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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-02-22-SC-min SC Meeting 2/22/10 page # 1 LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING Monday, February 22, 2010 Cary Hall Auditorium 1605 Massachusetts Avenue Present: Superintendent Paul Ash, School Committee Chair Margaret Coppe, School Committee Members Rod Cole, Tom Diaz, Jessie Steigerwald Mary Ann Stewart and student representative Liam Gandelsman. 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. Public Comment Scott Burson (precinct 4, former School Committee member): Thank you to Tom Diaz for his service to the town. He possesses a passion for what’s right for the students, an ability to listen and sound judgment. He will be missed. It was time very well spent. Helen Cohen (precinct 9, former School Committee member): It was great that Tom was one of the people who served with me on the School Committee. I admire so much the fact that Tom went back to school to dedicate himself to kids and education. Thank you so much. Tom Diaz: Thanks to Scott and Helen for their remarks. I won’t be looming around but I will be available. I will send my comments directly to you if I have them. Margaret Coppe: Tom, you have a strong sense of right and wrong, you approach difficult decisions with a thoughtfulness and calmness. I will miss you. Good luck with teaching. Rod Cole: I have appreciated your advice and counsel. I DO know where you live. III. Superintendent’s Announcements 1. Department of Public Facilities Awarded an Energy Efficiency and Block Grant in the Amount of $150,000 for Thermal Efficiency. The grant will be used to replace the oil-fired boiler in the Central Administration building with a natural gas fired boiler. 2. Today I received a telephone call from the MSBA. A team will be coming out from the state to look at the high school to judge eligibility for funding. IV. Members’ Reports / Members’ Concerns Jessie Steigerwald: We received many emails about use of the emergency system on the snow days. SC Meeting 2/22/10 page # 2 There was a discussion regarding the topic of issuing automatic calls on snow days. Mary Ann Stewart: Parents of school age children should take note that the Selectman’s race is a contested race so I encourage people to vote on March 1, one week from tonight. V. Action Items 1. Vote to Approve the FY 11 Operating Budget ($65,256,567) – without Unit C Motion to approve the FY 11 operating budget without Unit C for $65,256,567 (Diaz, Stewart). The motion was approved 5-0. There were comments from the audience including several speech and language pathologists and others who spoke on their behalf. There were questions and comments from the Committee. 2. Vote to Approve FY 11 Budget ($3,490,859) – Unit C Only Motion to approve the FY 11 Budget for Unit C Only for $3,490,859 (Cole, Steigerwald). The motion passed 4-0 (Diaz abstained). 3. Vote to Approve FY 11 Total Operating Budget ($68,747,426) – Annual Town Meeting Request Motion to approve the FY 11 Total Operating Budget for $68,747,426, which will be the annual Town Meeting request (Diaz, Steigerwald). The motion passed 5-0. There were comments from the Committee. 4. Vote to Approve FY 11 School Department Capital Budget ($951,071) Motion to approve the FY 11 School Department Capital Budget for $951,071 (Diaz, Cole). The motion passed 5-0. 5. Vote to Approve FY 11 Department of Public Facilities School Capital Budget ($1,749, 400) Motion to Approve FY 11 Department of Public Facilities School Capital Budget ($1,749, 400) (Diaz, Stewart). The motion passed 5-0. There were comments from the Committee. VI. Motion to adjourn (Diaz, Cole). The motion passed 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.