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SC Meeting 11/16/10 page # 1
LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Global Ministries Church
670 Washington Street
Dorchester, MA
Present: Superintendent Paul Ash, School Committee Chair Rod Cole, School Committee
Members Sandro Alessandrini, Margaret Coppe, Jessie Steigerwald, Mary Ann Stewart and
student representative Noah Coolidge. Minutes were taken by Leora Tec.
The meeting was convened at 7:20 p.m.
I. Call to Order and Welcome (Rod Cole)
II. Superintendent’s Announcements
1. Superintendent Dr. Paul Ash welcomed the Boston parents who were present and gave a
brief history of Lexington’s involvement in the METCO program. He stressed the
importance of partnership for a good working relationship between parents and the school
system.
2. Hannah Cutler, a Clarke student wrote a commentary for the Minuteman about what
Rachel’s Challenge means to her.
3. Last week LPS was noted in the periodical Education Week citing our teacher professional
development program. LPS was selected to be the focus of this report. The article focused
on Jonas Clarke Middle School and Lexington High School. Thanks to all who served on
this committee.
III. Discussion Item
1. Update from Equity and Excellence Committee.
Introduced by Paul Ash. Presented by Vito LaMura, co-chair of the Equity and Excellence
(E&E) Committee. Mr. LaMura briefly introduced the original E&E report which he
prepared in 2008. The original committee was charged with developing and monitoring an
action plan to help close the achievement gap. In October 2008 seventeen LPS staff members
went to Montgomery County, MD to study a system that had had success in closing the
achievement gap. In May 2009 the action plan for E&E was presented to the School
Committee. Some significant parts of the plan are: professional learning communities
(PLCs); extended learning opportunities for students who need them; data driven instruction;
a tiered intervention strategy to address the needs of many different children; improved
communication between home and school, including an improved website and a mentoring
program to provide social and emotional support. Administrators developed implementation
and monitoring plans. Mr. La Mura presented some MCAS data. He encouraged parent
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involvement to facilitate accountability. He presented some of the highlights from the
progress reports.
There were comments and questions from the audience.
Mr. LaMura introduced Barbara Nobles, METCO Academic Director. She did a roll call—
asking people to stand according to their group affiliation. She stressed the importance of
working together as a community. She spoke about some of the programs that exist,
including the Freshman Achievers Club at LHS and MELP, the METCO Extended Learning
Program, which takes place on Thursday afternoons at the Central Office for elementary
students who need extra instruction. Ms. Nobles introduced Adrenna Antreasian, who is in
charge of the Freshman Achievers Club. She also introduced and thanked Dean Charlie
Caliri, the dean assigned to the METCO program, Bill Cole who oversees the METCO
Scholars Program and Principal Natalie Cohen who supports the entire METCO program.
There has been a significant improvement in attendance and punctuality among METCO
students. The PD program is excellent and we are looking forward to growing in areas of
cultural competence. The METCO program has experienced a serious budget cut and is
“downstaffed” as a result.
Dr. Ash and Ms. Nobles directed parents to the areas to meet with their school principals.
IV. Break-Out Sessions
1. With Individual School Principals and Staff. Parents met with their individual principals and
School Committee members in small groups.
V. Motion to adjourn (Stewart, Coppe). The motion passed 5-0.
The meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m.
Documents: Meeting Agenda; Equity and Excellence Committee Presentation Power Point.