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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-02-08-SC-min SC Meeting 2/8/11 page # 1 LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING Tuesday, February 8, 2011 Cary Hall Auditorium 1605 Massachusetts Avenue 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 7:09 p.m. I. Call to Order and Welcome (Rod Cole) II. Superintendent’s Announcements 1. I received a call from Diane Sullivan, an administrator for the MSBA yesterday. The Executive Director of MSBA, Katherine Craven will be recommending to the Board tomorrow a favorable recommendation on the Emergency SOI for building a new Estabrook School. Thus subject to the approval of the voters we will have a partnership with the state to build a new Estabrook School. I look for to working with town boards and residents in this endeavor. Rod Cole: This is a good time to thank people whose hard work on the Estabrook situation helped make this happen. Thank you to: Dr. Ash, Estabrook Principal Sandra Trach, Director of Public Facilities Pat Goddard, the parents on the advisory committee at Estabrook, Town Meeting and The Board of Selectmen. III. Discussion Items 1. FY 12 Budget a. Review of the Pre-K-12 Student Services Budget. Introduced by Dr. Paul Ash. Dr. Ash pointed out the student services administrators, who were all present. Linda Chase, Director of Student Services gave a brief presentation of the highlights of the Student Services Department. There were comments and questions from the Committee. b. Other Budget Items There were questions and comments from the Committee on several topics including: The Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Teachers Program; shared positions; the position of data coordinator at LHS; stabilization funds and professional development. SC Meeting 2/8/11 page # 2 IV. Action Items 1. Draft Medication Policy – First Reading. Presented by Margaret Coppe. What we had previously included procedures as well as a policy, so we have streamlined it to be only a policy. Ms. Coppe proposed three changes to the draft document: 1). In line 37, remove the words “for the use in children;” 2). At the top of the page change “Page 1 of 2,” to “Page 1 of 1;” and 3). Change the date of the first reading to Feb. 8th 2011. Discussion included, inter alia: the possibility of dispensing with third readings as a rule; a question as to why epinephrine was the only drug singled out by name and an inquiry as to whether particular drugs in certain situations may be given without the written permission of the child’s PCP. Motion to approve the first reading of the draft medication policy (Coppe, Alessandrini) The motion passed 5-0. Dawn McKenna (precinct 6): Expressed concern with the idea of dispensing with the third reading as a rule. 2. Vote to Approve School Committee Norms. Introduced by Rod Cole. The norms focus on how the School Committee members work together. They also address some issues of how the School Committee works with the public, for example the School Committee does not immediately address issues that are brought to them during Public Comment. Amendments to the norms: 1). Move the note from the footer regarding the School Committee oversight of the budget and Superintendent to the first paragraph; 2). In the second paragraph replace the word Board with the words School Committee. Motion to approve the School Committee norms as amended (Steigerwald, Stewart). The motion passed passed 5-0. 3. Vote to Accept a $300.00 Donation to the Lexington High School Science Fair from Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Motion to accept with gratitude a $300.00 donation to the Lexington High School Science Fair from Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Stewart, Alessandrini). The motion passed 5-0. Rod Cole: Jessie Steigerwald put together a 360 evaluation document for the superintendent’s evaluation which was very helpful. Thanks to all who responded. It is very useful in our work in evaluating the superintendent. The Committee agreed to meet at 7:00 p.m. on February 15. V. Motion to adjourn (Stewart, Alessandrini). The motion passed 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:44 p.m. SC Meeting 2/8/11 page # 3 Documents: School Committee Meeting Agenda; Lexington Public Schools FY 12 Budget Gap Summary; Medication Policy Draft, First Reading, Proposed Policy; Medication Policy, Current Policy; Operating Norms for the Lexington School Committee—Draft, September 7, 2010; letter from Cubist Pharmaceuticals to the Lexington School Committee and the Lexington High School Science Department, re: $300 donation to the 2011 Science and Engineering Fair.