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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-05-09-SC-min LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE Tuesday, May 9,2017 Town Hall,Selectmen's Meeting Room 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA Present: Chair, Alessandro Alessandrini; Vice-Chair, Eileen Jay;Jessie Steigerwald; Kate Colburn; Kathleen Lenihan; 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 6:37 pm in Open Session. Call to Order and Welcome: Chair, Alessandro Alessandrini called the meeting to order, and introduced committee members. At 6:37 p.m.,in open session, the Chair moved that the School Committee vote to go into Executive Session under Exemption 3: To Discuss Superior Court Civil Action No. 1581cv05504 and to reconvene in open session. Alessandrini—AYE;Colburn—AYE; Lenihan—AYE;Steigerwald—AYE At 6:40 p.m.,the Motion was approved 4-0 by a roll call vote, and the minutes for the Executive Session are in a separate document. At 7:01 p.m. Mr.Alessandrini called the Open Session back to order and invited public comments. Public Comments: None Superintendent's Announcement: • Dr. Czajkowski introduced Monica Visco, the new Director of Human Resources to the public • Dr. Czajkowski announced the appointment of Robert Shaw for the High School Principal position • Dr. Czajkowski updated the Committee on the Director of Facilities search. • Dr. Czajkowski updated the Committee and public on the swastika that was found in the boys' bathroom in the high school.This incident has been reported to the police. • Dr. Czajkowski updated the Committee on a very productive Administrative Council meeting that took place today. School Committee Member Announcements: Kate Colburn: Kathleen and Kate attended their first working group meeting on School Capacity.The meeting focused mostly on the high school as Laura Lasa and Pat Goddard will be retiring by the end of LSC 5-9-2017 the summer.The next meeting will be on May 17.The high school musical was a wonderful performance. Eileen Jay:The Science Curriculum review will be presented to the School Committee in the coming weeks as they enter into year two of the review. Regarding the Diversity Think Tank, Dr. Czajkowski and Carl Valente will be sending out a memo to request people to join the Diversity Think Tank team.The Academic Subcommittee of the Community Coalition held two out of three community meetings to discuss the New Times article on student stress in Lexington. Eileen also enjoyed the high school musical. Kathleen Lenihan: Kathleen will be updating the committee on her liaison assignments via email.The high school musical was amazing. Jessie Steigerwald:Jessie welcomed Monica Visco.Jessie served on the committee that hired her.Jessie was thankful for how quickly Dr. Czajkowski responded to the hate crime was that was in the boys' bathroom at the high school.Jessie and Eileen had a curriculum review meeting.The Science Curriculum was the main topic. Alessandro Alessandrini:Sandro thanked the students and staff that took part in the high school musical. He welcomed Ms.Visco and Mr. Shaw to the Lexington community. Sandro thanked everyone involved for addressing the hate crime so rapidly. Consent Agenda: 1. Vote to Approve School Committee Minutes of January 3, 2017 (Jessie/Eileen) Motion to approve consent agenda items 1. The Motion was approved (3-0). Agenda: 1. Scientist Day—Jay Kaufman &Sanjana Puri Sanjana Puri, Lexington High School junior, presented her idea of establishing an Annual Scientist's Day in Massachusetts schools to the School Committee. Sanjana has been working with Representative Jay Kaufman to begin the process of Scientist's Day in Massachusetts. The School Committee moved to endorse Scientist Day. (Steigerwald/Alessandrini) The Motion was approved (5-0). 2. Vote for Pelham Representative to the Permanent Building Committee—Theresa Wilson School Committee voted to appoint Theresa Wilson as School Committee Representative to the PBC regarding Lexington Children's Place at Pelham Property. (Alessandrini/Steigerwald) The Motion was approved(5-0) 3. Vote on School Choice Motion that the Lexington Public Schools will not participate in the School Choice Program for the 2017—2018 school year. (Jay/Steigerwald) The Motion was approved(5-0) LSC 5-9-2017 4. World Language Update Kelly Chase and Cathy Brooks updated the School Committee on the World Language research that has been happening since January 3, 2017.As requested by the School Committee at its January 2 meeting, Ms. Brooks visited many schools that have immersion pilot programs and also after-school programs that are not directly operated by school districts. From Ms. Brooks' research at other schools and online, it seems that there are many considerations, including commitment to the program for long-term growth, cost implications, timeline, and many logistical questions. Ms. Brooks also researched global citizenship and language exposure programs for an after-school program. K. Colburn: What did you observe at other schools about their trajectory? How did they start and what did they develop into? Ms. Brooks explained that it varied greatly across schools, and none of the towns were quite like Lexington. Most schools expanded to all of their elementary schools, but generally stayed at one/two classes of immersion in elementary. FLIES (Foreign Language in Elementary School) program. J. Steigerwald: Can you explain the cost neutral part of this program? Ms. Brooks explained that the start up of classroom would involve additional cost for materials but the staff member who taught the class would be an elementary teacher that is already within the district who happens to be bilingual.The majority of schools that were researched agreed that it was cost neutral. The School Committee agreed that the program should not be confined to one school as all the elementary schools would benefit from world language. If a pilot program were to be offered, it would need to be offered at each school and done on half-day Thursdays.This would need to be negotiated with teachers and the district would be responsible for transportation to take on that cost.The question is how often this pilot program would be offered: once a month,twice, every Thursday of the month, etc. The School Committee agreed that Mr. Alessandrini and Ms. Colburn will discuss World Language further with Cathy Brooks and Kelly Chase. 5. Organizational Chart—Policy CCA Dr. Czajkowski proposed a new organizational chart to the School Committee, which would eliminate the Special Assistant to the Superintendent position and establish a new position, Assistant Superintendent for Strategic Planning and Operations. Overall, she is recommending this reorganization for two reasons: the cost savings based on district goals as well as inefficiencies in technology department in that this would create more efficiencies. Dr. Czajkowski is seeking approval from the School Committee on newly proposed organizational chart and the job description for the new position,Assistant Superintendent for Strategic Planning and Operations. Mr. Ian Dailey reviewed the cost analysis regarding the new organizational chart proposal. LSC 5-9-2017 In addition to the duties that the Special Assistant currently does,the Assistant Superintendent for Strategic Planning and Operations will be evaluating and supervising staff, supporting departments in establishing budgets, and assessing and supporting the Technology department. 6. Assistant Superintendent for Strategic Planning&Operations Job Description Motion to approve the restructured Lexington Public Schools Organizational Chart as described, effective July 1,2017. (Alessandrini/Lenihan) Motion was approved 5-0. Motion to eliminate the position of Special Assistant to the Superintendent and establish the position of Assistant Superintendent for Strategic Planning and Operations. (Alessandrini/Steigerwald) Motion was approved 5-0. Motion to approve the job description for the Assistant Superintendent of Strategic Planning and Operations. (Alessandrini/Colburn) Motion was approved 5-0. Ms. Lenihan will be on the search committee for Director of Educational Technology and Mr. Alessandrini will be on the search committee for Assistant Superintendent for Strategic Planning and Operations. 7. Homework Feedback Presentation: PowerPoint is posted online May 10, 2017. Sandy Trach and Maureen Kavanaugh updated the School Committee on the data analysis and feedback on the Homework Policy IKB. The Policy Subcommittee met on May 8 to recommend revisions to the homework policy.This will be a step-by-step process; there are no expectations for the June 20 School Committee Meeting.The first policy reading is scheduled for the May 23 School Committee meeting., An announcement will be sent out to all parents via Blackboard Connect. School Committee Members gave feedback on the policy: J. Steigerwald: Recommends incorporating minimizing screen time into the Homework Policy for various ages. Time management should not be a purpose of homework, but strategies should be accessible to parents as resource, possibly on LPS Website. Household chores can help teach time management. Group homework should be addressed in the policy.There needs to be more conversation around what is expected. K. Lenihan: Reviewing the pie chart, 30%of teachers are potentially not following the homework policy, especially at the high school level. We constantly hear that there is not an agreement in community about homework., Some think more, some think less. Teachers are the professionals who know the correct amount of homework that needs to be given to students, not the parents or the community. LSC 5-9-2017 E.Jay:The policy will be the beginning for teachers to strike the balance.There will be a difference between the written policy at the district level and the administrative protocol guidelines. A.Alessandrini: This policy is a complex issue and we should be relying on educators.This is a great start to the policy. Motion to adjourn. (Steigerwald/Jay) The Motion was approved 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:53 p.m. Meeting Materials:Agenda; A.1-Agenda Item Summary,A.2-Agenda Item Summary A.3-Agenda Item Summary A.4-Agenda Item Summary, Memo, Powerpoint A.5-Agenda Item Summary,Organizational Chart,Cost Analysis,Assistant Superintendent for Strategic Planning and Operations job Description A.6-Agenda Item Summary,A.7-Agenda Item Summary LSC 5-9-2017