Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
August 25, 2008
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, August 25, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. in the School Committee Room, Third Floor, Town Hall. Chairman Meyler called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Members Present: Karen Adelman Foster, Dirk Coburn, Steve Meyler, Anne Zernicke
Members Absent: David Murphy & Anne Blanchard
Others Present: Peter Sanchioni Superintendent
Karen LeDuc Assistant Superintendent
William Hurley Director of Fiscal & Management Services
Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary
Corinne Worthington Student Representative
PUBLIC SPEAK
Chairman Meyler asked if anyone wished to come forward for Public Speak. Mr. Jimmy Brown came forward to invite the public to attend a Conflict of Interest seminar that the Natick Forever Committee is sponsoring which will be held on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at the Natick Public Library, 14 East Central Street. This will be a non-partisan educational seminar explaining the state’s conflict of interest law. Mr. Brown provided the School Committee with a flyer with more detailed information. This seminar is the first of a series of informative workshops and seminars that the Natick Forever Committee will sponsor for the benefit of the residents of Natick. Please RSVP via email to their website natickforever@gmail.com or call 978-930-9261. Refreshments will be served.
APPROVAL OF OUT OF COUNTRY TRAVEL
Mr. John Hughes introduced Ms. Erin Coffey, Natick High School Spanish Teacher, who had requested and received approval from the School Committee at its May 26, 2008 meeting to promote and gauge interest for a student trip to Mexico during April school vacation, 2009. Ms. Coffey has met with students and parents and enough interest has been generated to move forward on the trip. A sample trip itinerary was provided. Ms. Adelman Foster moved for approval of this trip. Ms. Zernicke seconded. It was unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF FOOD SERVICE CONTRACT
Dr. Sanchioni requested the School Committees approval to extend the contract with Chartwells to provide management of the Natick Public Schools Food Service Operation for the 2008-2009 school year. This is the first and final extension that may be granted by the School Committee under the contract agreement and new MDESE requirements. Ms. Adelman Foster moved for approval to extend the contract with Chartwells to provide management of the Natick Public Schools Food Service Operation for the 2008-2009 school year. Mr. Coburn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
UPDATE ON NATICK 360
Ms. Rosemary Driscoll, representative of the Natick 360 Committee, presented the School Committee with a document outlining the final recommendations to the sponsoring boards from the Strategic Planning Oversight Committee with suggestions for keeping the strategic plan “alive” as a vital and integral part of Natick’s governance. The suggestions are as follows:
· Place strategic planning action items on your agenda
· Review progress toward goals quarterly
· Collaborate with other boards at least annually
· Continue to engage the public
Members of the School Committee thanked Ms. Driscoll, as the School Committee’s representative, for all that she has done on the Natick 360 Committee.
BUILDING MAINTENANCE/SUMMER WORK/FACILITY UPDATE
Mr. Robert Graham, Director of Facilities, reviewed a report of the completed building maintenance summer work. A request was made for Mr. Graham to provide an update to the 3-year capital plan. Mr. Graham also reported that he has been working with the DPW’s engineering department to resolve the flooding of the NHS parking lot which occurs during heavy rainstorms.
UPDATE ON HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECT
Mr. Graham provided the School Committee with the roles and responsibilities of the School Committee and the High School Building Committee under the Massachusetts School Building Authority new rules. He reported that after holding several interviews, the Building Committee has selected the firm of RF Walsh for the High School Owners Project Manager (OPM) subject to approval from the MSBA. Members of the School Committee expressed their desire to be kept involved with the works of the Building Committee and in the educational mission of a new high school.
Ms. Karen Adelman Foster moved for approval of the following motion: Request the Building Committee present for approval a plan for information-sharing with and updates to the School Committee and community; request that the Chair of the School Committee and Superintendent communicate to the Building Committee any ideas that may arise during the discussion surrounding this motion; and request that the superintendent make necessary provision for a Natick High School Building Committee page on the Natick Public Schools website. Ms. Zernicke seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Ms. Karen Adelman Foster moved for approval of the following motion. The School Committee extends its profound thanks to each member of the Building Committee.~The responsibilities you each have generously accepted has, is, and will continue to be highly demanding of your time and expertise. We offer our gratitude, our support, and our confidence that your efforts will result in a Natick High School building that will benefit students for many generations to come, and be will be a point of pride for all of Natick. Mr. Coburn seconded. It was unanimously approved.
ENROLLMENT UPDATE
Dr. Sanchioni reviewed the 2008-2009 elementary enrollment numbers as of August 22, 2008. He indicated that two students have enrolled in the Brown School from the Cloverleaf Apartments and the management
company expects that there may be approximately 10 more school age children in the near future. Dr. Sanchioni indicated that these enrollment numbers and future projections will be closely monitored.
EAN NEGOTIATION TIMELINE
Dr. Sanchioni provided the School Committee with a draft of a timeline for the EAN negotiations. This timeline needs to be negotiated and agreed upon. Chairman Meyler requested that the School Committee members provide him with their availability for Wednesday evenings for the months of September and October so that some meetings may be scheduled.
AMENDMENT TO NON-REP EMPLOYEE SALARY SCHEDULE
Dr. Sanchioni requested that the School Committee Amend the Non-Represented Employee Salary Schedule as follows:
Eliminate position of “Technical Support Specialist” in the Technology Department and replace with position of “Technology Trainer/Integration Specialist” in the Technology Department. Compensation range to be the same as that approved in May for the Technical Support Specialist.
This change was presented to the Committee by Dennis Roche this past spring as part of his Technology Plan. This position is especially important now that teachers are being provided with laptops. There is no cost to this change since this position was already included in the budget under another title. The Technical Support Specialist position had been unfilled for the past school year so this change will not impact any current employees.
Mr. Coburn moved for approval of this amendment. Ms. Adelman Foster seconded. It was unanimously approved.
OCTOBER TOWN MEETING – WARRANT ARTICLE
Dr. Sanchioni requested that the School Committee approve the submission of the following article for the October Town Meeting:
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money to implement a Feasibility Study required by the Massachusetts School Building Authority for the replacement/renovation of Natick High School, in addition to the appropriation voted by the Spring 2008 Annual Town Meeting under Article 12; to determine whether this appropriation shall be raised by borrowing or otherwise; or to take any other action relative thereto.
Dr. Sanchioni pointed out that this article is in addition to the $250,000 appropriation voted by the Spring 2008 Town Meeting to cover increased costs.
Mr. Coburn moved that the School Committee acknowledges and understands that there was a need to submit this article to the Town Administrator prior to this meeting in order to meet the submission deadline and affirmed that its submission is entirely in keeping with the intentions of the School Committee. Ms. Zernicke seconded. The submission of this article was unanimously approved.
Dr. Sanchioni also provided the School Committee with a copy of an article which was approved for submission at the July 14, 2008 School Committee meeting which requests additional funds to supplement the transportation account to cover a deficit created by fuel escalation and increasing demands.
APPROVAL OF FUNDS TO RETURN TO THE TOWN
Dr. Sanchioni provided the School Committee with an analysis of available funds from the FY07 and FY08 budget which will be returned to the town. The total of funds to be returned is $447,263.62. Ms. Adelman Foster moved for approval to return these funds to the town. Ms. Zernicke seconded. It was unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Coburn moved for approval of the minutes of June 16, 2008. Ms. Adelman Foster seconded. They were unanimously approved.
Ms. Adelman Foster moved for approval of the minutes of July 14, 2008. Mr. Coburn seconded. They were unanimously approved.
SIGNATORY AUTHORIZATION & APPOINTMENTS FOR
THE DIRECTOR OF FISCAL & MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Dr. Sanchioni requested approval of the following for the Director of Fiscal & Management Services, Mr. William J. Hurley:
· Signatory authorization for the Director of Fiscal and Management Services for the School Department credit card which has a credit limit of $10,000 and the requirement of a signed Purchase Order on file for all transactions. When the card is used or committed for the payment of services or supplies for the benefit of the Director of Fiscal and Management Services the Purchase Order must be signed by the Superintendent.
· Appointment to Town of Natick Safety Committee
· Appointment as School Department Procurement Officer (By Law reference)
Mr. Coburn moved for approval of the signatory authorization and appointments for the Director of Fiscal and Management Services as outlined above. Ms. Adelman Foster seconded. It was unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS
Dr. Sanchioni requested that the School Committee approve the school improvement plans for all eight schools which were distributed to them previously. Ms. Zernicke moved for approval of these plans. Mr. Coburn seconded. They were unanimously approved.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBER CONCERNS
Chairman Meyler indicated that Mr. Ostroff has distributed the report of the Revenue Enhancement Task Force. Mr. Ostroff has requested that the Revenue Task Force continue to examine what other communities and school districts are doing in the area of revenue from sponsorship/advertising and would report back to the various boards. The Task Force approach has been consultative, and would continue so that a policy or policies can be developed that reflect the input of the committee.~ Any specific proposals that require School Committee agreement or participation would be brought to the committee at the same time as they go to other Boards and that these proposals would be contingent on School Committee approval. Ms. Adelman Foster requested that it be communicated to the Revenue Enhancement
Task Force that naming and advertising in schools can have an educational component and a social component that we may need to be careful of and discuss thoroughly - it may not be something that hinges only on the revenue that we may gain. Mr. Meyler asked in anyone from the Committee wished to take over his seat on the Revenue Enhancement Task Force Committee. If so please get back to him in the next week.
Chairman Meyler reported that potential candidates for the open position for the School Committee will be interviewed by the School Committee and Board of Selectmen at the Selectmen’s meeting on Monday, September 22, 2008. Anyone interested should send their statement of interest as well as a brief biography to the School Committee and the Selectmen by September 18th. Chairman Meyler and the Board of Selectmen Chairman, John Ciccariello will establish a process for the interviews.
Dr. LeDuc announced that Mr. Stephen Miller has been hired as the Director of Fine and Performing Arts. He comes to Natick from the Norton Public Schools. He will be invited to a future meeting to discuss his entry plan.
At 9:50 p.m., Mr. Coburn moved to adjourn. Ms. Adelman Foster seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Peter Sanchioni, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
Attest:_____________________________ Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
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