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FINAL
<br /> Approved 9.16.14
<br /> OPEN SESSION MINUTES
<br /> MINUTEMAN REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
<br /> REGULAR SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
<br /> JULY 8,2014 6:00 PM
<br /> PAUL REVERE ROOM,MINUTEMAN HIGH SCHOOL
<br /> Present:
<br /> Alice DeLuca,Chair(Stow) Kemon Taschioglou(Lincoln)
<br /> Jeff Stulin,Vice-Chair(Needham) Dave Horton(Lexington)
<br /> Carrie Flood, Secretary(Concord) Jack Weis(Belmont)(arrived 8:20 PM)
<br /> Ford Spalding(Dover) Mary Ellen Castagno(Wayland)(left at 8:15 PM)
<br /> Cheryl Mahoney(Boxborough) Doug Gillespie(Weston)
<br /> Judy Taylor(Carlisle)(arrived 6:30 pm) Susan Sheffler(Arlington)
<br /> Dave Manjarrez(Sudbury)(left at 7:42 PM)
<br /> Nancy Banks(Acton)
<br /> Absent: David O'Connor(Bolton),Daniel Mazzola(Lancaster)
<br /> Others Present: Ed Bouquillon,Kevin Mahoney,Elizabeth Rozan; Dave Eisenstadter,reporters;John Pelletier,Al
<br /> St.George,Gene DiPaolo, Sheila Nagle,Diane Dempsey,AnnMarie Merrill,Kathleen Smith,Karen Tan,Aaron
<br /> Brathwaite,Annette Lombardi,Mary Conner,Loretta Maldonis,Brianne Goguen,Georgi Condon
<br /> 1. CALL TO ORDER: OPEN SESSION
<br /> The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. Hearing no objection to taking an item out of order,she invited
<br /> the Superintendent to give an update on the SkillsUSA National Results. The Superintendent extended
<br /> congratulations to David Howe for earning a Bronze Medal in Commercial Baking.Wearing the medal,David
<br /> expressed appreciation for having participated in SkillsUSA,and for 4 wonderful years at Minuteman. Advisor
<br /> Karen Tan,and student Georgie Condon offered additional comments on the experience. The Superintendent
<br /> expressed thanks to the School Committee for their support of Minuteman's participation in this program,and noted
<br /> that Minuteman students represent the state very well.
<br /> 2. PUBLIC COMMENT
<br /> The Chair explained the process for Public Comment.Melissa McLaughlin,a teacher in the Cosmetology
<br /> Department,read comments from Program Director Cindy DiMaio,who was unable to attend urging the School
<br /> Committee to reconsider its decision to eliminate the cosmetology program. Highlights from her comments
<br /> included the enrollment,the program's appeal to female students,the high placement rate, and the active Advisory
<br /> Board. She urged looking at the data to keep the program alive.
<br /> Mary Connor,a former Minuteman employee from Lexington expressed that she is a huge supporter of the program,
<br /> that it appeals not only to females,but to males as well, that the program provides a community service to elderly
<br /> and handicapped, and serves as great PR for the school. She noted that students conduct themselves in a highly
<br /> professional manner,and that the staff is outstanding.
<br /> Loretta Maldonis,of Reisman Salon in Arlington,noted that her 4 top stylists are from the Minuteman Program,
<br /> and that they earn$50-75/hour. She noted that the Minuteman students are prepared and dedicated,and she
<br /> emphasized that with these qualities,the income comes in.
<br /> Aaron Brathwaite,of Cambridge,noted that he serves on the Advisory Board for the program,and has 40 years in
<br /> the industry. He emphasized that there are many hair stylists who have become wealthy owners of successful
<br /> corporations involved in the hair industry,and that this is possible for Minuteman students as well.
<br /> Brianne Goguen of Concord shared her story of going through the Cosmetology Program as a Post Grad,and
<br /> described how it has been a viable means of earning a living while she is raising a child. She urged that the program
<br /> be maintained.
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