Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
March 28, 2007
The School Committee held a meeting on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. in the School Committee Room, Third Floor, Town Hall. Mr. Connolly called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Members Present: Karen Adelman Foster, Anne Blanchard, Dirk Coburn, Stephen Meyler, David Murphy,
Rick Wynn, Anne Zernicke
Others present:
James Connolly Superintendent
Karen LeDuc Assistant Superintendent
Thomas Rose Director of Fiscal & Management Services
Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary
Staff, Parents, Press
REORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Mr. Connolly called for nominations for Chair of the School Committee:
Mr. Coburn nominated Mr. Rick Wynn as Chairman of the School Committee. Ms. Adelman Foster seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Mr. Wynn congratulated Ms. Anne Blanchard, Ms. Anne Zernicke, and Mr. David Murphy on their election/re-election to the Natick School Committee.
Chairman Wynn called for nominations for Vice Chair of the School Committee: Ms. Adelman Foster nominated Mr. Stephen Meyler as Vice Chairman. Mr. Coburn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Chairman Wynn called for nominations for Clerk of the School Committee:
Mr. Coburn nominated Ms. Karen Adelman Foster as Clerk of the School Committee. Ms. Blanchard seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Chairman Wynn called for nominations for Recording Secretary: Mr. Meyler nominated Mrs. Sharon Reilly as Recording Secretary of the School Committee. Chairman Wynn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Mr. Coburn moved to reaffirm Attorney Naomi Stonberg as the School Committee’s attorney. Ms. Adelman Foster seconded. It was unanimously approved.
REVIEW OF SUBCOMMITTEES
Mr. Connolly reviewed the current list of subcommittees that the School Committee has been involved with. A recommendation was made to put this item on hold until such time that the School Committee can hold a retreat or a future meeting to determine which subcommittees they will continue with and who will serve on them.
APPROVAL OF DONATIONS
The following donations were presented to the School Committee for their acceptance:
Source/Donation Amount/Value Purpose
Mr. Richard Fine $272.00 NHS Speech Team – Student Activity Account
Microsoft/Susan Lau $1,445.00 NHS Robotics Team – Student Activity Account
Pat Parteleno $25.00 Wilson Library
Cognex $2600.00 NHS Robotics Team – Student Activity Account
For the Committees information, the following donations were received to support the Massachusetts Cultural Grant at Wilson:
Natick Federal Savings Bank $1,000.00
Middlesex Savings Bank $1,000.00
New England Spas & Sunrooms $200.00
Mr. Coburn moved to accept the above donations. Mr. Meyler seconded. It was unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF OUT OF STATE TRAVEL
Mr. Dan O’Leary was present to discuss a request made by Mr. John Hughes for the Natick High School Robotics Team to travel to Atlanta, Georgia on April 11-15, 2007 to compete in a National competition, the FIRST Robotics Competition. Mr. Coburn moved for approval of this trip. Ms. Karen Adelman Foster seconded. It was unanimously approved.
COMMUNICATIONS, PETITIONS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Mr. Connolly updated the School Committee on the NEASC evaluation that has taken place at the high school this past week. Fifteen educators throughout New England have been participating in the visit. The tentative report thus far has been positive.
Mr. Connolly reported that he plans to address the kindergarten class sizes and possible redistricting during the month of May.
CONTINUED DISCUSSION ON THE FY08 BUDGET
Mr. Connolly reported that at the end of FY07 there could be approximately $350K remaining in the Salary and Wages budget which could cover the discrepancy in the FY08 budget. He reviewed the following numbers:
FY07 BUDGET: $37,412,524
FY08 BUDGET:
Town Administrator Recommendation $38,534,910 +3%
Superintendent Recommendation $40,283,029 +7.67%
School Committee Recommendation $40,453,029 +8.1%
Finance Committee Recommendation $40,184,910 +7.4%
He asked the School Committee if they accept the Finance Committee budget recommendation of $40,184,910 and if so, how will the difference of $268,119 be resolved. A discussion continued. It was the Committee’s consensus that they did not wish to reduce their budget recommendation of $40,453,029, however, they agreed to the Finance Committee’s appropriation of $40,184,910 given that the discrepancy of $268,119 will be made up from FY07 year end dollars which could be used to prepay such things as special education tuitions, supplies, transportation, etc.
Mr. Coburn motioned for the School Committee to affirm its original budget amount of $40,453,029, to endorse the amount appropriated by the Finance Committee of $40,184,910 and to endorse the approach of covering the gap of $268,119 by funds which are expected to be available at the end of FY07. Mr. Meyler seconded. It was unanimously approved.
At 8:00 p.m., Mr. Meyler moved to adjourn. Ms. Zernicke seconded. It was unanimously approved.
James Connolly
Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
Attest:_____________________________ Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
| 
