of the situation. Mr. Haugland moved for approval to take no action on the Warrant
Article it submitted. Mr. Coburn seconded. All in favor – Mr. Coburn, Mr. Haugland, Mr. Murphy, Chair Packer, Vice Chair Wynn. Mr. Cashman abstained as he was out of the room during the discussion. Mr. Wynne was absent for this item. The motion carried.
PERSONNEL ACTIONS
The following personnel actions were reviewed:
TERMINATION: Support Staff
Dennis Dmytryck, Maintenance employee. Termination effective September 1, 2005.
EXTENDED LEAVE OF ABSENCE: Professional Staff
Lauren Love, Occupational therapist. Maternity leave of absence is effective approximately October 31, 2005 to Januuary 27, 2006.
APPOINTMENTS: Professional Staff
Elise Afano, to be special education long-term substitute at Kennedy Middle School effective August 29, 2005 to November 23, 2005. Salary, $141.00 per day
Beth Ailinger, to be kindergarten [grant funded] long-term substitute at Memorial School effective September 1, 2005. Salary, $141.00 per day
Donald Burnham, to be (.5) long-term substitute learning center teacher at Memorial School effective September 1, 2005. Salary, $141.00 per full day.
Elke Carver, to be kindergarten [grant funded] long-term substitute at Memorial School effective September 1, 2005. Salary, $141.00 per day
Sif Ferranti, to be preschool long-term substitute at Bennett-Hemenway School effective September 1, 2005. Salary, $141.00 per day.
Kathleen MacIsaac, to be learning center teacher at Bennett-Hemenway School effective September 6, 2005 to the end of this school year. Salary, Masters, Step 11
Meredith McNamara, to be kindergarten [grant funded] long-term substitute at Johnson School effective September 1, 2005. Salary, $141.00 per day
Carole Stone-Oks, to be (.5) school psychologist at Natick High School effective September 6, 2005 to the end of this school year. Salary, Masters +60, Step 5
APPOINTMENTS: Support Staff
Karen Carr, to be long-term substitute student support facilitator at Lilja School effective August 29, 2005. Salary, Step 1
Robin Henderson, to be part-time food service worker at Natick High School effective August 31, 2005. Salary, Step 1
Catherine Reilly, to be (.5) student support facilitator at Memorial School effective August 29, 2005. Salary, Step 1
APPROVAL OF OUT OF STATE TRAVEL
Mr. Haugland moved for approval of an out-of-state travel request for the Natick High School speech team to travel to Yale University, New Haven, CT on Friday, September 30 to Sunday, October 2, 2005 to participate in the Yale Speech Tournament. Vice Chairman Wynn seconded. The motion carried 6 to 0.
At 9:20 p.m., Mr. Coburn moved to adjourn. Mr. Murphy seconded. The motion carried 6 to 0.
James Connolly
Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
Attest:_____________________________ Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
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