Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
September 11, 2006
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, September 11, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. in the School Committee Room, Third Floor, Town Hall. Chairman Haugland called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Members Present: Karen Adelman Foster, Dirk Coburn, Henry Haugland, Stephen Meyler, Dave Murphy,
Members Absent: Rick Wynn, Ted Wynne
Others present: James Connolly Superintendent
Karen LeDuc Assistant Superintendent
Mary Ellen Dunn Director of Fiscal & Management Services
Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary
Matt Lanchantin Student Representative
Staff, Parents & Press
Chairman Haugland called for a moment of silence in memory of the victims 9/11.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ms. Karen Adelman Foster moved for approval of the minutes of August 28, 2006. Mr. Coburn seconded with one change. The change was that Mr. Haugland announced that Mr. Rick Wynn will be engaged in an educational opportunity until November (not December as noted). All in favor: Henry Haugland, David Murphy, Karen Adelman Foster, Dirk Coburn. Mr. Meyler abstained as he was absent for this meeting.
PUBLIC SPEAK
Chairman Haugland asked if anyone wished to come forward for Public Speak. No one came forward.
REPORT FROM COMMUNICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
Ms. Karen Adelman Foster provided a report and recommendations from the Communications Subcommittee which consists of Karen Adelman Foster, Dave Murphy, Rick Wynn (on temporary leave), Dirk Coburn (interim substitute for Rick Wynn). She indicated that the Committee invites the comments and participation of citizens, the NPS administration, faculty, and staff in their continuing effort to improve communications.
The recommendations were reviewed and discussed. Some modifications were made. Dirk Coburn moved for approval to adopt the following recommendations which include the modifications. Ms. Karen Adelman Foster seconded: The recommendations are as follows:
To encourage and facilitate community input:
1. Make school committee contact information more easily available.
a. Request that NPS webmaster establish an e-mail address, e.g., schoolcommittee@natick.k12.ma.us, that channels e-mails to all school committee members, with an automated response: “Thank you for contacting the Natick School Committee. Your message will automatically be sent to each member. Replies from any member represent the sender only, not the School Committee as a whole. When writing or responding, please be aware that the Secretary of State has determined that e-mail is a public record and may not be kept confidential.”
b. Request that NPS webmaster publish the School Committee e-mail address, along with individual e-mails of each member, encouragement to contact us, and the disclaimer as above, on the NPS website. Publish a statement that phone messages for School Committee members may be left at the Superintendent’s office at 508-647-6500, ext. 0.
c. Authorize the Communications Subcommittee to send this information, too, to the PTOs and schools for publication, if possible, in school directories, school websites, and newsletters, (with statements of encouragement and disclaimer).
d. Include the role & responsibility of the School Committee
2. Authorize the Communications Subcommittee to invite and encourage participation of school families in School Committee meetings and other school-related forums via existing school newsletters, if possible, e-mail, and flyers. Communications to be informally circulated for SC approval before distribution. Recommendations for participation of citizens, business, and other town boards to follow.
3. Authorize Communications Subcommittee to investigate the possibility of including a short article about NPS in the Town Administrator’s Newsletter, and to develop such an article for each issue, if permitted.
4. Schedule some School Committee meetings in schools.
To improve responsiveness to community input:
5. Establish, on a trial basis, a new item for the minutes and agenda: the Action Item. Requests (for follow up, more information, etc.) would become action items upon the agreement of the person responsible for executing the requested action, or by vote of the Committee. The action item would be recorded in the minutes. A cumulative Action Item List would appear at the bottom of each agenda, and would be reviewed during each meeting. Items would be struck by unanimous consent or by vote.
6. Establish, on a trial basis, a new regular agenda item: School Committee Members Concerns, similar to Selectmen’s Concerns in Board of Selectmen’s meetings. Each member, during this agenda item, would be given the opportunity to bring up non-agenda items for future discussion and follow-up. A courtesy advance notice to the Superintendent and chair would be expected barring exceptional circumstances. Limited discussion might be allowed on these items, but immediate votes would not; nor would administration or other parties be expected to respond immediately. Evaluate experiment after four meetings.
Chairman Haugland called for a vote on the above recommendations. They were approved 5 to 0.
Other issues the Communications Subcommittee would like to consider in the near term are:
· Invite engagement of non-school-family citizens.
· Continue attention to transparency of budget document.
· Upgrade website.
· Develop literature about curriculum, for posting, general availability, and distribution to parents.
· Establish regular paper or e-mail newsletter from Superintendent, School Committee, or both.
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS
The Elementary Principals were present (Mary Canner, Nora Pou, Bernadine Small, Barbara Brown & Beverly McCloskey) and reviewed key areas of their school improvement plans. In summary, Ms. Mary Canner outlined 5 priority items that all of the elementary principals feel they need:
1. Need more math support similar to that which literacy receives
2. Would like more time given to teachers for collaboration
3. Would like to maintain the current class sizes
4. Would like secretarial time increased (add an additional 2 weeks – one before school gets out, one before school starts)
5. Technology – need to upgrade to OS10
Mr. Connolly alerted the School Committee that next years kindergarten class is expected to be the largest we have had with approximately 440 students. It may be a one year aberration, but some determinations will need to be made. Kindergarten enrollments will be revisited later in October.
Mr. Meyler asked if online math tutorials or math samples could be put on the website to aid parents in helping their children with math.
UPDATE ON TECHNOLOGY
Mr. Dennis Roche provided an in-depth presentation on the Technology Department which included a summer update, the results from the prior school year 2005-2006 and what will be needed in 2006-2007 and 2008-2009. A lengthy discussion continued. Mr. Roche indicated that the number one priority is to keep everyone up and running while systems are being rebuilt. It was suggested to strengthen other means of communications in case of down times.
The amount that will be requested at Town Meeting for Technology warrant will be $400,000 which Mr. Connolly expects will be funded from free cash.
POLICY REVIEW
Mr. Connolly reviewed the changes from the previous meeting on the following policies:
Student Travel
Criminal Offender Record Information
Medication Administration Policy
Natick Community Farm
Naming and Dedication of School Facilities and Properties
Wellness Policy
Mr. Coburn moved for approval on the above policies as presented. Ms. Adelman Foster seconded. They were unanimously approved.
Due to the lateness of the hour, the Curricula Review and the Update on Massachusetts School Building Authority was postponed to the next meeting.
Mr. Murphy moved to adjourn at 10:25 p.m. Mr. Coburn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
James Connolly
Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
Attest:_____________________________ Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
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