Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES
November 17, 2008
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, November 17, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. in the School Committee Room, Third Floor, Town Hall. Chairman Meyler called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.
Members Present: Karen Adelman Foster, Anne Blanchard, Dirk Coburn, David Margil, Steve Meyler, Anne Zernicke
Members Absent: Mr. Murphy
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. No one came forward.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Margil moved for approval of the minutes of November 3, 2008. Ms. Adelman Foster seconded. They were unanimously approved.
Ms. Karen Adelman Foster moved for approval of the Executive Session minutes of November 3, 2008. Mr. Margil seconded. They were unanimously approved.
OUT OF STATE TRAVEL
Mr. Tom Lamb requested approval of an out of state travel request for Natick High School Boy’s Hockey Team to travel to Woonsocket, Rhode Island to participate in the Mount St. Charles Academy 2008 Holiday Face-Off Hockey Tournament on December 29-31, 2008. Mr. Coburn moved for approval of this trip. Ms. Blanchard seconded. It was unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF DONATIONS
Mr. Hurley requested that the School Committee accept the following donations:
Source/Donation Amount/Value Purpose
Natick Education Foundation $15,250.19* FY08 Enrichment Grant Awards
Anonymous $ 2,500.00 To purchase curriculum related materials at Kennedy
*Grant Purpose Amount Recipient
Biotechnology $892.00 Kathi Browne
Classroom Aquariums $850.00 Laura Muller & Kim Marzullo
Drum Circle $1000.00 Alexandria Pearson
What’s the Matter? $740.25 Kathi Browne & K teachers
Robotics $997.40 Tom Stefanini
Nosinki Returns $855.54 Doug Scott
Biotechnology $1000.00 Kathi Browne
Mapping in American history $970.00 Kay Dopfel
Words to Live By $945.00 Karen Ghilani
Shining Light $1000.00 Jan Parsons
Seismology $1000.00 Rosemary Vickery
Math Perspectives $1000.00 Karen Ghilani
A Study of Ecosystems $1000.00 Kathi Browne
Rocks and Minerals $1000.00 Kathi Browne
All About Animals $1000.00 Kathi Browne
Force & Motion $1000.00 Kathi Browne
For the committee’s information:
Target has contributed the following monies through their Take Charge of Education Program:
Brown School $146.06
Memorial School $214.25
Wilson School $112.23
Approximately $222,245 worth of resources and materials will be donated to Natick Public Schools through our parent/teacher organizations during FY09.
Mr. Coburn moved for approval to accept the donations as outlined above. Ms. Blanchard seconded. It was unanimously approved.
403(b) THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR MASTER AGREEMENT
Mr. Hurley discussed a new regulation being instituted by the Internal Revenue Service for 403(b) plans (tax deferred retirement plans) for public school employees. This new regulation begins on January 1, 2009 and requires the School District to administer the plan. This administrative responsibility includes creating a plan document which contains all the terms and conditions for eligibility, limitation and benefits under the plan. Mr. Hurley explained that Natick has joined a collective purchasing group consisting of 40 school districts to choose a vendor to provide the third party administrative services. This group has selected MidAmerica Administrative & Retirement Solutions, Inc.
Mr. Hurley provided copies of the School District Agreement with MidAmerica Administrative & Retirement Solutions, Inc. and the Adoption Agreement for MidAmerica Administrative & Retirement Solutions, Inc. Mr. Hurley requested that the School Committee award the Adoption Agreement contract for the 403(b) third party administration services and the School District Agreement to Mid America Administrative and Retirement Solutions, Inc., subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Request for Proposals and that the School Committee authorize Mr. Stephen Meyler, as Chair, to sign the Adoption Agreement and the District Agreement on behalf of the entire School Committee.
A discussion continued and Mr. Hurley responded to questions. Mr. Coburn requested that the language in paragraph 11C of the District Agreement be reworded for clarity. Mr. Meyler pointed out that the district agreement document should probably reference the adoption agreement. Mr. Hurley will follow up on these two items with counsel.
Ms. Adelman Foster moved for approval to award the Adoption Agreement contract for the 403(b) third party administration services and the School District Agreement to Mid America Administrative and Retirement Solutions, Inc., subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Request for Proposals and that the School Committee authorize Mr. Stephen Meyler, as Chair, to sign the Adoption Agreement and the District Agreement on behalf of the entire School Committee, pending Mr. Hurley’s consult with counsel on the two matters pointed out by Mr. Coburn and Mr. Meyler. Ms. Zernicke seconded. It was unanimously approved.
TEACHING & LEARNING
Lift2 Initiative
Dr. Karen LeDuc introduced Ms. Suzanna Magnuson, Chemistry Teacher at Natick High School, who discussed her experience in the Lift2 program (Leadership Initiatives for Teaching and Technology). This program is a twelve month program designed to assist teachers in middle school and high school to improve student learning in science, math, technology and engineering as too few students are prepared for and attracted to post-secondary majors in these areas. This program is sponsored by the Metro South/West Regional Employment Board. Ms. Magnuson discussed her experience in this program including her summer externship at CDM and that of her colleague, Ms. Valerie Washburn, who experienced her summer externship at Lincoln Laboratories. Ms. Magnuson and Dr. LeDuc responded to questions from the
School Committee members.
Report for Robert Mei, Director of Physical Education/Health/Family Consumer Science/Wellness
Dr. Karen LeDuc introduced Mr. Robert Mei, newly appointed Director of Physical Education/Health/FCS/Wellness, who provided background information on himself and discussed some of the initiatives on wellness and health taking place in the district. Mr. Mei responded to questions from the School Committee members. Members of the School Committee welcomed Mr. Mei in his new position.
REVIEW OF CAPITAL PROJECTS
Mr. Bob Graham, Director of Facilities, provided the School Committee with information on the FY09 & FY10 capital projects which were slated to be completed during the summers of 2009 and 2010. Given the economic situation, the Town Administrator is reviewing projects on the capital improvement plan list which have not yet been started and looking into the possibility of deferring some of these projects so that the funds could be used for the FY10 budget. Mr. Graham indicated that the only project he felt could be postponed to the 2011 cycle would be the Memorial School roof. A discussion took place. School Committee members expressed the need to get more information on the cost of the life of the bond. Mr. Coburn, in the spirit of cooperation and collaboration,
moved for approval for the administration to request additional information from the Town Administrator pertaining to the total cost of the life of the bond for all of the school department’s capital projects on the FY09 & FY10 capital project list. Ms. Adelman Foster seconded. It was unanimously approved.
2008 MCAS RESULTS
Dr. Sanchioni provided the School Committee with additional information pertaining to the 2008 MCAS results. He pointed out areas of improvement as well as areas that need to be improved. A discussion took place regarding analyzing the cohort data. Dr. LeDuc indicated that cohort data is available; however, there are many variables as the test has changed in some way from year to year. Mr. Coburn requested continued reports on the trending of per pupil expenditures.
2009-2010 SCHOOL CALENDAR
Dr. Sanchioni presented the School Committee with a draft calendar for school year 2009-2010. Dr. Sanchioni pointed out that given that Labor Day is late next year (September 7), it only makes sense to start the school year prior to Labor Day. The School Committee will vote on this calendar at the next meeting.
ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS REPORT
Dr. Sanchioni provided the School Committee with the 2008 Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Reports. The administration is developing the District Improvement Plan to remediate the low AYP scores for the subpopulation, special education at Kennedy Middle School. An after school program (twice a week) will be offered to students in the low proficient, needs improvement and warning categories. An individualized, self-paced, web-based, instructional computer program (Study Island) will be utilized for these students as well. Students can access this program from home. Ms. Zernicke asked a follow up question as to why the special education numbers have increased at the middle school level as opposed to capturing these students in the early intervention programs at the elementary level.
MEMBERS CONCERNS
Ms. Adelman Foster requested that a moment of silence be given at each meeting in honor of our service people currently in harms way, their families and our veterans.
A discussion continued regarding the suggestion of having a teacher representative sit on the School Committee as a non voting member. After hearing several suggestions and motions for the selecting and rotation of a teacher, Ms. Zernicke moved for approval to request that Dr. Sanchioni come up with a schedule in consultation with the principals that would include some type of rotation. Ms. Blanchard seconded. All other motions were withdrawn. It was unanimously approved.
At 10:35 p.m., Mr. Margil moved to adjourn. Ms. Anne Blanchard seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Peter Sanchioni, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
Attest:_____________________________ Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
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