Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES
February 2, 2009
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, February 2, 2009 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, Dirk Coburn, David Margil, Stephen Meyler, David Murphy
Anne Zernicke
Anne Blanchard arrived at 8:40 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 OUT OF STATE TRAVEL
Ms. Anna Nolin, Principal of Wilson Middle School, requested the School Committee’s approval for Wilson 8th grade students to travel to St John’s, New Brunswick, Canada from April 2 – April 5, 2009 to participate in the Barnhill Exchange. Ms. Adelman Foster questioned, that given many families are facing financial distress, has information been provided that gives a deadline for refunds if they need to change their minds quickly. Ms. Nolin reported that a parent information night was held well prior to the time of the actual trip. In addition, parents have been informed with copious information. Some of the fees have been reduced because the requirement for using passports has been lifted and other documentation may be used. Mr. Coburn moved for approval. Ms. Zernicke seconded. It was approved by a vote of six. Ms. Blanchard was not present for the vote. Ms. Nolin pointed out that this is the 35th year that this exchange has taken place. She acknowledged and thanked Mr.
David Walker for his many years as coach of this program and has been the driving force of this program. Mr. Walker will be retiring this year.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Meyler requested a motion to approve the minutes of January 12, 2009. Ms. Adelman Foster cited a couple of areas which she would like to amend. Ms. Adelman Foster will provide her amendments to Ms. Reilly to be approved at the next meeting.
APPROVAL POLICY ON ADVERTISING
Dr. Sanchioni provided the School Committee with the policy on Advertising for the School Committee’s approval. A discussion took place regarding the administrative designee and the process for approving the advertising. Dr. Sanchioni will follow up with some guidelines.
Ms. Adelman Foster has no problem with the policy; however, she requested that when the recommendation comes back on how we should delegate and how we should make the arrangements, she does have some concerns about advertisements aimed to students especially at younger ages. She suggested including an extra layer of scrutiny and have those actually come to the School Committee at some point in that process – just the advertisements aimed at the students rather than their parents. Chairman Meyler stated that this is a two part process – 1. Approving the policy & 2. Assigning an administrative designee. He suggested that if members have any thoughts around the language around appropriateness and acceptability of the administrative designees, please send your thoughts to the Chair and
Dr. Sanchioni so they may prepare something in advance of a future meeting.
Mr. Margil stated that he has a lot of confidence in the School Committee and the administration, but wondered if there was some avenue for the School Committee to take some control over the process if they were to decide it’s not going the way they like it to. Chairman Meyler indicated that the policy could be reversed by a majority vote of the School Committee at any time.
Mr. Coburn suggested allowing community members to submit ideas on what they would like to see or not see for advertising.
Mr. Margil moved for approval of the policy as outlined. Ms. Adelman Foster seconded. It was approved by a vote of six. Ms. Blanchard was not present for the vote.
APPROVAL OF TOWN MEETING ARTICLES
Dr. Sanchioni provided the School Committee with language for warrant articles for:
§ Transportation – School Bus
§ Funds for SPED Transportation, Salaries & Expenses
§ Funds for Data Base Administrator
Dr. Sanchioni has withdrawn the warrant article for the funds for Data Base Administrator.
A discussion was held on the language of the warrant article for SPED Transportation, Salaries & Expenses and the Transportation – School Bus article. Ms. Adelman Foster supports the content of the articles, however, requested that the Superintendent check with the Town Moderator to insure that the language of the articles are optimal for Town Meeting – possibly reword them to be less specific. Dr. Sanchioni will bring these articles back for approval to the retreat of February 9th.
Ms. Cathi Collins, Finance Committee member, speaking as an individual and not as representative of the Committee, questioned the article to supplement bus transportation given that the School Committee is contemplating an increase in bus fees. She alerted the School Committee that there may be push back at the Finance Committee level and Town Meeting level on this article if fees are increased.
Mr. Jonathan Freedman, Finance Committee member, speaking on his own behalf, talked about his understanding of the three sources of revenue for bus transportation which is:
§ Fees
§ Operating budget
§ Supplement through Town Meeting
He suggested that this level of detail be available for discussions with the Finance Committee.
PUBLIC SPEAK
Mr. Richard Sidney, speaking as a Natick citizen, discussed his displeasure with the way in which a recent PTO magazine fundraising program was held at Wilson Middle School. He read a letter he had written to the School Committee and provided copies.
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Ms. Amy Mistrot, Co President of Wilson PTO, defended the fundraising program and eradicated some of the misinformation from the previous speaker. She talked about the many good things that the PTO does. The PTO going forward will be looking to communicate better with parents and hopes that any issues can be resolved through the school administration and the PTO.
NHS DOCUMENTARY
Dr. Sanchioni showed a documentary created by two Natick High School students, Jennifer Widisky and Avery Lavalley, on the condition of Natick High School which focused on the age of the inefficiency of the boilers, heating system, electricity and windows. School Committee members commended the students for their work and a suggestion was made to use this video when informing the public of the needs of a new high school.
Ms. Blanchard arrived at 8:40 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARING ON FY10 BUDGET
A public hearing was held on the FY10 budget. Dr. Sanchioni presented his level staffed, level service budget which he stated is a fiscally conservative and responsible budget in the amount of $45,647,841, a 4.9% increase over FY09. Dr. Sanchioni reviewed the salaries and wages portion of the budget which is in the amount of $35,080,861 and the salary distribution among all employees. Mr. Hurley reviewed the major areas of the expense budget which equals $10,566,980. Major components of the increase in the expense budget are Special Education and Transportation. Due to fiscal restraints and the result of the cut in state aid, it has been determined that there will be an education deficit of approximately $3,171,205. Dr. Sanchioni discussed ways in which this deficit could be
addressed such as:
§ Consider raising fees
§ Use all available revolving funds
§ Cut school expense accounts
§ Reduce Professional Development
§ Eliminate Middle School Sports (Possibly cover by fee increase)
§ Reduce athletic budget
§ Reduce technology budget
§ Cuts in personnel - $1.2M
o $450K - administration, special education (non-mandated), maintenance, other
o $750-800K cuts in other staff areas
A discussion continued and the administration responded to questions by School Committee members and the public. Dr. Sanchioni indicated that principals will be presenting their recommended cuts to the Administration who will look at consistency across all schools. Reductions, fees, etc. will be addressed once the stimulus funds are known as well as other unknowns, such as negotiations, municipal fees, the allocation of the deficit between the government side and the school side. Budget discussions will be continued for the next several meetings with an opportunity for the public to weigh in on what is being recommended. Feedback and input from the public is appreciated. The public may address the School Committee via the Natick Public Schools at www.natick.k12.ma.us.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBER CONCERNS
Ms. Adelman Foster requested an update on the forums that will be taking place pertaining to the high school building project. Dr. Sanchioni announced that two forums are taking place – one on February 4th and one on February 12th to discuss the potential high school building project and the potential new senior center. Mr. Hurley and Dr. Sanchioni will discuss the high school project in terms of the ongoing feasibility study, potential sites, if in fact the school is deemed to be built, and the timeline associated with the Massachusetts School Building Authority. Dr. Sanchioni indicated that nothing will be discussed that the School Committee is not already aware of. Mr. Ciccariello will speak on behalf of the senior center.
At 10:30 p.m., Mr. Margil moved for approval to enter into Executive Session to discuss Collective Bargaining in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 39, Section 23b of the Massachusetts General Laws. Ms. Zernicke seconded. By roll call vote, all members were in favor of entering into Executive Session.
Peter Sanchioni, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
Attest:_____________________________ Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
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