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LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Police Department, Conference Room
1557 Massachusetts Avenue
Present: Superintendent Paul Ash, School Committee Chair Helen Cohen, 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. Superintendent’s Report:
1. The last day of school will be June 27, 2006.
2. Dr. Ash paid a visit to Minuteman Regional High School with Helen Cohen and Lynne
Sarasin. Over 50 Lexington students attend Minuteman Tech. They will do a
presentation to the school Committee in September.
3. Les Eggleston has been appointed Director of Guidance.
III. Members’ Reports / Members’ Concerns:
Helen Cohen: Minuteman was fascinating. All the School Committee members (along with
the Superintendent and many Lexington residents) were all at the Stand rally today at the
State House. It was a great event.
Olga Guttag: Today was the lobbying “Day on the Hill” organized by MASC.
Representative Haddad said there are many amendments to the House budget. Olga
expressed her regret to all those upset over the book read at Estabrook. She fully supports
the district’s commitment to providing safe and welcoming classrooms to all LPS students
and their families.
Ravi Sakhuja: He visited the offices of several state representatives. There’s a chance for
90 million dollars to be added to education bill, we may get 300-600K additional. On the
matter of “King and King” the schools have an obligation to all our students. Basic values
are taught by parents, not school.
Helen Cohen: We will present a press release from the School Committee on the incident
involving the reading of “King and King.” The members who just spoke, spoke only for
themselves.
Tom Diaz: The Owens-Hicks amendment to add funds for METCO would increase
METCO funding by 2 million dollars. Norm Cohen is working on language for override
questions; it will be done in a day or two.
Tom Griffiths: Spent an hour with Senator Havern. We spoke of the amendment to raise
the floor of chapter 70 funding substantially.
IV. Discussion Items:
1. March Report on the Status of the FY 06 Budget:
SC Meeting April 26, 2006 page #1
Ann Giombetti provided a written report to attendees. The new energy contract is only
for 6 months. The status of the budget is in accordance with the plan.
SC Meeting April 26, 2006 page #2
V. Action Items:
1. High School Mission Statement and Expectations
Michael Jones acknowledged Deb Hoard, Sharon Kelly, Carol Marine, and Henry Turner. He
presented the Mission Statement, which was approved by School Council, and the Faculty.
Motion to accept the Mission Statement as presented (Griffiths, Guttag). The motion
passed 5-0.
2. School Committee Liaison Assignments
Liaison assignments were discussed. Liaison assignments will be listed on the School
Committee website. A few assignments will be decided at a future date.
3. Motion to approve School Committee Minutes of March 27, 2006
(Guttag, Griffiths). The motion passed 5-0.
VI. Motion to suspend the meeting to be dissolved at discretion of the chair (Griffiths,
Guttag). The motion passed 5-0.
The next meeting of the School Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, May 16, 2006, at 7:30 p.m. at
Lexington High School, Library Media Center, 251 Waltham Street
SC Meeting April 26, 2006 page #3