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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-12-16-MMSC-min.pdf (94) MINUTES OF THE MINUTEMAN REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE December 16, 1975, at the Minuteman School PRESENT Bilodeau, Courtright, Cron, Heinrich, Kelsey, Merluzzo, Shimkus, / Smith, Wales, Zeoli rR Lombardo ABSENT Cormier, Hall STAFF Ricciuti , Resnick, Whitney, Marotta, Hayward, Mayer, Lydiard, Gibson, Van Arsdale, Purvis, Szpila, Less, Essman, Curt, Belcher, Boissonneau, Mawhinney, Lillis VISITORS Members of the Regional Finance Committee, observers from the League of Women Voters , parents, three representatives of the press The meeting was called to order at 7 50 p.m PUBLIC HEARING 1976-1977 OPERATING BUDGET Dr Resnick reviewed the educational plan of the Minuteman School as originally conceived for a total complement of four grade levels the concept of many vocational offerings , academic clusters, individualized instruction, differentiated staffing He explained that while this plan could not be fully implemented in the first years of operation, with a small student body and a small staff, in the next two years the actual program will approach the ideal more closely Dr Resnick presented specific plans for expansion of vocational offerings , in some cases adding new courses , in others adding more classes in the same course Mr Merluzzo reviewed the $3,393 ,705 budget draft, noting that many changes had already been made upon recommendation of administration, finance committee, and school committee members , and that more input was constantly being sought and considered He REQUESTED that school committee members wishing to make further suggestions please do so in time to incorporate them before the January 13 presentation to the Regional Finance Committee By means of transparencies , Mr Merluzzo showed some of the specific changes in each account from the figures for the current year As expected, most changes were increases, due to increased enrollment, larger staff, higher salaries Some were reductions, as with contracted services, equipment rental , and planning workshops It was AGREED that anyone so requesting could have copies of this information sent to them by mail Mr Cron reviewed the impact of the budget in terms of assessments on the twelve towns, noting that while student population is expected to rise 50% next year, the net assessment increase will be only around 25%, because of the decreasing capital cost Mr 4111,4 (95) Cron also explained that the School Committee does not vote on the budget until January 20, after the individual towns and the Regional Finance Committee have reviewed the tentative drafts As of December 16, the School Committee as a whole had no official position on the budget Mr Merluzzo cited three figures as the "target numbers" recommended by the following Regional Finance Committee under $3 million One Board Member $3,079,000 Ways and Means Chairman $3, 146,000 During the discussion which preceded, interrupted, and followed the presentation , similar views were expressed by John Ehrenfeld of Lincoln and Walter O'Connell , Town Manager of Lexington (Mr O'Connell said he was presenting the views of the Board of Selectmen of Lexington and those of John Taft , Chairman of the Board of Selectmen of Sudbury, as well as his own) These gentlemen felt that the budget should be not just explained, but justified Each item should be related to the current year's budget , and to specific aspects of the educational plan The school committee should be prepared to defend every increase Mr O'Connell further stated that the Lexington Board of Select- men would recommend the Town Meeting consider an assessment based on $3,000,000, unless very convincing justification was presented for a greater figure He went on to say that from his own obser- vation, the school plant could be run much more efficiently, that much electricity was wasted on lighting empty spaces , and much fuel in keeping rooms at 75 degrees Specific items questioned by various individuals included $21 ,000 for computer (computer services were reviewed at the November 18 meeting) $26,000 for adult education (this is being reviewed, it is expected that the program will actually be self- supporting) Blue Cross/Blue Shield costs and coverage it was REQUESTED that details on this be compared with costs and cover- age in the region 's towns Fuel and electricity (it was explained that while the school 's consumption has been just about what was anticipated, the rates have multiplied) $30,000 for coaching salaries (under review) School Committee members stated that the budget figures reflect the impact of state legislation as well as of inflation and Increased student enrollment Chapter 150 regulations , collective bargaining, Chapter 766, all have added to the cost Chairman Cron predicted that the school 's high per pupil cost would actually come into line with those in other vocational schools by the fourth year of operation - It was remarked that some towns are not using their quotas of student spaces at Minute- man, are are not getting their dollar 's worth (Assessments, another member noted , are based on actual enrollment, not on quotas; towns pay only for students attending Minuteman 4). 4 (96) INFORMATION ITEMS LEXINGTON Mr O'Connell presented a complaint from the Lexington Chief of POLICE Police, saying that the Minuteman administration had not been cooperative in providing the police with information when the police were trying to investigate allegations of criminal assault within the school Mr Marotta said that on checking with legal counsel , he had been told that under state law the school is obliged to give out names , addresses, and telephone numbers of students , but that all other information is confi- dential (This information was being forwarded to the school in writing by counsel ) Mr Marotta also stated that in his view there had been very good cooperation between the school and the police, that the officers who came to the school had been very helpful and very much appreciated, and appeared completely satisfied It was AGREED that Mr Marotta should contact the Lexington Chief of Police and discuss the matter TEACHER Mrs Smith reported on a meeting she had attended that day, by EVALUATION invitation, with Mr Whitney and the Senior Teachers While very impressed by the teachers and by their working relationship, Dr Smith said that as far as evaluation goes, "we are at square one" She said the planning needed for proper evaluation is the joint responsibility of the senior teachers, the Director of Curriculum, and the SPC's Planning will be based on the policy manual , job descriptions, and the newly approved contract, and should receive recommendations from the new superintendent- director The senior teachers expect to meet again in early January While some committee members suggested that the School Committee should extricate itself from the evaluation planning process as soon as possible, Mr Whitney and Mr Mayer said the contributions of Mrs Smith and Mr Zeoli were very beneficial - It was empha- sized that evaluation is a complex and difficult process which requires very careful planning; that it provides a fair and equi- table means for carrying out school committee policies; that it is essential to those responsible for decisions of hiring, not hiring, promotion, and tenure; and that evaluation is educational and supportive to the teachers themselves EIGHTH Dr Ricciuti presented the figures for 8th grade enrollment in GRADE the twelve region towns as of December 1 The total is 4,042 TV George Gibson delighted those present with a canned tape TV presentation of Channel 7's visit to Minuteman Mall , with comments from students and teachers as well as the visiting reporter r (97) ACTION ITEMS SMITHSONIAN On the administration's recommendation, it was MOVED by Mr DONATION Kelsey, SECONDED by Mrs Smith, and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, to accept with gratitude the Smithsonian Institute's donation of shelving and other equipment It was then MOVED by Mr Kelsey, SECONDED by Mrs Wales, and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, to approve expenditures from the Curriculum and Instruction Account, not to exceed $1800, for transporting the donated equipment to the school (Dr Ricciuti estimated the value of the 750 feet of shelving as between $7,000 and $10,000) BELL Dr Ricciuti requested permission to install an external tele- phone with an easily audible bell , and a bell in the mall area, which could be heard by those working around the school on evenings or week-ends It was AGREED that the administration did not need formal approval for this action It was also SUGGESTED that a pay phone might be installed outside, near the service station, at no cost to Minuteman TEACHER Dr Ricciuti presented requests for tuition reimbursements for TUITION teachers taking outside courses The total amount requested was REFUNDS $1 ,055, out of $2,000 allocated for the year Mrs Wales MOVED, Mr Zeoli SECONDED, Mrs Smith AMENDED the motion, and it was VOTED UNANIMOUSLY to approve the requested tuition reimbursements, conditional upon attainment of a grade of C or better in under- graduate level courses, and of B or better in graduate level courses (Copy filed with the minutes) DRIVER There was a discussion of the current contract proposal presented ED CARS by Rowe Chevrolet for supplying cars for the on-the-road component of driver education Mr Belcher noted that Lexington uses Rowe cars and has had a very good relationship with the company The committee members were concerned , however, over the liability implied in case of damage to the car(s) It was SUGGESTED that perhaps Rowe Chevrolet would change the compensation stipulated (in the event of damage) from $4,290 to whatever could be collected from the insurance policy It was also SUGGESTED that if this liability could not be eliminated, then other alternatives must be investigated SUPERIN- Mr Kelsey reported that the basic objective of the December 13 TENDENT screenings had been achieved, that there were now three candidates SEARCH who had all been rated very highly, and that the school committee AO (98) would meet with these three on December 18 for final interviews and a final decision Mrs Smith expressed the sub-committee's thanks to those on the screening committees for their time and conscientious participation OCG Dr Ricciuti presented the OCG contract which after modification and clarification (but no change of financial arrangements or responsibilities) had been signed by all those Minuteman teachers who had planned to participate Mrs Wales MOVED, Mrs Smith SECONDED, and it was VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, to approve the contract as amended (copy filed with the minutes) The following teachers had signed the contract and would be teaching in the Occupational Competence Grant program Curt, Delaney, Crafts, lannerelli , Fagan, Neckes, Santuro (not Minuteman staff) , Szpila, Boissonneau, Gillam, Rymsha, lovine, McDonald, Miller, Werlin TREASURER'S Mr Lombardo reported a balance in the Operating and Payroll REPORT AND Account of $159,863 67, and in the Site and Construction Account OTHER of $19,464 73 FINANCIAL BUSINESS On the Treasurer's recommendation it was MOVED by Mr Courtright, SECONDED by Mrs Smith, and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, to ratify the action of the School Committee, reported in the minutes of 9/3/74, as it relates to the opening of revolving accounts in the area of School Lunch and Distributive Education; also to approve the opening of any other revolving accounts necessary as determined by the Treasurer and the Chairman of the School Committee; any and all checks under all revolving accounts to be signed by the Treasurer At the Treasurer's request, it was MOVED by Mrs Wales, SECONDED by Mr Courtright, and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, to transfer the accumulated interest from the following Certificates of Deposit to the Site and Construction Account C of D # NTD 8868 $ 6,938 25 25 311 42, 194 43 26 o44 24,242 49 43 334 2,383 33 3 869 6,224 84 Total $81 ,983 84 Also on the Treasurer's recommendation, it was MOVED by Mrs Wales, SECONDED by Mr Kelsey, and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, that the Business Manager be appointed as Assistant Treasurer and authorized to sign checks in the absence of the Treasurer (99) MINUTES Mrs Wales MOVED, Mr Zeoli SECONDED, and it was VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, that the minutes of December 2 and December 9 be approved, with the addition on page 83 (December 2) of the words "such sum to be appropriated to the excess and deficiency account" at the end of the first paragraph It was MOVED, SECONDED, and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, to adjourn the meeting to be reconvened in executive session to consider collective bargaining and matters of financial interest The meeting was adjourned at 11 10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Recording Secretary P Approved ran (c( 7 (Elle@ thl Ruth W Wales , Secretary