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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-10-22-Harrington-minHarrington Elementary School Site Council — Meeting Minutes 2013 -2014 Academic Year Meeting Date/Time: Location: Secretary: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 Harrington 1st floor conf / room Rucha Londhe 7:30 — 8:30 am in Attendance (Council Members): x Elaine Mead (Co- Chair) x Judy Crocker x Michelle Motta Dardeno x Kathy Martin x Nancy Taylor x Micah Viana x Amy Chamberlain x Rucha Londhe x Geri O'Neill x Travis McCready Standing agenda items Minutes 1. Approval of minutes from September 24, Approved as amended. 2013 Agenda Topics Discussed 1. Harrington updates a. Enrollment update a. b. Staffing update c. District support for personnel search d. Budget implications e. Harrington budget priorities b. Re Two kindergarten classrooms are over maximum limit. By November, two third grade classes and another kindergarten class will also reach max numbers. Currently teachers' aids are being interviewed for these classes. Search has also begun for long -term substitutes for some other classes. The district supports the principal in terms of advertising for the pasts and an online application process. The increased enrollment affects budgeting and physical space in the school. Conversations between the principal and the superintendent are ongoing. The superintendent has informed that the budget will be done differently this year. The district priorities for budget are 1. Expanding program for autistic children through the high school, 2. Expanding resources for homeless children, 3. Increasing resources for mental health and social emotional need of children and 4. Hiring fixit people for te chnological needs. 1 Harrington Elementary School Site Council — Meeting Minutes 2013 -2014 Academic Year 2. Lexington Transportation policy 3. PTA meeting update 4. Lets Chat updates a. Future topics b. November I" Lets Chat Action items Item 1. Future topics Next meeting: November 19, 2013 e. Harrington budget priorities are mental health resources, followed by poverty and homelessness issues and technology Issues Last spring, traffic engineers conducted site studies and developed district and individual school transportation and traffic flow recommendations. Using this information, a proposed Lexington Transportation Policy was drafted (the policy will now be discussed during School Committee meetings). The study underscores the need for consistency and standardization in these procedures across the nine schools. Legal regulations for signage need to be followed. Capital money will be needed to make these changes happen. The PTA held an Open Dialogue with the principal and the vice - principal. Nine parents attended. Discussions focused on lunch, transportation, recess, curriculum, and Lets Chat. a. The discussion about the mental health issues led to a discussion about children's extracurricular activities and striking a balance between structured activities, leisure, and healthy sleep habits. It was decided that this will be the topic of Lets Chat session in December b. The November 1, 2013 Lets Chat will focus on bullying prevention and will be led by the principal, the vice - principal, and the school counselor Resp onsible Due All ' 2