Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
June 23, 2008
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, June 23, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. in the School Committee Room, Third Floor, Town Hall. Vice Chairman Blanchard called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Members Present: Karen Adelman Foster, Anne Blanchard, Dirk Coburn, David Murphy, Rick Wynn, Anne Zernicke
Members Absent Steve Meyler
Others Present: Joseph Keefe Interim Superintendent
Karen LeDuc Assistant Superintendent
APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR OF FISCAL & ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
The Superintendent recommended that the School Committee approve the appointment of Mr. William Hurley as the Director of Fiscal & Management Services. Mr. Wynn moved for approval to appoint Mr. Hurley to this position. Mr. Coburn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
NEASC UPDATE
Ms. Rose Bertucci, Vice Principal of Natick High School, presented the Special Progress Report that the school will send to the NEASC on or before August 1, 2008. Ms. Bertucci responded to questions from the School Committee regarding the various elements of this report. A discussion continued and Ms. Bertucci responded to questions. Mr. Coburn requested that as we go forward over the next couple of years, the following items should be presented in a systematic and integrated way:
· The NEASC process
· The process for creating a vision statement for the new high school & the SBA process
· Goal setting that the School Committee should go through with Dr. Sanchioni system wide
Ms. Bertucci indicated that the high school administration will continue to provide the School Committee with updates.
REVIEW OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Dr. Karen LeDuc provided a review of the Professional Development Program. She responded to questions from School Committee members. Mr. Coburn requested adding a sixth bullet item to Appendix A (Natick Public Schools Elementary Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Goals). The bullet would read:
· How do we do all of this in a manner that will maintain and enhance each student’s love of learning?
CONTINUATION OF REPORT ON TRANSPORTATION DEFICIT FOR FY2009
The Superintendent reported that the School Committee faces a deficit in the FY09 transportation account (3300) of approximately $145,000. That figure is the sum of a projected deficit in regular transportation of $65,803 and a projected deficit of $79,909 in the special education transportation account.
The following factors are responsible for this situation:
· Regular transportation
§ The escalation of fuel costs and the importance of the fuel escalation clause in the contract with the vendor.
· Special Education Transportation
§ Contractual increases in the cost per mile for $1.92 to $2.00 per student per mile
§ Failure to build into the prospective FY09 budget an appropriate amount of funds to respond to both rising costs and increased demands
§ Increased third party payments to parents, payment to taxi and van vendors for the transportation of homeless children and 504 cases
A. The Superintendent recommends that the School Committee consider taking the following course of action in regard to this deficit:
That the Natick School Committee file a warrant article prior to Friday August 22d with the Town Clerk requesting a sum of money to pay for the extraordinary special education transportation costs for FY 2009. This action would permit the October Town Meeting to examine the merits of this article and potentially provide a supplemental source to answer the need.
B. The Superintendent recommends that the School Committee consider taking the following course of action in the near future:
In anticipation of the FY2010 budget discussion, take action in November to discuss and implement a transportation charge of $150 per student for all potential riders in grades 7-12 who reside two miles or more from school. There are approximately 972 such students as of this date. The Committee can legally charge this fee. The amount raised would be in the vicinity of $146,000.
By taking this action in November, the School Committee could more easily address the FinCom and other bodies in the January/March period. Both the Committee and the school administration would have a clear understanding of any additional shortfall after the application of the revenue from this fee.
The School Committee need not take action on Item B at this time. However, the Committee will benefit by doing it in November 2008.
Mr. Coburn made a motion to hold a discussion on the order in which sources of funds should be applied to expenses incurred for general school transportation. They are as follows:
1. Any funds from any Town Meeting article specifically for the purpose of subsidizing general school transportation.
2. Funds from the general school budget up to the amount specified in that budget.
3. The revolving fund of school bus fees.
Ms. Adelman Foster seconded. A discussion on this motion will be tabled until after Labor Day.
The Superintendent will provide a draft of a warrant article which would request funds from Town Meeting to supplement the FY09 transportation costs. Submission of this warrant article can be discussed at the Committee’s next meeting on July 14.
FY08 END OF YEAR BUDGET BALANCE
The superintendent reported that as of Friday, June 20, 2008, the School Committee’s FY08 budget balance was approximately $121,310.04. He stated that the administration will be paying bills through the middle of July. The final balance will be returned to the municipal treasurer. Sometime in July, the School Committee will vote an exact number of funds to return to the town.
RECAP OF 2007-2008 SCHOOL YEAR
Dr. Keefe provided the School Committee with a recap of the 2007-2008 school year. Listed below are a sample of that which the Natick School Committee succeeded in achieving in this school year.
1. Support from the community for an operational override.
2. Support from the Finance Committee and Natick Town Meeting for its FY2009 budget.
3. Support from the Finance Committee and Natick Town Meeting for funds for several capital improvements, a school transportation subsidy, the Feasibility Study and for Special Education transportation.
4. A resolution to the Natick High School logo controversy.
5. The funding for a $400,000 technology initiative.
6. The review of both ELA and Mathematic programs K-12 and the institution of action plans.
7. The prospective implementation of expanded and responsive special education programs for 2009/2010 school year.
8. The funding of a response to the NEASC evaluation recommendations.
9. The revision of the Committee’s facilities rental program.
10. The continued expansion of professional development opportunities for staff.
11. The initiatives of a working relationship with the MSBA that will, hopefully, lead to a new high school.
12. The hiring of a new superintendent, business manager, elementary principal and several program directors.
In addition, Dr. Keefe read an email he received today from Sean Walsh of the MSBA which states, “As per our conversation earlier I am advising you to go ahead with following our guidelines and begin discussion with the MSBA in terms of procuring a Project Manager for your high school project. The current baseline reimbursement rate for Natick is 43.63%. We have not been sending out official letters regarding moving ahead but I hope this will suffice.” Dr. Keefe provided the School Committee with copies of the guidelines.
TO DISCHARGE WITH THANKS THE NATICK HIGH SCHOOL LOGO TASK FORCE
The Chair of the School Committee, Mr. Meyler, although absent this evening, requested that the School Committee discharge the Natick High School Logo Task Force with thanks. In particular, the Committee wishes to thank the Chair Mr. Zach Galvin and members Mr. Paul Adams, Mr. Dight Crain, Mr. Matt Doyle, Ms. Shannon Foley, Ms. Nancy Jennett, Mr. Mark Koppleman, Mr. Paul Peters and Ms. Lindsey Raffol and both individually and collectively for their efforts. Vice Chair Blanchard requested that this be turned into a motion. Mr. Wynn moved for approval to discharge the Natick High School Logo Task Force with thanks to those listed above. Mr. Coburn seconded. Members of the School Committee extended their appreciation to all who participated on this task force. The
motion was passed unanimously.
Ms. Blanchard moved that the School Committee shall formally delegate responsibility to the Superintendent and her/his designees the naming of all Natick Public School-sponsored teams, clubs, and activities in which students participate and the mascots thereof where applicable. In discharging this duty, the Superintendent and her/his designee must at all times observe all other School Committee policies and educational mission statements to guarantee that selected names and mascots are consistent with the goals and policies of the Natick Public Schools. The Superintendent and appropriate school administrators shall, from time to time, review school names and mascots to ensure that they remain consistent with the school system’s educational policies, goals and mission statements. Ms. Zernicke
seconded. It was unanimously approved as a policy statement.
MEMBERS CONCERN
Chairman Meyler requested that Vice Chair Blanchard poll the School Committee to see who would be available for a meeting on July 14 or 15. The consensus was that July 14 would work for the members present. A meeting in August will be set at a later date.
Members of the Committee extended their thanks and appreciation to Dr. Keefe for his tenure as Interim Superintendent over the last six months.
At 10:10 p.m., Mr. Wynn moved to adjourn. Mr. Coburn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Joseph A. Keefe, Ed.D.
Interim Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
Attest:_____________________________ Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
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