Natick, Massachusetts - School Committee Minutes

School Committee Minutes - 12/16/02


	Approval of Records January 6, 2003 Natick Public Schools SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING December 16, 2002 The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, December 16, 2002 at 7:30 p.m. in the School Committee Room, Town Hall. Chair Broekel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Members Present: Peg Broekel, Michael Cashman, Jonathan Freedman, Henry Haugland, Diane Packer, Kristine Van Amsterdam, Ted Wynne Others present: James J. Connolly Superintendent Patrick Schettini Assistant Superintendent Audrey Seyffert Assistant Superintendent Mary Ellen Dunn Director of Fiscal & Management Services Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary Abigail Shatkin-Margolis Student Representative Community Members, Parents, Staff & Press APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mrs. Van Amsterdam moved for approval of the Executive Session minutes of November 18, 2002. Mr. Freedman seconded. They were unanimously approved. Mrs. Van Amsterdam moved for approval of the minutes of December 2, 2002. Mr. Wynne seconded. They were unanimously approved. PUBLIC SPEAK Chair Broekel asked if anyone wished to come forward for Public Speak. No one came forward. COMMUN ICATIONS, PETITIONS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Chair Broekel discussed her recent visit to the Senior Center. The Senior Center is seeking donations in support of their newsletter. Anyone interested in helping out may contact Deborah Watts or Diana Ryder at 508-647-6540. Chair Broekel commended the students, staff and parents who were instrumental in the fabulous performance of BIG, recently performed at Natick High School. Ms. Packer acknowledged the Wilson Middle School students and staff for the wonderful performance of Annie. Ms. Packer attended the TEC Board of Directors meeting last Friday. It was a very productive meeting focusing on discussions on Special Education as well as the search for a new Director for TEC. Mr. Cashman recently attended the Division II MASC meeting. He has been nominated as Assistant Chair for that division. The Division II annual meeting will be held on January 9^th in Arlington. SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR 2003/2004 AND 2004/2005 At the School Committee meeting of December 2, Mr. Connolly presented the School Committee with Options A & B for School Year Calendars 2003/2004 and 2004/2005. At the School Committees request, Mr. Connolly presented the School Committee with another option, Option C, for the 2003/2004 school year which has staff reporting back on Wednesday, August 27^th and Thursday, August 28^th. Staff will not report for work on Friday, August 29. Students and staff report on Tuesday, September 2^nd. The final day of school is June 22^nd (185 days, which includes 5 snow days.) Chair Broekel moved to approve Option C for the 2003/2004 school year. Mr. Freedman seconded. It was unanimously approved. Mr. Connolly will more than likely recommend, next December, Option A for the 2004/2005 school year calendar, which has staff reporting on Monday, August 30, and students beginning on Wednesday, September 1 and the final day of school being June 22^nd. (185 days, which includes 5 snow days). HIGH SCHOOL CLASS RANK Dr. Parker presented an overview of topics which will be incorporated into a presentation he will be giving to the School Committee in February: 1. A description of the graduation requirements for all Natick High School students. 2. An overview of what is presently provided on college applications for NHS students. 3. An overview of our history in providing class rank for NHS students and how ranks are calculated. 4. An explanation of a grade-point-average (GPA), when it was incorporated at NHS and its value to colleges in the application process. 5. The practice of providing two types of honor roll at NHS for our students. Both the regular honor roll and the high honor roll will be described. 6. The method used in determining scholastic eligibility for students in the National Honor Society. 7. The present method followed at NHS for selecting students as Valedictorian and Salutatorian for the graduation ceremony. 8. Our present practices around students selecting Advanced Placement courses. 9. In our most recent School Council meetings this year, we have initiated a review of class rank at NHS and are in the process of charging a subcommittee of the Council with three specific responsibilities: · to consider adding grade point average (GPA) decile graphs to college applications and possibly eliminate class rank of NHS students. · to determine if there presently exists an unfair advantage for some students to select specific courses in particular departments that advance their class rank opportunities over other students. · if it is determined that an unfair advantage presently exists for some students in competing for class rank, what recommendations should be followed to give all students a fair opportunity to compete for class rank? Dr. Parker reviewed the membership of a subcommittee that the School Council is putting together which will be reviewing class rank. Questions/comments raised: · A request that the School Committee receive updates from the subcommittee so that they are kept informed · A request to receive background information for numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 above prior to the interim report in February as this information is available now. · Should the number of Advanced Placement classes a student take be capped? · What are the surrounding communities doing regarding class rank? READDRESS SKATEBOARD PARK Mr. Connolly reviewed a response from John Flynn, Town Counsel, regarding potential liability for the School Department and Town as it pertains to the skateboard park and the helmet requirement. Mr. Connolly outlined the following options: · The School Committee assume responsibility for enforcing the helmet requirement · Request that other town agencies assume responsibility for enforcement and if not successful, vote to close the park · Modify the helmet requirement so that it is strongly recommended that helmets be used but not required. Mr. Freedman moved for approval to close the skateboard park permanently until the recreation department has resolved the helmet non-compliance issue and until an affirmative vote to reopen the park is given by the School Committee. Mr. Haugland seconded, but amended the motion to include that, on three separate occasions, a notice be sent home with the students alerting them and their parents that the park is permanently closed and will not open until the School Committee is satisfied with the safety issues pertaining to the use of helmets. Mr. Freedman accepted the amendment. The motion, including the amendment, was unanimously approved. Mr. Wynne requested receiving further information on the opinion given from Town Counsel that suggested changing the language to “helmets are strongly recommended” as opposed to a requirement. Mr. Wynne would also like to hear back from the Recreation Department on how they will be instituting the closure of the park. Chair Broekel requested that the Town Officials be notified of the closure of the park, i.e., Recreation Department, Selectmen, Police, Town Administrator, Town Counsel, Cognex. PERSONNEL ACTIONS The following personnel actions were reviewed: RESIGNATION: Professional Staff Michelle Graham, Foreign language teacher at Kennedy Middle School. Resignation effective at the end of the day on December 20, 2002. TRANSFER/CHANGE IN STATUS: Support Staff Sandra Linton, from school-year secretary to full-year secretary at Kennedy Middle School effective January 14, 2003. John Ramalho, from Jr. Custodian I [night shift] at Natick High School to Jr. Custodian I/Food Service Truck Driver effective December 9, 2002. APPOINTMENTS: Support Staff Gilberto Famania, to be Jr. Custodian I [night shift] at Natick High School effective December 16, 2002. Salary, Step 1. APPOINTMENTS: Professional Staff Jennifer Johnston, to be elementary permanent substitute teacher effective December 4, 2002 to March 15, 2003. She is replacing Michelle Vogel. Salary, $88.00 per day. Alissa Merrifield, to be kindergarten long-term substitute teacher at Bennett-Hemenway School effective December 4, 2002 to March 15, 2003. She is replacing Karen Kraemer who is on a maternity leave. Salary, $131.00 per day. Michelle Vogel, to be kindergarten grant long-term substitute teacher at Bennett-Hemenway School effective December 4, 2002 to March 15, 2003. She is replacing Alissa Merrifield. Salary, $131.00 per day. RECLASSIFICATION OF POSITION: Support Staff Transportation Coordinator. Based on changes in responsibility due to the new fee based busing program, the position of transportation coordinator has been upgraded to Level 1 of the secretarial salary schedule, retroactive to July 1, 2002. UPDATE ON HIGH SCHOOL RENOVATION Mr. Connolly reported that the High School Building Committee and architects will present the high school renovation/construction options to members of the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, Planning Board, Conservation Committee, Town Administrator and Zoning Board at the Selectmens Meeting on January 13, 2003 beginning at 8:00. The Legislators will be speaking at the Selectmens meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m. A request was made to make sure that plenty of handouts on the high school project are made available for this meeting. UPDATE ON MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM Mr. Connolly indicated that at the School Committee Meeting of January 15, 2003, he plans to present information on the Middle School Program. A concern was raised that information is being discussed regarding changes in the middle school program as if it was a done deal, whereas it hasnt been presented to the School Committee yet. A request was made that a letter be sent out to elementary and middle school parents describing the meeting and inviting them to attend. Mr. Haugland requested that as part of completing Wilson and refurbishing Kennedy that a good quality piano or keyboard instrument be put in place. ACCEPTANCE OF DONATION Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn requested the School Committees acceptance of a donation of $1,000 from Stop and Shop to be used to support the Wilson Interscholastic Basketball Program. Chair Broekel moved for approval to accept this donation. Mrs. Packer seconded. It was unanimously approved. Chair Broekel thanked Mr. Henry Massar for all the work he has done for this program over the years. At 8:55 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. A roll call vote was taken. All members present were in favor of entering into Executive Session. Returned to open session at 9:50 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m. James J. Connolly Superintendent Secretary to the School Committee By: Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary