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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-09-02-MMTECH-min.pdf 6111 (24;) MINUTES OF THE MINUTEMAN REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE September 2, 1975 PRESENT Mssrs Bilodeau, Courtright, Cormier, Cron, Hall, Heinrich, Merluzzo, Zeoli , Mrs Smith, Mrs Wales Mr Lombardo ABSENT Mssrs Banfield, Kelsey STAFF Dr Ricciuti , Dr Resnick, Mssrs Marotta, Whitney, Amara Papas, Hayward, Mayer, Gibson, Rose, Hayes, Wallace, Crafts, Tumelaire, lanarelli , Boissonneau, Szpila, Essman, Ms Stille, Ms Della Penna, Ms Kochis, Ms Lokich VISITORS Ms Jean McGuire, Executive Director, METCO; Dean Yarborough, METCO Executive Committee; representatives of the press, many parents and students The meeting was called to order at 8 15 p m. SCIENCE Mr James Amara presented a review of the Science CURRICULUM curriculum Freshmen and sophomores will be offered prescriptive courses to fill individual needs; junior and senior years will provide many electives and more specialization Subject matter will be continually related to vocational studies For example, chemistry, physics, and nutrition can all be tied into Culinary Arts The present curriculum is a modification of that planned two years ago, which was excellent but could not have been completed in the given time, said Mr Amara A three year science requirement is now being considered, and Mr Amara's major goal is to arouse the students' enthusiasm so that science will become "one of the top three" in popularity PHYSICAL Mr Rose reviewed the proposed Physical Education program, EDUCATION drawing a distinction between team sports and "lifetime skills" The latter include tennis, jogging, swimming "We have a goal that every student leave Minuteman a swimmer" Students will be helped to develop their own fitness and skills by tests and videotapes Specialized programs now being planned include adaptive training for the handicapped, Project Adventure (an outstanding Federally funded program similar to Outward Bound) , and building a Life Course, with the help of the Horticulture Department, designed to exercise every muscle in the body While Massachusetts law requires only 120 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week, Minuteman will have 60 minutes a day i M" (�5) STUDENT Mr Marotta reported that many people had contributed to HANDBOOKS the recently revised student handbooks These are now two separate booklets, Student Handbook and Student Regulations Although some committee members felt still more revisions must be made, there was general agreement with Mr Cron's statement, "what has been turned out is an outstanding example of what can be done with everyone helping " COMMUNICATIONS Dr Resnick outlined plans for increasing communication with parents, communities, and other schools Included are development of a mailing list, a regular newsletter, a series of open houses, press releases, a calendar for program planning, etc A committee member suggested that parents and faculty would appreciate notice of curriculum reviews to the school committee well in advance, There was some discussion of the role of the Minuteman Regional Planning Board, which had held its first meeting August 28, focusing attention on the Occupational Compe- tence Grant REPORT OF THE ACTING SUPERINTENDENT DIRECTOR Dr Ricciuti introduced Mr Crafts, who reported that the Fife and Drum Cafeteria, originally expected only "to cost the taxpayers nothing", had actually made a profit of $400 this summer, on an income of roughly CAFETERIA $13,000 Fifteen students had prepared and served lunches for 300 to 500 people a day, including visitors from Canada and South America, and two bus tours, from Europe and the Middle East Mr Crafts introduced Vicki DeCosta, Joseph Atollo, Jim Cesario, Bruce Williams Brett Fontaine, and Mark Senett, who were among the 12 boys and 3 girls who had worked four hours a day for pay and donated many more Mr, Merluzzo praised the enterprise as "typical of what we have philosophized about" '1, and the committee agreed that the cafeteria set an excellent example for other departments to follow AIDES Dr Ricciuti reported that of the total of nine budgeted, six teacher aides would be ready for work at the school as soon as approved They would be working part-time , and under contracted services METCO There was considerable discussion on the problems arising from the Massachusetts legislature's failure to reach final decisions on the state budget, in which Metco funds are involved Ms Jean McGuire, Executive Director of Metco, said that over 300 students still did not know where they would attend school this year As for (26) Minuteman, where 9 Metco students were expected, committee members expressed varying views Some felt the students should be accepted anyway, assuming favorable funding would come through; others felt it was unfair to students to start them on a program that might not be completed; "If a student starts here at Minuteman he should be able to come here for four years " A few felt the committee could do nothing without members first consulting their respective communities One felt the legislature should not be relieved of the pressure of responsibility A motion was MOVED by Mrs Wales, AMENDED by Mr Hall , SECONDED by Mr Merluzzo, and VOTED 8 in favor, 2 opposed, (Mr Courtright and Mr Zeoli) that the nine Metco students accepted conditionally for the year, be accepted as tuition students for the month of September, tuition to be deter- mined at a later date STORAGE UNITS Dr Ricciuti 's request for approval to construct storage units was discussed in relation to future storage plans, alternate solutions such as using an empty classroom, and most important, the possibility of affecting the flow of air and heat in the building This, Mr Hall predicted, could cause problems with the heating and air conditioning contract still in operation It was therefore agreed to defer this decision until the Administration could consult f with the architect Mr Cron requested that more time be spent in planning and budgeting solid improvements for the future, and less in bandaiding existing plans, budgets, and buildings STUDENT Approval was requested for distributing the student hand- HANDBOOK books as printed, on opening day, September 3 During APPROVAL the discussion, two members expressed philosophical disagreement with the manner in which class attendance, academic work and credit were used as disciplinary tools Mrs Smith spoke very strongly against "automatic" suspension under any circumstances, saying that "nothing automatic and impersonal should ever happen to any student in this school "Dr Resnick noted that in practice the administration had always been more lenient than the rules It was suggested that the handbooks be distributed as printed, and the students be asked, during the oral presentation, to delete the necessary paragraphs; that the Review Committee be charged with amending these paragraphs; and that students and parents be informed of the role of the review committee W (27) It was then MOVED by Mr Hall , and SECONDED by Mr Merluzzo, that both the Student Handbook and Student Regulations be accepted with the following deletions in the Student Regulations, said deletions to be replaced at a later date by amended statements On Page 3, delete the third from last paragraph, On page 3, delete the last paragraph, on page 9, delete the third paragraph, and on page 11 , delete the 6th paragraph The motion was VOTED 9 in favor, 1 opposed Mr Merluzzo regretted the need for hasty decisions in this case, and requested that the committee be allowed a month to consider the brochures to be sent out in January PHYSICAL Approval was requested for hiring coaches under EDUCATION contracted services for intramural and interscholastic BUDGET sports The discussion covered the following points possible dificulties if regular teachers are also hired on contract services; possibliity that any available funds might be needed in academic departments, especially for counselling; time element--it is too early to engage in inter-scholastic sports; on the other hand, preparation must begin now if the school is to have teams ready for competition; the program presented does not include the spring term, which still is part of this year's budget Mr Hall MOVED, Mrs Smith SECONDED, and it was VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, that the physical education program be approved as presented, provided that no additional funds be expended without approval of the school committee It was suggested that parents and students and ' volunteer coaches could make a good start in intramural sports and that funds already allocated can be used for transportation for a few informal interscholastic scrimmages STUDENT On Dr Ricciuti 's recommendation, it was MOVED by APPLICATIONS Mr Hall , SECONDED by Mrs Wales, and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, that Craig Von Clock of Wayland be accepted to the 10th grade It was MOVED, SECONDED and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY to accept David W Davis of 22 Madonna Avenue, Natick as a 9th grade tuition student, at a tuition charge of $2,483 V I* (28) DEAN OF The proposed creation of a new position, Dean of Students, STUDENTS was explained as being partly semantic The term indicates POSITION a greater concern for student needs than does "Administra- tive Assistant" It was MOVED by Mr Hall and SECONDED by Mr Merluzzo, to approve the establishment of the management level position of Dean of Students VOTED UNANIMOUSLY It was also MOVED by Mr Hall , and SECONDED by Mr Merluzzo that the proposed revision of the organization chart be approved subject to review by the next Superintendent Director VOTED UNANIMOUSLY (Copy filed with the minutes and incorporated into the policy manual , section 3 2) STAFF It was MOVED, SECONDED,. and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, to approve APPOINTMENTS the following appointments Paul McDonald, staff teacher, Machine Shop, salary $12,000, to start September 3, William Cole, associate teacher, Science, salary $9,500, to start September 3, Nancy McGrath, staff teacher, Science, salary $12,000, to start September 3, Richard Lee, staff teacher, Special Needs, salary $13,000 to start September 3, Patrick Conaway, staffrteacher, Special Needs, salary $13,000 to start September 3, Miles Hudson, staff teacher, Special Needs salary $13,000 to start September 3, Catherine Sherrard, staff teacher, Special Needs, salary $13,000 to start September 3, Gerald Less, Administrator of Special Needs, salary $18,000 to start September 16 CONTRACT SERVICES The committee VOTED UNANIMOUSLY to approve contracting PERSONNEL with Marcia M Stille as a part-time social worker in the Special Needs area at a salary of $8,000, beginning September 3 for the F Y 75-76 school year It was VOTED UNANIMOUSLY to contract with Dr Nancy Newbert as a full-time Psychologist in the Special Needs area for the F Y 75-76 at a salary of $17,000 beginning September 3 PART-TIME The committee VOTED UNANIMOUSLY to approve Benedito PERSONNEL lannarelli as Adult Education Coordinator for F Y 75-76 on a part-time basis at a salary of $3,000, funds to be appropriated from the 6000 account on a revolving basis SUPPORT It was VOTED UNANIMOUSLY to approve James McLaughlin as PERSONNEL Level 1 Custodian, salary $8,000 to start September 3 LATE BUSES Requesting approval for late buses , Dr Ricciuti explained that providing 22 buses and one wagon as approved at the August 19 meeting would leave approximately (29) r 1 4 $15,000 in the transportation budget, and $5,488 more would be needed to provide five late buses for 30 weeks With fewer buses the trips would be excessively long Buses would leave at 3 45, for the benefit of students who stayed late for teacher consultation, club or other activities Funds could be reallocated from the Food Service's surplus in their revolving fund It was decided after some discussion to not reallocate funds at this time Mrs Wales MOVED and Mr Merluzzo SECONDED, that five late buses be provided to the limit of currently budgeted funds VOTED UNANIMOUSLY REVOLVING The proposal to establish revolving funds raised certain FUNDS questions, particularly with regard to service charges, such as in the auto shop, gas station, etc Dr Ricciuti requested that the policy committee study this matter, and Mrs Wales requested that the administration gather data and make recommendations first It was further requested that no charges be established until Mr Hall can check with legal counsel It was then MOVED by Mrs Wales, SECONDED by Mr Cormier, and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, to establish revolving funds in the following areas Allied Health, Data Processing, Building Trades, Machine Shop, Metal Fabrication/Auto Body, Power Mechanics/ Automotive, Instrumentation, Physical Education, Printing, Horticulture, Electronics, Driver Education, Commercial Art, and Audio-Visual TENNIS COURTS Dr Ricciuti presented a request by the Lexington Tennis Association to reserve and use the courts September 7, 13 and 14 for part of a townwide tennis tournament It was agreed that the superintendent-director could approve or disapprove such requests, under current policy, without school committee approval ,and that a report of such use to the committee is required SUPERINTENDENT- Mr Hall reported that an ad in the August 31 , N Y Times DIRECTOR SEARCH has already brought one response Another ad would appear in the Boston Globe, September 7 Mr Hall had been in contact with the Associate Commissioner of Education, Edward Weagraf, who offered to participate in the search Mr Cron repeated his request for written ideas on criteria from all concerned It was suggested that this topic be placed on the agenda for a forthcoming meeting (30) M CONTRACTS At the recommendation of Mr Essman, Mr Hall MOVED, Mr Heinrich SECONDED, the awarding of the following contracts for the F Y 75-76 Section 109A Wave Soldering Machinery $3,858 75 Hartfield Company 3 School Street Woburn, MA 01801 Section 118A Automotive Shoo $4,872 00 Sun Electric Corporation 59 Manley Street Brockton, MA 02401 Science Textbooks $7, 143 50 Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich 757 3rd Ave New York, NY 10017 Milk $0 0869 per ? pint Martines Brothers, Inc D/B/A Blue Ribbon Dairy 186 Great Road Bedford, MA 01730 Section 122A Printing Equipment $2,149 00 Grant Graphics Division Compugraphic Corporation 260 Fordham Road Wilmington, MA 01887 VOTED UNANIMOUSLY AUGUST 19 It was VOTED UNANIMOUSLY to accept the minutes of the MINUTES August 19 regular meeting TREASURER'S Mr Lombardo reported a balance of $187,697 60 in the REPORT Regular Budget Account (Operating and Payroll) , and $1 ,741 56 in the Site and Construction Account OTHER BUSINESS It was suggested and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY to hold a third EXTRA MEETING regular meeting in September, on the 30th Topics suggested for the agenda included SPC counselling, Metco status, cluster philosophy, student enrollment (31) r. FORUM At the specific request of Mr Mayer and other staff SEPTEMBER 23 members , the date of September 23 was tentatively set for an informal , round-table forum meeting between school committee, faculty, administration and parent representatives , It was requested that Dr Ricciuti confirm this date by September 16 The meeting was adjourned at 1 05 a m to be reconvened in executive session Respectfully submitted Recording Secretary Approved )telt' 1- 1(0 f\6\75 / t'1 vJ ,,` JC'O Ruth W Wales, Secretary I