Town of Natick - School Committee Minutes

Approval of Records

Natick Public Schools

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING

The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, April 1, 2002 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lower Meeting Room of the Morse Institute Library. Mr. Connolly called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

Members Present: Peg Broekel, Jonathan Freedman, Henry Haugland, Diane Packer, Ted Wynne, Kristine Van Amsterdam,

Michael Cashman arrived at 7:35 p.m.

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

REORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL COMMITEEE

Mr. Connolly reported that Ms. Broekel and Mr. Freedman, at the recently held election, were reelected to the School Committee for three-year terms and this evening the School Committee will vote for its officers.

Mr. Connolly called for nominations for Chair of the School Committee:

Ms. Packer nominated Ms. Peg Broekel as Chair of the School Committee. Mrs. Van Amsterdam seconded. It was unanimously approved.

Mr. Connolly called for nominations for Vice Chair of the School Committee:

Mr. Freedman nominated Mrs. Kristine Van Amsterdam as Vice Chair of the School Committee. Ms. Packer seconded. It was unanimously approved.

Mr. Connolly called for nominations for Clerk of the School Committee:

Mr. Wynne nominated Mr. Jonathan Freedman as Clerk of the School Committee. Mr. Haugland seconded. It was unanimously approved.

Mr. Connolly called for nominations for Recording Secretary of the School Committee:

Ms. Packer nominated Mrs. Sharon Reilly as Recording Secretary of the School Committee. Mr. Freedman seconded. It was unanimously approved.

Chair Broekel proceeded to conduct the meeting and reported that the School Committee needs to appoint its attorney at this reorganization meeting. Mr. Haugland moved for approval to reaffirm Naomi Stonberg as the School Committees attorney. Ms. Packer seconded. It was unanimously approved.

Chair Broekel also indicated that the School Committee needs to appoint a member to the Athletic Advisory Board at its reorganization meeting. Mrs. Kristine Van Amsterdam will continue to represent the School Committee on the Athletic Advisory Board.

Other subcommittee assignments will be done at a later date.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mrs. Van Amsterdam moved for approval of the minutes of March 18, 2002. Ms. Packer seconded. They were unanimously approved.

Mr. Freedman moved for approval of the Executive Session minutes of March 18, 2002. Ms. Van Amsterdam seconded. They were unanimously approved.

Chair Broekel asked if any one wished to come forward for Public Speak. No one came forward.

FY2003 BUDGET PRESENTATION TO TOWN MEETING MEMBERS

Mr. Connolly presented the FY2003 budget to Town Meeting Members and responded to questions from the public.

PUBLIC HEARING ON FEE-BASED TRANSPORTATION

Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn provided an overview of the fee-based transportation program followed by a public hearing. Implementing this program would require policy changes on mileage limits, changes to routing practices and changes in administration and service delivery. Proposed changes would be:

· Students in grades K-6 who live over 2 miles would be eligible for free transportation

· K-6 students between 0 and 2 miles pay fee

· Grade 7-12 students over 0 miles pay fee

· All students will carry a pass

· Bus stops will change from year to year

· Bus stops will be located in central areas

· Bus conduct rules will be updated

· No bus travels down cul-de-sacs

· No door to door service

· Field trips scheduled by individual schools

· Additional staff required 2.0 FTE

· Registration required for all students

· Guaranteed seat for registrations received by deadline

· Bus registration limited per route

It was recommended that a fee of $250 per child be paid with a $500 family cap. A financial waiver application will be available for all families making less than double the poverty level.

Mrs. Dunn discussed the implementation of an Interagency School Safety Committee, which would be part of the road solutions. It is expected that the Town GIS system will eventually be used for routing, mileage and hazard disputes. Next steps would be to inform the community of changes via a press release. Registration packets would be mailed by April 23, 2002. The School Committee will need to vote on the level of fee service to be provided and to change multiple policies such as Walkers and Riders, Student Transportation and Student Conduct on School Buses.

The administration responded to questions and listened to concerns. The administration will look into the following:

· the use of credit cards/PayPal

· further analysis of late buses

· schedule for payments

· option to drop service if one finds that length of bus ride is excessive

· option of charging a “registration fee” for all students in the system as an alternative to students paying for transportation

The School Committee will be taking action on how this program will be implemented at its meeting of April 22, 2002 which will be held in the Lower Meeting Room of the Morse Institute Library.

UPDATE ON WILSON MIDDLE SCHOOL 5^TH GRADE

Mrs. Evans discussed a proposal to house all Wilson Middle School students in the Wilson building during the 2002/2003 school year. Mr. Connolly supports this recommendation. This means that the four 4th grade classes at Bennett-Hemenway School will not move up as three 5th grades housed at Ben-Hem, but rather join their peers from Johnson and Lilja Elementary Schools at Wilson. The 72 Ben-Hem students, 50 Lilja students and 56 Johnson students will join to form a unified Wilson 5^th grade class of students occupying eight classrooms of approximately 22 students each. She discussed the rationale, the disadvantages, and reviewed the expected enrollment for all grades. Concern was raised about the 6^th grade class sizes of 26.5 students. Mrs. Van Amsterdam moved for approval to accept the recommendation made by Mrs. Evans as outlined. Mr. Freedman seconded. It was unanimously approved.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GRANT FROM TENET HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION

Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn announced that Tenet Healthcare Foundation has provided a grant to the Natick Public Schools in the amount of $500. She requested that the School Committee accept this donation which will support the Hepatitis B initiative for the Natick Public Schools. Mr. Haugland moved for approval to accept this donation. Mr. Freedman seconded. It was unanimously approved.

PERSONNEL ACTIONS

The following personnel actions were reviewed:

RESIGNATION: Professional Staff

Jane Spigel, School nurse at Johnson School since October 1998. Resignation effective

APPOINTMENTS: Coaching Staff Spring 2002 Season

Head Coach John Brown 3

Sub-Varsity Josh Hanna 3

Freshman Mark Caulfield 3

Head Coach Dave Tullgren 3*

Asst. -Varsity Coach Kirk Buschenfeldt 3

Sub-Varsity Coach Kelly Tavares 3

Freshman Coach Kathy Egy 3*

Head Coach/Girls Carl Robinson 3*

Head Coach/Boys Kenneth Brackett 3

Sub-Varsity(Boys/Girls) Vera Larkin 3

Head Coach Arthur Taddeo 3

Sub-Varsity Coach Ken Stanley 3

BOYS OUTDOOR TRACK

Head Coach Matt Brenneman 3

Assistant Coach Joseph Kiley 3

Freshman Coach Matt Strother 3

GIRLS OUTDOOR TRACK

Head Coach Tom Brenneman 3

Assistant Coach Dennis Driscoll 3

Freshman Coach Susan Heavey 2

ATHLETIC TRAINERS

Head Trainer Dan Lussier 3

Asst. Trainer Jen Pipe 3

APPOINTMENTS: Support Staff

James Ambrosino, to be part-time food service worker at Johnson School effective March 18, 2002. Salary, Step 1

Janet Trubiano, to be teacher assistant at Brown School effective April 1, 2002. Salary, Step 3

The meeting adjourned at 11:00 p.m.

Secretary to the School Committee

Attest:_____________________________ By: Sharon Reilly