Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES
May 18, 2009
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, May 18, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the School Committee Room, 3rd Floor, Town Hall. Chairman Coburn called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
Members Present: Karen Adelman Foster, Anne Blanchard, Dirk Coburn, David Margil, Amy Mistrot, Anne Zernicke
Members Absent: David Murphy
Others Present: Peter Sanchioni Superintendent
Karen LeDuc Assistant Superintendent
William Hurley Director of Fiscal & Management Services
Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary
The Administration requested an Executive Session. Ms. Zernicke 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. Mistrot seconded. All present were in favor of entering into Executive Session.
At 7:35 p.m. the School Committee resumed its public meeting.
Dr. Sanchioni provided an update on the budget as a result of recent news received that the FY09 Chapter 70 aid will be reduced for each municipality and regional school districts which is expected to be 10.52% which equates to $614,579 for Natick. Districts will need to apply for an ARRA state fiscal stabilization fund grant for the exact amount of its Chapter 70 aid reduction. There will be no impact on the FY10 budget; however, the FY11 budget will be impacted. Chairman Coburn urged members and the public to contact their State Senators – Senator Scott Brown and Senator Karen Spilka.
APPROVAL OF SCHOOL CHOICE
Dr. Sanchioni recommended that the School Committee vote to participate in School Choice for the 2009-2010 school year. Natick, in previous years has voted not to participate. Dr. Sanchioni reviewed how the program works and discussed the financial benefits that Natick would receive. A discussion was held and Dr. Sanchioni responded to questions from Committee members. Ms. Karen Adelman Foster moved for approval for Natick to participate in the School Choice Program for the 2009-2010 school year. Mr. Margil seconded. It was unanimously approved. Ms. Adelman Foster requested periodic updates on the School Choice Program.
At 8:10 p.m., Chairman Coburn had to leave the meeting for a period of time and turned over the Chair to Vice Chairman Margil.
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN UPDATES
Mr. John Hughes, Principal of Natick High School, Ms. Rosemary Vickery, Principal of Kennedy Middle School and Ms. Anna Nolin, Principal of Wilson Middle School each provided a status report of their School Improvement Plans. They responded to questions from Committee members. Copies of their presentation will be sent to the School Committee members.
APPROVAL OF OUT OF STATE TRAVEL
Mr. Hughes requested the School Committee’s approval for the Business Professionals of America students to travel to Dallas, Texas on June 17-21 to participate in the National Competition. The School Committee previously approved this trip which was to take place on May 6-10, however, due to the flu outbreak this trip was postponed. Ms. Adelman Foster moved for approval for the Business Professionals of America students to travel to Dallas, Texas on June 17-21, 2009 to participate in the National Competition. Ms. Mistrot seconded. It was unanimously approved.
APPROVAL TO CO-SPONSOR THE AFTER THE PROM PARTY
Dr. Sanchioni requested the School Committee’s approval to Co-Sponsor the After the Prom Party. Mr. Hughes provided an overview of programs and communications that students receive to promote safe driving for this time of year. Ms. Adelman Foster moved for approval for the School Committee to Co-Sponsor the After the Prom Party. Ms. Zernicke seconded. It was unanimously approved.
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE REPORT
Ms. Corinne Worthington, Student Representative, reported that students have begun taking the MCAS tests at Natick High School. She announced that students are looking forward to attending the Natick High School prom this Friday, May 22nd.
ELA CURRICULUM REVIEW
Dr. Karen LeDuc presented the English Language Arts Curriculum Review and Action Plan for Grades 5-12 and responded to questions from Committee members.
UPDATE ON HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECT
Mr. Hurley provided the School Committee with Project Managers Report for the new Natick High School Building Project submitted by RF Walsh Project Management Inc. which covers activities through
April 30, 2009. He is hopeful that this project will be on the May 27 meeting agenda of the Massachusetts School Building Authority. Mr. Margil requested that School Committee members be notified by email when the High School Building Committee is meeting.
Ms. Blanchard requested the support of the School Committee to provide the High School Building Committee with the draft document of suggestions for School Committee/NHS Building Committee Relationship which the School Committee has received and has been reviewing. After a discussion took place, Ms. Blanchard moved that the School Committee endorse the draft document in its current form with the understanding it will be presented to the Building Committee for its comments and suggestions and will be brought back to the School Committee at a future meeting. Ms. Adelman Foster seconded. It was unanimously approved.
APPROVAL TO EXTEND BUS CONTRACT WITH CONNOLLY BUS
Mr. Hurley requested the School Committee’s approval to extend the bus contract with Michael J. Connolly & Sons, Inc. to provide regular school bus transportation to the students of the Natick Public Schools for the upcoming school year. This is the first of two, one year extensions that may be granted by the School Committee under the current contract agreement. Mr. Hurley stated that the financial consequence of this renewal is accounted for in the FY10 budget. Ms. Mistrot moved for approval to extend a one-year bus contract with Michael J. Connolly & Sons, Inc. Mr. Margil seconded. It was unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF THE TEC AGREEMENT 32ND AMENDMENT
Dr. Sanchioni requested the School Committee’s approval of the 32nd amendment to the TEC Agreement. Ms. Adelman Foster moved to approve the 32nd amendment to the TEC Agreement. Ms. Zernicke seconded. It was unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF DONATIONS
Mr. Hurley requested that the School Committee accept the following donations:
Source/Donation Amount/Value Purpose/Donation
Mr. & Mrs. Ramiro Curiel $25 Principal Discretionary – Kennedy
Box Tops for Education $502 Principal Discretionary – Kennedy
Natick Education Foundation $1,000 Enrichment Award – Outdoor Classroom -Amy Bruns, Johnson School
Mr. Bob Jaczko $1,125 Art Supplies and Books to NHS
Ms. Blanchard moved for approval to accept the above donations. Ms. Mistrot seconded. It was unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ms. Adelman Foster moved for approval of the minutes of April 27, 2009 with one minor modification. She requested that commas be removed from the last sentence, second paragraph on page three. Ms. Mistrot seconded. They were unanimously approved with the change.
Ms. Mistrot moved for approval of the minutes of May 4, 2009. Ms. Zernicke seconded. They were approved by a vote of five members. Ms. Adelman Foster abstained as she was absent from that meeting.
Ms. Mistrot moved for approval of the Executive Session minutes of April 26, 2009, April 27, 2009 and May 4, 2009. Ms. Adelman Foster seconded. They were approved by a vote of five members. Ms. Adelman Foster abstained as she was absent from one of the meetings.
ENROLLMENT UPDATE
Dr. Sanchioni provided the School Committee with an update of the current enrollment. A request was made for Dr. Sanchioni to come back to a future meeting with the elementary staffing plan for the next school year.
School committee members concerns
Ms. Adelman Foster requested an update on the math curriculum coordination between middle school math and high school science. Dr. LeDuc explained the process.
Ms. Adelman Foster requested an update on Charter Schools – how to retain students and re-attract those that have left for the Charter Schools.
Mr. Margil congratulated Chairman Coburn and Ms. Karen Adelman Foster for their outstanding performance at the NEF Spelling bee (making it to the final round) and stated how honored he was to be able to participate with them on the School Committee team.
Ms. Mistrot requested a timeline for the response to a letter sent from the School Committee to the Board of Health requesting an opinion on the health risks of power lines being installed in West Natick. Dr. Sanchioni will follow up.
Ms. Mistrot, referencing some correspondence she had forwarded to the superintendent regarding the structure of our middle schools, requested that discussions continue on examining the structure of the two middle schools and to not be limited by the size of our buildings.
Ms. Adelman Foster referenced a letter the School Committee received from a Lilja student inquiring about his homework time. Ms. Adelman Foster requested an update on the homework policy at a future meeting.
Ms. Zernicke requested that when schools are developing their School Improvement Plans for next year that each school use the same format. Dr. Sanchioni confirmed that they will all follow the same format.
At 10:55 p.m., Ms. Mistrot 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
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