HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-05-21-SC-minLEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Cary Hall Auditorium
1605 Massachusetts Avenue
Present: Superintendent Paul Ash, School Committee Chair Tom Diaz, School Committee
Members Helen Cohen, Rod Cole, Margaret Coppe and Ravi Sakhuja. The minutes were
taken by Leora Tec.
I. Call to Order and Welcome (Tom Diaz)
II. Public Comment
III. Superintendent’s Announcements
1. Eamonn Sheehan was appointed as the new coordinator of Physical Education
and Wellness
2. The LHS Department of Energy Science Bowl Team competed at the National
Convention in Washington, D.C.. Our team placed 7th out of 1800.
3. LHS Student Sway Chen Earned a spot on the 2008 United States Physics Team
4. Seventy five people attended the diversity forum at Harrington this morning.
5. Carole Pilarski announced the foreign language awards ceremony at the high school.
Abby Spatz received the Prix de L’Alliance Francaise of 2008. Lucia Ferguson won a
summer scholarship to study in Germany for 3 weeks. Both are sophomores.
IV. Members’ Reports / Members’ Concerns
Ravi Sakhuja: Great job to the Science Bowl Team
Helen Cohen: I appreciate the diversity curriculum discussion.
Tom Diaz: Both houses of the legislature have approved local aid so that means larger
chapter 70 aid for example. Thanks to representatives and senators. The money will be useful
for getting ready for fiscal 2010.
I only have a few more weeks as chairman. Think of what liaison activities you would like.
The Library Board of Trustees received a plan for bringing the East Lexington branch up to
par. Look at those plans. We will solicit proposals from the public until September as to uses
for the building.
V. Discussion Items
1. LHS Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2007 Results — Presented by
Professors Jack McDevitt and Amy Farrell. There was a discussion following the
presentation.
2. Update on Full-Day and Half-Day Kindergarten
Presented by Carol Pilarski.
Dr. Ash is recommending a half-day program at Bowman even though there will
only be 9 children at Bowman. There is a consensus among the Committee.
15 METCO families are interested in kindergarten.
3. FY08 Third Quarter Financial Report
Issues and questions regarding the third quarter financial report were discussed by Mary
Ellen Dunn.
Paul Ash stated that money from health grant cannot be used for the operating budget.
VI. Action Items
1. Vote to Approve FY08 Spending Plan
The Committee discussed the various points of the plan.
Motion to Approve the proposed FY08 Spending Plan (Cohen, Cole). The motion
passed 5-0.
2. Vote on School Choice – Superintendent Paul Ash recommends that the Lexington
Public Schools not participate in the State's School Choice program.
Motion that we not participate in the State's School Choice program (Cohen, Cole).
Passed 5-0.
3. Vote to Approve the Lease Agreements with the Four Extended Day Programs
Motion to Approve the lease agreements with the four extended day programs
(Cole, Sakhuja). Passed 5-0.
Thanks to the extended day directors from Tom Diaz and Helen Cohen. They heard lots
of nice things about the programs from people.
V. Motion to go into Executive Session to discuss employee negotiations not to return to
public session (Coppe, Cohen). Cole-aye; Cohen-aye; Coppe-aye; Diaz-aye; Sakhuja-aye.