Approval of Records
November 7, 2005
Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
October 17, 2005
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, October 17, 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, Henry Haugland, David Murphy, Diane Packer,
Rick Wynn, Ted Wynne
Dirk Coburn arrived at 7:35 p.m.
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
Staff, Parents & Press
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Haugland moved for approval of the minutes of October 5, 2005. Mr. Wynn seconded. Mr. Ted Wynne made a correction – he was absent for the meeting. They were unanimously approved with that change.
PUBLIC SPEAK
Chair Packer asked if anyone wished to come forward for Public Speak. Ms. Karen Adelman-Foster came forward and thanked Tilly & Salvy’s Bacon Street Farm for hosting the 5th Annual Pumpkin Festival, where proceeds from pumpkin sales are donated to the PTO/PTA organizations. They raised $3,970.50 this year.
Mr. Connolly reported that he, along with some other area superintendents, will be part of a panel at the State House on Tuesday, October 18 to address the Education Committee on behalf of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendent’s to provide support for two bills that will enable Massachusetts schools to move beyond the discord between public and charter schools.
MIDDLE SCHOOL NEASC ACCREDITATION
Dr. David Flynn, Director of the NEASC Commission on Public Elementary & Middle Schools came before the School Committee to discuss the middle school accreditation process. Both Wilson and Kennedy Middle Schools are going through the NEASC accreditation process this coming March.
CLASS OF 2005 – REPORT OF SAT I, SAT II, AP SCORES
Mrs. Jan Parsons and Mr. John Hughes provided information on SAT I, SAT II, AP test results for the Class of 2005. A discussion continued. Mrs. Parsons and Mr. Hughes responded to questions.
APPROVAL OF OUT OF STATE TRAVEL
Mr. Hughes requested approval for out of state travel for the NHS Boys’ Wrestling Team to travel to Schenectady, New York to participate in the 2006 Schenectady Invitational Wrestling Tournament on January 6-7, 2006. Mr. Haugland moved for approval of this trip. Mr. Coburn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
2005 MID-CYCLE ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS (AYP) REPORTS
Dr. Karen LeDuc discussed the 2005 Mid-Cycle Adequate Yearly Progress reports for the district. The AYP determination shows continued progress toward proficiency for all students; however, there are two subgroups in the area of English Language Arts which are in need of improvement – Special Education and Low Income Students. The data will be analyzed with the administration and teachers to determine a course of action. A significant amount of discussion took place on these reports. Dr. LeDuc responded to questions from the Committee.
REQUEST FOR MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT RATE INCREASE
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn requested a change to the School Mileage Reimbursement Practice. The current rate for mileage reimbursement is $0.32. She is requesting that the mileage reimbursement rate be equal to the effective IRS rate at the time the mileage occurred. This item will be voted on at the next meeting.
MASC RESOLUTIONS
The School Committee was provided with the twelve resolutions which will be voted on at the MASC/MASS Annual meeting being held on October 26. Mr. Cashman is the School Committee’s delegate for that meeting. A discussion took place as to whether the Committee wished to discuss these individually or not tonight given that they were just distributed to them this evening.
Mr. Haugland moved for approval to direct Mr. Cashman to take no action on these resolutions since the Committee did not have sufficient time to review them, except for Resolution #8 which pertains to METCO funding. Mr. Coburn seconded.
Mr. Murphy moved for approval to vote each of the 12 resolutions individually. Chair Packer seconded. A discussion continued.
Chair Packer called for a vote on Mr. Murphy’s motion to discuss the resolutions individually. All in favor: Mr. Murphy, Mr. Cashman. All opposed: Mr. Coburn, Mr. Haugland, Chair Packer, Mr. Wynn, Mr. Wynne
Chair Packer called for a vote on Mr. Haugland’s motion to direct Mr. Cashman to take no action on these resolutions, except for Resolution #8 which pertains to METCO funding. The vote for Resolution 8 would be in favor of the resolution: to raise the METCO reimbursement figure to a school district and do it from the general appropriation, not by garnishing Chapter 70 funds. It was unanimously approved.
At 9:55 p.m., Mr. Haugland moved to adjourn. Mr. Coburn seconded. It was unanimously approved to adjourn.
James Connolly
Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
Attest:_____________________________ Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
| 
