Natick Public Schools
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES
December 13, 2010
The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, December 13, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the School Committee Room, 3rd Floor, Town Hall. Chairman Coburn called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Members Present: Karen Adelman Foster, Anne Blanchard, Dirk Coburn, David Margil, Amy Mistrot, Anne Zernicke
Others Present: Peter Sanchioni Superintendent
Karen LeDuc Assistant Superintendent
William Hurley Director of Fiscal & Management Services
Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary
Chairman Coburn requested an Executive Session to discuss contract negotiations with non-represented personnel in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 30A, Section 21(a) of the Massachusetts General Laws. Ms. Blanchard moved for approval to enter into Executive Session for this purpose. Ms. Zernicke seconded. By roll call vote, all members were in favor of entering into Executive Session.
The School Committee returned to open session at 8:12 p.m.
Ms. Mary Lou Randall, Teacher Representative, and Ms. Harsha Amaravadi, Student Representative, joined the meeting.
PUBLIC SPEAK
Chairman Coburn asked if anyone wished to come forward for Public Speak. Ms. Rosemary Driscoll and Ms. Jacey Shumaker came forward and performed a brief skit using the Kids on the Block Puppets, a program that teaches children about disabilities, medical conditions and social issues. They discussed a program where they will present anti-bullying skits to all 2nd grade students in the Natick Public Schools. They are looking for puppet volunteers to help with this program. If anyone is interested, they may contact the superintendent’s office.
APPROVAL OF BULLYING/INTERVENTION PLAN
Dr. Sanchioni requested the School Committee’s approval of the Bullying Intervention Plan which has been developed to comply with a new law that requires that all districts submit to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) a complete comprehensive "Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan" by December 31, 2010. This plan was presented to the School Committee at its meeting of November 29. Dr. Sanchioni introduced Ms. Lauren Gilbert, Assistant Superintendent, Elise Molloy, Guidance Counselor at Lilja School and Ms. Nicole Papasso, Guidance Counselor at Wilson Middle School who provided detailed information on the age appropriate, evidence-based instruction on bullying prevention that has been incorporated into the curriculum. Ms. Gilbert discussed
the work of the Bullying Taskforce which included the implementation and review of small group breakouts and what they will be doing over the next several months. She believes that Natick’s plan is top notch and miles ahead of the curve and an excellent program for our students. Dr. Sanchioni indicated that the work will continue on this plan and additional curriculum will be adopted if in the best interest of our students. Ms. Zernicke moved for approval of this plan. Ms. Mistrot seconded. Ms. Adelman Foster moved to amend the document and provided the School Committee with some minor corrections. Mr. Margil seconded. The plan was unanimously approved with the corrections submitted by Ms. Adelman Foster.
RACE TO THE TOP GRANT UPDATE
Dr. LeDuc provided an update on the Race to the Top grant which Natick was awarded in the amount of $191,924 (to be spent over four years). She reviewed the goals for 2010-2011 as follows:
- Implement the statewide educator framework
- Align curriculum to the Common Core State Standards
- Develop and implement a plan to increase the percentage of high school graduates completing the MassCore.
The funding for 2010-2011 in the amount of $28,789 will include:
$10,000 stipends for district working group to review statewide educator evaluation framework
$3,000 writing consultant to assist in aligning standards to common core and district wiritng prompts
$3,000 substitute coverage for staff to attend trainings, conferences, etc.
$12,798 for technology – laptops, software, etc.
Dr. LeDuc provided the following goals for school years 2011-2012 and 2012-2013.
2011-2012 Year Goals
1. Strengthen climate, conditions, and school culture
2. Implement one or more components of the statewide teaching and learning system
3. Access ESE-sponsored or –approved professional development on effective use of student data
4. Participate in an advisory committee to develop standards-based curriculum resources
5. Participate in an advisory committee to develop extended performance tasks
2012-2013 Year Goals
- Create near-real-time access to data in the Education Data Warehouse by implementing the Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) year 3
- Support experienced teachers to participate in online training to become mentors
APPOINT ROSE BERTUCCI AS PRINCIPAL OF NATICK HIGH SCHOOL
Dr. Sanchioni announced that he is pleased to appoint Ms. Rose Bertucci as Principal of Natick High School. He stated that Ms. Bertucci has performed remarkably well meeting the objectives outlined for her. He provided the School Committee with information on her accomplishments to date along with some long term projects that she has identified along with managing the day-to-day operations of a 1300 student high school.
HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING UPDATE
Mr. Hurley provided an update on the high school building project:
- The foundation and footings for quadrant A & B have been completed and Sections C & D are underway.
- The work at the maintenance and field house has been completed.
- The steel is being fabricated and should be onsite by the end of December
- The track at Memorial field has been torn up and work will continue on the track and turf field through next summer.
- Bids for the modular classrooms are due this coming Thursday.
Ms. Mistrot requested that a notice be put on the school and town website to alert the community that Memorial Field and track are closed for renovations.
ENROLLMENT UPDATE
Dr. Sanchioni provided the School Committee with an update on enrollment. Ms. Blanchard stressed the need for proactive planning seeing that the some of the class sizes are trending upwards. Ms. Mistrot requested an update on the number of children who have enrolled in the schools from the areas of the Cloverleaf Apartments, the Natick Collection condos and the South Natick Hills condos.
PUBLIC NOTICE OF PROPOSED CALENDAR CHANGES FOR RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
Ms. Karen Adelman Foster provided the School Committee with a draft policy related to public notice of proposed calendar changes for religious holidays as follows:
No religious holiday shall, in part or in whole, be added to or removed from the school calendar without the following public notice:
a) The proposed change/s appearing as a separate agenda item that names the religious holiday/s in question.
b) The proposed change/s appearing in the three immediately preceding agendas as an upcoming agenda item that names the religious holiday/s in question.
c) The proposed change/s being announced by the Superintendent of Schools or the chair of the School Committee at the three immediately preceding School Committee meetings as an upcoming agenda item that names the religious holiday/s in question.
The School Committee may waive items b) and/or c) by a 2/3 vote.
Chairman Coburn stated that in keeping with School Committee practice, this policy will be acted on at the next meeting.
UPDATE ON SCHOOL COMMITTEE VACANCY
Chairman Coburn announced that three letters of interest have been received from interested parties to fill the vacancy on the School Committee. The School Committee will hold a brief meeting on Thursday evening, December 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Training Room. They will join the Board of Selectmen at 8:00 p.m. on the 2nd floor to interview the three candidates. Chairman Coburn and Chairman Ostroff will put together a pre-agreed set of questions which will be asked of all candidates. If anyone has any particular question they would like to have asked, please forward to Chairman Coburn by the end of the day tomorrow.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Margil moved to approve the minutes of November 29, 2010. Ms. Adelman Foster seconded. They were unanimously approved.
Ms. Adelman Foster moved to approve the Executive Session minutes of November 29, 2010. Mr. Margil seconded. They were unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF HIGH SCHOOL INVOICES
Mr. Hurley requested School Committee approval of the following invoice from Brait Builders Corp.:
Vendor Invoice No. Invoice Date Period Covered Invoice Amount
00003 11/30/2010 November 2010 $1,213,652,36
Ms. Mistrot moved to approve this invoice. Ms. Zernicke seconded. It was unanimously approved.
TO APPOINT A BUILDING COMMITTEE MEMBER TO FILL THE SLOT
CREATED BY TOWN MEETING
Chairman Coburn reported that Town Meeting had voted to increase the number of School Committee delegates to the High School Building Committee from 5 to 6 which was recommended to allow former Natick High School Principal, Mr. John Hughes, to continue to serve on the Committee. Chairman Coburn nominated Mr. Hughes to serve on the High School Building Committee. Mr. Margil seconded. It was unanimously approved.
NAME DELEGATE TO SERVE ON THE SELECTMEN’S CONSOLIDATION TASKFORCE
Chairman Coburn indicated that a request has been made for a School Committee member to serve on the Board of Selectmen’s Consolidation Taskforce, a subcommittee to focus specifically on investigating and analyzing various possibilities with regard to general government and school facilities operations. The taskforce will be composed of:
2 members of the Board of Selectmen – Ms. Carol Gloff and Mr. Paul Joseph
2 members of the School Committee
The Town Administrator
The Superintendent
Ms. Zernicke nominated Ms. Blanchard and Mr. Margil to serve on this taskforce. Ms. Adelman Foster seconded. It was unanimously approved.
MEMBERS CONCERNS
Ms. Blanchard would like to see bottoms up budget information as it is always good to know what things we are not able to fund vs. those we are funding.
At 9:36 pm., Ms. Zernicke moved to adjourn. Ms. Mistrot seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Peter Sanchioni, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Secretary to the School Committee
Attest:_____________________________ Sharon Reilly
Recording Secretary
Sharon Reilly
Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent
Natick Public Schools
13 East Central Street
Natick, MA 01760
508-647-6500, option 0
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