HomeMy WebLinkAboutfinal SC Mintutes January 12 2022.pdf FINAL
MINUTES
MINUTEMAN REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
JANUARY 12,2022 7 00 P M
PAUL REVERE ROOM
Present
Pam Nourse, Chair(Acton) Michael Ruderman(Arlington)
Steve LeDoux,Vice-Chair(Concord) Ford Spalding(Dover)
Jennifer Leone(Lancaster) Judy Crocker(Lexington)
Jeff Stulin(Needham) Alice DeLuca, Secretary(Stow)
Dave O'Connor(Bolton)
Weighted Vote Weighted Vote present at start of meeting 100%
Others Present Glenn Koocher(MASC)and Julia Pisegna
1 CALL TO ORDER OPEN SESSION
The Chair convened the meeting at 7 00 p m
The Chair announced that the School Committee meeting was called for the purpose of conducting an
interview with Kevin McCaskill for the position of Superintendent of Schools She noted that this is an in-
person meeting of the school committee, with remote access provided for the public She presented the
candidate to the School Committee
Mr McCaskill presented his opening remarks and shared his background and expenence School
Committee members then proceeded to interview the candidate Questions were presented by individual
members A list of questions and members posing them is attached to these minutes
Following the question list, members engaged the candidate and posed additional follow-up questions to
the candidate that were not provided in advance
Mr McCaskill presented his closing remarks and thanked members of the School Committee
Following the interview,on a motion by Ms Leone and seconded by Mr Spalding,it was voted to adjourn
2 ADJOURNMENT
ACTION 2022#
Moved(Leone)and seconded(Spalding),
To adjourn the meeting at 9 02 p m
VOTE: 9 members in room at time of vote
Weighted Vote present 100%
Weight needed > 50%
Names of towns opposing or abstaining None
Final percentage results of vote 100%
Final status of the vote Unanimous
Roll Call
Pam Nourse, Chair(Acton) (Yes)
Michael Ruderman(Arlington) (Yes)
Dave O'Connor(Bolton) (Yes)
Steve LeDoux(Concord)(Yes)
Ford Spalding(Dover)Yes)
Jennifer Leone (Lancaster)(Yes)
Judy Crocker(Lexington) (Yes)
Jeff Stulm(Needham)(Yes)
Alice DeLuca(Stow) (Yes)
Respectfully submitted,
Julia Pisegna Alice DeLuca
District Assistant Secretary
Attachment Questions posed to candidates
QUESTIONS POSED TO CANDIDATES
Preliminary Candidate Opening Statement
Question 1
7 06 General (Pam Nourse)
You have spent approximately seven hours on the Minuteman campus interacting with students and staff
You have seen our facilities and campus What long-term opportunities jump out to you, as the
Superintendent what is the direction you would want to go in?
Question 2
7.11 Financial (Michael Ruderman)
A Superintendent needs a comprehensive understanding of financial issues far beyond that of developing a
budget Describe at least three incidents—other than budgeting and grants -that clearly demonstrate your
understanding of distract financial issues
Question 3
7 16 Student Enrollment (Dave O'Connor)
What would be your ideas on increasing and managing enrollment at Minuteman, and which direct
experiences do you have that would be helpful with that?
Question 4
7 21 Financial (Steve Ledoux)
At Minuteman we just completed a $145m MSBA/Distnct member school building and campus
development project that also included a $6m athletic complex Looking forward into the next 10 years
what would be your plan to generate capital to maintain and replace necessary components of the current
building and campus?
Question 5
7 26 General (Ford Spalding)
The Minuteman Supenntendent needs to be a master politician who can successfully pursue the interests
of the district to those outside of the school A few examples include
• Present budgets and the key information to District Town Officials and Town Meeting
• Be our advocate to the Legislative delegation and to Beacon Hill
• Communicate with business/industry partners
• Develop and negotiate private/public partnerships
• Be involved and respected at various related business/professional associations
• Be Minuteman's advocate for CTE education
Describe at least three consequential incidents that demonstrate your ability to do this successfully We
are specifically referring to political/communication skills needed for success outside of the school
Question 6
7 31 Financial (Jennifer Leone)
Describe the role that you have had in developing an annual operating and capital budget for the schools
you have been employed by and how you obtained acceptance of your initiatives
Question 7
7 36 Staff Recruitment and Support (Judy Crocker)
How do you support and inspire the teachers, support staff, and administrators in the schools you have
worked at? Please provide specific examples
Question 8
7 41 Staff Recruitment and Support (Jeff Stulm)
Talk about your philosophy of collective bargaining and how it fits in to the strategic direction of the
District What should the role of the supenntendent be in this process?
Question 9
7 46 Staff Recruitment and Support (Alice DeLuca)
How will you involve staff in exploring,developing,and imtiatmg innovative programs,policies,and goals
at Minuteman Please provide us with an example of your leadership style in this regard
Question 10
7 51 Enrollment (Pam Nourse)
Minuteman does not represent the diversity of students in our towns as much as we would like to Can you
give us a menu of strategies that is likely to attract all of the different populations?
Question 11
7.56 Role (Michael Ruderman)
Please describe a few of your most consequential successes and a few of your most consequential failures
as an administrator, and what you learned from those These should be incidents which impact an entire
school or distract not Just you or an individual
Question 12
8 06 Relationships with Business and Alumni (Dave O'Connor)
Please tell us how you might expect to expand Minuteman's business relationships to allow for current and
future career opportunities for our students
Question 13
8 11 Grants and Donations (Steve Ledoux)
Some vocational schools in our area have been successful in securing financial donations, public-private
partnerships, and grants for their schools for equipment, for program expansion and even for dedicated
space for programs What is your experience in fundraising of all types?
Question 14
8 16 Relationships with Business Community and Alumni (Ford Spalding)
The Minuteman Technical Institute provides post-graduate training for young adults and those interested in
a career change What is your vision for MTI and how do you see it fitting in with Minuteman in the future?
Question 15
8 21 Communications and Public Face (Jennifer Leone)
We expect that you will be active in state organizations and business & union associations to develop
opportunities for Minuteman and its students What experience do you have in these areas?
Question 16
8 26 Education (Judy Crocker)
What are your ideas on expanding opportunities for students to obtain COOP jobs and attend Community
College during high school, and tell us what your experience has been?
Question 17
8 31 Governance (Jeff Stulm)
What are the biggest challenges for you in switching from your current role to the supenntendency of the
Minuteman distnct7 What new skill sets do you need in order to be a successful supenntendent here?
Question 18
8.36 Innovation (Alice DeLuca)
What new career pathways would you explore adding at Minuteman in the next 3 years,and why?
In responding, please consider what curriculum, shops, or initiatives will benefit from innovation and
vision?
Question 19
8 41 Education (Pam Nourse)
Minuteman has a large percentage of students on IEPs What would you do to ensure that Minuteman
continues to be a welcoming environment for students with disabilities?
9 16 Candidate Closing Statement