HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-01-21-SC-min LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Saturday,January 21,2017
Battin Hall, Cary Memorial Hall
1605 Massachusetts Avenue,Lexington,MA
Present:
Chair,Alessandro Alessandrini; Judy Crocker; Eileen Jay; Superintendent, Dr.Czajkowski;
Absent: Jessie Steigerwald and Student Representative, Matt Campos
The minutes were taken by Sara Calvino, Executive Assistant to the School Committee and
Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent
The meeting convened at 10 am
Call to Order and Welcome:
Chair Alessandro Alessandrini called the meeting to order and introduced committee members.
Public Comments:
None.
Superintendent's Announcement:
Follow up in response to the public hearing regarding graduation:projected costs at the Tsongas Center.
The rental is $16,000 just under 518,000 to hold graduation. Other money is for diplomas and supplies.
Update on Bridge: The norovirus has not yet been confirmed but we had numerous students out of school
again yesterday. When meeting with Board of Health,they indicated that many schools have seen this
outbreak as well. They did agree that Lexington Public Schools is doing everything they can to clean and
sanitize the school. Lexington has hired a cleaning company to come in this weekend to deep clean the
entire school. Dr. Czajkowski encouraged parents to not send their children to school when sick. She did
send out tips and information on the virus with her letter to parents.
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Kelly Chase, Coordinator of Professional Development and
Special Projects, Caitlin Ahern, and Superintendent, Dr. Czajkowski attended the LEF Major Donor
Event last night. It was a wonderful experience.
School Committee Member Announcements:
A. Alessandrini attended the town wide band concert this week. He enjoyed the enthusiasm of the
students from the 5`"to 12`x' grade.
J. Crocker: Please pay close attention to the census that came in your mail regarding if you have children
that do not attend the LPS schools. She thanked everyone who participated in the town wide band. The
Mock Town Meeting will take place on February l Ot" and February 14`x'. Lexington Arts and Crafts is
hosting an art fair from many towns including Lexington.
E. Jay: None.
The School Committee discussed the budget while waiting to open the Public Hearing at 10:25 a.m.
Dr. Czajkowski reported that with the increase of enrollment,we will be looking at other districts to bring
back a recommendation to School Committee regarding increasing the bus fees.
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Mr. Alessandrini would like to speak to the community about a gradual increase. if we don't offset some
of the bus costs, we could end up taking money from other programs to pay for this.
The School Committee agrees there needs to be a middle ground for the parents,but also for the budget,
when it comes to the bus fees and the Ride After Program.
The School Committee recommended doing an analysis of what the cost would look like if the bus fee was
$350.00. They also recommended investigating the Ride After Program fee.
Mr.Alessandrini opened the Public Hearing on the Superintendent's FY 18 Recommended Budget
at 10:25 a.m. Mr.Alessandrini closed the hearing at 10:33 a.m.
There were no public comments.
Agenda:
1.—Agenda Item: FY 18 Budget Discussion
In the proposed budget,there is an increase in 12 FTEs when the previous year increase was 38 FTEs.
With the increase of enrollment in all levels,Ms. Jay asked about how decisions were made in allocating
these FTEs. Dr. Czajkowski explained that the FTEs are going to the teams that need additional sections
because of the unknown numbers, especially in Kindergarten. We are much more accurate in the numbers
for the middle and high school level, as students are already involved in enrolling for classes for next year.
In the spring time, it will be determined which departments will receive the additional FTEs.
Ms. Jay questioned how enrollment growth is going to affect the budget as student numbers are based off
of the October 1,2016 numbers. Mr. Dailey explained that the practice for using the prior year's
enrollment has been used for years. They are numbers that everyone can agree upon because they are
concrete. We do monitor each program as school enrollment drives the operating budget,but over the
years these numbers have not been an issue to provide equity to our expense budgets for each school.
Mr. Alessandrini questioned why the numbers at Harrington are increased but not at other schools.
Mr. Dailey explained that these numbers are adjusted for the Lexington Children's Place.
Ms. Jay inquired about how we anticipate the increase for the out of district tuitions. Mr. Dailey explained
that he works closely with Special Education to look at the tuition and the students that will be transferred
out. Some students have been placed out of district already and others are still in the process of being
placed. There are many factors that go into determining the anticipated tuition increases for out of district
students.
Ms. Jay appreciated how Dr. Czajkowski reduced the technology budget for fiscal year 2018 by removing
the 1:1 devices for the elementary level other than the mandated devices for MCAS. Technology is an area
we should be more mindful of when deciding when we want to introduce technology to students.
Dr. Czajkowski, along with Eileen McMahon, has established a K-12 task force,which is made up of
community members,parents, students, and staff members. Ms. McMahon has drafted a three-year plan
for technology improvements. Dr. Czajkowski has requested that principals look over their school
improvement plans to add technology. Dr. Czajkowski and the task force will be looking into leasing
devices instead of buying, as these devices do not last long. Dr. Czajkowski will provide the School
Committee with a technology plan in the future.
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Next budget discussion will take place on January 31, 2017 with a possible vote to approve the proposed
budget. If not,the February 6,2017 School Committee Meeting can also be held as a potential date for
voting on the budget.
Consent Agenda:
1. Vote to Approve the School Committee Minutes of November 15, 2016
2. Vote to Approve the School Committee Minutes of November 29, 2016
Motion to approve consent agenda items I & 2. (Alessandrini/Crocker)
The Motion was approved 3-0.
Motion to adjourn. (Crocker/Jay)
The Motion was approved 3-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:26 a.m.
Meeting Materials: Agenda; A.1-Agenda Item Summary,Memo, Budget Presentations
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