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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-06-08-SC-min SC Meeting 6/8/10 page # 1 LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING Tuesday, June 8, 2010 Lexington Town Office Building, Selectmen's Meeting Room 1625 Massachusetts Avenue Present: Superintendent Paul Ash, School Committee Chair Rod Cole, School Committee Members Sandro Alessandrini, Margaret Coppe, Jessie Steigerwald and Mary Ann Stewart. Minutes were taken by Leora Tec. The meeting was convened at 7:35 p.m. I. Election of Officers The first order of business is the election of officers for the School Committee. Superintendent Paul Ash presided. Motion to nominate Rod Cole as chair of the School Committee (Alessandrini, Stewart). The motion passed 5-0. II. Call to Order and Welcome (Rod Cole) Motion to nominate Mary Ann Stewart as vice-chair of the School Committee (Coppe, Alessandrini). The motion passed 4-1 (Steigerwald). Jessie Steigerwald suggested that in the future discussions regarding the election of a new chair take place in public so as not to give the appearance of a conflict with the open meeting law. III. Public Comment Jim Baker (Homestead Street, Sports Director for LexMedia): I am distressed at the outrageous decision to not recommend for renewal the Lexington High School basketball coach, Bob Ferias. He has been there for four decades and is in the State Hall of Fame. He is an exceptional coach. IV. Superintendent’s Announcements Graduation was a wonderful event. I want to acknowledge the terrific work of the students who graduated. I also want to acknowledge the teachers, support staff and parents. SC Meeting 6/8/10 page # 2 V. Members’ Reports / Members’ Concerns Jessie Steigerwald: Thank you to Thomas Plati, Director of Director of Educational Technology and Assessment, for providing the information on Elmos and their distribution. I presented our new fundraising policy to the PTA presidents last week. We need to talk about individual schools and purchases of technology. Thomas Plati mentioned that he has apprised the principals of the current $2500 limit for purchases. The Committee discussed the purchase of technology for schools, the fundraising policy and what, if any, further direction to give to principals and PTAs. The Committee and the policy sub-committee will work together to clarify the boundaries regarding these issues. Margaret Coppe: The policy sub-committee has met several times. We have met with the Massachusetts Association of School Committees which has offered to go over our policy book with us and coordinate it with contracts and state and federal laws. It will probably take 18 months to finish the job. We need to decide which policies can and cannot wait that long. The cost is $10K and is payable over three years. The Committee will go forward with this. Margaret Coppe will attend the town’s training on the Open Meeting Law on June 24th. VI. Discussion 1. Recommendations Report of the Best Practices for School, Family, and Community Engagement Subcommittee. Presented by sub-committee chair Mary Ann Stewart and sub-committee member Sandro Alessandrini. The sub-committee identified research-based best practices for engagement in our schools. They thanked Paul Ash and Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance, Mary Ellen Dunn for their successful efforts to provide information on financial reporting and Equity and Excellence and for providing articles on school matters. 2. Final Report of the Mathematics Curriculum Review Committee. Presented by Carol Pilarski, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development and Thomas Plati, Director of Educational Technology and Assessment. Thanks to teachers, principals and department heads. Curriculum review is an ongoing process. Mr. Plati gave examples of several technology-based programs that are being used in Lexington schools. There were questions and comments from the Committee. SC Meeting 6/8/10 page # 3 3. Update: Year Three Science Curriculum Review. Presented by Fran Ludwig, Science Department Chair K-5; Rick Thibeault, Clarke Middle School Science Department Chair, Valerie Franks, Diamond Middle School Department Chair and Whitney Hagins, LHS Science Department Chair. There were comments and questions from the Committee. 4. Superintendent's Report on 2009-2010 System Goals. Presented by Paul Ash. A tremendous number of people are involved in the realization of these goals. This is only a portion of what gets accomplished in the school system. There was significant progress made on all of the 2009-2010 System Goals. There were questions and comments from the Committee. 5. Training for Newly Appointed Administrators. Presented by Carol Pilarski. Ms. Pilarski requests permission for any newly appointed administrator who has responsibility for supervision and evaluation to attend a training course on these topics sponsored by Ribas Associates. She is requesting this mindful of the fact that Dr. Ash previously severed his relationship with Ribas Associates in order to avoid any perceived conflict of interest. It is in her best professional opinion that it is in the best interests of the district for Ribas Associates to provide this training. There were no questions or comments on this presentation. VII. Action Items: 1. Vote to Approve Estabrook PTA Request to Purchase Tables and a Bench for the Estabrook Playground The Committee discussed the question of what the district pays for regarding playgrounds. Motion to approve Estabrook PTA request to purchase tables and a bench for the Estabrook playground (Coppe, Stewart). The motion passed 5-0. 2. Vote to Approve Changes to the Performing Arts Revolving Fund. Explained by Jeff Leonard, K-12 Performing Arts Coordinator. Motion to approve changes to the Performing Arts Revolving Fund (Steigerwald, Stewart). The motion passed 5-0. 3. Vote to Approve 2011-2012 School Calendar. Dr. Ash pointed out that the full day professional development will take place on the Friday before the Columbus Day weekend in both 2010 and 2011 to make a four-day weekend for families. Dr. Ash responded to questions that had been submitted by the public. There were additional comments and questions from the Committee. SC Meeting 6/8/10 page # 4 Motion to approve 2011-2012 School Calendar starting before Labor Day (Coppe, Stewart). The motion passed 3-2 (Cole, Steigerwald). Vote to Approve New Rates for Facility Rentals. Presented by Paul Ash. The rates need to reflect true cost of paying the custodians. 4. Motion to approve new rates for facility rentals (Alessandrini, Coppe). The motion passed 5-0. VIII. Motion to go into executive session for the purpose of collective bargaining (Coppe, Alessandrini). Steigerwald-aye; Coppe-aye; Stewart-aye; Alessandrini-aye and Cole-aye. The meeting went into Executive Session at 11:00 p.m.