HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-06-23-SMPC-min 4'7"°
aM°"1''G
TOWN OF LEXINGTON
Ad hoc School Master Planning Committee (AhSMPC)
APPo'L I4'
Minutes
Date June 23, 2014
Place and Time- School Administration Building,Upper Level Conference Room, 1 00 P.M.
Members Present Paul Ash, Superintendent of Schools, Judy Crocker, School Committee Peter
Kelley, Board of Selectmen, Jon Himmel, Permanent Building Committee Carl Oldenburg, Permanent
Building Committee Mary Ann Stewart, School Committee
Members Absent Patrick Goddard, Director of Public Facilities (DPF)
Liaisons Present Bill Hurley, Capital Expenditures Committee Alan Levine, Appropnation Committee
Liaisons Absent Mollie Garberg, Appropnation Committee
Semmes, Maini, and McKee Associates (SMMA) Daniel Ruiz, Project Manager Alex Pitkin, Architect;
Phil Poinelli, Education Planner
Others Present Mark Barrett, DPF
Recording Secretary Sara Arnold
Dr Ash, serving as Chair, started the meeting at 1 05 P.M.
1 Introductions Those in attendance introduced themselves and described their roles in the process It
was noted that the liaisons will participate in the meetings,but they do not have voting authority
2. Project Plans Mr Ruiz reported on SMMA's plans to start Phase 1 of the project by identifying the
capacity of the School Department's 10 buildings This analysis will be based on current use as well as
on best potential use Dr Ash will think about how new programs, such as Elementary School World
Language, should be incorporated into the analysis It was noted that teachers use their classrooms as
office space when students aren't in them It is expected that there will be some `judgment calls"
during this evaluation process,which will include meeting with the pnncipals of all the schools
An SMMA handout identified the dates for the meetings with the pnncipals and included a list of other
potential meetings with staff that could increase the understanding of how school space is used for a
variety of educational programs other than standard classroom teaching It was noted that a meeting
with the vendors for the Lextended Day program,which uses dedicated space in the schools,will be
important. It was also noted that Special Education programs have frequently been "tucked into"
available space the special needs LABBB (Lexington, Arlington, Belmont, Bedford, and Burlington)
program for 9"'grade to age 22 has been offered for 40 years and is currently in the High School.
Younger special needs students and those with profound special needs use space in the School
Administration Building SMMA plans to include a tour of the School Administration Building
SMMA anticipates having the data compiled by September 1, allowing serious discussions about the
need for additional capacity,both immediately and 5 to 10 years from now, to take place in the early
fall. The Enrollment Committee's findings are critical to this analysis Dr Ash reported on some of
the Enrollment Committee's issues/data, as follows.
• Some members of the Enrollment Committee recently expressed the opinion that the Woburn Street
condominium development,which is expected to open in the spring of 2016, could add 50-70
students into the Fiske School district. Mr Kelley questioned this,based on expenence at the Locke
Condominiums,which he reported are usually purchased by senior citizens/"empty nesters"
SMMA staff added that, in their experience, condominiums are producing students in communities
comparable to Lexington. Mr Kelley plans to do some research on this question.
• An initial estimate of new students expected in the near future,without the Woburn Street
development, is 200
• The number of students coming from single family homes has remained constant over the last 10
years,while the student population coming from condominiums and apartments has increased
105% The Enrollment Committee is researching the expenence in other towns
Phase 2 of the School Master Planning project will include defining Lexington's education standards
and evaluating how they impact the use of space When meeting with the principals in July and early
August, SMMA expects to include discussion of the way education is delivered today and where that is
going in the future The following comments were made
• Lexington's class size policy is embedded in the teachers' contracts
• The School Committee recently voted against participating in the federal Partnership for
Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)program,which assesses the success of
education programs and determines the best remediation efforts SMMA noted that 50% of
Massachusetts' school systems have adopted the PARCC program. PARCC may require space if
Lexington were to reverse its position.
It was suggested that SMMA initially focus on the schools that will be most impacted by student
population increases, and SMMA was asked to generate a report that is a useful tool over time It should
incorporate intelligence about the space This triggered a discussion about the use of software to assist
in this process.
3 Next Meetings This Committee will meet on July 11 and August 15 at 8.00 A.M. in the School
Administration Building Upper Level Conference Room It was noted that the Enrollment Committee is
meeting the third week in July Various members/liaisons of this Committee expressed interest in
attending Enrollment Committee meetings and the SMMA meetings with staff
4 Minutes A motion was made and seconded to accept the June 3, 2014 Minutes. The motion passed.
VOTE 6-0
A motion was made and seconded to accept the June 10, 2014 Minutes The motion passed. VOTE
6-0
5. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 2.20 P.M.
These minutes were approved on July 11, 2014
Materials distributed/used at the meeting.
Public Meeting Agenda, June 23, 2014,Ad hoc School Master Planning Committee
Memo from Phil Poinelli to Lexington Master Plan Committee Re Phase 1 Activities for the Lexington
Public Schools Master Plan project, 6/23/2014
Memo from Phil Poinelli to School Administrators/Principals/School Committee Re Upcoming
Planning Meetings, 6/18/2014