HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-07-11-SMPC-min 4'7"°
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TOWN OF LEXINGTON
Ad hoc School Master Planning Committee (AhSMPC)
APPo'L I4'
Minutes
Date July 11, 2014
Place and Time- School Administration Building,Upper Level Conference Room, 8 00 A.M.
Members Present Paul Ash, Superintendent of Schools, Jon Himmel, Permanent Building Committee
Carl Oldenburg, Permanent Building Committee Mary Ann Stewart, School Committee Patrick
Goddard, Director, Department of Public Facilities (DPF)
Members Absent Judy Crocker, School Committee Peter Kelley, Board of Selectmen
Liaisons Present David Kanter for Bill Hurley, Capital Expenditures Committee Alan Levine,
Appropnation Committee
Liaisons Absent Mollie Garberg, Appropnation Committee
Semmes, Maini, and McKee Associates (SMMA) Phil Poinelli, Education Planner
Others Present Mark Barrett, DPF
Recording Secretary Sara Arnold
Dr Ash, serving as Chair, started the meeting at 8 07 A.M.
1 Announcements. Mr Poinelli reported that Dan Ruiz,previously identified as the SMMA project
manager for this contract,has left SMMA Joel Seeley, a SMMA Executive Vice President,will be
serving as project manager going forward.
2. Phase 1 Project Update Mr Poinelli distributed a draft Table of Contents for the Phase 1 report that
SMMA will be preparing by early September The report will include charts,narrative, and graphics
He shared PowerPoint images of sample floor plans from the Sharon and Hamilton/Wenham Schools to
demonstrate how layers of color-coded data will be presented in the capacity analysis chapter The
chapter on demographics will be based on the data currently being compiled by the Superintendent's
Enrollment Working Group The chapter on educational programs will include information gathered
from the schools' pnncipals The high school information in this chapter will be based on
space/cumculum worksheets for the 2014-2015 school year followed by information on how that may
change The appendix will include the Enrollment Working Group's report as well as meeting notes
from SMMA's interviews with the pnncipals Before they incorporated into the Phase 1 report, the
draft meeting notes will be reviewed by the school pnncipals to ensure they accurately reflect the
information that was shared.
The report will present data showing actual class sizes, and compare those to class sizes included in
Lexington's policies and the Massachusetts School Building Authority's (MSBA) class size
recommendations Mr Poinelli generally thinks MSBA's recommendations reflect more class size
rigidity than is necessary Dr Ash suggested that Kevin Kelly at the High School is an excellent
resource for providing class size data in different permutations It was noted that if redistricting is
needed, the school department will need more detailed information about the demographics and class
size than may be generated in the Phase 1 report.
REQUESTS Mr Goddard asked that the Phase 1 report include a chapter with two sets of
recommendations. one for addressing short term needs (Phase 2) and a second for addressing long term
needs (Phase 3) Both should include a cost analysis Mr Kanter asked that there be a glossary for
acronyms
Mr Poinelli reported having conducted two hour interviews with each of the principals from Bndge,
Harrington, and Estabrook Elementary Schools,he spent four hours with the high school principal and
staff. Based on his visits and interviews to-date, Mr Poinelli reported that Estabrook Elementary School
is Lexington's "flagship" school with a design that supports differentiated learning,personalized
learning, and interdisciplinary skills He noted the school's "green roof' and commented that the school
is especially well-suited for integrating special needs students. Bndge Elementary School is currently
being renovated, creating a challenge when analyzing its current use,but it is clear that further upgrades
are needed. Harrington Elementary School has some areas that work well but some areas that do not
function as effectively as is desirable,plus the school lacks adequate storage space
Mr Poinelli suggested that the high school probably has the most serious issues, indicating that there is
a gap between what exists and modern education standards The school was built to accommodate
specialization, thus restricting interdisciplinary programs Even the teacher work stations and the
relatively new library do not facilitate collaboration. Modern media centers generally include quiet
areas and collaboration space There was a discussion about the use of furniture,which impacts the use
of space New furniture is less expensive than renovations and is portable The SMMA Phase 1 report
will include recommendations related to the use of furniture to address some of the schools' shortfalls.
There was discussion about the three phases of the project. Capacity shortfalls are anticipated at the
elementary level,but it isn't clear whether these shortfalls must be addressed immediately or whether
they can be delayed. Phase 1 should identify the issues and whether it is necessary to go to a fall STM
for a short term "fix" SMMA needs enrollment data from the Enrollment Working Group in the next
few weeks in order to prepare its report by early September Enrollment projections for the next one to
two years,particularly at the elementary level, are especially important. SMMA needs to identify long
term issues as well, including the needs at the middle schools and high school,but the priority is to
determine the most immediate needs at the elementary level.
Mr Barrett shared an email from Mr Kelley in which Mr Kelley suggested that information regarding
elementary school enrollment from the Locke Village condominiums can be used to extrapolate
enrollment projections for the Manor House project that is being developed. It was agreed that more
information about the number and size of the Locke Village condominiums as compared to what will be
built is necessary
3 Next Meeting. This Committee will meet on August 15 at 8 00 A.M.in the School Administration
Building Upper Level Conference Room.
4 Minutes A motion was made and seconded to accept the June 23, 2014 Minutes The motion passed.
VOTE 5-0
REQUEST SMMA was asked to distribute handouts and/or presentations prior to the meetings
5. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 9.35 A.M.
These minutes were approved on August 15, 2014
Materials distributed/used at the meeting.
Public Meeting Agenda, July 11, 2014, AhSMPC
Draft Table of Contents, Executive Report 2014 School District Master Plan Phase 1, Lexington
Public Schools,presented by Phil Poinelli
SMMA PowerPoint slides of Sharon and Hamilton/Wenham School floor plans
Email TO Mark W Barrett, FROM Peter Kelley, SENT July 10, 2014, SUBJECT AhSMPC
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