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SC Meeting 4/27/10 page # 1
LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Cary Hall
1605 Massachusetts Avenue
Present: Superintendent Paul Ash, School Committee Chair Margaret Coppe,
School Committee Members Sandro Alessandrini, Rod Cole, Mary Ann Stewart and
student representative Liam Gandelsman. The minutes were taken by Leora Tec.
The meeting was convened at 6:30 p.m.
I. Call to Order (Estabrook Room)
II. Executive Session (Estabrook Room)
III. Return to Public Session and Welcome (Cary Hall Auditorium).
The meeting was reconvened at 7:35 p.m.
IV. Public Comment
Phyllis Neufeld (LEA president): Ms. Neufeld spoke on behalf of the teachers,
Instructional Assistants and techs. They have been working all year without a wage
increase. Any offer the health care coalition has made to the town has been turned
down. Teachers are feeling the reduction of IAs in the classroom. Administrative
positions in the system have increased at what we consider an alarming rate. We
want to negotiate a fair and equitable agreement now.
Karen Girondel (Lex resident and teacher): The job of teaching has changed
tremendously in the last couple of years due to several factors. We do much of the
work that secretaries used to do. We are losing some of our best teachers to other
school systems.
V. Superintendent’s Announcements
1. American Immigration Council's 13th Annual Celebrate America Writing
Contest Essay Winner – "Why I am Glad America Is a Nation of Immigrants"
was won by Bridge School 5th grader Lien Hong. Lien Hong read her essay
2. Massachusetts School Library Association Bookmark Contest Winners:
Overall winner- Bridge School 5th grader Elaine Wu and honorable mention
winner- Bridge School 3rd grader Eric Zou.
SC Meeting 4/27/10 page # 2
3. MEFA's Sixth Annual College Savings Art Competition Winner – "What Do I
Want to Be When I Graduate from College" second place winner in 3rd grade
sixth annual college savings art competition, “What Do I Want to Be When I
Graduate from College?” also went to Eric Zou, Bridge school third grader.
4. Antony, France, Sister City Visit. Our Sister city in Antony, France sent a
delegation to Lexington. We have had a strong partnership over the years. Dawn
McKenna led this endeavor and spoke about the exchange program and the
importance of elementary foreign language.
VI. Discussion
1. Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Introduced by Dr. Ash. He thanked all teachers
and in particular the health teachers. He introduced Jennifer Wolfrum, Assistant
Coordinator, Physical Education and Wellness. She introduced Dr. Jack
McDevitt, Associate Dean of the College of Criminal Justice at Northeastern
University and Dr. Amy Farrell, Assistant Professor at Northeastern University.
Drs. McDeveitt and Farrell presented selected results of the survey after a brief
introduction.
There were comments and questions from the Committee.
There were questions and comments from the audience.
2. Report on Lexington's Community Education Program
Presented by Lexington Community Education Director Craig Hall.
VII. Action Items
VIII. Motion to adjourn (Cole Stewart). The motion passed 4-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.