Town of Natick - School Committee Minutes

Natick Public Schools

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING

February 25, 2002

The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, February 25, 2002 at 7:30 p.m. in the School Committee Room, Town Hall. Chairwoman Broekel called the School Committee meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

Members Present: Peg Broekel, Michael Cashman, Jonathan Freedman, Henry Haugland, Diane Packer,

Ted Wynne, Kristine Van Amsterdam

Others present: James J. Connolly Superintendent

Patrick Schettini Assistant Superintendent

Audrey Seyffert Assistant Superintendent

Mary Ellen Dunn Director of Fiscal & Management Services

Marianne Davis Director of Human Resources

Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary

Natasha Smalky Student Representative

Chair Broekel requested a moment of silence in memory of Michael Dank who passed away this past weekend.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mrs. Van Amsterdam moved for approval of the minutes of February 4, 2002. Mr. Freedman seconded. They were unanimously approved.

Mr. Freedman moved for approval of the minutes of February 11, 2002. Mrs. Van Amsterdam seconded. They were unanimously approved.

Mr. A.P. Richard Miller, member of the Natick Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee, offered the assistance of the Natick Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee to the School Committee as they deal with their transportation issues.

Mr. Joel Bradford requested help from the School Committee regarding an issue with the networking of his classroom.

COMMUNICATIONS, PETITIONS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Chair Broekel announced that the Natick Education Foundation Spelling Bee is being held on Tuesday, March 5. The School Committee has put together a team consisting of Kristine Van Amsterdam, Diane Packer and Michael Cashman. The Administration has also put together a team.

Ms. Packer provided an update from TEC and announced some upcoming opportunities for School Committees and communities to lobby for local aid:

· Suburban Coalition's Annual Legislative Breakfast - April 24^th from 9:00 to 11:00 at the State House.

· Suburban Coalition meeting at the TEC Offices in Wellesley, February 27 at 7:30 p.m. Ms. Packer will be attending this meeting. TEC would like to see a strong showing at these meetings, as it is important for legislators to hear testimony from communities who are feeling effects of local aid reduction.

Mr. Schettini announced that Ms. Natasha Smalky, Student Representative to the School Committee and senior at Natick High School, has been notified that because she is in the top 1% of seniors in the country she is a candidate for the Presidential Scholars Program. She will learn in May if she is one of two seniors chosen from the State of Massachusetts to attend the Presidential Scholars Program in Washington D.C. in July.

PERSONNEL ACTIONS

RETIREMENTS: Professional Staff

Karen Byrne, Science teacher at Natick High School. Retirement effective August 30, 2002.

Robert Franciose, Physical education teacher at Bennett-Hemenway School. Retirement effective June 30, 2002.

Barbara Griffin, Home Economics teacher at Kennedy Middle School. Retirement effective June 30, 2002.

Lynne Grimaldi, Grade 1 teacher at Memorial School. Retirement effective June 30, 2002.

Arthur Hall, Vice Principal at Natick High School. Retirement effective September 1, 2002.

Kathleen Moriarty, Grade 5 teacher at Kennedy Middle School. Retirement effective June 30, 2002.

Barry Parker, Principal at Natick High School. Retirement effective June 30, 2003.

Diane Skrocki, Grade 5 teacher at Kennedy Middle School. Retirement effective June 30, 2002.

Adrienne Taylor, Grade 6 teacher at Kennedy Middle School. Retirement effective June 30, 2002.

Carol Van Cleave, Guidance counselor at Bennett-Hemenway School. Retirement effective June 30, 2002.

Sharon Walsh, Grade 2 teacher at Brown School. Retirement effective June 30, 2002.

Jane Williams, Supervisor of Nurses. Retirement effective June 30, 2002.

RESIGNATION: Professional Staff.

Laura Germano, Grade 3 teacher at Lilja School since August 1999. Resignation effective June 30, 2002.

RESIGNATION: Support Staff

Sharon Billings, Secretary to the Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services since July 2001. Resignation effective February 4, 2002.

Stacey Annese, Food service worker at Johnson School since September 1999. Resignation effective at the end of the day on March 8, 2002

Pauline Hughes, Food service worker at Brown School since September 1985. Resignation effective at the end of the day on February 8, 2002.

EXTENDED LEAVE OF ABSENCE: Professional Staff

Stephanie Patrick, School psychologist at Bennett-Hemenway and Johnson School since August 2000. Leave of absence for maternity is effective March 28, 2002 to the end of this school year.

Jennifer D'Antonio, (.6) Guidance counselor at Johnson School since August 1995. Leave of absence for maternity is effective June 12, 2002 through the end of the school year 2002-2003.

APPOINTMENTS: Support Staff

Sheila O'Reilly, to be ESL teacher assistant at Brown School effective February 11, 2002. Salary, Step 3

Mary Zullo, to be food service worker at Kennedy Middle School effective February 11, 2002. Salary, Step 1.

APPOINTMENTS: Professional Staff

Kristen Corazzini, to be (.5) long-term substitute school psychologist at Kennedy Middle School effective February 11, 2002 to the end of this school year. This is in addition to her regular (.5) position of school psychologist at Natick High School.

Thomas Lamb, to be Athletic Director effective July 1, 2002. Salary, Step 3.

CONTINUATION OF FY2003 BUDGET DISCUSSION

Mr. Connolly provided an overview of where we are in the budget process. He reviewed the proposed fee increases and reductions to his original budget in the amount of $320,000 plus elimination of budget support for the new athletic programs in the amount of $41,426 and the institution of fee based busing in the amount of $326,340. If these adjustments are approved the new budget amount would be $33,108,552. Mr. Connolly recommends presenting this budget figure to the Finance Committee at its meeting on Thursday, February 28.

The School Committee was provided with copies of the questions raised by the Finance Committee members along with the answers. Ms. Carol Gloff requested an answer to the following question raised by one of the members who was unable to attend this evening: Is there anyone who was paid off of a grant in 2001 who has since been moved to a non-grant school budget position for FY2002 or subsequent? Mr. Connolly will check into this but he did not believe that there was anyone who moved into a school budgeted position.

Mr. Connolly reviewed the preliminary Chapter 70 numbers received from the Department of Education. It appears that the Town Administrator's recommendation will need to be adjusted upward to meet minimum net school spending requirements.

A discussion continued on the proposed cuts. The following concerns/comments were raised:

· Reconsider not cutting the two positions which were proposed for Natick High School

· Parking issues at Natick High School if more students will be driving to school

· High School has not been a priority for many years - frustration by lack of support - promises have been made that have not been kept

· Inequities in sports - unfunded sports end up costing more for the parents

Mr. Connolly and Chair Broekel reiterated that given the difference between the Town Administrators budget and the original school budget, it is necessary to reduce the budget by at least this proposed amount of $687,766. Careful review of the overall budget has been given and the areas presented to date are the best possible choices.

Mr. Wynne moved for approval to increase the athletic fees from $100 to $125 with a yearly family cap of $375. Mrs. Van Amsterdam seconded. It was unanimously approved.

Mr. Freedman moved for approval to increase the preschool tuition fees for non-special education students from 33-68% depending on the program. Mrs. Van Amsterdam seconded. It was unanimously approved.

Mrs. Van Amsterdam moved for approval to present a bottom line budget amount of $33,108,552. Mr. Freedman seconded.

Mr. Cashman moved for approval to keep the two proposed positions for Natick High School in the budget and to present a bottom line budget amount of $33,194,928. Mr. Haugland seconded.

Chair Broekel called for a vote on the budget amount proposed by Mr. Cashman of $33,194,928. The motion lost 2 to 5.

Chair Broekel called for a vote on the budget amount of $33,108,552. It was unanimously approved. The School Committee will present this budget to the Finance Committee on Thursday, February 28.

FEE BASED TRANSPORTATION

Mr. Connolly provided an overview of fee-based transportation which included:

· State regulations - transportation must be provided for Grades K-6 who live more than 2 miles from their assigned school. No requirement for Grade 7-12. Distance is measured “portal to portal”.

· Analysis of eligible students

· Fee surveys from other districts

The following comments/concerns were raised:

· What are legal ramifications if there are hazardous issues for students walking and parents won't abide?

· Can we get feedback on software tools to help with this administrative task?

· Can we get a careful analysis of make/buy decision?

· Human cost - real concern of putting students in harms way

· Increased traffic concerns

· Could there be any special provisions for early drop offs?

· Appropriate time to collaborate with Board of Selectmen on traffic issues and public safety issues - suggest administration confer with interim Town Administrator to see if this is something they wish to explore

· If times of school openings are to change, this may have big impact on working parents

· High School parking may be an issue

· Monitors for parking lots may be needed

· Students may be tempted to not abide by the law of the junior operator's license of having no passengers for the first six months of their license.

A more detailed presentation will be given in a month's time which will allow for:

· notification to parents of the change in service

· development of responses to issues

· development of an implementation plan

SEARCH PROCESS FOR THE PRINCIPAL OF NATICK HIGH SCHOOL

Mr. Connolly discussed the recent announcement by Dr. Barry Parker who will retire as Natick High School Principal effective June 2003 and the announcement of Mr. Arthur Hall who will retire as Natick High School Vice Principal in August 2002. Mr. Connolly explained that having these two openings within a year offers the school system a unique opportunity to fill both positions in a nontraditional manner. The Administration is recommending that the school system recruit and select a principal-elect to begin this summer. The individual will share the principal/vice principal duties with Dr. Parker during the next school year. Next Spring, the principal elect will be directly involved in the selection of his/her vice principal for the following year. The advantages to this process are that we should attract a larger number of candidates, it provides for a smoother transition, it allows the new principal to have input earlier on with the building renovation plans and allows the incoming principal to hire the vice principal. The only disadvantage is the cost of the salary differential between a vice-principal and principal for one year is approximately $10-$15,000.

Mrs. Davis reviewed the administrative procedure for the selection of a high school principal-elect including the tentative timetable. The School Committee needs to appoint two members to the paper screening committee and two members to the interviewing screening committee.

Mr. Freedman stated that the Administrative procedure does not require the School Committee's approval. The School Committee did, however, give its consensus on the procedure. Mrs. Van Amsterdam and Mr. Haugland volunteered to serve on the interviewing screening committee. Ms. Packer and Ms. Broekel volunteered to serve on the paper screening committee.

When the dates of the timeline are finalized, they will be posted on the website.

The meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.

Secretary to the School Committee