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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSC March 23, 2010 OS.pdf :NUTEMFIN FINAL A C MINUTEMAN REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES March 23, 2010 SCHOOL COMMITTEE Members: Dore Hunter Acton Present Laura Morrissette Arlington Present (Vice Chairperson) Joseph Scali Belmont Present Kileen Burgoyne Bolton Absent Cheryl Mahoney Boxborough Present Marielien Perugini Carlisle Absent John Lang Concord Present (Secretary) Ford Spalding Dover Present John McGarity Lancaster Present David Horton Lexington Present Kemon Taschioglou Lincoln Present Jeffrey Stulin Needham Present (Chairperson) Alice DeLuca Stow Present David Manjarrez Sudbury Present Mary Ellen Castagno Wayland Present David Harmon Weston Absent Staff: Dr Edward Bouquillon Superintendent Absent Carrie Lamica Dir. Bus & Ops Present James Laverty Asst SI/Principal Present Janet Killeen Asst Bus Mgr Present Student Rep: Ken March Absent Guests: Ernest Houle Dir Community Ed. Jannine Baker Minuteman Staff MEETING CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:02pm by Chairperson Jeff Stulin SECRETARY'S REPORT Approval of Minutes: A motion to approve the School Committee minutes of January 13, 2010 with the agreed changes was made by Alice DeLuca, seconded by Ford Spalding. All in favor. 13, Abstention: 1 Motion passed. Discussion: Attachments Alice DeLuca stated that attachments to the minutes need to be both stated and kept. Attachments should be sent out with the minutes in the future. A list of attachments should be appended to copies of the minutes. The minutes should state that"Listed attachments are available " All attachments should be filed with the original minutes for future reference. The policy regarding minutes needs to be reviewed in the future RECOGNITION OF GROUPS AND/OR INDIVIDUAL VISITORS Ernie Houle, Director of Community Education, and Jannine Baker, Instructor, are in attendance. CORRESPONDENCE 1 :NUTEMFIIGH N FINAL• Public Relations Material: Jim Laverty drew attention to a number of articles about Minuteman included in the School Committee packet. He stated that the Parents' Association's Comedy Night raised $12,000, $2,000 over its goal, with over 100 more people than last year He has just been notified that Terry Regan, Environmental Instructor, is being honored as the 2010 Conservation Teacher of the Year of Vocational Education in the State. He will be awarded the certificate in front of the School Committee at a future meeting Honor Roll: Jim Laverty said that honor roll students by community and by class are included in the report for review. The list includes both Honors and High Honors. Feasibility Study Informational Video: The new five minute video was shown. Ford Spalding observed that it can be used at town meetings, with the moderator's approval, as well as various financial committees. He explained that the $725,000 we are requesting will be used to do the feasibility study and hire a project manager. Schematics will be produced as part of this study. MSBA came up with a cost of $1 1 million; Kaestle Boos reduced it down to $725,000 based on work done during the discovery phase of the ESCO Project Ford stated that Dr Bouquillon will attend as many town meetings as possible Camie Lamica added that she and Jim Laverty will also be available to attend when there are conflicts. They are calling town administration offices to determine the amount of time available to them on the meeting floor, if there are moderator meetings in advance, etc. ADMINISTRATION REPORTS Principal's Report: Jannine Baker, Skills USA Advisor, reported that 68 students are going to the Annual State Leadership Conference approved at the last meeting 51 attended last year. Fundraisers are in progress. Photography and sustainability solutions are new areas. SUB-COMMITTEE/TASK FORCE REPORTS Policy Revisions: Alice DeLuca reviewed comments by School Committee members made on the draft bylaws and acceptable language was agreed upon David Horton will work on rewording Article XI, Section 1 regarding amendment of the bylaws. She hopes the School Committee will vote on the bylaws at the next meeting. They will be sent out by mail and special notice five days before the meeting. Finance: Jeff Stulin stated that the School Committee has now been presented with a document that includes a description of each of the revolving accounts, an explanation of each column on the revolving account report, and a Revolving and Other Non Revolving Account Financial Statement. Janet Killeen reviewed the various accounts, highlighting the purposes for which they were established and the use they can be put to Jeff Stulin added that the School Committee must become familiar with them individually as they vary wildly in money and complexity. Camie Lamica reviewed the format of the Statement and provided a description of each column and how it will be used to do financial planning. She will give a 30 minute presentation on the business practices she is putting in place at a future meeting. Camie Lamica reported that the health insurance rates for fiscal 2011 are up 15.3%. The budget will require adjusting by about $60,000 to accommodate the increase. 2 MiNIJTECHTAE 1I9IGH N FINAL • Capital/Facilities: Ford Spalding reported that the ESCO program is on track and being closed out. The roof is being tested with infrared. There were many leaks during the recent storm and it will cost $3 million to replace it, probably before the MSBA project The feasibility study is needed to address these issues. Camie Lamica said she is working on a 5-year capital plan with the Capital Sub-Committee, maintenance, and the vocational programs They will forward it to the Finance Sub- Committee when they have the numbers completed. The alternative is to raise the budget as a capital plan and it would require only a normal budget vote and be funded solely through budgeted funds. MSBA will give money to communities and projects that have full support MOTION A motion to authorize the feasibility study with the agreed changes was made by Alice DeLuca, seconded by Ford Spalding All in favor unanimous. Motion passed. VOTED: That the Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District (the "District") hereby appropriates the sum of $725,000 (Seven hundred twenty five thousand Dollars) to pay costs of a feasibility study to consider options for making improvements to the District's high school building located at 758 Marrett Road, Lexington, Massachusetts, which options shall include, but not be limited to renovating, reconstructing, expanding, remodeling and adding to the District's high school, or any combination of the foregoing, said sum to be expended at the direction of the School Building Committee, and to meet this appropriation there is herby authorized under and pursuant to Chapter 71, Section 16(d) and Chapter 70B of the General Laws and the District Agreement, as amended, and any other enabling authority, the incurring of debt on the full faith and credit of the District in the amount of $725,000 (Seven hundred twenty five thousand Dollars); that the District acknowledges that the Massachusetts School Building Authority's grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any costs of the Project that the District incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the District, and that the total amount of the borrowing authorized by this vote shall be reduced by any grant amount set forth in the Feasibility Study Agreement that may be executed between the District and the MSBA; provided. however, that no sums shall be borrowed or expended hereunder unless and until each member town of the District shall have expressed its approval of the debt authorized hereunder not later than 60 days from the date of this vote. MOTION A motion to notify the Board of Selectmen of each town of the District of the amount and general purposes of the debt authorized above was made by Ford Spalding, seconded by Dore Hunter All in favor unanimous Motion passed FURTHER VOTED• That within seven (7) days from the date on which this vote is adopted the Secretary be and hereby is instructed to notify the Board of Selectmen of each of the member towns of this District as to the amount and general purposes of the debt herein authorized, as required by Chapter 71, Section 16(d), of the General Laws, and by the District Agreement. Ford Spalding said that there was no need to approve a Building Committee until after the towns approve the project. 3 . rI:NTIJTAEMFIN FINAL IGH SCHOOL Personnel/Negotiations: Laura Morrissette reported that the committee is working on the School Committee self-evaluation process. Jeff Stulin will mail out a School Committee member job description Curriculum, Instruction &Assessment: David Horton reported that the committee is working on the organization of clusters, 10th grade English/Math scheduling, technology updates, and handbook review. They did endorse the calendar and Jim Laverty added that it is satisfactory to administration. MOTION A motion was made by David Horton, seconded by 77, to approve the 2010-11 School Calendar All in favor unanimous Motion passed Regional Agreement Task Force: Jeff Stulin reported that there was a very frank discussion of the issues. A unanimous vote is required to change the agreement. There was some skepticism of whether this is possible, but the group is serious and supportive of the District. The issues confronting both large and small member towns are being recognized. Communications Task Force: Ford Spalding reported that a letter for use in communicating with the communities/public drafted by the task force and amended with recommended changes was sent out to all School Committee members. Comments on the letter should be made directly to task force Jeff Stulin said it will be up to individual School Committee members how to use this document - or not - in his/her community. Cheryl Mahoney suggested sending a copy of any communication materials used by School Committee members to the main office for recordkeeping purposes. NEW BUSINESS MOTION A motion to transfer $2,200 to Business Office Professional Development Travel from Business Office Miscellaneous Contracted Services was made by Laura Morrissette, seconded by Dore Hunter. All in favor: unanimous. Motion passed. UNFINISHED BUSINESS ADJOURNMENT A motion to adjourn was made by ??, seconded by ??. All in favor. unanimous Motion passed The regular meeting of the School Committee was adjourned at 9:59pm. Listed attachments are available. Respectfully submitted, Janet B Killeen Acting Recorder John Lang Secretary to the Committee 4