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Home My WebLink AboutFINAL OS Minutes 2.5.13.pdf FINAL Approved 3 12 13 MINUTES MINUTEMAN REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL DISTRICT SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING FEBRUARY 5,2013 6 00 PM PAUL REVERE ROOM,MINUTEMAN HIGH SCHOOL Present: Alice DeLuca,Chair(Stow) Kemon Taschioglou(Lincoln), Jeff Stulin,Vice-Chair(Needham) Laura Morrissette(Arlington) Carrie Flood, Secretary(Concord) Dore Hunter(Acton) Ford Spalding(Dover)(left at 10 25 pm) Jack Weis(Belmont)(armed at 6 15 pm) Cheryl Mahoney(Boxborough) Mary Ellen Castagno(Wayland)(left at 10 25 pm) Bella Wong(Weston)(left at 10 30 pm) David Horton(Lexington) David Manjarrez(Sudbury)(left at 10 25 pm) Absent. Don Rober(Carlisle),David O'Connor(Bolton),Daniel Mazzola(Lancaster) Others Present. Kevin Mahoney,Ernie Houle,Kris Luoto,Diane Dempsey,Gene DiPaolo, Sheila Nagle,Ed Bouquillon,Elizabeth Rozan,Attorney Michelle McNulty,and Attorney Mike Long 1. OPEN SESSION. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6 00 pm Mr Manjarrez indicated that he was recording the meeting 2. PUBLIC COMMENT There was no Public Comment 3 SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT,Ed Bouquillon, Superintendent a. Legislative Update Details of Senate Bill#1052(Attachment A)were described,specifically that it would add an additional 10% reimbursement to a total facilities grant for academic regional school districts,and an additional 20%to a total facilities grant for a regional vocational technical school district The benefit to Minuteman's building project was explained and speaking about it with legislators was encouraged It was noted that this bill had unanimous support from the Mass Association of Vocational Administrators(MAVA),was presented to the Town Managers,and will be shared at the Municipal Breakfast A request was made for background information so that members could be informed when talking about it In response to the request for School Committee support,the following vote was taken ACTION 2013#16 Moved(Spalding)and seconded(Hunter) To enthusiastically support Senate Bill# 1052 Vote- Unanimous b Regionalization Grant Update Citing their experience,it was explained that the Mass Association of Regional Schools(MARS)would serve as consultant to the implementation of this Regionalization Grant The Executive Director, Steve Hemman,came to talk with the Officers about the process and explained that the first task is to appoint a Regional Agreement Amendment Subcommittee,and develop a charge for this Subcommittee(Attachment B), to be approved by the School Committee It was noted that some municipalities are mterested in discussing the possibility of joining the district,and that some municipalities may wish to exit,and that the Regional Agreement was last amended in 1980 The Subcommittee will review the Regional Agreement and consider options It was noted that for a successful building project,the focus is on getting additional help from the MSBA,as described in the Senate Bill#1052,and reviewing the Regional Agreement to the satisfaction of all 16 towns Proposed participants in the Subcommittee were named,and it was noted that others may be nominated and added,similar to the School Building Committee The date of the first meeting of the group was noted as an Open Meeting on Monday February 25,2013 at 7 00 pm at Minuteman High School [At 6 15 pm,Mr Weis arrived] How this Subcommittee will differ from the previous group that studied the Regional Agreement was explained, namely that there are now financial resources and subject matter experts who are involved in the process It was also noted that the work product will be a revised draft Regional Agreement to be submitted for approval by affected towns Timelines were discussed,and it was noted that parallel processes will be underway—reviewing and amending the Regional Agreement by this Subcommittee,endorsing positive legislative action,and adhering to the MSBA building process The following votes were then taken ACTION 2013#17 Moved(Stulm)and seconded(Spalding) Vote To approve the Chair's appointment of a Regional Agreement Amendment Subcommittee,with the Charge as described Vote.Unanimous ACTION 2013#18 Moved(Stulin)and seconded(Spalding) To accept the Regional Agreement Amendment Subcommittee composition as noted below Came Flood,MM School Committee Laura Morrissette,MM School Committee Don Lowe,Town Administrator,Bolton Bob McLaughlin,Warrant Committee,Belmont Charlie Foskett,Finance Committee,Arlington Carl Valente,Town Manager,Lexington Dan Matthews,Selectman,Needham Vote. Unanimous It was also explained that in an effort to have potential new members engaged in the process,a letter has been drafted to the School Committee chairs of the cities of Cambridge,Newton,Waltham, Medford,Everett,and the town of Watertown,inviting their participation(Attachment C) It was moved(Weis)and seconded(Spalding)to authorize the chair to send the letter How the list was determined,whether all districts who send any students to Minuteman should also be invited as a courtesy, sending a letter to everyone to avoid a sense of singling out, the benefits of making it an inclusionary process,voting membership,and creating norms of the group were discussed It was emphasized that the School Committee has the ultimate decision-making authority,and an invitation is meant to encourage participation and give voice to those communities that would be the most likely to seriously consider joining,and that others can express interest The impact of the bill related to Ch 74 s 89 was raised,and it was noted that although it was postponed for one year,the implementation would place significant burden on the regional districts Deferring to the consultants who have experience was emphasized An amendment was offered(Taschioglou)to the main motion,that the letter be rewritten in a positive tone and sent to all communities that send any child to Minuteman It was noted that the intent is to be inclusive,and to renew the regulatory components of the Regional Agreement as well The political sensitivity of engaging existing districts was stressed,and it was recommended to leave the letter as is and defer to the wisdom of the MARS consultant The tasks of reviewing governance and potentially expanding the pool of membership for positive impact was expressed The practicalities of moving quickly to expend the grant monies efficiently was noted In response to a question about Boston's potential participation,it was noted that there have been no positive signals about the city's interest in joining the district Further clarification was given that cities have to lead the effort,and options need to be examined Given the consideration of comments made,the Taschioglou amendment was withdrawn,and the following vote was taken ACTION 2013#19 Moved(Weis)and seconded(Spalding) To authorize the Chair to send the letter to the School Committee chairs of other districts as noted Vote: 12 in favor,with 1 abstention,with 13 members present 4. POSSIBLE EXECUTIVE SESSION At 6 55 pm,the Chair expressed that there was a need for an Executive Session,and she read the following reasons a Pursuant to Purpose 1 (MGL C 30A,s 21 (a)(1)),to continue consideration of complaints or charges against a public officer,employee,staff member,or individual and to follow up on developments related to such complaints or charges,including possible discussion and consideration of discipline or dismissal relating to such complaints or charges against such public officer,employee,staff member,or individual, and pursuant to Purpose 7(M G L c 30A, Section21(a)(7) ) to comply with or act under the authority of a Massachusetts General Law by receiving legal advice from counsel protected from disclosure under Massachusetts General Law with the relevant citations of law being MGL c 4, Section 7,clause twenty- sixth,MGL c 30A,s 21 (a)(1), and MGL c 30A,Section 22(f) b Pursuant to Purpose 1 (MGL C 30A,s 21 (a)(1)),to consider new complaints or charges pursuant to the Open Meeting Law against a public officer,employee,staff member,or individual and developments related to such complaints or charges and pursuant to Purpose 7(M G L c 30A, Section 21(a)(7) ) to comply with or act under the authority of a Massachusetts General Law by receiving legal advice from counsel protected from disclosure under Massachusetts General Law with the relevant citations of law being MGL c 4, Section 7,clause twenty-sixth,MGL c 30A,s 21 (a)(1), and MGL c 30A, Section 22(f) c Pursuant to Purpose 3 (M G L c 30A, Section 21(a)(3)),to discuss strategy with respect to litigation which is demonstrably likely regarding a claim by a contractor,Ovus Ater,when an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the District,and pursuant to Purpose 7(M G L c 30A, Section21(a)(7) ) to comply with or act under the authority of a Massachusetts General Law by receiving legal advice from counsel protected from disclosure under Massachusetts General Law with the relevant citations of law being MGL c 4, Section 7,clause twenty-sixth,MGL c 30A, Section 21(a)(3), and MGL c 30A, Section 22(f) d Pursuant to MGL c 30A, s 22(f)to review,amend,finalize,and approve minutes from Executive Session of the Committee held on 10 16 12 and 10 23 12, 11 13 12,and 11 27 12, 12 18 12, andl 8 13,and to determine whether continued non-disclosure of such minutes is appropriate She noted that the Committee would not be returning to Open Session,and that Dr Bouquillon,Ms Rozan, Attorney McNulty,and Attorney Long would remain in the room,with leave to invite Kevin Mahoney,Kris Luoto, and Ernie Houle The following vote was taken by roll call of the members present ACTION 2013#20 Moved(Stuhn)and seconded(Hunter) To enter Executive Session as described above Horton yes Stuhn yes Castagno no DeLuca yes Weis yes Spalding yes Hunter yes Mahoney yes Morrissette yes Wong yes Taschioglou yes Manjarrez no* Flood yes Vote. 11 in favor,2 opposed,with 13 members present * Explained his opinion that the subject of Part a of proposed Executive Session is related to professional competence,and should,therefore, be held in Open Session 5. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned from the Executive Session at 10 35 pm Respectfully submitted, Elizabeth Rozan Came Flood District School Committee Assistant Secretary ATTACHMENTS TO MINUTES 2513 A Senate Bill# 1052 B Charge for the Regional Agreement Amendment Subcommittee C Letter to School Committee Chairs of other distracts