Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
March 6, 2006
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, March 6, 2006 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, Henry Haugland, Dirk Coburn, Diane Packer, Rick Wynn, Ted Wynne
Members Absent: David Murphy
Others present: James Connolly Superintendent
Karen 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 February 27, 2006. Mr. Coburn seconded. They were unanimously approved.
Mr. Connolly explained that it’s the School Committee’s policy to declassify its Executive Session minutes once a year in order that they become public record. This is done at the 1st meeting in March, prior to the change in board members. He requested that the School Committee declassify the Executive Session minutes for:
January 24, 2005
January 31, 2005
March 15, 2005
March 21, 2005
May 16, 2005
August 29, 2005
Mr. Coburn moved for approval to declassify the above list of Executive Session minutes. Mr. Wynne seconded. It was unanimously approved to declassify these minutes.
PUBLIC SPEAK
Chair Packer asked if anyone wished to come forward for Public Speak. No one came forward.
COMMUNICATIONS, PETITIONS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Mr. Connolly reported that Mr. Herve Lemaire, former teacher, Vice Principal and Principal of the Wilson Middle School passed away. He devoted 44 years to his teaching profession.
Mr. Connolly announced that he has appointed Lauren Gilbert as the next Director of Pupil Services, effective August 2006. Lauren has served as Natick's Program Supervisor for the past two years. Lauren brings previous experience as Special Education Coordinator/Team Chairperson for middle, elementary levels and out of district placements for six years in the Worcester Public Schools. She began her career in education as a middle school special needs teacher in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education from the
University of New Mexico and a Master of Arts in Education Administration from Cambridge College.
Chair Packer announced that the Suburban Coalition will be holding its annual Legislative breakfast on Monday, April 10 in the Great Hall of the State House. It will begin at 9:00 a.m. and run until approximately 11:30 a.m. Guest speakers are Representative Sal DiMasi, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Dr. Barry Bluestone, Director of the Center of Urban and Regional Policy at Northeastern University and co-author of “Revenue Sharing and the Future of the Massachusetts Economy.”
Chair Packer wished to publicly thank the Natick Rotary Club for a program they have implemented which is to donate dictionaries to all third grade students. This past Friday, the Rotary Club visited all elementary schools and distributed the dictionaries. They hope to continue to do this on an annual basis. Chair Packer requested that a letter of thanks be sent to the Natick Rotary Club
ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS & SCHOLARSHIPS
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn requested that the School Committee accept the following donations and scholarships:
Source/Donation Amount/Value Purpose/Recipient
Natick Firefighters’ Charity Fund $2500 Ski Team
Natick Education Foundation, Inc. $1000 Wall of Achievement
Mr. James Doherty $ 25 Wilson – Principal Discretionary
$8,000 worth of resources and materials will be donated to Natick Public Schools through the NHS Boosters
Scholarships
· Alfred Murray Memorial Scholarship (former NHS science teacher and department chair).
· Gold’s Gym Natick and the Waltzman Family Foundation.
These scholarships will be given to a senior who meet the established criteria.
Additional information provided was that:
· Cognex has donated $1,000 to the Wilson Middle School Math Team.
· NHS Booster organization will provide $16,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors during FY06.
· A letter sent to Mr. Bob Sherman of RAS Enterprises acknowledging the distribution of duffel bags given to the individual members of the 2005/06 varsity and junior varsity football teams for their personal use. This is not a donation.
Mr. Al Ebeling came forward and spoke on behalf of the NHS Booster’s Club. He reported on what the boosters have done over the past three years and what is planned for this year.
Mr. Coburn moved for approval to accept the donations and scholarships outlined above. Mr. Wynn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
CONTINUED DISCUSSION ON THE FY07 BUDGET
Mr. Connolly reported that per the request from the Town Administrator and the Finance Committee, a vote not be taken this evening on the School budget. Mr. Connolly provided an overview of where things stand today and reviewed the budget issues. He reviewed options for reducing the difference between his budget and the Town Administrator’s request which is a difference of $1,050,000.
Mr. Connolly reported that Mr. Lemnios, Town Administrator will be coming before the School Committee on March 20, 2006. A budget figure would need to be voted on by the School Committee at that meeting. The budget will be fine-tuned throughout the spring. Mr. Wynn questioned whether the $100,000 that gets returned to the Town from Medicaid could be returned to the School Department to help fill the gap. Mr. Connolly will look into this. Mr. Haugland requested two budget plans be put together, given the uncertainties in Chapter 70 aid.
Mr. Graham, Director of Facilities, reviewed the capital requests and discussed the utility costs to date. He expects that the utility costs may run $75K-125K over budget, not $300K over budget as predicted earlier in the season.
Mr. Roche, Director of Technology, reviewed a revised 3 year technology plan
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn reported that the School Committee will be returning $280,000 from Carry Forward Funds (from FY05) at the close of FY06. Some of these funds may be able to be directed to the Technology request. Details will need to be worked out with the Comptroller’s office on how to unencumber the funds and reallocate them.
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn reviewed a draft report on the Transportation program. She discussed the contract highlights, the fee structure options, ridership and service levels. She requested that the School Committee accept the terms of the transportation bid contract which read:
The term of the contract shall be three (3) years beginning July, 2006 and ending June, 2009. The School Committee shall have the sole option to renew the contract for an additional two (2) years term from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2011, subject to annual appropriation. The School Committee shall be deemed to have exercised the option to renew unless the School Committee notifies the contractor no less than (30) days prior to the expiration that the School Committee does not wish to renew the contract.
Mr. Wynn requested that as part of the bid, a request is made for the vendors to itemize their costs and that a fuel escalation clause be added. Kathy Collins, Finance Committee member, asked about an environmental clause, Green House Gas that Bob Boise has discussed with her. Ms. Dunn will follow up on this.
Mr. Wynne moved for approval for the School Committee to accept the terms of the transportation bid contract as outlined above. Mr. Coburn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
PERSONNEL ACTIONS
The following personnel actions were provided:
RESIGNATION: Support Staff
Michael Dempsey, student support facilitator at Natick High School. Resignation effective at the end of the day on March 10, 2006.
APPOINTMENT: Support Staff
Robin Henderson, to be food service worker at Brown School effective February 7, 2006. Salary, Step 1
APPOINTMENT: Professional Staff
Christina Carson-Bugden, to be (.8) occupational therapist effective March 13, 2006. Salary, Masters, Step 12 pro-rated.
At 9:50 p.m., Mr. Coburn moved to adjourn Mr. Wynne seconded. It was unanimously approved.
James Connolly
Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
Attest:_____________________________ Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
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