Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
May 21, 2007
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, May 21, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the School Committee Room, 3rd Floor, Town Hall. Chairman Wynn called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Members Present: Karen Adelman Foster, Anne Blanchard, Dirk Coburn, Stephen Meyler, Rick Wynn
Members Absent: Anne Zernicke
At 7:00 p.m., Chairman Wynn called for an Executive Session to discuss non-represented personnel in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 39, Section 23B of the Massachusetts General Laws. A roll call vote was taken to enter into Executive Session and all members who were present were in favor.
At 7:40 p.m., the School Committee returned to open session ad continued with its regular meeting.
Mr. Murphy arrived at 8:20 p.m.
Others Present: Karen LeDuc Assistant Superintendent
Marianne Davis Director of Human Resources
Tom Rose Director of Fiscal & Management Services
Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary
Maureen Cushing Student Representative
Staff, Parents, Press
PUBLIC SPEAK
Chairman Wynn asked if anyone wished to come forward for Public Speak.
Ms. Rosemary Driscoll came forward. Ms. Driscoll is the School Committee’s designee for the Natick 360 project. She announced that there will be another community planning weekend for the Natick 360 strategic planning project on June 8-10 at Kennedy Middle School. Fliers are being distributed throughout the community and through the schools in backpacks. She encouraged all to participate and attend these sessions.
Mr. John Adelmann, parent, came forward to discuss his concerns and dissatisfied outcome dealing with a recent transportation issue which he brought forward to the Central Office. He stressed the need for the School Committee to keep children’s safety and welfare first and foremost and thanked the Transportation Subcommittee for working with him on this issue.
APPROVAL OF SALARY SCHEDULE FOR NON-REPRESENTED PERSONNEL
Chairman Wynn explained that the School Committee had been in Executive Session to discuss the salary schedule for non-represented personnel earlier where they had extensive discussion on the matter. Mrs. Davis presented the Non-Rep Salary Schedule which included a 3% increase for most positions. In addition, Mrs. Davis provided an outline of the recommended changes. She requested the School Committee’s approval as follows:
To approve the FY2008 Salary schedule as outlined and to approve the following changes:
Staff Development Specialist: keep the pay for this position in line with the EAN M+30 - average the 1st day rate and the 92nd day rate to come up with an annualized rate that is the same as the EAN rate.
Test Administrators: increase the $250 annual stipend to $500. This is a huge logistical undertaking that consumes many hours of work outside the regular contract day. Funding for this stipend comes from student test fees.
New Position: Youth Substance Abuse Initiative Coordinator - new position, funded for two years by the Metrowest Health Grant. This position requires a MPH or a MSW and will be paid according to the BCBA salary schedule since work-year and qualifications are similar. (It will not be a bargaining unit position since it does not require DOE licensure.)
Instrumental Music: Add semi-private music instruction at the rate of $60 per hour as recommended by the Director of Fine and Performing Arts.
Mr. Meyler moved for approval of these changes and the FY2008 salary schedule. Mr. Coburn seconded. Mr. Coburn pointed out that the new position of Youth Substance Abuse Initiative Coordinator is a two-year funded position by the Metrowest Health Grant and is a town wide resource. They were unanimously approved.
Mrs. Davis also requested the School Committee’s approval of the following changes:
Board Certified Behavior Analyst: new position, requires a Master’s degree and Board Certification as a Behavior Analyst. Since it is a professional, exempt position, it will go from an hourly rate to a salary - full- year position.
Behavior Technician: new position created last fall using the first three steps of the Behavior Therapist Assistant salary scale. Recommend adding a new fourth step, at the same rate as this year’s BTA step 4 rate in order to stay competitive.
Adult Education Secretary: adjust rate to be the same as Part Time Clerical and Substitute Clerical rate (that is based on step one of the Building Support Facilitator schedule).
Mr. Coburn moved for approval of these changes. Ms. Karen Adelman Foster seconded. They were approved by a majority vote of Ms. Adelman Foster, Ms. Blanchard, Mr. Coburn, and Mr. Wynn. Mr. Meyler abstained.
ACCEPTANCE OF LEASE AGREEMENT WITH NATICK EXTENDED DAY
Mr. Tom Rose requested the School Committee’s acceptance of a lease agreement with Natick Extended Day commencing on August 20, 2007 through June 30, 2009. Natick Extended Day will continue to pay the sum of $4,500 per year payable in quarterly installments. Ms. Carole McCarthy, Director of NED, and Ms. Diane Stone, Vice President of the NED Board were present. Mr. Meyler moved for approval of the lease. Ms. Karen Adelmen Foster seconded. It was unanimously approved.
ACCEPTANCE OF CONTRACT FOR INSTRUMENT RENTAL & REPAIR
Mr. Tom Rose requested the School Committee’s approval to award the bid for instrument rental and repair to Leonards Music for a one year contract with no extensions. A discussion continued. Mr. Meyler moved for approval to table this item. Mr. Coburn seconded. Mr. Rose and Mr. Richard King, Director of Fine Arts, discussed the bid process in more detail and responded to questions. Ms. Karen Adelman Foster moved to award the bid to Leonards Music. Ms. Blanchard seconded. Chairman Wynn called for a vote on Mr. Meyler’s motion to table the item. All in favor: Mr. Meyler, Mr.Wynn. All opposed: Ms. Adelman Foster, Mr. Coburn, Ms. Blanchard. Mr. Murphy abstained. The motion failed. Chairman Wynn called
for a vote on Ms. Adelman Foster’s motion to award the bid to Leonards Music. All in favor: Ms. Adelman Foster, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Wynn, Ms. Blanchard. All opposed: Mr. Meyler. Mr. Murphy abstained.
DRAMA & THEATRE ARTS PILOT PROGRAM AT KENNEDY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Ms. Rosemary Vickery presented a proposal for a Drama and Theatre Arts Pilot program to be implemented at Kennedy Middle School. After some discussion, Mr. Coburn moved to approve this pilot program. Ms. Adelman Foster seconded. It was unanimously approved.
STANDARDS-BASED REPORT OF STUDENT PROGRESS – K-4
Dr. Karen LeDuc reviewed the standards based report of student progress which will be implemented next year. She reviewed:
· The vehicles for reporting student progress – K-4
· How the new format was developed
· The descriptors used to reflect each child’s progress toward meeting each standard
· How this new format will be communicated to parents
· Benefits of Standards-based report of student progress
A discussion took place. School Committee members expressed their appreciation for this new format.
PERSONNEL ACTIONS
The following personnel actions were reviewed:
RESIGNATIONS: Professional Staff
Dawn Bursk, Special education teacher at placePlaceNameJohnson PlaceTypeSchool. Resignation effective June 30, 2007.
Jessica Cormier, Foreign language teacher at placePlaceNameKennedy PlaceTypeMiddle School. Resignation effective June 30, 2007.
Mark Gafur, Special education teacher at placePlaceNameWilson PlaceNameMiddle School. Resignation effective June 30, 2007.
Denise Trombini, Grade 1 teacher at placePlaceNameLilja PlaceTypeSchool. Resignation effective June 30, 2007.
APPOINTMENT: Professional Staff
Jonathan Talusan, to be long-term social studies substitute at placePlaceNameNatick PlaceTypeHigh School effective addressYear2007Day14Month5May 14, 2007 to addressYear2007Day12Month6June 12, 2007. He is replacing Kim McCollum who is on a maternity leave. Salary, $148.00 per day.
ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS
Mr. Tom Rose requested that the School Committee accept the following donations:
NHS Boosters $1,000.00 Student Activities – Speech Team
Mr. James McEleney $10.00 Business Professionals of America
Nike, Inc. $338.25 Principal’s Discretionary at Brown School
For the Committee’s information, Target has made the following donations through their “Take Charge of Education Program”: $173.34 to Wilson Middle School
Ms. Blanchard moved to approve the above donations. Mr. Coburn seconded. They were unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF TEC AGREEMENT 30TH AMENDMENT
Ms. Adelman Foster moved for approval of the 30th Amendment to the TEC Agreement. Mr. Meyler seconded. It was unanimously approved.
ACCEPTANCE OF CONTRACT FOR STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE
Mr. Tom Rose requested that the School Committee accept a one year extension to the contract with Lefebvre Insurance to provide Student Accident Insurance to our students for the 2007-2008 school year. This is the first of two extensions that may be granted by the School Committee under the contract agreement. There will be no increase in cost. Ms. Adelman Foster moved for approval. Mr. Meyler seconded. It was unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF OUT OF STATE TRAVEL
Mrs. Ruth Evans, Principal of Wilson Middle School, requested the School Committee’s approval for grade 7 students to travel to Salem, New Hampshire on Monday, June 11 for a Science in the Park outing. Mr. Meyler moved for approval on this trip. Mr. Coburn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Mr. Hughes, Principal of Natick High School, requested the School Committee’s approval for the Speech Team to travel to Houston, Texas from May 24-28, 2007 to participate in the Grand National Speech Tournament. Ms. Adelman Foster moved for approval of this trip. Ms. Blanchard seconded. It was unanimously approved.
UPDATE ON SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH CONSULTANT
Chairman Wynn announced that this item will be postponed to the meeting of June 4 as the Committee is still awaiting some additional responses on references of the Superintendent Search Consultants.
NATICK 360 PHASE 3 REPORT
Ms. Karen Adelman Foster reported that she and Mr. Meyler had reviewed and made edits to the Phase 3 report as indicated. She asked if any member had an objection to the revised draft that would merit putting a hold on the continuing process. No objections were made. The Committee took no action (neither rejection, approval, or endorsement of the document) and by taking no action consented to the process going forward.
UPDATE ON SUBCOMMITTEES
The following charges/charters were put forth for the Communications Subcommittee and the Budget Subcommittee
Proposed Budget Subcommittee Charter:
To work with School Department administrators to become School Committee subject matter experts pertaining to the School District budget, so that the subcommittee members can:
1) Recommend changes or modifications of the budget to the full School Committee, and 2) actively facilitate effective communication with all constituencies and stakeholders' of the budget process.
Goals: The budget finance sub-committee will pursue two broad goals
1) Conduct an in-depth analysis of the budget and its over all structure, associated drivers, and mechanisms of controls. Additional attention and focus will be on the identified main budget drivers.
Deliverable: The subcommittee will provide an in-depth review and analysis back to the full School committee with the intent of providing the full committee with a greater understanding of the over all budget.
Timing: August
2) The subcommittee will also work to establish financial summary report(s) which will serve as an effective means of communicating the financial status and financial condition of the School District to larger community.
Deliverable: Financial report(s) and/or financial summary statements.
Timing: Early September
Proposed charge for the Communications Subcommittee:
The Communications Subcommittee will review and recommend to the School Committee, and if directed by the committee, implement, ways to improve communications between the Natick Public School System and the entire community of constituents it serves, including students, parents, teachers, seniors, and others.
Mr. Meyler moved for approval of the charges/charters of both of these subcommittees. Ms. Blanchard seconded. They were unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ms. Karen Adelman Foster moved for approval of the minutes of May 7, 2007 and May 14, 2007. Mr. Meyler seconded. They were unanimously approved.
MEMBERS CONCERN
Ms. Adelman Foster expressed her concern that the Massachusetts Department of Education is proposing to designate~arts education as an elective rather than one of the~core subjects in the Department's recommended curriculum for high school students.~ She requested that the School Committee send the following letter:
May 21, 2007
Dr. David Driscoll, Commissioner
Massachusetts Department of Education
350 Main Street
Malden, Massachusetts 02148
Dear Dr. Driscoll,
The Natick School Committee strongly urges the DOE to retain the arts as part of the Massachusetts’s core curriculum in MassCore.
~
Arts instruction and practice are critical to the development of the skills DOE seeks to bolster with MassCore. Learning to communicate clearly, solving difficult problems, and developing cognitive and technical skills are exactly what students do in studio art, music, theatre, dance, and other arts classes – in ways not possible in other learning settings.
Not mentioned in the goals for MassCore are other important points. The arts can be sources of insight and delight. Without arts instruction and practice, most students cannot understand the cultural canon with any degree of sophistication, which means they are less likely to emerge from high school culturally literate. Not least, artistic understanding and expression can be the best way for some students to learn: indeed, they are vital tools with which to meet the diverse needs of all learners.
Natick has no plans to downgrade the importance of the arts in its curriculum. DOE’s doing so, however, could result in pressure on communities to transfer resources away from the arts. Without arts instruction and practice, Massachusetts students would be put at a serious disadvantage in pursuing higher education, finding success in employment, and living lives as educated adults.
Respectfully,
The Natick School Committee
Dr. LeDuc explained that this is a suggested sequence and here in Natick, we are committed to the Arts as evident by the hiring of the Director of Fine & Performing Arts and with the implementation of the drama program at Kennedy.
Mr. Coburn moved for approval to have the School Committee communicate officially to the Department of Education by sending the above letter. Mr. Meyler seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Mr. Coburn requested that the School Committee add “The Pledge of Allegiance” to their meetings.
At 9:55 p.m., Mr. Meyler 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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