Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
April 3, 2006
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, April 3, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. in the School Committee Room, Third Floor, Town Hall. Superintendent Connolly called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Members Present: Karen Adelman Foster, Henry Haugland, Dirk Coburn, Stephen Meyler, Rick Wynn, Ted Wynne
Members Absent: David Murphy
Others present: James Connolly Superintendent
Karen LeDuc Assistant Superintendent
Mary Ellen Dunn Director of Fiscal & Management Services
Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary
Staff, Parents & Press
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Wynne moved for approval of the minutes of March 27, 2006 with the following correction: RE: Item pertaining to UPDATE OF MEETING RE: MULTI-YEAR FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS BY THE TOWN ADMINISTRATOR. Mr. Ted Wynne seconded the motion made by Mr. Coburn, not Mr. Rick Wynn. Mr. Rick Wynn seconded the approval of minutes, however, amended the minutes as follows: to use the name of the newly formed Committee (Fiscal Steering Committee) wherever it is mentioned in that section. The minutes were unanimously approved with those two changes.
PUBLIC SPEAK
None.
REORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Mr. Connolly called for nominations for Chair of the School Committee:
Mr. Ted Wynne nominated Mr. Henry Haugland as Chairman of the School Committee. Mr. Rick Wynn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Chairman Haugland nominated Mr. Rick Wynn for Vice Chairman of the School Committee. Mr. Ted Wynne seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Chairman Haugland called for nominations for Clerk of the School Committee:
Mr. Ted Wynne nominated Mr. Dave Murphy as Clerk of the School Committee. Mr. Coburn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Chairman Haugland nominated Mrs. Sharon Reilly as Recording Secretary of the School Committee. Mr. Coburn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Chairman Haugland moved to reaffirm Attorney Naomi Stonberg as the School Committee’s attorney. Mr. Coburn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
SUBCOMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
A listing of subcommittees and their membership was provided to the School Committee for its review and input. Members should get back to Mr. Haugland on which subcommittees they wish to serve. Mr. Wynne requested that he not serve as the Senior Center liaison or on the Secretaries negotiation subcommittee due to other commitments. By consensus, representation on the Community Preservation Act Study Committee was eliminated due the recent Town Elections where it was voted down.
COMMUNICATIONS, PETITONS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Mr. Dirk Coburn provided a copy of an email to Ms. Sharon Reilly for purposes of it becoming public record. This email had been sent by Mr. Coburn to some of the Finance Committee members, some of the School Committee members, Town Administrator and Superintendent and addressed the manner in which the disparity in the school budget is addressed. Mr. Coburn wishes it to be part of the public record.
Mr. Connolly reported that last Thursday, the Finance Committee discussed and approved a budget for the School Department in the amount of $37,412,534, by a vote of 8 to 4, a 4.4% increase over last years budget. Mr. Connolly recommended that the School Committee vote to support this recommended budget amount. Mr. Ted Wynne moved for approval to accept this new budget figure in the amount of $37,412,534. Mr. Rick Wynn seconded. A discussion continued. Consensus was given to support this number in order to work with the Town, however, members felt there are still many unmet needs that should have been included in the School budget.
LONG RANGE STRATEGIC PLANNING FUNDING UPDATE (ARTICLE 15)
Mr. Craig Ross, Chair of the Long Range Strategic Planning Study Committee, provided an overview of the role of this Committee, its makeup, the process and the expected results. He discussed the roles and responsibilities of the Community at Large, Boards/Committees/Town Meeting and the Strategic Planning Oversight Committee. He discussed Article 15 which is a request for Town Meeting to fund $150,000 in addition to raising $50,000 from local businesses. The $150,000 would be applied to consulting resources and $50,000 for publicity to increase public participation and a community survey. A lengthy discussion continued. School Committee members supported the goals of the committee although some expressed concern on how decisions will be made and the role and authority of the Committee
overlapping with the authority of the other Boards. Mr. Ross assured School Committee members that it is not the intent of the Long Range Planning Committee to assume authority from them or the other boards, but to run the process on their behalf. Mr. Ross indicated that the rules and boundaries are laid out in a 50 page document which he will share with the School Committee. He also sees the Long Range Strategic Planning Study Committee dovetailing very cleanly with the newly formed Fiscal Steering Committee.
Mr. Coburn moved for approval for the School Committee to endorse the Natick 360 Strategic Planning Process. Mr. Meyler seconded.
Mr. Wynn moved for approval to postpone this item until the meeting of April 24 to allow more time to review the role of this Committee and the detailed document. Ms. Adelman seconded.
Chairman Haugland indicated that it would not be his intent to vote on this item this evening given one of its members is absent and others have expressed more time to review. No votes on the motions were taken. Chairman Haugland requested that the School Committee vote on this item at its next meeting on April 24 which should be enough time before this item is brought before Town Meeting. If needed, a special School Committee meeting could be called in order to take a vote on the endorsement of this study committee and its process.
TO SCHEDULE A SCHOOL COMMITTEE RETREAT
Mr. Connolly discussed with the School Committee a couple of dates for a School Committee retreat. It was the preference of the Committee to hold the retreat this Saturday, April 8 at 8:00 a.m. Attorney Stonberg will be present to meet new members and discuss the role of the School Committee. Mr. Connolly will confirm the date after checking with Mr. Murphy and Attorney Stonberg.
ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn requested that the School Committee accept the following donations:
Sam’s Club $700.00 Student Activities – NHS Drama
Mrs. Dunn also reported on the following for the Committee’s information:
· $30 donation received to support the Wilson Library Fund.
· Wilson Middle School, Kennedy Middle School, Memorial, Brown and Lilja Elementary schools received $84.65, $129.42, $136.77, $220.62 and $217.09 respectively, as part of the Target, “Take Charge of Education” Program.
· A letter was sent to Mr. Andrew Meyer of the Rotary Club of Natick acknowledging the distribution of dictionaries to each of the third grade students of the Natick Public Schools. This is not a donation.
· The students of the Business Professionals of America group at Natick High School will be seeking contributions from the business community for their upcoming competition in Orlando.
PERSONNEL ACTIONS
The following personnel actions were reported:
RESIGNATION: Professional Staff
Lauren Kisgen, Grade 3 teacher at Lilja School. Resignation effective June 30, 2006.
Stephanie Kahn, Kindergarten teacher at Lilja School. Resignation effective June 30, 2006.
APPOINTMENT: Professional Staff
Sarah Darby, to be part-time kindergarten tutor at Lilja School effective March 27, 2006. This is a grant funded position. Salary, $23.50 per hour
Nicole Trincia, to be part-time kindergarten tutor at Lilja School effective March 28, 2006. This is a grant funded position. Salary, $23.50 per hour.
APPOINTMENT: Support Staff
Marcia King, to be (.5) long-term substitute student support facilitator at Memorial School effective March 29, 2006 to the end of this school year. Salary, $14.79 hour.
At 9:20 p.m., Mr. Wynn moved to adjourn Mr. Coburn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
James Connolly
Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
Attest:_____________________________ Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
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