HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-01-24-SC-min LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Thursday,January 24, 2008
Lexington Town Office Building, Selectmen's Meeting Room
1625 Massachusetts Avenue
Present: Superintendent Paul Ash, School Committee Chair Tom Diaz, School Committee
Members Helen Cohen, Tom Griffiths and Ravi Sakhuja. The minutes were taken by Leora Tec.
The meeting was convened at 10:09 a.m.
I. Call to Order and Welcome (Tom Diaz)
Tom Diaz laid out the ground rules of the meeting.
II. Members' Reports /Members' Concerns
Tom Diaz: There will be an editorial in the Minuteman that is a critique of the schools and the
schools' financial management saying among other things that the schools should not be
complacent. I disagree with the conclusion. I believe that this administration has done
everything they can to save money and as recently as last night they have done things to save
money. Also our main goal is education.
Tom Diaz went over the next few meetings. On Jan 31st the first hour of the meeting will be a
public hearing.
IIl. Discussion:
Public Hearing on the FY09 Budget:
Amy Zaslow: Full day kindergarten and the financial questions related thereto including the
possibility of fees.
Carole Pilarski responded that 4 years ago they did poll the incoming parents and a high
percentage of incoming families were in favor of full day kindergarten. They did accept the
planning grant at that time.
Murray Wright: Mother of five children who opposes full day kindergarten.
Jesse Steigerwald: Technology and capital budget as it aligns with the operating budget.
Priorities within the technology budget.
Marianne McKenna's technology plan can be put on the web.
Francis Gillespie: School user fees for music and athletics.
Paul Ash: I do think schools need to be free. What would be the financial impact if the fee
structure was altered? We will present some options.
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Francis G: It used to be handled discreetly by principals and athletic directors.
Paul Ash: Principals did not want to do that.
Leora Tec: It is part of community. Can we be a little more human here?
Lisa Hebert: Full day kindergarten, what else can those funds be used for?
Paul Ash: I withdrew my recommendation for full day kindergarten for all students for next
year and said I want a pilot program. We got a planning grant for S225K, we have to decide if
we want to accept it. I would not recommend a fee. I recommend eliminating the music fee.
Lisa Hebert: Foreign languages: possible in the future starting in grade one?
Paul Ash: No planning for that at this time.
Tom Diaz: Lots of support for this in the community.
Helen Cohen: I support this.
Connie Stump: Opposed to full day kindergarten.
IV. Motion to adjourn (Griffiths, Sakhuja). The motion passed 4-0.
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