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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-03-28-SC-min SC Meeting 3/28/11 page # 1 LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING Monday, March 28, 2011 Lexington Town Office Building, Room G-15 1625 Massachusetts Avenue Present: Superintendent Paul Ash, School Committee Chair Mary Ann Stewart, School Committee Members Sandro Alessandrini, Bonnie Brodner, Margaret Coppe and Jessie Steigerwald and student representative Noah Coolidge. The minutes were taken by Leora Tec. The meeting was convened at 6:45 PM. I. Call to Order and Welcome (Chair Mary Ann Stewart) Chair Stewart and several Committee members had just come downstairs from the Selectmen’s Meeting where Article 13a was discussed (concerning the Bridge and Bowman renovations). She stated that as much as the School Committee would like to see new buildings for those schools it is not feasible at present and there is no plan to do so in the near future. Ms. Stewart further reported that at the meeting Selectman Norm Cohen asked if the School Committee would consider an amendment that would include a plan for new schools. Jessie Steigerwald expressed concerns with the process were such an amendment to go forward. The School Committee worked very hard to come up with a plan for all nine schools. It does not make sense to begin the process all over again. Paul Ash referred to the broad-based committee, including citizens, that was charged with making a recommendation regarding a long-range school facilities plan. They unanimously recommended that Bridge and Bowman be renovated. The idea of again looking at replacement rather than renovation does not make sense. We spent years coming up with a ten-year Master Plan. The Board of Selectmen has not yet voted a position on Article 13a. II. Discussion 1. Town Meeting Articles. The Committee discussed an amendment being proposed under Article 4 by Patrick Mehr regarding formation of a study group to review the accuracy of fiscal impact projections including school enrollment, to analyze the methods used and propose improvements to the methodology in order to improve accuracy. Motion to oppose the proposed Article 4 amendment (Steigerwald, Brodner). The motion passed 5-0. SC Meeting 3/28/11 page # 2 Jessie Steigerwald will speak to the Committee’s position on the amendment at Town Meeting. Margaret Coppe: We had word that our bullying prevention and intervention plan was 100% accepted. Thank you to the Policy Sub-Committee and to Chris Greely, Assistant Director of Student Services who also chaired the Bullying Policy Sub-Committee and worked very hard with her committee on the back-up plan. The Committee discussed whether or not to take a stand on Article 17 regarding reducing the CPA surcharge from 3% to 1%. They will continue to discuss this next week. III. Action Items 1. Vote to Accept a $500 Donation from Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., to the 2011 LHS Science and Engineering Fair. Motion to accept with gratitude a $500 Donation from Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., to the 2011 LHS Science and Engineering Fair (Coppe, Alessandrini). The motion passed 5-0. IV. The meeting was recessed, to reconvene on the floor of Town Meeting.