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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-05-05-SC-min SC Meeting 5/5/09 page # 1 LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING Tuesday, May 5, 2009 Cary Hall Auditorium 1605 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 7:37 p.m. I. Call to Order and Welcome (Margaret Coppe) II. Public Comment Flavius Chircu (parent residing at Avalon): How can we comment on improving the curriculum? Paul Ash: The next few meetings will be devoted to curriculum review. III. Superintendent’s Announcements A. Mary Ellen Dunn (Assistant Superintendent): Spoke about the collaborative effort town-wide to deal with the swine flu issue. Paul Ash: The school system has worked collaboratively with Carl Valente and local and state officials. Mary Ellen Dunn has done a marvelous job. The children’s safety is always paramount. B. We are reducing the number of part-time positions by ten and taking away health care for some part-time positions by reducing the hours from above 20 hours to below 20 hours. This includes consolidating part-time positions into full-time positions. There were questions from the Committee. IV. Members’ Reports / Members’ Concerns Mary Ann Stewart: Bridge’s school newsletter said April was anti-bullying month. This is a great idea. Jessie Steigerwald: This is an example of positive work that is being done. SC Meeting 5/5/09 page # 2 V. Discussion Items 1. Fiske Overcrowding. The topic was presented by Paul Ash There were questions and comments from the Committee. There were comments and questions from the audience. 2. Report from the Equity and Excellence Committee. The topic was introduced by Dr. Ash. The presentation was made by Vito la Mura, former LEA president and Dr. Steven Flynn, Clarke Middle School principal, the co-chairs of the Achievement Gap Task Force, which has been renamed the Equity and Excellence Committee There were comments and questions from the School Committee. 3. Third Quarterly Financial Report for FY09. Presented by Mary Ellen Dunn, Assistant Superintendent. We have a projected surplus of $547K for the end of the fiscal year. There were questions and comments from the Committee and the audience. 4. Proposed 2010-2011 School Calendar. The topic was introduced by Dr. Ash. He noted that starting next fall freshman will attend school for a full day on their first day of high school. The calendar was presented by Dr. Lynne Celli, Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development. There were comments and questions from the Committee and the audience. VI. Action Items 1. Vote to Accept Donation of Play Structures to the Bridge School Playground in Memory of Adi Mandel. Motion to accept donation of play structures to the Bridge School playground in memory of Adi Mandel (Stewart, Steigerwald). The motion passed 5-0. 2. Vote to Accept $595 Donation from Wilson Farms’ Shop at Wilson Farms School Fundraiser to be deposited in the Bridge School Gift Account Motion to accept with gratitude a $595 donation from Wilson Farms’ Shop at Wilson Farms School Fundraiser to be deposited in the Bridge School Gift Account (Diaz, Steigerwald). The motion passed 5-0. SC Meeting 5/5/09 page # 3 3. Vote to Approve School Committee Minutes of March 17, 2009 4. Vote to Approve School Committee Minutes of April 13, 2009 Motion to approve the minutes of March 17, 2009 subject to an amendment by Mary Ann Stewart to be sent to secretary Leora Tec, and the minutes of April 13, 2009 (Diaz,Cole). The motion was approved 5-0. VII. Motion to adjourn (Cole, Diaz). The motion passed 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 PM.