HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-04-05-SC-min LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Wednesday,April 5,2017
Cary Memorial Building, Estabrook Hall
1605 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA
Present:
Chair, Alessandro Alessandrini; Vice-Chair, Eileen Jay;Jessie Steigerwald; Kathleen Lenihan; Kate
Colburn; Superintendent, Dr.Czajkowski
Absent: Student Representative, Matt Campos
The minutes were taken by Kristen Cronin, Executive Assistant to the School Committee and
Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent.
The meeting convened at 6:00 pm
Call to Order and Welcome:
Chair, Alessandro Alessandrini called the meeting to order, and introduced committee members.
Public Comments: None
Superintendent Announcements:
The New York Times article that was written by Kyle Spencer,who visited Lexington for three days in the
fall, became available online today.The article is titled "It Takes a Suburb: A Town Unites to Tackle
Student Stress." Dr. Czajkowski wants to thank the students, parents, LPS staff, Administration, Central
Office personnel, and School Committee members, who were all involved in communicating with the
reporter. Dr. Czajkowski feels that Ms Spencer accurately reported the story regarding stress
experienced by the youth in Lexington and how we are addressing it as a community.
Dr. Czajkowski, along with some search committee members, will be conducting site visits this week in
the school districts of the three candidates for the Lexington High School Principal position.
Dr. Czajkowski is meeting with Mr.Valente tomorrow to discuss Director of Facilities search. Conducting
interviews shortly.
School Committee Member Announcements:
Kate Colburn:Attended the METCO Lobby day in Boston. It was a wonderful gathering of METCO
students, teachers, administrators, parents, Superintendents and School Committee members from
other districts who met to discuss issues about METCO, then moved over to the State House to lobby
and encourage legislators to increase the funding for METCO.
Kathleen Lenihan: Attended the Human Rights committee meeting on Racial Justice. Pretty frank
conversations regarding race in Lexington. Also attended first meeting about the School Start Time Task
Force, and this afternoon attended the Family Youth Services Committee Meeting. On May 17th, Family
Youth Services will be sponsoring an afterschool program at the Community Center for middle school
students. Met this morning with Kelly Chase and Science Department head to discuss curriculum at
thehigh school.
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Jessie Steigerwald: Mr. Dailey is going to put together a paragraph or two so we will all be on the same
page on later start time.This is not going to start this fall. Jessie asks Mr. Dailey if he wouldn't mind
giving a brief statement now.
Ian Dailey: Discussion is not about 2017-18. It would be for school year 2018-19 and or later. We
outlined a goal: We are researching, identifying priorities, and evaluating all considerations to see if a
recommendation should be made to the Superintendent to consider changes to start and or end times
to the high school, middle schools and elementary schools. Initial focus is looking at research and
developing a survey to send out to the community, including students, parents, and staff. Conduct
panel meetings with the committee and outside participants. There are a number of considerations
with logistics to work through.
Jessie Steigerwald: Going forward on the Diversity Think Tank, I think it's important to somehow
embrace other aspects of diversity. If it is focusing specifically on the Asian families exclusively, and
Asian culture, it needs to be transparent and perhaps be called the Think Tank on Asian Concerns. We
could possibly bring it up on future agenda. However there is a need to address all aspects of
"Diversity" in our community. After meeting next week, we could have a further update.
If Only, a film that addresses opioid addiction,will be shown, followed by a discussion, at Cary Memorial
on Thursday, April 6th at 6:30
Eileen Jay: Ms. Steigerwald and I have set up several meetings for the Curriculum Quarterly Updates.
We will be meeting on April 13th about the elementary and middle school Science Curriculum and
meeting on May 4th with Laura Lasa, LHS Principal, and Jackie Crowe, LHS Science Department Head, on
the Science Curriculum at the high school.
On Friday, I had the pleasure of going to the Bridge International Night. Great night. I was delighted that
it still going strong, as I attended as a parent 18 years ago at the first International Night.
Alessandro Alessandrini:Thank you to all community members for the NYT article. Community Center
Committee Article 16E appropriating money for the town side of Pelham, all voted unanimously. If there
is anything you would like to see implemented in this project, send ideas to me and we can discuss going
forward. Urges community to call elected officials and ask them not to cut funding for the NPR Public
broadcast system.
Agenda:
1. After-School Transportation Program Information and Discussion (45 minutes)
Guorong Zhu,Waltham St—Parent representing 240 families who signed a letter with suggestions for
the School Committee. Wants to address concerns from the families to the school. Looked into
financials to offer some suggestions and solutions: Evident that school transportation is safer than cars.
Looking at capping buses daily will resolve the problem. Do not need to increase rate. Based on their
data, kids only use the bus 3 days a week. Suggests stopping the lottery,they think it is unethical. Stop
the lottery, start a solution.
Jessie Steigerwald: Is there an update from Administration on this or are we picking up from where we
left off?
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Ian Dailey: The only real update would be to try to bring some clarity on the Double Seat conversation.
Mr. Dailey reviewed the "Double Seat" slide: 8e|ovv
"Double Seat" - Vi
sual Example
Bowman Elementary School-Double Seat Example
After-
Ridership Example-w/After School Bus
ner-xmesx/nsxamnm'w/xfterschvmou, School Bus
Bu,m Bus 07 Bus 11 Bus 15 Bus 17 BUu21 Bus 25 Bus 30 Total
IMorning Ridership 51 45 35 38 44 28 43 47 3;;l
Ridership eligible for seat in PM 51 45 35 38 44 28 43 47 331
JAfternoon Ridership 44 41 31 34 41 561 41 43 331
Average Students/Bus: 41.4
ollllllllflllllllllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIZllI
Ridership Example'w/vut After School Bus
Bus 05 Busm Bus 11 Bus 1S Bus 17 Bus 21 Bus 25 Bus 30 uta/
Ridership To/From School 54 so zm m ^m m/mmmteu /n sz 331
xxpra«nsmuents/ous 47.3
Jessie Steigerwald: Can support cap and lottery; understand it's difficult for families. This is not just a
financial issue, but a safety concern. After school congestion is why we started this in the first place.
Large contingent ofpeople think it is community-shared responsibility for after school hours. Can see
some subsidy, but do support cap and a lottery if needed due to limited capacity.
Kate Colburn: If there are changes the community feels are important' we can make changes. | feel the
timing of this decision is very difficult for families. Not in favor of a cap for this coming fall. Concerned
that this cap is already included in our budget,want to avoid having to make changes tothe budget that
would affect our academic programs. Would he in favor ofadministration to fund o non-capped
program through next year. After next year, | have areal concern about schools being involved and
making choices and approving certain programs. Long view,for budgetary reasons and logistic, not sure
we should be in this business atall.
Kath|eenLanihan: This is very last minute to make this decision for next year because it affects working
parents. Support keeping program as is for next year,then look going forward. Agrees with Ms.
Colburn,there is a lot of concern at Lexington about being involved in transporting children to for-profit
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businesses. Feels Lexington is endorsing the afterschool businesses. Parents think we are in a
partnership with the businesses, but we are not.
Eileen Jay: In favor of continuing the afterschool bus program for the coming year. Because of the last-
minute decision, it makes cutting back on the program a little unfair. Well worth the time to use the
coming year to plan out what the future will be for this program and the sustainability.
Alessandro Alessandrini: In agreement with Ms. Colburn, Kathleen Lenihan and Eileen Jay about the
last minute announcement. By continuing for one more year, it will give us time to work with vendors to
see if there are other ways to fund after school bus programs. Concerned that with increasing
enrollment,we will have to make decisions about programs and hiring teachers. The afterschool bus is a
highly subsidized program that will take away from that. In a choice between ridership that profits
businesses vs. keeping a school program and hiring teachers, I fall on the side of hiring teachers.
Dr. Czajkowski: Five years ago, no one would have anticipated the cost for the district to be at$1,800
per student. There is never a good time to bring this discussion up, and agrees timing was not ideal. If
we did not bring this to School Committee's attention, it would be fiscally irresponsible of us. For
instance, the interest in bringing world language back to the elementary classrooms,we can't do that,
but yet we are subsidizing$1,884.00 to transport students in order to profit after school programs.
Most of the School Committee is in agreement that we continue for next and delay the long-term
decision for a year. For now, we can adjust fee as an option and then come back with various structures
for subsidy. We are in the business of educating students; we are not a transportation service. We need
to set a deadline to make a decision.
The School Committee will remain in session and relocate to eattin Hall for the purpose of participating
in Town Meeting.
Meeting Materials:Agenda; A.1-After School Transportation Double Seat Example
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