Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
March 20, 2006
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, March 20, 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 arrived at 7:40 p.m.
Others present: James Connolly Superintendent
Karen LeDuc Assistant Superintendent
Audrey Seyffert Assistant Superintendent
Mary Ellen Dunn Director of Fiscal & Management Services
Sasha Smalky Student Representative
Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary
Staff, Parents & Press
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Wynne moved for approval of the minutes of March 6, 2006. Mr. Wynn seconded. They were approved 6 to 0.
UPDATE FROM STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD
Members of the Student Advisory Board provided the School Committee with an update of happenings at Natick High School. Members of the Student Advisory Board for this school year are: Marielle Brown, Rachael Crowell,
Kacey Fields, Liz Georgiopoulos, Randall Rosenberg, and Sasha Smalky.
RECOGNITION OF STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
The School Committee and Administration recognized Ms. Sasha Smalky for her time and dedication as Student Representative for the School Committee for the school year 2005/2006. Mr. Connolly, on behalf of the School Committee and Administration, presented Sasha with a recognition plaque.
PUBLIC SPEAK
Mr. Carl Bates, English Department Head, came forward to urge the School Committee to reconsider cutting an English position at the high school.
APPROVAL OF OUT OF STATE TRAVEL
Mrs. Ruth Evans, Wilson Middle School Principal, came forward to request the School Committee’s approval for the Wilson Middle School 8th graders to participate in the 32nd annual Barnhill Basketball Exchange. Approximately 34 Grade 8 students from Wilson will be traveling to St. John’s, New Brunswick, Canada on April 7-9, 2006. Mr. Haugland moved for approval of this trip. Mr. Wynne seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Mr. John Hughes, Principal of Natick High School, came forward to request the School Committee’s approval for 25-30 Natick High School students to travel to Puerto Rico on April 13-20, 2007 which will provide the students with first hand history of a Spanish culture and experience in speaking Spanish. Mr. Haugland moved for approval of this trip. Mr. Wynn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Mr. Hughes also requested the School Committee’s approval for the Natick High School chapter of the Business Professionals of America to travel to the National Competition in Orlando, Florida on May 10-14. The students will be competing in Network Design, Web Page Design, Java Programming, Computer Network Technology and HTML fundamentals. Mr. Haugland moved for approval of this trip. Mr. Wynne seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Mr. Hughes updated that School Committee on a recent trip of the Co-Ed Cheerleaders, who traveled to Durham, NH to compete in the New England Championship Cheerleading competition. The team placed 8th in New England. He congratulated the team as well as Coaches Dave Lombardi and Valerie Washburn.
Mr. Hughes acknowledged Mrs. Diane Langley, Social Studies Department Head, who has been selected to participate in the Pursuing Justice summer institute in American History, part of the Teachers as Scholars program. She will be receiving a $2,000 stipend and a finished curriculum project as well as PDP’s and an opportunity to receive 3 graduate credits.
CONTINUATION OF FY07 BUDGET DISCUSSION
Mr. Connolly reviewed the FY07 budget. His recommended budget is $37,962,516. The Town Administrator’s recommendation is $36,912,534 – a difference of $1,049,982 . After several meetings and discussions, the Superintendent believes that the following budget adjustments could be made to help close the gap:
Projected additional retirements and staff turnover $100,000
Apply Metco & PL 874 funds to offset the budget $75,000
Remove new health benefits from grants and move staff from budget to grants $214,600
Total budget reduction $389,600
Mr. Connolly’s new budget recommendation is $37,572,916, a 4.8% increase.
After much discussion, Mr. Haugland moved for approval on the new budget recommendation of $37,572,916. Mr. Wynne seconded.
Mr. Cashman moved for approval to add an additional $150K to the superintendent’s new budget recommendation, for a total of $37,722,916 in order to cover costs of math tutors at the elementary schools. Mr. Murphy seconded. Further discussion continued.
Chair Packer called for a vote on the motion made by Mr. Cashman to approve a budget in the amount of $37,722,916. The motion lost 1 to 6. All in favor: Mr. Cashman. All opposed: Mr. Coburn, Mr. Haugland, Mr. Murphy, Chair Packer, Mr. Wynn, Mr. Wynne
Chair Packer called for a vote on the motion made by Mr. Haugland to approve a budget in the amount of $37,572,916. It was unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF TOWN MEETING WARRANT ARTICLES
Technology Warrant - A discussion took place regarding the warrant article for Technology in the amount of $182,000. At the meeting of March 6, 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. Mr. Wynne moved for approval to request that Town Meeting release the $280,000 which was originally appropriated Town Meeting in April 2004. Chair Packer seconded. The motion carried 6 to 0. (Mr. Murphy had left the meeting).
Mr. Wynne moved for approval to request that Town Meeting appropriate $182,000 of the $280,000 to be used under Warrant Article 16, Technology Equipment. Mr. Wynn seconded. The motion carried 6 to 0.
Transportation Warrant
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn requested that the School Committee take no action on the transportation warrant article until the transportation bids come forward in early April.
Capital Warrant
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn reviewed the Capital request for $250,000 which consists of:
$150,000 – Univent Replacement for Johnson School
$75,000 – Electrical Upgrades for Johnson School
$25,000 – Interior repair and fixture replacement for Johnson School.
Mr. Wynn moved for approval to submit a request for capital in the amount of $250,000. Mr. Wynne seconded. It was approved 6 to 0.
PRESENTATION ON MULTI-YEAR PLAN BY TOWN ADMINISTRATOR
Mr. Phil Lemnios, Town Manager, provided the School Committee with a preview of a presentation he plans to give a at a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee and the School Committee for this coming Wednesday, March 22. This presentation consisted of a five year budget projection. A discussion continued. Mr. Lemnios responded to questions from the School Committee. A more indepth discussion will take place at the joint meeting on March 22.
PERSONNEL ACTIONS
The following personnel actions were reported:
RESIGNATION: Professional Staff
Charles Brown, Director of Fine & Performing Arts. Resignation effective at the end of the 2005-06 school year.
Jeanne Elser-Smith, grade 1 teacher at Lilja School. Resignation effective at the end of the 2005-06 school year.
James Gibson, Grade 3 teacher at Bennett-Hemenway School. Resignation effective at the end of the 2005-06 school year.
Danielle Hildebrand, Kindergarten teacher at Bennett-Hemenway School. Resignation effective at the end of the 2005-06 school year.
Stacey Klasnick, Links and Preschool Program Coordinator at Bennett-Hemenway School. Resignation effective at the end of the 2005-06 school year.
Heather Lutfy, Special education teacher at Lilja School. Resignation effective at the end of the 2005-06 school year.
Kelly Tavares, Spanish teacher at Natick High School and currently on a leave of absence. Resignation effective March 1, 2006.
Elizabeth Ward, Social studies teacher at Natick High School and currently on a leave of absence. Resignation effective March 1, 2006.
RESIGNATION: Support Staff
Nadia Keller, (.5) student support facilitator at Memorial School. Resignation effective at the end of the day on March 10, 2006.
Sabeen Mahmood, student support facilitator at Lilja School. Resignation effective at the end of the day on March 3, 2006
Catherine Rawlings, (.8) student support facilitator and lunchroom monitor at Johnson School. Resignation effective at the end of the day on March 8, 2006.
EXTENDED LEAVE OF ABSENCE:
Marcy Klay, (.5) grade 1 teacher at Bennett-Hemenway School. Maternity leave of absence is effective April 24, 2006 to the end of this school year.
Anna Nolan, Vice-Principal at Wilson Middle School. Maternity leave of absence is effective April 24, 2006 to the end of this school year.
Denise Trubiano, Spanish teacher at Natick High School. Maternity leave of absence is effective April 27, 2006 to the end of this school year.
APPOINTMENT: Professional Staff
Samantha Hinnant, to be grade 2 long-term substitute teacher at Lilja School effective February 6, 2006 to [to be determined]. Salary, $141.00 per day.
Eileen Kirwin, to be special needs long-term substitute teacher at Bennett-Hemenway School effective February 2 to March 17, 2006. Salary, $141.00 per day.
Tracy Schaller, to be part-time Director of Memorial School After School Program [MASK] effective February 16, 2006.
APPOINTMENT: Support Staff
Patricia Sophis, to be part-time lunch monitor at Johnson School effective March 8, 2006. Salary, $10.30 per hour.
At 10:10 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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