Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-09-30-MMTECH-min.pdf Y Jr. L 1 \ n w U MINUTES OF THE MINUTEMAN REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE September 30, 1975, at the Minuteman School PRESENT Banfield, Bilodeau, Cormier, Courtright, Cron, Hall , Kelsey, Merluzzo, Smith, Wales, Zeoli Lombardo ABSENT Heinrich STAFF Ricciuti , Whitney, Essman, Rose, Stille, DellaPenna, Chasen, Purvis, Hayward, Robitaille, Antonucci , Neckes VISITORS Jean McGuire, Executive Director of METCO, Dean Yarborough, of METCO, several parents, and three representatives of the press The meeting was called to order at 8 15 p m. MASC Mr Cron distributed membership cards for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees CH 303 Copies of Chapter 303, Acts of 1975, regulating open meetings and executive sessions of governmental bodies, were distri- buted It was agreed that the committee begin operating by these regulations immediately, although they do not take effect until January 1 , 1976 MALL Dr Ricciuti announced the opening September 29 of the Mall , with stores operated by students, and the Fife and Drum Restaurant offering excellent lunches to the public for $1 65 MATH Mr Whitney reviewed the current situation in the Math REVIEW Department, with students enrolled in all courses through Algebra II and Geometry, and with three students, already competent at these levels, pursuing independent projects Committee members questioned the philosophy of the math curriculum, wondering if it was representative of the entire school "This building, with its flowing open spaces, expresses and should facilitate tht school 's philosophy of a flow- ing,, peen curriculum " "Each student should be free to move at his own pace; each teacher should have practice in teaching several levels at one time" One member said he valued content over "style" and congratu- lated the math department on the curriculum content Another said that content is not enough, it must be conveyed by the most effective means Mr Chasen defended the structure now c>'� being used, noting that in his view the students are now happier and learning more Most 9th graders still need J` ®G P (46) structure, he said, they will be ready for more flexibility later Another member noted that the issue was not a matter of structure or no structure, but whether the structure was overt or covert METCO Mr Hall , and later Ms Jean McGuire, reported on the status of Metco funding plans, which are still not settled but should be by November Ms McGuire stated that a) current budget allocations do include Minuteman, apparently on the grounds that the students and sending towns are not new to the Metco program, even if Minuteman is, and b) that towns have Metco funds left over from last year which might be made available for this year There was a lengthy discussion concerning a)the probability of funding being approved, b) financial implications for Minuteman with or without funding, c) whether the committee has a greater responsibility to one segment of the student body than another, d) whether the interests of the Metco students are best served by an extended conditional stay at Minuteman or by returning to the certainty of a full year at their sending schools Some committee members, staff members, and a parent spoke in favor of keeping the Metco students at Minuteman if at all possible, noting the contributions they have already made, the friendships they have established, and the loss to Minuteman without them ("their presence here breaks down the stereotyped images") Mr Bilodeau suggested they be accepted for the full year, regardless of funding It was MOVED by Mrs Wales, SECONDED by Mr Zeoli , that the 9 Metco students be informed of the situation, that they be given the option of transferring to their sending schools at the end of the current 5 week cycle (October 10) or continu- ing at Minuteman until November 7 in the hope of being able to complete the year Mr Courtright requested a roll call vote, with the following results Courtright, Merluzzo, and Banfield, NO Hall , Btlodeau, Smith, Zeoli , Wales, Cormier, Cron, and, Kelsey, YES Heinrich, absent VOTE CARRIED, 8 to 3 The chair directed the committee members from Lincoln and Lexington to investigate the availability of the Metco funds left over from last year BROCHURE Dr Ricciuti expected to place first draft copies of the new brochure in committee members ' hands October 10, and he requested that their recommendations be returned before the final deadline of October 31 Members suggested that the new brochure have a new cover design, including a date, and that pictures, in compliance with DOE regulations, should include girls in the same proportion as in the school population (47) Chairman Cron appointed Mr Kelsey as chairman pro tem of the policy sub-committee Mr Kelsey announced the first meeting of this committee would be Thursday, October 2, to consider admissions policy WORKSHOP At the administration's request, the committee agreed by consensus to approve a DOE workshop November 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m , in a part of the school not being used for classes Mr Cron suggested that some members of the Minuteman staff attend the workshop FREE Upon recommendation of the administration, Mr Zeoli MOVED, LUNCH Mr Courtright SECONDED, and it was VOTED UNANIMOUSLY to approve the program for offering free milk, free meals, and reduced price meals INSURANCE At the recommendation of the administration, Mr Hall MOVED, Mr Courtright SECONDED, and it was VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, to approve continuation of the student school accident insurance program with Puritan Life Insurance Company Mr Lombardo suggested that such approval should continue automatically (unless a change is recommended by the administration) so that students will have coverage from the day school opens next year It was agreed to look into this possibility STAFF The appointment of Vance Garry, Staff Level , Special Needs PERSONNEL Department , starting October 1 , 1975, at a salary of $12,000, was MOVED, SECONDED, and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORT It was MOVED, SECONDED, and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY to approve the PERSONNEL appointment of Gary Campbell as Level 1 Custodian, to start October 1 , 1975, at a salary of $8,000 SPECIAL It was MOVED, SECONDED, and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, to approve PROJECT the employment of Ms Beverly Lydiard as the Special Project PERSONNEL Coordinator from October 1 , 1975, through June 30, 1976, based upon an annual salary of $15,000, this salary to be supported by the Occupational Grant to Minuteman, and co-pay fringebenefits including Blue Cross/Blue Shield to be pro- vided by Minuteman as a local contribution to the project CONTRACTED The committee VOTED UNANIMOUSLY to approve contracting with PERSONNEL Dorothy Sharon Fleet as a Teacher Aide at the rate of $3 00 per hour - six hours per day - starting October 1 , 1975 It was also noted that all salaries quoted in contract personnel appointments refer to an annual rate TUITION Mr Lombardo's request to establish a tuition payment SCHEDULE schedule was considered a matter of procedure rather than policy, and thus did not require a formal vote There was consensus, however, to approve the schedule as presented (This calls for payment in October for the period September to December, and in January for the period from January to June) d a, (48) TOWEL Mr Merluzzo MOVED and Mrs Wales SECONDED and it was VOTED FEES UNANIMOUSLY to table Item 14, a request for adoption of student towel fee and lock deposit policy LEVEL I POSITION After some discussion as to whether the clerical work load at Minuteman is distributed as efficiently as possible, it was MOVED by Mrs Wales, and SECONDED by Mr Zeoli , to approve the administration's request to establish a new position of Level 1 Clerk Typist, for the Business Depart- ment VOTED UNANIMOUSLY MINUTES The Committee VOTED UNANIMOUSLY to approve the Minutes of September 16, 1975 TREASURER'S REPORT Mr Lombardo reported a balance of $89,568 28 in the Regular Budget Account, and $6,416 65 in the Site and Construction Account OTHER The committee requested that copies of the Policy Manual BUSINESS be distributed to all staff members , and approved the neces- sary printing of 70 to 100 copies At the request of the administration, it was MOVED by Mr Hall , SECONDED by Mr Zeoli , to approve the plans of Mr O'Reilly and Mr Rose to hold a Car Wash on the school premises October 4 and 11 , to raise funds for football and other athletics VOTED UNANIMOUSLY Mr Cron announced a meeting of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees October 8, 9, and 10 Mr Zeoli volunteered to attend as delegate for Minuteman, and was heartily approved At the administration's request, Mr Hall MOVED, Mrs Wales SECONDED, and it was VOTED UNANIMOUSLY to retain Dr Schiff of Page Road, Bedford, as school physician at a salary of $1200 for the year State Law requires that the school supply a physician to examine students who do not or cannot employ their own physician The increase in salary over last year's is due to the increased number of students Mrs Smith requested an early review of several important areas of concern, including realization of cluster philo- sophy, counselling situation, cooperative program with industry, 11th grade curriculum, and use of the computer Others agreed with the request, and it was noted that members would soon be turning to their towns for continued financial support, and would have many questions to answer In later discussion with input from parents and staff, it was brought out that dissatisfaction with program assign- ments was widespread, that in fact, according to Mr Hayward, • t • (49) all programs had required some adjustments, that many students did not even receive any of their top four choices , and that the problems are still not straightened out, although two SPC's have been working 100% of their time on this Although the original difficulty was apparently computer-generated, the result has been to interfere with the normal duties of the SPC's A parent requested that the SPC's discuss what they need, how they are planning for next year's 11th grade The committee urged that the October 7 agenda include a review by the Student Program Coordinators Mr Hall reported a request from the President of the Parents' Organization for a "seat at the table" at school committee meetings, as a non-participating, non-voting, representative The committee agreed by consensus that he should be so seated Mr Cormier reported receipt of a letter complaining of much smoking on the school bus It was requested that Mr Marotta make clear to bus drivers and students on all buses that smoking on buses is not condoned Mr Kelsey expressed distress at the enrollment and urged that a cooperative time-sharing program get rolling to use the space in the building (With present enrollment, the per-pupil cost is $3436 instead of $2775) Mr Hall noted that some parents want the program straightened out for the students already enrolled before more are taken in Mr Cron requested that the administration consider ways in which $200,000 could be cut from the current budget Also, in order to plan next year's budget, the committee must soon decide the size of next year's student body It was suggested that another Forum meeting would be useful , but members wanted to be sure there would be more faculty input, and suggested that scheduling of a meeting await a specific request from the faculty it was MOVED by Ms Smith, SECONDED by Mr Zeoli , to adjourn the meeting to be later reconvened in executive session VOTED UNANIMOUSLY Meeting adjourned at 11 15 p.m Respectfully submitted, Recording Secretary Approved 0 7 I Cj 76 C._ Lal Ruth W Wales, Secretary