\
Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES
January 21, 2009
The School Committee held a meeting on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the School Committee Room, Third Floor, Town Hall. Chairman Meyler called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.
Members Present: Karen Adelman Foster, Anne Blanchard, Dirk Coburn, David Margil, Stephen Meyler,
Anne Zernicke
Mr. Murphy arrived at 8:10 p.m.
Others Present: Peter Sanchioni Superintendent
Karen LeDuc Assistant Superintendent
William Hurley Director of Fiscal & Management Services
Camille Napier Bernstein Teacher Representative
Corinne Worthington Student Representative
Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ms. Adelman Foster moved for approval of the minutes of December 15, 2008. Ms. Blanchard seconded. They were unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF OUT OF STATE TRAVEL
Dr. Sanchioni requested the School Committee’s approval for the Natick High School Wrestling Team to travel to Newburgh, New York on January 30-31 2009 to participate in “The Newburgh Duals” Varsity Wrestling Tournament. Mr. Coburn moved for approval of this trip. Ms. Adelman Foster seconded. It was unanimously approved.
INTERVIEWS WITH INTERESTED PERSONS FOR THE
APPOINTMENT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE
Mr. Craig LaRosa was present at the meeting to discuss his interests on serving on the High School Building Committee. He provided background information on himself and responded to questions from School Committee members. Later in the evening, Mr. David Albrecht arrived and discussed his interests on serving on the High School Building Committee. He also provided background information on himself and responded to questions. Dr. Sanchioni indicated that he along with Mr. Hurley and Mr. Robert Graham interviewed both applicants and felt they both bring different yet valuable insight and experience that would benefit the High School Building Committee. Therefore, he recommended the following:
Appoint Mr. David Albrecht as a member of the High School Building Committee, and
Appoint, Mr. Craig LaRosa as a volunteer consultant to the High School Building Committee
After some discussion, Mr. Coburn moved for approval to appoint Mr. David Albrecht as a member of the High School Building Committee, and to appoint, Mr. Craig LaRosa as a volunteer consultant to the High School Building Committee. Ms. Zernicke seconded. It was unanimously approved.
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE UPDATE
Ms. Corinne Worthington provided the School Committee with an update on various high school happenings.
SPECIAL EDUCATION BUDGET PRESENTATION AND PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Ms. Lauren Gilbert, Director of Pupil Services, presented a program overview and budget summary of the Office of Pupil Services. She reviewed the various funding sources and explained the Circuit Breaker formula. Ms. Gilbert responded to questions by Committee members.
TOWN-WIDE CHARTER & BY-LAW REVIEW PROCESS
Ms. Adelman Foster alerted the Committee to the ongoing work of the Charter and By-Law Review Committee (CBRC). She emphasized that she is an appointed member of the CBRC, but does not there represent the School Committee; and that she does not speak on behalf of the CBRC, but as a School Committee member who is separately a member of the CBRC. She stated that ongoing work of the CBRC presents the School Committee and Superintendent with an opportunity to weigh in on Charter and By-Law changes being considered by the CBRC and to initiate proposals for the CBRC to consider. There are several possibly-school-relevant items presently under consideration by the CBRC. First is Charter, Article 5 (The Budget Process). The CBRC has requested that the Town Administrator discuss this Article with Dr. Sanchioni. Second is the Town
Administrator’s proposal to create a Capital Finance Committee. Ms. Blanchard asked whether the usage of gender-specific language in the Charter and By-Laws had been discussed. Ms. Adelman Foster replied that it had been discussed, that Charter 7-5 indicated that masculine pronouns in the document refer to both males and females, and that because each charter change had to be individually approved by voters, the CBRC had not to date pursued the matter further. Ms. Adelman Foster then touched on the subject of changes to the Charter or By-Laws the Committee might want to initiate, suggesting the committee might want to consider proposing a By-Law change that would give the Superintendent the independent ability to file articles for Town Meeting warrant, and that the committee might want to propose some way to ensure communication between the appropriate parties regarding potential housing developments that might affect enrollment. Ms. Adelman Foster said that no action is
required at this time, as work on the CBRC is like to continue until the Fall 2009 Town Meeting. She suggested that perhaps the subject could be revisited after the budget season, at which time members’ ideas could be discussed. She closed by inviting the committee to contact her with questions or feedback and to attend Charter and By-Law Review Committee meetings.
PUBLIC SPEAK
Chairman Meyler asked if anyone wished to come forward for Public Speak. Mr. Bruce Whitney, Natick resident, came forward and expressed his concern with the school budget. He suggested that the Committee take a hard look at the budget and institute cuts of which he offered several suggestions. He also felt there should be no salary increases for a year.
Ms. Christine Weithman, Town Meeting member, parent, and Finance Committee member, came forward and thanked the School Committee and administration for providing residents in the community with the recent Natick Public Schools newsletter published this past December. She felt it was a great way to outline the achievements made in the schools.
CANDIDATES FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE NIGHT
Chairman Meyler discussed the idea of inviting the candidates for School Committee to an upcoming School Committee meeting to discuss their candidacy. A discussion continued around the format and the pros and cons of doing this. Chairman Meyler recommended that the candidates be invited to a future meeting to allow them to give a general statement of not more than 5 minutes each. It was also recommended that since Mr. Margil and Ms. Adelman Foster are candidates, they should not be seated at the School Committee table for this part of the agenda. Mr. Coburn moved for approval. Ms. Zernicke seconded. Chairman Meyler indicated that a vote on this will be taken at the next meeting.
REVIEW OF SCHOOL FEES/ADVERTISING
Dr. Sanchioni provided the School Committee with an outline of fees that the School department currently charges as well as proposed changes. He included information from surrounding districts on what they charge for fees as well. A discussion took place regarding the superintendent’s recommendation to add a $25.00 fee per activity with a family cap of $100. Members concerns/questions/folowup needed are as follows:
· The need to know the usage of the various after school activities and its impact if a fee were implemented
· Projection of how much this fee would save to jobs and programs
· Need to hold discussion on the Committee’s policy on proposed fees with the Financial Planning Committee
· High School parking fee – evaluate and put on list if there are merits
· Troubling to have two forms of education – those than can afford fees and those that can’t. (Dr. Sanchioni pointed out that free and reduced programs will still be available for those that cannot afford the fees).
· Have faith in students – they will survive cutting back in their activities if necessary
· Look at cutting entire programs for a couple of years – instead of adding fees
· Look at reform before revenue
· Clarify what the makeup of the stipend fees are (i.e. how many people, how many schools)
· Look at pros and cons of adding pre-school fees
Dr. Sanchioni indicated that discussion on fees will be ongoing throughout the budget process.
ADVERTISING IN SCHOOLS
Dr. Sanchioni provided the School Committee with information on what other towns do as far as allowing advertising at their schools to increase revenue. A discussion was held as to how the revenue would be applied – should it be used to offset the cost of sports or used in a broader way? Chairman Meyler indicated that this idea is being put forward as another tool to use and will need more discussion at future meetings.
METROWEST GRANT
Dr. Sanchioni announced that the MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation has approved a grant in the amount of $173,500 to fund a Foundations of Health & Fitness project for Kennedy Middle School. Mr. Coburn asked about program parity for Wilson. Dr. Sanchioni explained that he had hoped to get a program approved for both schools, however, he only received approval for Kennedy. He did, however, indicate that Wilson does have a similar grant funded program already in existence.
FY09 BUDGET UPDATE
Dr. Sanchioni announced that he has implemented a tempered freeze on all purchases for FY09. All purchases need to go through the principals and then Mr. Hurley.
SICK LEAVE BUY BANK POLICY
Dr. Sanchioni provided the School Committee with a recommended amendment of the Administrators’ Sick Leave Bank Policy. The change added more individuals who would be able to participate in this bank. A discussion continued. Mr. Margil moved to approve this policy. Ms. Blanchard seconded. A discussion took place about following School Committee protocol and the fact that action on this should take place at the next meeting. Mr. Margil withdrew his motion so the matter could be taken up at the next meeting.
STATE EDUCATION MANDATES REPORT
Dr. Sanchioni provided the School Committee with a listing of the unfunded and under-funded state mandates for the Committee’s information. Mr. Coburn would like to know when the reimbursement for transportation was eliminated.
CORRESPONDENCE DISTRIBUTED: Economic Stimulus
Dr. Sanchioni provided the School Committee with a copy of the Mobilization for Significant Infrastructure Investment summary (Economic Stimulus) submitted by Martha White, Town Administrator to Lieutenant Governor, Timothy Murray. He also referred to a news article which references the Massachusetts School Building Authority and the fact that “targeted investment of the federal stimulus funds to support the local share for projects in the MSBA pipeline would eliminate the uncertainty of local funding vote outcomes, stimulate local jobs, and preserve the reform and oversight of the needs-based system for distributing school construction taxpayer dollars.” Dr. Sanchioni indicated that he is keeping in close contact with the Massachusetts School Building Authority and a meeting is
in the works.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS CONCERNS
Ms. Karen Adelman Foster announced that the Friends of the Natick Senior Center has opened a gift shop at the Senior Center and are accepting new and slightly used contributions.
Mr. Margil reported that he was pleased to see that Technology in the Classroom is working. He reported that his son's first grade teacher used her new laptop to show the class a video of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s I had a Dream speech. He expressed his hope and expectation that other students and teachers are having similar experiences throughout the district.
At 11:10 p.m., Mr. Coburn moved to adjourn. Ms. Blanchard seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Peter Sanchioni, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
Attest:_____________________________ Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
| 
