Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
October 15, 2007
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, October 15, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. in the School Committee Room, 3rd Floor, Town Hall. Chairman Wynn called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Members Present: Karen Adelman Foster, Anne Blanchard, Dirk Coburn, Steve Meyler, David Murphy Rick Wynn, Anne Zernicke
Mr. Murphy left the meeting at 10:00 p.m.
Others Present: James Connolly Superintendent
Karen LeDuc Assistant Superintendent
Tom Rose Director of Fiscal & Management Services
Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary
Staff, Parents
PUBLIC SPEAK
Chairman Wynn asked if anyone wished to come forward for Public Speak. No one came forward.
TO HEAR FROM INTERESTED PARTIES WHO WISH TO BE ON THE CREDENTIALS REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH
Chairman Wynn thanked the people who came tonight to volunteer for the two slots available for community members on the Credentials Review Committee. The Credentials Review Committee will consist of 9 members who will screen the applications for the position of Superintendent. The makeup of this Committee is as follows:
1 representative/designee from the Board of Selectmen
2 School Committee members
2 community members
4 members of the administration (1 Principal, 2 Teachers, 1 Administrator)
The following people came forward to express their interest in serving on this committee as the community members:
Dennis Barr
Tom Hourihan
Grace Kelemanik
Rich Maloney
Chairman Wynn explained that individuals will need to be available for two meetings: The evening of Wednesday, October 24 and during the day on Saturday, November 17. Mr. Maloney withdrew his name as he is unavailable on Wednesday, October 24. He did volunteer his services for any other opportunity that may arise.
After hearing a brief statement on each person’s background and why they wish to serve, Chairman Wynn asked the School Committee to vote for two of these people. Mr. Hourihan received 6 votes. Ms. Kelemanik received 4 votes. Mr. Barr received 4 votes. The Committee voted again to break the tie between Ms. Kelemanik and Mr. Barr. Mr. Barr received 4 votes. Ms. Kelemanik received 3 votes. Mr. Hourihan and Mr. Barr will serve on the Credentials Review Committee.
2007 MCAS RESULTS
Mr. Connolly provided the School Committee with several analyses of the 2007 MCAS Results. He reviewed where Natick compared with 35 like communities at each grade level for the Advanced and Proficient categories as well as the total of the Advanced and Proficient categories. Under separate cover, Dr. Leduc provided the School Committee with MCAS cohort data for the Class of 2008-2014. A lengthy discussion took place. Concerns were expressed regarding the students in the needs improvement and warning categories and how they are tracked year to year as well as what support systems are in place. Principals will be reviewing these results with the teachers who will be doing a more detailed analysis in order to provide remediation for those students who need it. A suggestion was
made to look at other higher performing districts such as North Andover, Needham, Southboro – what are they doing to prepare students? Another suggestion made was to provide an overlay on these scores of the students on IEP’s.
MATH CURRICULUM REVIEW K-8
Dr. Karen LeDuc, along with Regina Byrnes, K-5 Math Coordinator, Michael Heiden, Wilson Middle School Math Department Chair and Peter Manna, Kennedy Middle School Math Department Chair presented a review of the K-8 Math Curriculum. Copies of the Mathematics Curriculum Review K-8 Action Plan were provided as well as copies of the parent resource guide, K-4 “Math-at-a-Glance.” A discussion continued. Questions from the public and School Committee members were addressed. A request was made to put the Mathematics Curriculum Review K-8 Action Plan on the website. Another request was made to put the parent resource guide, K-4 “Math-at-a-Glance” on the website as well as provide copies to the Morse Institute Library.
MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY UPDATE
Mr. Connolly provided an update on the Massachusetts School Building Authority. He indicated that by early Spring we should know the timeframe of a high school project. Once the timeframe has been determined, the design and program review can be addressed.
TOWN MEETING UPDATE
Chairman Wynn indicated that the Town’s free cash has not yet been certified and as a result, Article 1 will not be addressed at Town Meeting on Tuesday evening. Discussions have been held with the Chair of the Finance Committee which indicated that they may be looking at the School Committee’s budget again. The School Committee has a meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, just prior to Town Meeting. Mr. Meyler moved for approval to obtain the School Committee’s endorsement that a motion be made on Town Meeting floor, if it is needed, to request the School Committee’s FY08 budget adjustment of $743,119.
APPROVAL OF DONATIONS
Mr. Coburn moved for approval of the following donations:
Source/Donation Amount/Value Purpose
Precision Digital $500.00 Natick Robotics Student Activity Account
For the Committee’s information, Target has made donations through their Take Charge of Education Program to the following Schools:
Lilja $133.86
Ben Hem $158.96
Brown $257.24
Ms. Adelman Foster seconded. They were unanimously approved.
MEMBERS CONCERNS
Ms. Anne Blanchard discussed a flyer she had received regarding the NHS Volleyball Team. Firstly, she congratulated the team for becoming State Champions. Secondly, she questioned why the Natick “Redmen” logo was still being used. Mr. Connolly will look into this.
PERSONNEL ACTIONS
The following Personnel Actions were provided:
RESIGNATIONS: Professional Staff
Ellen Donahue, ELL teacher at placePlaceNameBrown PlaceTypeSchool. Resignation effective October 19, 2007
Donna O’Donnell, Kindergarten [grant] long-term substitute at placePlaceNameLilja PlaceTypeSchool. Resignation effective September 29, 2007
EXTENDED LEAVE OF ABSENCE: Professional Staff
Camile Napier Bernstein, English teacher at placePlaceNameNatick PlaceTypeHigh School. Maternity leave of absence is effective dateMonth12Day17Year2007December 17, 2007 to dateMonth4Day4Year2008April 4, 2008
Karen Bourn, Grade 4 at placePlaceNameLilja PlaceTypeSchool. Maternity leave of absence is effective dateMonth1Day4Year2008January 4, 2008 to dateMonth4Day7Year2008April 7, 2008.
Kendra Chase, Grade 3 teacher at placePlaceNameLilja PlaceTypeSchool. Maternity leave of absence is effective dateMonth11Day18Year2007November 18, 2007 to dateMonth2Day25Year2008February 25, 2008.
Ellen Getz, Grade 3 teacher (.6) at placePlaceNameMemorial PlaceTypeSchool. Maternity leave of absence is effective dateMonth12Day3Year2007December 3, 2007 to dateMonth3Day26Year2008March 26, 2008.
Nevart Mikaelian, Special Education/Chairperson at placePlaceNameMemorial PlaceTypeSchool. Maternity leave of absence is effective dateMonth11Day28Year2007November 28, 2007 to June 2008.
CHANGE IN ASSIGNMENT: Support Staff
Mark Plant, to be Jr. II Custodian at placePlaceNameBennett-Hemenway PlaceTypeSchool effective dateMonth9Day4Year2007September 4, 2007.
APPOINTMENTS: Professional Staff
Erica Dinerman, to be Youth Substance Abuse Initiative Coordinator [grant funded] effective dateMonth10Day9Year2007October 9, 2007. Salary, Step 9
Marguerite Parino, Alternative education teacher at placePlaceNameNatick PlaceTypeHigh School effective September 11, 2007. Salary, Bachelors, Step 9
Thomas Mohan, to be long-term substitute special education/chairperson at placePlaceNameBrown PlaceTypeSchool effective dateMonth9Day27Year2007September 27, 2007 to January 2008. He is replacing Alicia Cohen who is on maternity leave. Salary, $152.00 per day.
Kirsten Brinker, to be Kindergarten [grant] long-term substitute at placePlaceNameLilja PlaceTypeSchool effective dateMonth10Day1Year2007October 1, 2007. Salary, $152.00 per day.
Gerald McDermott, to be ASAP Instructor at placePlaceNameWilson PlaceNameMiddle School effective dateMonth9Day17Year2007September 17, 2007.
APPOINTMENTS: Support Staff
Joan Ahern, to be part-time [15 hours week] Pupil Services secretary at Bennett-Hemenway Preschool and Out-of-District effective October 9, 2007.
Debra Harmon, to be cafeteria monitor at placePlaceNameJohnson PlaceTypeSchool effective dateMonth9Day5Year2007September 5, 2007.
Keri McGovern, to be part-time food service worker at placePlaceNameNatick PlaceTypeHigh School effective dateMonth10Day15Year2007October 15, 2007. Salary, Step 1
Janet O’Loughlin, to be cafeteria monitor at placePlaceNameMemorial PlaceTypeSchool effective dateMonth9Day21Year2007September 21, 2007.
Carolyn Shaw, to be (.4) student support facilitator at Bennett-Hemenway Preschool effective dateMonth9Day11Year2007September 11, 2007. Salary, Step 2
At 11:25 p.m., Mr. Meyler moved to adjourn. Ms. Adelman Foster seconded. It was unanimously approved.
James Connolly
Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
Attest:_____________________________ Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
| 
