Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
September 25, 2006
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, September 25, 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,
Ted Wynne
Members Absent: Rick Wynn
Others present: James Connolly Superintendent
Karen LeDuc Assistant Superintendent
Mary Ellen Dunn Director of Fiscal & Management Services
Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary
Maureen Cushing Student Representative
Staff, Parents & Press
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Coburn moved for approval of the minutes of September 11, 2006. Ms. Adelman Foster seconded. They were unanimously approved.
PUBLIC SPEAK
Chairman Haugland asked if anyone wished to come forward for Public Speak. No one came forward.
POLICY REVIEW
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn provided the School Committee with a summary of language and rate changes in the policy on Facility Rental Rates. A discussion continued. This item will come back to the meeting of October 4 with modifications which will include:
· Group III will be allowed to rent prior to 5:00 p.m. if there are no conflicts with in-house programming but will have to pay their normal rate and may be bumped if an in-house program is needed.
· Look to see if buffer zones could be adjusted between rental groups
· Change language that reads that the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will be exempt from rental rates under the following conditions. . . . to include a class of users
· Outline of cost impact if there was no change for Group I users and no change for Group II Natick based users.
· If rates didn’t change, what would have to come out of our budget
COMMUNICATIONS, PETITIONS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Ms. Karen Adelman Foster announced an event being planned to honor recently returned veterans, Natick families of active duty service members, and active duty personnel at the Natick Labs. It will be a dinner event at the Central Firehouse on Saturday, November 11 at 6:00 p.m. She encouraged everyone to spread the word and those who should be included may contact John MacGillivray at 508-647-6545 or email veterans@natickma.org.
REPORT ON SAT/AP
Mr. John Hughes introduced Ms. Jan Parsons, Guidance Department Head, who provided the School Committee with a detailed report on the recent SAT scores. This latest test was a new test which included a Writing Mean and was more comprehensive in the reading section. Ms. Parsons will come back to a future meeting to discuss the SAT II and AP test scores.
APPROVAL OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN - NATICK HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. John Hughes reviewed the highlights of the high school’s School Improvement Plan. He reported on a major event happening this school year which is the accreditation visit from the NEASC which takes place on March 18-21, 2007. Mr. Hughes will provide the School Committee with a more detailed schedule. Mr. Wynne moved for approval to accept this plan. Mr. Haugland seconded. It was unanimously approved.
CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION & ASSESSMENT UPDATE & CURRICULA REVIEW
Dr. Karen LeDuc provided an update on Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment and a curricula review. She responded to questions raised by Committee members.
UPDATE ON FY06 YEAR END BALANCES
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn reviewed the FY06 budget close numbers and the final balances returned to the Town:
EOY Budget Balance $404,217.59
Carry Forward Balance $143,393.11
Total Returned $547,610.70
ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS
Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn requested the School Committee’s approval of the following donations:
· Surplus tables, chairs and two bookcases donated to the Johnson School from SPSS in Cambridge
· Donations from Target through their “Take Charge of Education Program”:
§ $90.17 to Wilson Middle School
§ $198.69 to Brown School
Mr. Coburn moved for approval of the above donations. Mr. Wynne seconded. They were unanimously
approved.
Mr. Wynne 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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