HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-11-08-SC-min
LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Lexington Town Office Building, Selectmen’s Meeting Room
1625 Massachusetts Avenue
Present: Dr. Paul B. Ash, Superintendent; Mary Ann Stewart, School Committee Chair;
Alessandro Alessandrini, Vice-Chair; School Committee Members Bonnie Brodner,
Margaret Coppe, and Jessie Steigerwald
Absent: Noah Coolidge, Student Representative
The minutes were taken by Jean Curran.
7:30 p.m. The Chair called the meeting to order and invited Public Comment
Andrei Radulescu-Banu, (Cedar Street), had questions with regard to Lexington High School Debate
Team funding.
7:34 p.m. Superintendent’s Announcements:
Dr. Ash received a call from the College Board informing him that Lexington High School was
selected for the College Board’s 2nd Annual AP® District Honor Roll for significant gains in
Advanced Placement® access and student performance. There were 367 districts across the nation
that were honored, based on meeting all three of the following criteria: the number of AP tests (LHS-
741), the percentage of students scoring 3 or above (LHS=92%), and a steady increase in the
percentage of exams taken by African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaska
Native students. Also, he reported that for the 5th year in a row, Lexington students had the highest
SAT scores. He congratulated the Teachers, Students and Administrators for a job well done.
Dr. Ash reported that ten members of the Steering Committee voted unanimously not to extend an
invitation to retired and former principals for their input on Improving Professional Relationships.
The Steering Committee felt that this is an internal matter and they would like to continue this as
independently as possible.
7:39 p.m. Members’ Reports / Members’ Concerns:
Jessie Steigerwald encouraged everyone to attend the Veteran’s Day celebration being held in Town.
Jessie also encouraged attendance at the Trivia Bee being held in Cary Hall on Wednesday night.
Bonnie Brodner, Committee Liaison to Lexington’s Human Relations Committee (HRC) commented
on the success of the Lexington Human Rights presentation held on November 6th. She thanked the
Lexington Historical Society for arranging the event.
Margaret Coppe asked Dr. Ash where the next meeting of the Committee would be held. Dr. Ash
will post November 15th meeting information and presentation materials onto the School’s Website.
A Global Connect email would also be sent out explaining how to access the materials on the
Estabrook School project.
Clarke Middle School Field Trip to Quebec City, Canada, June 6, 2012
Clarke Middle School Principal, Dr. Stephen Flynn presented the proposal for the Clarke Middle
School Field Trip to Quebec, Canada, in June 2012. There were questions and comments from the
Committee.
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Motion to approve Clarke Middle School Field Trip to Quebec, Canada, June 6 through
June 8, 2012. (Steigerwald, Alessandrini). The Motion passed 5-0.
Update on the Estabrook School Construction Access Road
Dr. Ash proposed that the Committee endorse Option 5A, the Estabrook Task Force’s recommended
three-lane plan, which would utilize Grove Street for ingress and egress to the property and utilize
Robinson Road for emergency vehicles only. Busing issues were also discussed. There were
questions and comments from the Committee.
Motion to go forward with Option 5A at Estabrook for construction purposes
(Alessandrini, Coppe). The Motion passed 5-0.
Cost of the Bridge/Bowman Projects
Jon Himmel of the Permanent Building Committee (PBC) discussed the MSBA reimbursement
requirements and provided a brief review of the Bridge and Bowman School projects. Dr. Ash
recommends an appropriation of $21,670,000 by Town Meeting to renovate the Bridge and Bowman
Schools. There were questions and comments from the Committee.
Motion that the Committee request $21,670,000 for Bridge and Bowman Schools’
renovation costs. (Brodner, Steigerwald). The Motion passed 5-0.
Fiscal Year 2012 First Quarter Financial Report
Mary Ellen Dunn, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Operations presented the first
quarter financial results. She explained the state special education reimbursement program
(commonly known as circuit breaker), lab credits, in-district and out-of-district reimbursements and
the option for utilizing the LABBB credit now or later.
2011 MCAS Report
Thomas Plati, Director of Education Technology and Assessment presented the 2011 MCAS result
and the new ways the public can access MCAS information. He also discussed data warehousing and
provided a Data Team Summit update. There were questions and comments from the Committee.
Lexington High School Wind Ensemble Trip to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, March15, 2012
Lexington High School Music Coordinator Jeffrey Paul Leonard presented their proposal for the High
School Field Trip to Montreal, Canada in March, 2012. He thanked the students for organizing this
event. There were questions and comments from the Committee.
Motion to Approve Lexington High School Wind Ensemble Field Trip to Montréal,
Quebec, Canada, March 15 through March 18, 2012. (Steigerwald, Brodner). The
Motion passed 5-0.
Technology Report on Fiscal Year 2013 Capital
Mr. Plati discussed computers for students and teachers, network equipment, installation of wireless
networks, iPads and interactive whiteboards. He presented a slideshow demonstrating how
technology is being used throughout the entire school system and the benefits students are showing as
a result. Linda Chase, Director of Student Services explained how iPads are being used for students
with special needs in the elementary schools. Mr. Plati explained that the Town is spending well
below what other surrounding communities are doing in terms of technology. He proposes to the
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Committee that they use the surplus of money to fund the purchase of laptop computers for teachers.
There were questions and comments from the Committee.
Motion to transfer $87,380.00 for the purchase of laptop computers per Mr. Plati’s
response to be reflected on the Second Quarterly Report. (Coppe, Alessandrini). The
Motion passed 5-0.
Second Reading of the Use of Drugs and Alcohol on School Property Policy.
Margaret Coppe, Chair of the School Committee Policy Subcommittee, presented a Second Reading
of the Use of Drugs and Alcohol on School Property Policy noting no corrections from the First
Reading.
Motion to Approve Second Reading of Use of Drugs and Alcohol on School
Property Policy. (Alessandrini, Brodner). The Motion passed 5-0.
Third Reading of Security Camera Policy.
Margaret Coppe presented the Third Reading of the Policy noting there were no changes from the
Second Reading.
Motion to Approve Third Reading of Security Camera Policy. (Brodner, Alessandrini).
The Motion passed 5-0.
School Committee Minutes of October 25, 2011
Motion to approve the School Committee Minutes of the meeting dated October 25,
2011.(Steigerwald, Alessandrini). The Motion passed 5-0.
Motion to Adjourn the School Committee Meeting. (Steigerwald, Alessandrini).
The Motion passed 5-0.
The meeting adjourned at 10:23 PM.
Documents: Meeting Agenda; Memorandum from Dr. Ash to the School Committee re Agenda
Overview; LPS Notice re Lexington School District Placed on College Board’s 2nd Annual AP
District Honor Roll for Significant Gains in Advanced Placement Access and Student Performance;
Memorandum from Steering Committee on Improving Professional Relationships to the Lexington
School Committee; LPS Field Trip Request Form from Jonas Clark Middle School, Jumpstreet Tours,
Inc. Itinerary, and Letter from March Ltd. Re Jumpstreet travel insurance coverage; LPS Field Trip
Request Form and Letter from Music Celebrations International, L.L.C. to Jeffrey Leonard attaching
Itinerary for music trip; DiNisco Design Partnership Construction Access – Option 5; Memo from
Thomas Plati, Director of Educational Technology & Assessment to Dr. Paul Ash re 2011 MCAS
Analysis and Attachments; Use of Drugs and Alcohol on School Premises Policy(Second Reading);
Security Camera Policy (Second Reading); and October 25, 2011 School Committee Meeting Minutes
Voted by the School Committee December 6, 2011