Town of Natick - School Committee Minutes

Approval of Records

Natick Public Schools

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING

January 17, 2007

The School Committee held a meeting on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 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, David Murphy,

Members Absent: Rick Wynn

James Connolly Superintendent

Karen LeDuc Assistant Superintendent

Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary

Staff, Parents, Press

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mr. Coburn moved for approval of the minutes of January 8, 2007. Mr. Meyler seconded. Ms. Karen Adelman Foster made a correction pertaining to the section of Facility Rentals for Religious Organizations. The minutes referred to her as being involved with the group requesting the rental, however, she is not at the present time involved with this group. The minutes were unanimously approved with this change.

Chairman Haugland asked if anyone wished to come forward for Public Speak. No one came forward.

Mr. Connolly provided an overview of the FY08 Budget. His recommended budget request for this year is $40,283,029, an increase of $2,870,495 (7.7%) from last year . The Town Administrator’s school budget request is $38,534,910, an increase of $1,122,376 (3.0%). The difference between the Superintendent’s budget and the Town Administrator’s budget is $1,748,119. The Statement of Changes is as follows:

Salary and Wages +4.96%

Special Ed Tuitions $ 720,041 +1.90%

Electricity $ 95,000 +0.25%

Transportation-Reg. $ 62,572 +0.17%

Transportation-SpEd $ 45,848 +0.12%

Building Repairs $ 48,000 +0.13%

Contracted services $ 42,591 +0.11%

Total $2,870,495 +7.7%

Mr. Connolly stated that deliberations will need to take place as to whether or not to pursue an operational override to avoid lost services. Mr. Connolly also reviewed a list of requests not included in the budget request. More discussions on the budget will take place over the next couple of months. Mr. Connolly reviewed the budget schedule. The School Committee will have a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee next Monday, January 22, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the Ed Dlott meeting room. Immediately following this meeting, they will return to their regular meeting and review the Pupil Services budget.

NATICK REDMEN MASCOT TASKFORCE

In accordance with Natick Public School Committee Policy Section B, Number 6 B-2, Ms. Karen Adelman

Foster moved that the School Committee refer the matter of team and school identity at Natick High School to an independent community study group in the form of a task force.

In accordance with Policy Section B, Number 6, B-2a, this task force will serve to advise the committee for the special purpose of determining ways the Committee may ensure that Natick and the Natick Public Schools are appropriately honoring the community’s history and its relation to the Indians who founded the town and their descendents.

In accordance with Policy Section B, Number 6, B-2b, the task force will be broadly representative, and take into consideration the specific tasks assigned to the task force. Specifically, the membership will comprise:

· Two descendents each of the Natick Praying Indians,~the Nipmuc Nation, and any other tribe with a historical tie to Natick or the immediate area

· The Natick High principal or designee

· The Natick High athletic director or designee

· A representative of the Booster Club(s)

· Four Natick High students chosen in a manner determined by the principal

· Two Natick High alumni to be chosen by the superintendent

· Two name-change advocates and two name-retaining advocates to be chosen by the Natick High principal or designee

These appointments, in accordance with Policy Section B, Number 6, B-2c, will be made by the School Committee, and in the case of staff members, made by the School Committee upon recommendation of the Superintendent. Every effort will be made to appoint the task force in advance of the public comment on the issue scheduled for February 26^th, and appointed members of the task force will be invited to that meeting to hear the public comment.

Tenure of task force members will be up to one year, in accordance with Policy Section B, Number 6, B-2d, but with the option of reappointment.

The task force’s mission and charge will be as follows:

To determine whether and how the Natick Redmen name and related imagery does or does not need to be changed in order to ensure that Natick and the Natick Public Schools are appropriately honoring the community’s history and its relation to the Indians who founded the town and their descendents.

To conduct a thorough, good-faith, fact- and research-based examination of the issues of the Natick Redmen name and related school imagery, including the opinions of all stakeholders in a manner to be determined by the task force.~In May 2008, on the basis of that examination, to bring to the Natick School Committee a set of recommendations for any action that might be necessary to ensure that Natick and the Natick Public Schools are appropriately honoring the community’s history and its relation to the Indians who founded the town and their descendents.

The task force’s timeline will be to meet throughout the year as needed in accordance with the Open Meeting Laws, and by May 2008, on the basis of those meetings, to bring to the School Committee a set of recommendations for any action that might be necessary. As noted, reappointment of the task force may be necessary.

The task force’s relationship to the School Committee will be that of an independent advisory committee, free to organize itself as it sees fit, free to meet when it sees fit. It will have an independent relationship with the media with the exception that no member of the task force may rightly claim to speak on behalf of the School Committee.

In accordance with Policy Section B, Number 6, B-2g, the School Committee will possess certain legal powers that cannot be delegated or surrendered to others. Therefore, all recommendations of the task force will be submitted to the School Committee. In accordance with Policy Section B, Number 6, B-2h, the Committee will have the sole power to dissolve the task force and reserves the right to exercise this power at any time during the life of the task force.

Mr. Coburn seconded.

Mr. Wynne moved that effective at the start of the 2007/2008 academic year the Natick Public Schools shall cease the use of the team name “Redmen” or any other name, symbol or mascot that is based on or makes reference to race or ethnicity.

He also moved that on or before February 26, 2007 the School Committee establish a taskforce to recommend a new team name, mascot and symbol for use by the Natick Public Schools effective at the start of the 2007/2008 academic year, and that such taskforce make its recommendation to the School Committee no later than the second scheduled School Committee meeting in May 2007. Such taskforce shall be composed of:

a. The Principal of Natick High School

b. The Athletic Director of the Natick Public Schools

c. A member of the Natick Praying Indians

d. 2 members of the Natick Booster Club

e. 4 Natick High School students to be appointed by the Superintendent

Mr. Haugland seconded both motions.

A discussion continued.

Mr. Coburn moved to defer vote on any of the motions until February 26, 2007. Mr. Meyler seconded.

More discussion continued. Members of the audience came forward to speak.

Mr. Jerry Pierce came forward to express that after last weeks meeting when Chief Caring Hands spoke his mind has been changed and feels that the name should be changed.

Mr. Peter Robbins came forward and suggested the Committee consider Ms. Adelman’s motion and honor the heritage of this town.

Mr. David Yancey, a member of the Nipmuc Tribe came forward and introduced his uncle Paul Hasgill, Chief of the Nipmuc Tribe and stated that they are not offended by the name “Redmen”.

Mr. Ed Grogan, former teacher from Quincy came forward as he is working on the same issue in his city. He recommended that the School Committee be careful how they balance their taskforce. He suggested they read the public school mascot policy statement that the MTA and the NEA have adopted.

Mr. Peter Safacon former Natick resident and Director of the New England Anti-Mascot Coalition, came forward and urged the Committee to support Mr. Wynne’s motion. He provided the School Committee with documents for their review.

Chairman Haugland called for a vote on the motion to defer these motions to the February 26, 2007 meeting. It was unanimously approved.

NATICK 360 UPDATE

Mr. Coburn reported that the Communications Subcommittee had met this evening to discuss the Natick 360 Phase I report. He made a motion for the subcommittee (due to the fact that this report is so extensive and there are some concerns and inaccuracies that need to be reviewed) prepare a bulleted list of revisions/concerns to be presented to the full School Committee at a future meeting. Mr. Wynne seconded It was unanimously approved.

Ms. Rosemary Driscoll reported that a Phase II report has been sent to all members. This report is a shorter, more concise report which would need input and discussion by the full Committee as soon as possible to keep the process moving ahead. A recommendation was made to put Phase II on the agenda for the meeting of January 29, 2007.

At 9:45 p.m. Mr. Coburn moved to adjourn. Mr. Meyler seconded. It was unanimously approved.

Secretary to the School Committee

Attest:_____________________________ Sharon Reilly