Minutes 2014-11-18.pdf - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

revisions. He noted that these will be presented to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for initial review and vote to solicit public comment on November 25,2014;that the public comment period will be through January 16,2015,and that final action by the Board is anticipated February 24,2015. He underscored that these proposed amendments will have dramatic effect on Minuteman. He suggested this be discussed in December as well. The Sudbury representative noted his opinion that if Sudbury became a tuition paying district with a capital fee,the town would retain Ch.70 funding and tuition would be decreased by$5,000. 9. SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE REPORT,Ford Spalding a. Update on School Building Design Mr. Spalding reported that the School Building Committee voted"to endorse the concepts in the Draft Design of 11.17.14 presented by the Design Team"at their 11.17.14 meeting,endorsing the draft design concepts for renovation,renovation/new, and the new. These are not the final designs. He explained that the next step is for the Design Team to work with the consultants to develop information so they can determine preliminary projects costs for each plan,all in accordance with the MSBA and Minuteman's Feasibility Study scope of work. He noted that they will be discussing this information at their December 15 and January 5 School Building Committee meetings. He explained that the Non-MSBA Subcommittee is working on the scope of work,estimated costs and time line that will have to be done to the building if the final building plan is not passed by all 16 member communities. He noted that there is not a"no cost"option for member towns. He explained that within their voted charge,their work should be completed around the first of the year. He also explained that the Communications Subcommittee is working on a timeline,interviewing prospective PR vendors who will assist in messaging for presentations to 16 member communities,and that they anticipate these presentations will begin after the first of the year,with School Committee member help.He then referred to the November 3 Design Options included in the packet as informational. b. Joint Communications Subcommittee Report,Nancy Banks Ms.Banks reiterated the Mr. Spalding's explanation of the work of the Joint Communications Subcommittee,and noted that an important consideration for messaging that the Joint Communications Subcommittee has discussed is why Minuteman is valuable. She noted that this work will hopefully address the District's enrollment goal. c. Membership Update Mr. Spalding called attention to two recommendations for representation on the School Building Committee,Jerome Lerman from Carlisle and David Manjarrez from Sudbury. A motion was made(Horton)and seconded(Spalding) on the Carlisle representative,and Mr. Spalding noted that the recommended candidate meets the qualifications articulated by MSBA. The following vote was taken: ACTION 2014#126 Moved(Horton)and seconded(Spalding) To approve the recommendation of Jerome Lerman,Carlisle,to serve as a voting member of the School Building Committee Vote: 11 in favor,with 1 member out of the room (with 12 members present) A motion was made(Flood)and seconded(Weis)on the Sudbury representative. Mr. Spalding explained that he was unable to vote to accept Sudbury's nominee because in his opinion,Mr.Manjarrez exhibits disrespect for members of the School Committee,the Committee leadership,and the Administration;he continues to ignore acceptable committee behavior through his communication practices;his actions have caused the Administration and the School Committee to spend District funds over the years on legal advice to address his individual demands and threats;he believes the Town of Sudbury should have a different filter for what is happening here at Minuteman, and that Mr.Manjarrez's bio does not fit the criteria submitted to the towns for their nominee. Quoting from the November 16 editorial online at Lexington Wicked Local(see Attachment J): "We hope the committee can take a lesson from the instructional side of the school and once again find professionalism for the sake of the students." Mr.Manjarrez explained that he had suggested Michael Melnick as a representative,but no one followed up,and he is now unavailable to serve. He also explained that his goal has been to alert the town to what the liabilities and risks are going to be. He also read from the October 15,2014 Wicked Local article(Tempers Flare)reporting on the October 14,2014 School Committee meeting(see Attachment K) in which School Committee members were quoted,and he noted that the School Committee needs to be careful about the message they are sending to the Town of Sudbury.The member from Boxborough noted that if the candidate needs certain qualifications to serve,she will