SCHOOL COMMITTEE RETREAT
October 22, 2007
The School Committee held a retreat on Monday, October 22, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. in the Training Room, Town Hall, Third Floor. Vice-Chairman Meyler called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
Members Present: Karen Adelman Foster, Dirk Coburn, Stephen Meyler, Anne LaPlace Zernicke. Rick Wynn (present at 7:20), Anne Blanchard (present at 7:45)
Members Absent: Dave Murphy
Others present: None
DISCUSSION OF GOAL-SETTING PROCESS
Vice Chairman Meyler led a discussion about how the committee can put into action a process for establishing goals and objectives. The process is to be collaborative, inclusive, and compliant with state mandates.
A previous retreat generated strategic objectives – i.e., categories – to consider. These are (alphabetically):
· Curriculum, instruction, and assessment
· Communications and community support
· Facilities and operations
· Finance and budget
· Leadership and professional development
· Social/emotional development and health
· Special Education
The next planned phase in the process is that of assessment. The core group, comprised of principals and the School Committee, and facilitated by the Superintendent/Interim Superintendent, will gather assessments of the state of the system in each category from key stakeholders, including administration, teachers, parents, students, other committees, and community members. This phase is likely to begin in late December or January, and facilitation will likely be charged to the Interim Superintendent.
It was widely expressed that the goals and objectives generated from this first cycle were not to be considered directives for the next superintendent, but rather an evaluative framework for future initiatives.
REPORT ON THE FINANCIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE
Chairman Wynn reported that at its Oct 22 meeting, the Financial Planning Committee voted to advise the Board of Selectmen that an operating override is necessary when considering the town’s future over the next two years.
DISCUSSION OF ATTRIBUTES TO SEEK IN THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT
Chairman Wynn distributed the results of the Superintendent Search Survey. There was discussion about the survey results, as well as about the results of the search consultant’s focus groups and the ideas generated by the School Committee in previous retreats.
ADJOURNMENT
At 9:30, a motion to adjourn was made by Ms. Anne Blanchard, seconded by Ms. Karen Adelman Foster, and approved unanimously.
Attest: ________________________________________ Karen Adelman Foster, Clerk
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