Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES
January 12, 2009
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, January 12, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the School Committee Room, Third Floor, Town Hall. Chairman Meyler called the meeting to order at 7:18 p.m.
Members Present: Karen Adelman Foster, David Margil, Stephen Meyler, Anne Zernicke
Members Absent: David Murphy, Anne Blanchard
Dirk Coburn arrived at 8:55 p.m.
Others Present: Peter Sanchioni Superintendent
Karen LeDuc Assistant Superintendent
William Hurley Director of Fiscal & Management Services
Joseph McFarland Teacher Representative
Corinne Worthington Student Representative
Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary
At 7:20 p.m., Chairman Meyler announced that the School Committee would be joining the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on the 2nd floor of Town Hall to hold a discussion with State Legislators. School Committee members and Selectmen participated in a question and answer forum with the following State Legislators: Representative Alice Peisch, Representative David Linsky, Senator Karen Spilka and Senator Scott Brown.
At 8:25 p.m., Mr. Meyler called the School Committee meeting back to order in the School Committee Room, 3rd floor, Town Hall.
APPROVAL OF OUT OF STATE TRAVEL
Mr. Hughes requested the School Committee’s approval for the Speech Team to travel to New York City to participate in the High School Speech Competition at Columbia University on January 23-25, 2009. Ms. Adelman Foster moved for approval of this trip. Mr. Margil seconded. It was unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ms. Adelman Foster and Ms. Zernicke requested that the minutes of December 15, 2008 be brought back to the next meeting for approval as they wished to make some minor changes.
APPROVAL OF FREE AND REDUCED PRICE POLICY
Mr. Hurley brought back the Free and Reduced Price Policy for the Committee’s approval. At the meeting of December 15, Mr. Margil had questioned why the language “no child will be denied a free lunch or other food simply because proper application has not been received from his parents or guardian” was stricken. Mr. Hurley explained that the language was stricken to be in compliance with the USDA rules and regulations and that it is not the intent that any child would be denied a lunch. A discussion continued and it was determined that some other type of agreement will be made with our food service provider to insure that a student is not denied a lunch. Ms. Adelman Foster moved for approval of this policy provided that some follow up agreement is made with our food service
provider to insure a student is not denied a lunch. Ms. Zernicke seconded. It was unanimously approved.
NATICK HISTORY ENRICHMENT
Dr. Karen LeDuc provided a K-12 overview of the Study of Natick History in the Natick Public Schools. A discussion continued and Dr. LeDuc responded to questions from Committee members.
Mr. Coburn arrived at 8:55 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE – APPOINTMENT OF A NEW MEMBER
Dr. Sanchioni provided the School Committee with resumes of David Albrecht and Craig LaRosa who have expressed an interest in serving on the High School Building Committee. There is currently one open slot on the High School Building Committee left by the resignation of Joseph Naughton. Chairman Meyler indicated his desire to remain on the High School Building Committee after his term as School Committee member has expired. Dr. Sanchioni assured Mr. Meyler that he is in fact one of the 5 School Committee appointed members of the Building Committee and serves a dual role, that being a Building Committee member and the Chair of the School Committee (required by MSBA) and once a new Chair has been established next spring that individual will serve on the High School Building Committee. Mr. LaRosa and
Mr. Albrecht will be invited to the next meeting to discuss their interests in serving on the High School Building Committee.
FINANCIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE UPDATE
Chairman Meyler provided the School Committee with a handout from the recent Financial Planning Committee meeting: FY2010 Allocation Model: Proposed Guidelines for allocating revenue between the General Government and Education components & closure deficits. Chairman Meyler pointed out that initial discussions have been very collaborative. He stated that this handout is simply a starting place, and that the Superintendent and Town Administrator had been asked by the Financial Planning Committee to meet separately and offer the Financial Planning Committee a joint recommendation. He further stated that he considered a 60/40 split a starting place, as well, and that
impacts still need to be considered. The next meeting of the Financial Planning Committee is scheduled for February 4th at 7:00 a.m.
ENROLLMENT UPDATE
Dr. Sanchioni provided the School Committee with the updated enrollment numbers. Enrollment numbers are up by 4 students since December. Dr. Sanchioni will continue to monitor the enrollment numbers.
FY10 BUDGET UPDATE
Dr. Sanchioni discussed the FY10 budget. He indicated that his FY10 proposed level staffed budget in the amount of $45,647,841 will need to be adjusted given the projected deficits and the expected reduction in Chapter 70 funding. He reviewed a 5-step process to address the budget reduction.
1. Consider offsets by raising fees and looking at revolving accounts
2. Reduce expense accounts
3. Personnel cuts in central office, technology, custodians & maintenance and Special Education
4. Take remaining amount and divide by the total student population to get a per pupil amount – and assign a per pupil reduction amount back to each school
5. Look at impact.
Dr. Sanchioni will present his FY10 proposed level staffed budget at the Public Hearing scheduled for February 2, 2009.
TOWN MEETING UPDATE
Dr. Sanchioni announced that Town Meeting begins April 14, 2009 and that the transportation article will be put forward. If the School Committee wishes to submit any other articles, please forward them to him or Mr. Hurley. The deadline for article submission is February 13th.
PUBLIC SPEAK
None.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS CONCERNS
Ms. Adelman Foster announced that her next Senior Center office hour, held ever third Thursday of the month, would be on January 15th.
Mr. Margil addressed the recent heat problem at Natick High School. He wished to dispel any rumor that was being circulated that the problem was due to bursting pipes as a result of a window being left open over vacation when in fact the problem as outlined in a memo from Mr. Graham was due to a number of problems with the aging system, some of which were addressed over the vacation period. He commended Mr. Graham and his staff for repairing the problem as quickly as possible and pointed out that these problems continue as a result of the old age of the building and
heating system.
At 10:10 p.m., the administration requested an Executive Session to discuss Collective Bargaining in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 39, Section 23b of the Massachusetts General Laws. Mr. Coburn moved to enter into Executive Session. Mr. Margil seconded. By roll call vote, it was unanimously approved to enter into Executive Session.
Peter Sanchioni, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
Attest:_____________________________ Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
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