The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2011-09-20-SC-min LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING Tuesday, September 20, 2011 Cary Hall Auditorium 1605 Massachusetts Avenue Present were: Dr. Paul Ash, Superintendent of Schools; Mary Ann Stewart, Chair; Alessandro Alessandrini, Vice-Chair; Margaret Coppe; Jessie Steigerwald; Bonnie Brodner; and Noah Coolidge, Student Representative. The Minutes were taken by the Chair. 7:34 p.m. The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m. The following people had Public Comment: Joe Pato (Massachusetts Avenue) had comments with regard to a School Committee Policy concerning distribution of information to families. Harvy Simkovits (Angier Road) presented written comments and expressed his concerns with regard to the process to address professional relationships. Susan Kenyon (Parker Street), representing Supporters of Excellence in Lexington Education presented written comments in lieu of oral comments concerning teacher morale. Andrei Radelescu-Banu (Cedar Street) expressed his views with regard to restoring elementary foreign languages in the FY13 Budget; he presented a handout as well. At this, point the ten-minute period for Public Comment had expired. With two people standing at the microphone, the Chair asked the Committee if they wished to hear their comments; the Committee indicated that they did. Meredith Canavan and Joseph McCallion (Lowell Street) presented their written comments and spoke to a concern with regard to grade retention and promotion. 7:50 p.m. Superintendent’s Announcements Dr. Ash updated the Committee with regard to: Lexington’s impressive MCAS scores; a ceremony that recognized LPS Teachers attaining Professional Teacher Status; and a recent meeting of Site Council Co-Chairs. 8:00 p.m. Members’ Reports / Members’ Concerns: Mary Ann Stewart updated the Committee with regard to a meeting she had with the independent consultant, Mr. Bruce Wellman, of MiraVia LLC, whom she introduced. Mr. Wellman shared some perspective about the work to date. There was a brief period for comments and questions from the Committee. 2 Jessie Steigerwald shared compliments she has heard concerning reducing the elementary instrumental music fee. She announced the Lexington Education Foundation (LEF) Trivia Bee will be Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 7:00 PM in Cary Hall Auditorium. Ms Steigerwald thanked Ms. Carol Pilarski, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development, Dr. Ash, and Ms. Jane Hundley, for their work to date; LEF provided a “Then and Now” grant which has supported curriculum and professional development leading to social studies lesson plans connected with the Town’s 300th Celebration in 2013. 8:15 p.m. Agenda: Mary Ann Stewart introduced Margaret Coppe, Chair of the School Committee’s Policy Sub-Committee, who presented the First Reading of the Security Camera Policy (new policy). There were comments and questions from the Committee. Ms. Coppe went on to present the First Reading of the newly revised Life Threatening Allergies Policy. There were questions and comments from the Committee. 8:40 p.m. Dr. Ash introduced the FY13 Budget Guidelines and Timetable. The objective is to initiate planning and understand the timetable. Following deliberations Ms. Steigerwald moved and Ms. Brodner seconded: “To amend the FY13 Budget Guidelines to reduce and/or eliminate fees where possible and incorporate technology where possible”. The motion was approved (5-0). 8:55 p.m. Dr. Ash introduced Mr. Ed Kazanjian who advised the administration with regard to determining educational specifications to fulfill the educational program in the new Estabrook Elementary School. There were questions and comments from the Committee. 9:25 p.m. Mr. Jon Himmel, Chair of the Permanent Building Committee (PBC), presented a project timeline and final estimate of the Bridge/Bowman Renovation Projects reflecting adjustments to scope that the School Committee had requested at its August 23, 2011 meeting. The revised estimate is just over 22 million dollars, including contingencies. Mr. Himmel outlined the process for crafting compliant Chapter 149 bid alternate strategy, which provides the Town some latitude should the bid market not be as estimated. He recommended that PBC provide the recommendations with regard to bid strategy. Following deliberations Ms. Steigerwald moved and Ms. Coppe seconded: “That the Permanent Building Committee provide recommendations with regard to bid strategy for the Bridge and Bowman Elementary School Renovations Projects.” The motion was approved (5-0). 9:55 p.m. Dr. Ash introduced Ms. Carol Pilarski, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development, to present the report on Summer Curriculum Work and Professional Development. There were questions and comments from the Committee. 3 10:05 p.m. Dr. Ash introduced Mr. Robert Harris, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources. Mr. Harris provided a report on personnel and programs. Teacher turnover is the lowest it has been in five years. Mr. Nish Dagley gave a brief update on teacher mentoring. In collaboration with Craig Hall, Director of Lexington Community Education, LPS will begin a new Wellness program that is free to all employees. 10:25 p.m. Motion: To appoint Margaret Coppe as Official Voting Delegate and appoint Mary Ann Stewart Alternate Voting Delegate to the MASC Annual Business Meeting on Friday, November 11, 2011 (Brodner, Steigerwald). The motion was approved (5-0). Motion: To Accept, with gratitude, a $300 Donation to Bridge School from the Kim family (Coppe, Steigerwald). The motion was approved (5-0). Motion: To Accept a Donation to Hastings School from Stop and Shop’s A+ Program in the Amount of $1,409.41 (Steigerwald, Brodner). The motion was approved (5-0). Motion: To approve School Committee Minutes of September 6, 2011 (Steigerwald, Brodner). The motion was approved (5-0). Motion: To Approve and Release School Committee Executive Session Minutes of September 6, 2011 (Steigerwald, Coppe). The motion was approved (5-0). Motion: To go into Executive Session under exemption #3 for purposes of Collective Bargaining with the Lexington Education Association and Lexington Education Secretaries Association not to return to Open Session (Coppe, Steigerwald). Alessandrini-aye; Coppe-aye; Steigerwald-aye; Brodner-aye; and Stewart-aye. The Committee went into Executive Session at 10:33 p.m. Documents: Agenda, Letter from Steering Committee to School Committee; First Reading/Security Camera Policy (new); First Reading/Life Threatening Allergies Policy (revised); Approved Life Threatening Allergies Policy Dated June 21, 2005; LPS Recommended FY13 Budget Guidelines; LPS SY13 Budget Calendar; Kazanjian Draft/Estabrook Educational Specifications; Estabrook Elementary School Project Schedule (through schematic design); LPS Bridge and Bowman Design Development Estimate (reflecting scope adjustments from 8/23/2011 SC meeting); Bridge and Bowman Project Schedule; Summer Workshop Report; LPS/Data Teams Summit June 27-28, 2011; Professional Development Summer Workshops; Professional Development Summer 2011 Course Offerings; LPS/Human Resources Personnel & Program Updates; LCE Wellness Brochure for employees; PBC Motion regarding Bridge/Bowman Project (voted September 15, 2011); Letter to the Lexington School Committee from Harvy Simkovits; Letter to the School Committee from Susan Kenyon; Foreign Languages for Lexington Elementary Schools from Andrei Radulescu-Banu; eMail communiqué from Meredith Canavan and Joseph McCallion. Voted by the School Committee October 4, 2011_____