1975-02-24-SC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 63 February 24, 1975 A discussion regarding the 1975-76 budget request of $8,000 for the summer coop program was tabled at a previous meeting. Mr. Rotberg SUMMER COOP MOVED to remove the MOTION from the table. The committee agreed PROGRAM unanimously to this action. Mrs. Swanson said she would not support a 60% increase and questioned the legality of the school committee to support the program while having no control over it. Mr. Wadsworth agreed and recommended that we keep the figure at $5,000. Responding to questions from Mr. Wadsworth, Mrs. Krensky described the program, staff requirements and attempts to raise money to supplement the budget figure. Mrs. Davison remarked that the students require an active program such as the one described and felt that this is an expense that the school committee should support and hoped it would give its vote of approval. Mr. Currier felt the program was unique in the town and should be supported. He noted that $8,000 is not a huge amount of money. Mrs. Swanson suggested that the request go through Town Meeting to be voted on by the citizens of Lexington. Dr. Fobert told the committee that he discovered an error in addition in the coop budget. He requested the MOTION be changed to reflect the true figure of $7,386 in place of $8,000. A vote was called to approve the request for $7,386. (Rotberg, Davison, YES, Swanson, Wadsworth, Berchtold, NO) Mr. Wadsworth made a MOTION which was seconded by Mrs. Swanson, to increase the summer coop budget by $1,000 for a grand total of $6,000, for the year 1975-76. Asked by Mrs. Davison for his rationale behind a $1,000 increase, Mr. Wadsworth explained that he allowed a 10% increase for cost of living($400) plus $600 for the winter coordinator. A vote was called. The committee unanimously agreed to this MOTION. Mrs. Swanson asked that a ruling be obtained from Town Counsel on the school committee's relationship in this program. SCIENCE At a previous meeting, Mr. Spiris mentioned that he had received SPECIALISTS information from the Science Specialists regarding the program and asked the school committee to hear it before making any decisions. Dr. Fobert asked Mr. Lawrence Costanza, a Science Specialist, to review the results of the questionnaire which was sent to all elementary teachers directly involved in the teaching of science. He told the committee that ninety three teachers responded. An important conclusion from this survey was to call for continuing teacher involvement and training. Thus, workshops are being planned for teachers to attend on a voluntary basis.