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(71 ) MINUTES OF THE MINUTEMAN REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE November 18, 1975 , at the Minuteman School PRESENT Bilodeau, Cormier, Courtright , Hall , Heinrich, Merluzzo, Smith, Wales , Zeoli Lombardo ABSENT Cron, Kelsey STAFF Ricciuti , Resnick, Marotta, Whitney, Less , Hayward, lannarelli , Delaney, Mayer, Essman, Mar, Bellmar, Lydiard, DellaPenna VISITORS Jean McGuire, Executive Director, METCO; Robert O'Neill , Chairman, Regional Finance Committee; many parents , one representative of the League of Women Voters , two representatives of the press, and others The meeting was called to order by Acting Chairman Merluzzo at 7 35 p m RESIGNATION Mr Merluzzo announced receipt of a letter of resignation from George Banfield, School Committee member from Boxborough Mrs Smith MOVED, Mr Heinrich SECONDED, that the committee accept, with regret, Mr Banfield's resignation VOTED UNANIMOUSLY It was further AGREED that a letter of appreciation for his service on the committee should be sent to Mr Banfield METCO Dr Ricciuti reported receipt of a letter from Karl R Fuller of the Bureau of Equal Educational Opportunities of the state Department of Education, stating that approval for Metco funding for Minuteman has been recommended , and will be made final at the November 25 meeting of the Massachusetts Board of Education The total allocation of $33,345 includes $2,600 tuition for each student, $8,325 for transportation $1 ,620 for support services Funds are available for this program Mrs Mcguire explained that the "support services" refer to special services that Minuteman wishes to provide The total amount was regarded by the committee as ample, and Mr Merluzzo congratulated Mrs McGuire on the successful outcome of her perseverance Mrs Wales MOVED, Mrs Smith SECONDED, and it was VOTED UNANI- MOUSLY to continue the Metco program for the rest of the current academic year RECRUITMENT Mr Hayward reviewed the proposed program and schedule for an intensive recruitment effort to attract students for next year's 9th grade He added that Dr Ricciuti had suggested, 1 ) an ejl �415) (72) orientation program for staff members before recruitment begins, and 2) careful selection of staff members going out as recruit- ing representatives, so that they will be related to the parti- cular audiences they are addressing Comments from the committee Mr Hayward and Mr Kelsey should check to make sure all parts of the program are consistent with established policies - Some, and perhaps all , committee mem- bers would like to help the recruitment program in their own towns - There should be equal town treatment; all towns are equally important regardless of size - The Parents Organiza- • tion had asked to be allowed to assist BROCHURE Mrs Lydiard reviewed progress on the brochure , reminding all that the printer's deadline is November 20, and noting two suggestions offered by Mr Cron Mr Hall MOVED, and Mr Courtright SECONDED, that the Educational Program section of the brochure be approved as now written VOTED UNANIMOUSLY Mr Hall MOVED, and Mrs Smith SECONDED, that the footnote on the Physical Education Program page of the brochure be amended to read "All students are required to take Physical Education " VOTED UNANIMOUSLY (This amendment allows some flexibility in future scheduling of physical education and athletics ) Mrs Wales MOVED, Mrs Smith SECONDED, and It was VOTED UNANIMOUS- LY, to accept the brochure as just amended It was further AGREED that names and titles of school committee members be included in the brochure as of this date, even though subject to change BUDGET FOR Mr Meriuzzo reported that on October 28 the Ways and Means Com- '76 - '77 mittee had reviewed the budget for next year, which was subse- quently reduced $300,000 by the Administration Dr Ricciuti AGREED to send copies of the budget to those requesting them personally Mr O'Neill requested a more detailed presentation of the budget , showing what the, funds would be spent on All persons concerned were REQUESTED to make comments and suggestions to Mr Meriuzzo, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, as soon as possible REPORT OF THE ACTING SUPERINTENDENT-DIRECTOR INFORMATION ITEMS S-6 FORMS Dr Ricciuti reported that the use of S-6 forms had been clari- fied at the most recent faculty meeting, and that it was now clearly understood that receipt of an S-6 form does not mean automatic suspension for the student A discussion followed concerning the need for continuous review of policies , and for careful revision control to ensure that all flOr (73) in the school are working with the same, approved, consistently interpreted policies and procedures Printed copies now in use should be updated to include the S-6 form, and the school commit- tee should be informed of any change in disciplinary procedures The recently appointed Student Review Board will be acting in an advisory capacity, and input from others is also requested BACK-TO- Dr Ricciuti reviewed plans for Back to School Night November 19, SCHOOL NIGHT noting that all faculty members were planning to be present Coffee will be served for a nominal fee by students raising funds for the athletic program Committee members said they would prefer to meet with parents at 9 30 rather than at 10 00 It was suggested that reminders be sent to all parents DISTRICT Dr Ricciuti said that a letter had been sent to all District SUPERINTEND- superintendents, requesting lists of 8th graders, and enclosing ENTS revised admissions policies and procedures SPECIAL Mr Less described the proposed contract with the Kennedy Memorial NEEDS Hospital The Hospital will provide Minuteman with one full-time occupational therapist, and with seven occupational therapy students already on the Master's Level and with field experience The services of these Kennedy personnel will be available for all the students at Minuteman, not just special needs students For instance, those who have difficulty in shop because of poor coordina- tion or fine-muscle control would be helped The cost to Minuteman of this program would be on the basis of $10,500 for the year (reduced by the late start) Mr Less' original suggestion for one salaried therapist had been given a budget allocation of $13,000 The arrangement with Kennedy Memori- al , said Mr Less, would provide more service, (including the availability of hospital services) and would do so at less cost The committee concurred, and AGREED by consensus to approve Mr Less' letter of intent to the hospital It was further MOVED by Mr Hall , SECONDED by Mr Heinrich, and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, to approve the proposal outlined in Mr Less ' document on the Kennedy Memorial proposal , dated October 24, 1975 (Copy filed with the minutes) Mr Less was asked to identify the cost savings, if any, from his present budget OCG TEACHER There was considerable discussion, with input from many indivi- PAY RATE duals, on a proposal to increase the hourly rate for Occupational Competency Grant teachers from $8 50 (as voted October 7) to $9 00 Mrs Lydiard noted that 180 students had applied already, and the program could well be a good means of recruiting new students It was MOVED by Mrs Wales, SECONDED by Mrs Smith, and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, to increase the hourly instructor's rate under the Occupational Competency Grant from $8 50 per hour to $9 00 per hour 1110, A (74) HOLIDAY At the request of the administration, Mr Hall MOVED, and Mrs Smith SECONDED, that November 28, 1975, the Friday after Thanks- giving, be an extended holiday for all faculty and staff The motion was VOTED UNANIMOUSLY DEAN OF Requesting committee approval of Mr Marotta as Acting Dean of STUDENTS Students, Dr Ricciuti explained that the committee's vote of September 2 had established the position but that no action had been taken to fill it Dr Ricciuti 's assignment of Mr Marotta to this role had left the latter "in limbo" between management and teaching Mr Hall MOVED, and Mrs Wales SECONDED, to approve the adminis- tration 's request to appoint Robert Marotta as Acting Dean of Students effective November 19, 1975, subject to review by the incoming Superintendent-Director, with the understanding that while serving in this capacity Mr Marotta would be considered as part of the management, and that should this acting role be eliminated, he would return to his originally appointed position as a senior teacher in the area of Communications/Human Relations The motion was VOTED, 7 in favor, Mrs Smith abstaining, Mr Zeoli not yet present MSSPA Dr Ricciuti requested approval for Minuteman to join the Massachusetts Secondary School Principal 's Association, at a cost of $165 (based on enrollment) Dr Ricciuti explained that the Association is interested in sports and safety regula- tions for athletics, and that Minuteman cannot participate in interscholastic athletics without such membership The motion, MOVED by Mr Hall and SECONDED by Mrs Smith (to enable discus- sion) , to approve Minuteman joining the MSSPA, was VOTED, 7 in favor; Mrs Smith abstained on the grounds of opposition to a philosophy emphasizing athletics to this degree APPLICATION At the recommendation of the administration, Mrs Wales MOVED, and Mr Hall SECONDED, to approve the admission of Mark Gilbreth of Arlington, at the IOth grade level VOTED UNANIMOUSLY SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS SUPERINTEN- Mrs Smith reported on progress and plans of the Superintendent DENT SEARCH search 99 applications have been received, ads appeared in the New York Times and the American Vocational Association Journal , and applications continue to come in (9 have recently asked for information, 2 have been recommended as prospects and were recently contacted) 6 candidates have passed two screenings and become finalists (there will presumably be more) Criteria for the first screening have been reported previously Those for the second include Evidence of harmonious communication with diverse groups , and ability to delegate responsibility and back it up Ali.'" t. (75) Plans for the next steps were also outlined by Mrs Smith On December 13 the finalists will be interviewed by two committees in turn; the first will be made up of school superintendents from sending towns; the second will include 3 faculty members (one from SPC's, one from academic, one from vocational departments) The Director of Special Needs The Dean of Students A representative of the group including IRC, Business Manage • - ment, Building, and Data Processing A representative from M.A V.A 2 representatives from the Parents Organization 2 representatives from the student body Mrs Smith requested that groups sending representatives nominate these persons early, inform Mrs Smith of their names and of questions the groups feel should be considered 25 minutes will be allowed for each screening The two committees will rate candidates and those receiving highest ratings will then be interviewed by the School Committee in a special meeting on December 18 (this date to be confirmed at the next school committee meeting) In the meantime, summaries of information on each finalist will be made available, and committee members will have a chance for informal meetings with candidates in between the screenings on December 13 WAYS Mr Merluzzo reported that the Ways and Means Committee is AND reviewing the budget for this year, considering possible reduc- MEANS tions in light of the low enrollment, and also looking at the possible effects of another low enrollment on next year's budget MINUTES Mrs Wales MOVED, Mr Heinrich SECONDED, and it was VOTED UNANI- MOUSLY, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of November 4 as submitted with minor amendments TREASURER's Mr Lombardo reported a balance in the Operating and Payroll REPORT Account of $119,121 86, and in the Site and Construction Account of $17,186 66 QUESTIONS Questions from the audience dealt with details of December 13 plans, with the Massachusetts Bus Company's bond (to be considered in executive session) and with the budget for next year Regarding the latter, Mr O'Neill noted that Arlington, which pays approxi- mately a quarter of Minuteman's operating costs, has experienced a $10 increase in the tax rate; he predicted that the Minuteman budget currently proposed would not be acceptable to Arlington citizens Mr Merluzzo noted that the Regional Finance Committee had been very helpful last year, and that perhaps they would recommend a bottom line figure that would be acceptable to all towns (76) COMPUTER/ Mr Bellmar reviewed the many functions of the computer in BUSINESS assisting the administration and business office and in the OFFICE educational program Mr Essman reviewed the multiple opera- OVERVIEW tions of the business office Discussion covered the questions of whether projected and developed computer programs would be fully utilized; whether the computer could be employed to train E students in computer technology; when the computer would be available for math students on independent study; whether the computer is filling the needs of the business office Concerning the last question, Mr Lombardo stated emphatically that there is a very real problem, especially with regard to remittances (funds withheld from salaries for remission to retire- ment plans, tax authorities, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, etc ) In Mr Lombardo's view, the business office and the computer office should work much more closely together, since the clerical work of the business office is not being handled as fast as it should be It was AGREED that Mr Cormier and Mr Heinrich form an ad hoc committee with Mr Lombardo to meet with Mr Bellmar and Mr Essman, to investigate ways in which the business and computer offices could work more effectively It was MOVED by Mrs Smith, SECONDED by Mr Zeoli , and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, to adjourn the meeting and reconvene in executive session to discuss matters involving security and collective bargaining The meeting was adjourned at 10 40 p.m Respectfully submitted, Recording Secretary Approved floc I , l? TC '_, 1, (a) ) Ruth W Wales, Secretary