HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-10-04-SC-min
LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Lexington Town Office Building, Selectmen’s Meeting Room
1625 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.
7:35 PM The Chair called the Meeting to order at 7:35 PM
Public Comment
Judy Crocker (Currier Ct), Safe Routes to School Coordinator, member Lexington
Sidewalk Committee, member Estabrook Task Force, and former PBC Liaison for the
Elementary School Capital Plan (Phase I), had suggestions with regard to planning
considerations for new school construction at Estabrook; Ms. Crocker provided written
comments to the Committee.
7:37 PM Superintendent’s Announcements:
Dr. Ash announced the flu clinic schedule for the Town of Lexington during the month
of October. The information will be posted on the LPS website.
7:43 PM Members’ Reports / Members’ Concerns:
Margaret Coppe: Ms. Coppe thanked Mary Ann Stewart for keeping School
Committee Minutes while the Committee has been without a Recording Secretary.
Kudos to Mr. Tom Plati, Director of Technology and Educational Assessment, and his
team for the new LPS website and new LPS server-based emails for Committee
members. A reminder that the Lexington League of Women Voters is hosting a First
Friday discussion at the Cary Library this Friday, the topic is “What Drives a School
Budget?” There will be a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Bowman School to officially
unveil several infrastructure projects funded and completed by Massachusetts
Department of Transportation using funds from the federal Safe Routes to School
program.
Noah Coolidge updated everyone about the Volley for Molly event; the volleyball
match raises awareness and funds for ovarian cancer.
Jessie Steigerwald attended the EDCO Legislative Forum on technology;
Representative Jay R. Kaufman was also in attendance.
7:55 PM Agenda:
The Committee took up two Action Items first:
Motion: To hire Ms. Jean Curran as School Committee Recording Secretary
(Coppe, Brodner). The Motion was approved (5-0).
Motion: To Request the Board of Selectmen call a Special Town Meeting to
appropriate funds for the Bridge and Bowman renovation projects
(Steigerwald, Alessandrini). The Motion was approved (5-0).
The Committee invited Mr. Lyle Kirtman, President and CEO of Future Management
Systems, Inc, to facilitate two discussion items: School Committee Goals and Agenda
Structure. These two topics were identified during the Committee’s summer retreat,
also facilitated by Mr. Kirtman, where it was determined that any deliberation about
them needed to occur during a lawfully convened Committee meeting. Mr. Kirtman
synthesized the goals the Committee had brainstormed during their retreat. There were
questions and comments from members of the Committee. Discussion on these items
will carry forward to a future School Committee Agenda.
9:55 PM Motion: To accept, with gratitude, a $2,400 donation from the Lexington
High School Class of 1961 to be used for signage and way-finding at LHS
(Steigerwald, Alessandrini). The Motion was approved (5-0).
Motion: To approve School Committee Minutes of September 20, 2011
(Coppe, Alessandrini). The Motion was approved (5-0).
Motion: To approve and release School Committee Executive Session
Minutes of September 20, 2011 (Steigerwald, Brodner). The Motion was
approved (5-0).
Motion: To adjourn (Coppe, Alessandrini). The Motion was approved (5-0).
The meeting adjourned at 9:58 PM.
Documents: Handout from Judy Crocker; Agenda; School Committee Goals for 2009-2010; School
Committee Operating Norms; eMail from Lyle Kirtman with 5 synthesized School Committee Goals;
Blank Agenda page; Cover Letter from Jean M. Curran; Resume of Jean M. Curran; eMail request
from Natalie Cohen, LHS Principal; School Committee Minutes of September 20, 2011; School
Committee Executive Session Minutes of September 20, 2011.
Voted by the School Committee October 11, 2011_____