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SC Meeting 4/28/09 page # 1
LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Lexington Town Office Building, Selectmen’s Meeting Room
1625 Massachusetts Avenue
Present: Superintendent Paul Ash, School Committee Chair Margaret Coppe, School
Committee Members Rod Cole, Tom Diaz, Jessie Steigerwald and Mary Ann Stewart. The
minutes were taken by Leora Tec.
The meeting was convened at 7:35 p.m.
I. Call to Order and Welcome (Margaret Coppe)
II. Superintendent’s Announcements
1. Appointment of Heidi Zimmerman Seiger as PreK-12 Student Services Financial and
Operations Manager, Effective 5/4/09. This position will save money and increase
efficiency. She is an expert on Massachusetts procurement laws. She has a finance
background, a J.D. and a Master’s degree in elementary education.
2. The LHS National Ocean Science Bowl Team placed second nationally. Congratulations to
the students and their faculty coaches.
3. I just sent a letter to parents at Bridge and Fiske regarding the redistricting of children from
Fiske to Bridge. This will be an item on next week’s agenda. The purpose of the meeting is
to present and discuss options. No vote will be taken until May 19, 2009.
III. Members’ Reports / Members’ Concerns
Tom Diaz: During Town Meeting one member of the Appropriation Committee said he wished
the School Department would consolidate positions to make fewer part-time positions. So could
the superintendent give an update at an upcoming meeting about personnel changes?
Jessie Steigerwald:
(1). Thank you to the Town’s Celebration Committee for a fantastic Patriot’s Day.
(2). I had some concern regarding the Senior Center when one Selectman said he was waiting
for something regarding the Senior Center from the School Committee.
Tom Diaz responded that we have had such discussions in the past but right now our plan
is to remain indefinitely in the Old Harrington.
(3). Mary Ann and I attended a training session for new School Committee members. The open
meeting law is very important. When you are new you have to jump in running but we are
bound to have questions.
SC Meeting 4/28/09 page # 2
(4). We receive emails from the public when they have a concern. I would like to communicate
with the public and let them know how the process works.
Mary Ann Stewart: Several parents came to my first public coffee hour. I will bring up the
items as they come up.
IV. Action Items
1. Vote to Approve Lexington High School Field Trip to Antony, France; February 4 through
February 20, 2010
2. Vote to Approve Lexington High School Field Trip to Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome);
February 12 through February 20, 2010
3. Vote to Approve Lexington High School Field Trip to Zhejiang, China; April 10 through
April 24, 2010
Dr. Ash recommended approval of these trips. The staff that came to request approval also
expressed their gratitude for the approval of the trips last year. Safety was discussed and
Dr. Ash emphasized that students would not be sent anywhere where a risk was perceived.
There were questions and comments from the Committee.
Motion to approve Lexington High School field trip to Antony, France; February 4
through February 20, 2010. (Diaz, Cole). The motion passed 5-0.
Dawn McKenna (Chairman of the Tourism Committee): Said a few words about the
relationship between Lexington and Antony and the rededication of the Place de Lexington
in Antony. She also spoke of her two children’s different experiences on LHS foreign
exchange programs.
Motion to approve Lexington High School field trip to Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome);
February 12 through February 20, 2010 (Stewart, Cole). The motion passed 5-0.
Motion to approve Lexington High School field trip to Zhejiang, China; April 10
through April 24, 2010 (Diaz, Steigerwald). The motion passed 5-0.
4. Vote to Approve School Committee Minutes of March 25, 2009
5. Vote to Approve School Committee Minutes of March 30, 2009
6. Vote to Approve School Committee Minutes of April 6, 2009
Motion to approve School Committee minutes of March 25, 2009 (Cole, Diaz). The
motion passed 5-0.
Motion to approve School Committee minutes of March 30 and April 6 (Diaz, Stewart).
The motion passed 5-0.
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Approval of the above minutes is subject to the following amendment: The School
Committee adjourned at the adjournment of Town Meeting.
V. Discussion Items
1. PreK-12 Facilities Master Plan. The topic was introduced by Paul Ash.
Work on the Central Office should be put on the bottom of the list. The work there should
either be done using operating funds or recurring capital funds.
The overview of where we go from here regarding the Master Plan was presented by Patrick
Goddard, Director of Public Facilities.
Paul Ash suggested an ad-hoc committee of experts to look at the scope and details of David
Finney’s recommendation. The make-up of such a committee was discussed. Pat Goddard
will approach the PBC to ask what their opinion is regarding the make-up of such a
committee and their involvement therein.
There were questions and comments from the Committee.
There were comments from the audience.
Patrick Goddard will give a tour of LHS to interested members on Saturday at 7:30.
2. FY09 Budget Update. We do not have to ask for a supplemental appropriation from Town
Meeting.
VI. Motion to go into exec session for the purpose of discussing negotiations not to return to
public session (Diaz, Stewart). Cole-aye; Coppe-aye; Diaz-aye; Steigerwald-aye;
Stewart-aye.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 PM.