Town of Natick - School Committee Minutes

Approval of Records

Natick Public Schools

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING

The School Committee held a meeting on Monday, April 22, 2002 at 7:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria of Natick High School. Chair Broekel called the meeting to order at 7:35 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

Sharon Reilly Recording Secretary

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mr. Freedman requested that a change be made to the minutes in the paragraph pertaining to the appointment of the School Committee Attorney. He requested that the word appoint be replaced with the word reaffirm. Mrs. Van Amsterdam moved for approval of the minutes of April 1, 2002 with this change. Ms. Packer seconded. They were unanimously approved.

COMMUNICATIONS, PETITIONS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

· Chair Broekel made the following announcements:

– there will be an open forum on Monday, April 29, 2002 from 7:00-9:15 p.m. in the cafeteria of Natick High School to meet the four finalists for the position of Principal-Elect of Natick High School.

– Natick Education Foundation will hold “A Tasteful Natick Education Foundation Grant Award Ceremony” on Sunday, May 5, 2002 at Whitney Place at 5:00 p.m.

· Ms. Packer announced that the Suburban Coalition is holding a legislative breakfast on Wednesday, April 24 at the State House in Boston. She will be attending.

· Mr. Cashman will be attending the “Day on the Hill” legislative meeting on Tuesday, April 23.

Chair Broekel asked if anyone wished to come forward for Public Speak.

Mr. Ken Miller came forward and provided the School Committee and the public with a packet of material he prepared which evaluated the Natick School Administration’s fee-based busing proposal. He stated that the Administration’s proposal unfairly forces a small minority of Natick families to pay for a 1% shortfall in the Natick School budget. He offered some options for funding the transportation costs and requested that the School Committee take a step back and look into other options.

Ms. Mary Avalos came forward and presented the School Committee with a signed petition which read:

We, the undersigned registered voters in the Town of Natick, Massachusetts, urge the Natick Public Schools and its elected Committee to work to restore $326,000 to the Fiscal Year 2002/03 school budget for the purpose of student transportation. This amount, which represents less than 1% of the total budget, will ensure that more than 2,600 public school students continue to receive safe and efficient transportation to and from all schools town wide.

Mr. Scott Davis came forward and stated that given the financial picture with state funding, he supported the fee-based transportation. The town and taxpayers have been paying more than the mandated amount in past years.

Ms. Jean Roche questioned whether more crossing guards would be put in place.

Ms. Debbie Towle stated concerns with lack of sidewalk plowing.

FEE BASED TRANSPORTATION

Mr. Connolly provided an overview of the budget process and steps taken to get to where we are today with the proposal to implement fee-based transportation. He responded to the question of crossing guards and indicated that the police department has no plans to add additional crossing guards for next year. Issues pertaining to sidewalks being plowed will have to be worked out with the Department of Public Works.

Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunn presented the Fee-Based Transportation Program. She stated that the Committee would need to approve the following:

· Policy Change on Mileage Limits

· Policy Change on Conduct

· Fee Charged for Service

Mrs. Dunn responded to questions from the School Committee.

Mrs. Van Amsterdam moved for approval that the School Committee agrees that the level of transportation services provided for by the Town will be in compliance with state statue (Grades K-6 in excess of 2 miles); and the School Department will provide for a fee, transportation services to any registered student regardless of mileage or grade; and that late buses will be provided for students with a pass. Ms. Packer seconded. It was unanimously approved.

Mr. Haugland moved to refer the following policies to the Policy Subcommittee for language changes:

Walkers and Riders: Policy #EEAA

Student Transportation: Policy #JGG

Student Conduct on School Buses: Policy #EEAEC and #JCDAD

Mrs. Van Amsterdam seconded. It was unanimously approved.

Mr. Haugland moved for approval for the School Committee to establish a fee of $250 per seat, with a family cap of $500 for transportation on contracted school buses. Financial assistance will be available at the discretion of Administration with a minimum payment of $25.00, and that a waiver may be issued to families whose income is less than two times that of the federal poverty guidelines. Mr. Cashman seconded. It was unanimously approved.

Mr. Wynne moved for approval for the School Committee to establish a Revolving Fund for the purpose of revenue and expenditures relating to the transportation of students to and from school. Mr. Cashman seconded. It was unanimously approved.

NATICK HIGH SCHOOL REPORT ON MCAS RETEST

Dr. Parker provided a presentation on the MCAS Test Results of the Class of 2003, with emphasis on the 10th grade students who did not pass the first test and have subsequently taken the retest this past December. He provided an analysis of the outcome of the retest and reviewed the support programs that have been offered to these students and reviewed programs that will continue to be offered. Dr. Parker and Mr. John Lauzon, Director of the Northstar program responded to questions. Dr. Parker indicated that he will come back before the Committee again once the results are back from the next round of retesting.

SUBCOMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

Chair Broekel discussed the Administration’s request to add a negotiation subcommittee to discuss pay scale changes for non-represented personnel. Chair Broekel offered to serve on this subcommittee along with Henry Haugland. Ms. Packer agreed to be an alternate.

Chair Broekel proposed to the School Committee this evening the establishment of a Technology Subcommittee that would be charged to review the current information available to the school committee regarding our technology plan and program and to make specific recommendations to the school committee in June as to actions it might choose to take regarding future role and use of technology in the Natick Public Schools. Chair Broekel asked Mr. Haugland to Chair this subcommittee. Chair Broekel and Mrs. Van Amsterdam will also be members on this subcommittee.

The membership to the following subcommittees for the period of April 2002 to March 2003 were reviewed and agreed upon:

SUBCOMMITTEE SC REP/DESIGNEE

FOR 4/2002-3/2003

Athletic Advisory Committee

Kristine Van Amsterdam Ed Casey

Jim Connolly Dight Crain

Barry Parker Mike Fitzgerald

Paul Peters/Tom Lamb Rich Peristere

John Brown Vi Tutuny

Richard Pingree Jim Webb

Suburban Coalition Rep - Diane Packer/Kristine Van Amsterdam

TEC Board of Directors-

Kristine Van Amsterdam (Alternate)

Natick Education Foundation - Peg Broekel

Policy Subcommittee

Kristine Van Amsterdam

Safety Committee- Peg Broekel

Senior Center Liaison

Town Budget Planning Committee - Kristine Van Amsterdam

Middle School Building Committee

1 Member appointed by Selectmen – Mysore Ravindra

1 Member appointed by Town Moderator –Dight Crain

1 Member appointed by Fin Com – Patrick Haswell

1 member appointed by Plng Board – John Ciccariello

5 Members appointed by the School Committee

High School Building Committee

1 Member appointed by Selectmen – John Ciccariello

1 Member appointed by Town Moderator –John O’Neil

1 Member appointed by Fin Com – Bruce Wright

1 member appointed by Plng Board – Kenneth Small

5 Members appointed by the School Committee

Charter By Law Committee - Peg Broekel

Curriculum Council Representative - Diane Packer

NEGOTIATION TEAM - SC REPRESENTATIVE

Maintenance & Custodians - Peg Broekel, Henry Haugland

Cafeteria - Henry Haugland, Diane Packer

Teachers, Nurses & Administrators (EAN Units A,B,C) - Jonathan Freedman., Henry Haugland, Kristine Van Amsterdam

Secretaries & Clerks - Henry Haugland, Ted Wynne

Teacher Assistants - Jonathan Freedman, Ted Wynne

Title 1-Diane Packer, Michael Cashman

Open Alternate for all negotiation teams - Peg Broekel

MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE UPDATE

Mr. Connolly reported that the Middle School project is progressing. The steel work has been completed and the masons are mobilizing on the site. Some concern has been raised of the coordination between the general contractor and the subcontractors. The Clerk of the Works will be overseeing this.

HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE UPDATE

Mr. Connolly reported that the High School Building Committee has held several meetings with the focus being on the educational program. He will keep the School Committee updated.

PERSONNEL ACTIONS

The following personnel actions were reviewed:

RETIREMENT: Professional Staff

Lynne Hunt, Kindergarten teacher at Brown School since September 1969. Retirement effective October 27, 2002. Ms. Hunt will be on an unpaid leave of absence for the period August 26, 2002 to October 26, 2002.

Ruth Zaniboni, Special education teacher at Johnson School since September 1979. Retirement effective June 30, 2002.

RESIGNATION: Professional Staff

Rachel Griffin, Special education teacher at Wilson Middle School since August 2001. Resignation effective June 30, 2002.

RESIGNATION: Support Staff

Denise Towne, Teacher assistant at Brown School since January 2002. Resignation effective at the end of the day on April 12, 2002.

TERMINATION: Support Staff

Elizabeth Merullo, Teacher assistant in the North Star Program at Natick High School since November 1983. Termination effective April 5, 2002.

EXTENDED LEAVE OF ABSENCE: Professional Staff

Anne Fischer, School nurse at Memorial School since August 1997. Unpaid leave of absence for professional development is effective for the 2002-2003 school year.

APPOINTMENTS: Support Staff

Edward Deeley, to be part-time student attendance coordinator at Natick High School effective April 22, 2002. This assignment is in addition to his current position of detention supervisor. Salary, $10.13 per hour.

Carol Frutkoff, to be (.5) teacher assistant at Brown School effective April 22, 2002 to the end of this school year. Salary, Step 3 pro-rated. This assignment is in addition to her current position as part-time kindergarten grant tutor.

TO APPROVE THE FINAL DAY OF SCHOOL FOR 2001/2002

Mr. Connolly presented June 17, 2002 (early release) as the last day of school for the 2001/2002 school year due to the fact that the system did not lose any days as a result of inclement weather. This date provides for the completion of the required 180-day school year for students and the 182-day year for the professional staff.

Mrs. Van Amsterdam moved for approval of this date. Mr. Freedman seconded. It was unanimously approved.

TO APPROVE NON-RESIDENT STUDENTS

Mr. Connolly reported that members of the Natick Public School’s professional staff have requested the School Committee’s permission to enroll their children in the Natick Public Schools, effective for the 2002/2003 school year. The children will be entering:

Natick High School Grade 10

Memorial School Grade 1

Memorial School Grade 4

Johnson School Kindergarten

These requests fall within the provisions of Chapter 76, Section 6. There is no conflict with the “choice law” since the Committee has not charged tuition in similar cases. Mr. Haugland moved for approval to allow these children to attend Natick Public Schools as outlined above for the 2002/2003 school year. Mrs. Van Amsterdam seconded. It was unanimously approved.

The meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m.

Secretary to the School Committee