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LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
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, and Noah Coolidge, Student
Representative
The minutes were taken by Jean Curran.
The Meeting Convened at 7:30 p.m.
I. Call to Order and Welcome
The Chair called the meeting to order and invited Public Comment.
There were no public comments.
II. Superintendent’s Announcements
Dr. Paul B. Ash announced that on the evening of February 16th, a concerned citizen
notified the school system that computers were left on at the Clarke Middle School. An
investigation was performed by Thomas Plati, Director of Educational Technology and
Assessment and Marianne McKenna, Director of Technology. They determined that
computers were left on in the library and in the computer labs. In an effort to address the
situation and prevent future occurrences, a review of LPS standard practice and
procedures were discussed with faculty and staff in all buildings. Mr. Plati takes this
situation seriously and will continue to monitor building situations regarding technology
energy consumption.
Mary Ann Stewart pointed out that Marianne McKenna routinely sends out reminders
that all computers need to be shut down. Principal Steve Flynn also reviewed these
procedures with his faculty and staff.
III. Members’ Reports/Members’ Concerns
Jessie Steigerwald announced that this Thursday at 9:00 a.m. the Ad Hoc School
Transportation and Safety Study Committee (STS) will be meeting at the Town Office
Building. Also, there will be School Site Council training on Thursday evening. Glenn
Koocher, Executive Director of Massachusetts Association of School Committees, will
be the featured speaker. She also updated the Committee on the Town’s 300th
celebrations noting that 5th graders will be participating in a mock Town Meeting to be
hosted by Town Meeting Members and the League of Woman Voters of Lexington. If
anyone is interested, please contact Barbara Manfredi.
Dr. Ash announced that he and Mary Ann Stewart will be attending the Massachusetts
School Building Authority Finance Meeting. This meeting will decide how much money
will be set aside for the Estabrook School. Dr. Ash plans on joining everyone at the Site
Council meeting afterwards.
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Margaret Coppe commented how years ago the League of Woman Voters held mock
Town Meetings. She was surprised to find out then that teachers were teaching students
about a city/Mayoral form of government instead of the BOS/Town Meeting form of
government and is glad that the many forms of government are being taught. She
recognized Robert Whitman, a strong supporter of Lexington Public Schools and
longtime Town Meeting Member who passed away over the weekend. She was also
saddened to learn of the school shooting in Ohio and finds it very distressing.
Bonnie Brodner announced that the Lexington Special Education Parent Advisory
Council (SEPAC) will be meeting on Thursday, at 7:30 p.m. at the Lexington High
School regarding post-secondary transition planning and ways to further education and
entering the work force. On April 5th from 3:30 -5:30 p.m. the SEPAC will present an
update on what the schools have been doing relative to recommendations outlined in the
independent report from the District Management Council (DMC). They will also seek
feedback and take suggestions.
Mary Ann Stewart was also very saddened to learn of the school shootings in Ohio and
her heart goes out to the community and those affected personally by this tragedy.
Unfortunately, no matter how hard communities prepare for and try to prevent these
situations, they can occur at any time or place. Lexington Public Schools have
emphasized relationships and pro-social behaviors that help children help each other and
help teachers get to know students better by focusing on activities and learning to engage,
support, and challenge students. The intent is to address the “whole child” and teach with
heart to foster a spirit of respect. She also announced that Bruce Wellman will be at the
School Committee meeting on March 13th to present his report. His report will be
presented to school staff on March 12th and she has asked Dr. Ash to have the report
posted on the LPS website to allow the community access before Tuesday’s meeting.
IV. Agenda
1. Vote to Approve a Contract Extension for the Period July 1, 2012, through
June 30, 2015, for Ms. Carol Pilarski, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum,
Instruction, and Professional Development
Dr. Ash stated that Massachusetts Statute requires a recommendation by the
Superintendent and the approval of the School Committee for any contract or extension
for the position of Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional
Development. He stated Ms. Pilarski has worked for more than 20 years in education and
curriculum and has done an exemplary job; she is a valued member of his team and
strongly recommends that the Committee approve her contract extension.
Motion, with enthusiasm, to Approve a Contract Extension for the Period
July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2015, for Ms. Carol Pilarski, Assistant
Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development.
(Steigerwald, Alessandrini) The Motion was approved (5-0).
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2. Vote to Approve Third Reading of the Head Injury Management Policy
Margaret Coppe, Chair of the School Committee’s Policy Subcommittee, noted changes
from the last meeting along with technical and grammatical corrections. There were
comments or questions from the Committee. Mary Ann Stewart extended her thanks to
Margaret Coppe, Jessie Steigerwald, and to all on the Policy Subcommittee for all of their
work to bring this policy forward in a timely manner.
Motion to Approve the Third Reading of the Head Injury Management
Policy. (Brodner, Alessandrini) The Motion was approved (5-0).
3. Vote to Accept a $1,501.00 Donation from Shire Human Genetic Therapies
Inc. to the 2012 LHS Science and Engineering Fair
Motion to Accept a $1,501.00 Donation from Shire Human Genetic Therapies
Inc. to the 2012 LHS Science and Engineering Fair with Gratitude.
(Steigerwald, Brodner) The Motion was approved (5-0).
4. Vote to Accept a $300.00 Donation from the Lexington Lions Club to the
2012 LHS Science and Engineering Fair.
Motion to Accept a $300.00 Donation from the Lexington Lions Club to the
2012 LHS Science and Engineering Fair with Gratitude. (Coppe, Steigerwald)
The Motion was approved (5-0).
5. Vote to Accept a $1,500.00 Donation from Roopom and Preeta Banerjee to
the 2012 LHS Science and Engineering Fair.
Motion to Accept a $300.00 Donation from the Lexington Lions Club to the
2012 LHS Science and Engineering Fair with Gratitude. (Brodner,
Alessandrini) The Motion was approved (5-0).
Margaret Coppe inquired about the total donations and total costs of the 2012
LHS Science and Engineering Fair. She would also like to know what is done
with left over monies. Dr. Ash stated that he would find out and report back to
the Committee.
6. Vote to Approve School Committee Executive Session Minutes of December
6, 2011
Motion to Approve School Committee Executive Session Minutes of
December 6, 2011. (Brodner, Coppe) The Motion was approved (5-0).
7. Vote to Approve School Committee Minutes of January 31, 2012
Motion to Approve School Committee of January 31, 2012 (Alessandrini,
Coppe) The Motion was approved (5-0).
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8. Vote to Approve School Committee Minutes of February 4, 2012
Motion to Approve School Committee of February 4, 2012, as amended
(Steigerwald, Brodner) The Motion was approved (5-0).
V. Executive Session
The following Motion was made by Mary Ann Stewart and seconded by Margaret
Coppe:
I move to go into Executive Session to discuss strategy with regard to
Collective Bargaining and that I as Chair declare that an open meeting may
have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the School Committee,
and that we will reconvene in Open Session only for the purpose of
adjourning.
The Motion was unanimously approved by a voice roll call vote:
Alessandro Alessandrini: aye;
Bonnie Brodner: aye;
Margaret Coppe: aye;
Jessie Steigerwald: aye;
Mary Ann Stewart: aye.
The Committee went into Executive Session at 8:05 p.m.
VI. Adjourn from Executive Session
Motion to Adjourn from Executive Session was made by Bonnie Brodner and
seconded by Jessie Steigerwald.
The Motion was unanimously approved by a voice roll call vote:
Alessandro Alessandrini: aye;
Bonnie Brodner: aye;
Margaret Coppe: aye;
Jessie Steigerwald: aye;
Mary Ann Stewart: aye.
The Meeting Adjourned at 11:29 p.m.
Documents: Meeting Agenda; Lexington School Committee Head Injury Management Policy
Third Reading; Email Donation to LHS 2012 Science and Engineering Fair from Shire Human
Genetic Therapies; LHS 2012 Science and Engineering Fair Sponsor Form from Lexington
Lions Club; Email Donation from Roopom and Preeta Banerjee to the LHS 2012 Science and
Engineering Fair; SC Minutes dated January 31, 2012; and SC Minutes dated February 4, 2012.
Voted by the School Committee March 13, 2012