HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-04-05-SC-min
LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, April 5, 2006
School Administration Building, Conference Room
1557 Massachusetts Avenue
Present: Superintendent Paul Ash, School Committee Chair Helen Cohen, School
Committee Members Tom Diaz, Tom Griffiths, Olga Guttag and Ravi Sakhuja.
Minutes taken by Leora Tec.
The meeting was convened at 6:38.
I. Call to Order and Welcome (Helen Cohen)
II. Public Comment
Barbara Parker (Marrett Road) suggested the Committee consider a multi-use building at
the “White House” for seniors and for the School Administration. That way the seniors
will be more open to assisting the schools; it is also a way of saying thank you. She also
discussed special advantages of teenagers collaborating with seniors.
The Committee will look into this suggestion. Senior John Ruffing, the architect who
looked into the feasibility of such a plan, will come back on Monday.
III. Superintendent’s Report:
A. Forty-three students participated in the region four state science fair, eighteen will go
to full state science fair.
B. Lincoln Douglas JV tournament did really well, one finished third in the nation.
C. Students participated in the instrumental and choral conductor’s festival and we got
many awards.
IV. Members’ Reports / Members’ Concerns:
Tom Diaz: The Article 40 Committee will issue a report under Article 2 and some
students will be there. They have done a spectacular job.
Olga Guttag: At the PTA presidents’ meeting they discussed the budget and the
override. Good questions and answers were given.
V. Discussion Items:
School Committee Liaison Assignment Changes: The Committee decided to table this
th
discussion until April 25.
VI. Action Items:
1. Motion to resolve to adopt an overall level service budget in FY08 if Town
Meeting and the voters, via the override, approve the budget we voted for
FY07(Diaz, Griffiths). The motion passed 5-0.
SC Meeting 4-5-06 page # 1
2. School Committee Recommendations on Town Meeting Articles 15 and 35.
Motion to approve part one of Ephraim Weiss’s amendment under Article 15 as
amended by Tom Diaz and Olga Guttag (Diaz, Guttag). The motion passed 5-0.
Motion to approve part two of Ephraim Weiss’s amendment under Article 15 as
amended by Tom Diaz and Olga Guttag (Diaz, Guttag). The Committee decided to
caucus at Town Meeting but took a straw vote, which passed 3-2 (opposed Cohen,
Griffiths)
3. Vote on Final FY’07 Budget (without employee benefits) — Dr. Ash recommends the
School Committee vote to recommend to Town Meeting a FY’07 budget totaling
$65,430,478. (Dr. Ash made clear that it is without employee benefits because these are
being paid for by the town.)
Motion to recommend to Town Meeting the FY07 budget (without employee benefits)
totaling $65,430,478 (Guttag, Diaz). The motion passed 5-0.
VII. Motion to recess and reconvene at Town Meeting (Diaz, Guttag). The motion
passed 5-0.
The next meeting of the School Committee is scheduled for Monday, April 10, 2006, at 6:30 p.m. at
the School Administration Building Conference Room, 1557 Massachusetts Avenue.
SC Meeting 4-5-06 page # 2