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LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Lexington Town Office Building, Selectmen’s Meeting Room
1625 Massachusetts Avenue
Present: Dr. Paul B. Ash, Superintendent; Margaret Coppe, School Committee Chair;
Alessandro Alessandrini, Vice-Chair; School Committee Members Bonnie Brodner, Mary
Ann Stewart, and Jessie Steigerwald, and Noah Coolidge, Student Representative
The minutes were taken by Jean Curran, School Committee Secretary
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. Ash announced that Anna Monaco will be the new principal of Clarke Middle School
beginning on July 1, 2012 and thanked Dr. Flynn for his work at Clarke.
Dr. Ash provided an update on the new program entitled “Today’s Students /
Tomorrow’s Teachers.” There is funding that will allow four African American high
school freshman to participate in a program that tries to recruit ethnically and
economically diverse students to become teachers, by giving them exposure to and
preparation for the field, helps them get into college and in many cases qualifies them for
tuition discounts. There will be an open house this Thursday in the Library Media Center
from 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Dr. Ash would like to put this item on the agenda for next
Fall so the Committee can meet and listen to the students and advisor’s experience.
Dr. Ash announced that the Director of Special Education search did not produce the
right candidate for Lexington. Dr. Ash believes that leaving this position unfilled is
better than hiring the wrong person. Diane Pelletier, a candidate for Interim Director of
Special Education will be visiting the schools and meeting with faculty, staff and parents.
If this process yields strong support he will be making a recommendation next Tuesday
for appointment. He will then come back with steps for next year.
III. Members’ Reports / Members’ Concerns:
Mary Ann Stewart announced what a pleasure it was for the High School
Commencement and congratulated Noah Coolidge and all the 2012 graduates and
thought it was a wonderful experience. She also wanted to know from Dr. Ash if there
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was a Committee meeting next Tuesday, if he would provide a short update on school bus
registration signup.
Jessie Steigerwald congratulated all the a capella singers at the spring jam and thought
they were all amazing singers.
Alessandro Alessandrini congratulated all high school seniors on their graduation. He
then presented Noah Coolidge with a gift from the Committee.
Margaret Coppe reminded everyone that bus sign up for next year is going on now until
June 15th. Signing up now guarantees a seat on the bus and after that it is on a seat by
seat basis. If anyone has questions, please call the business office. She encouraged
everyone to sign up for the bus.
IV. Agenda
1. Vote to Approve 2012-2013 Clarke Middle School Grade 8 Spanish
Field Trip to La Guácima de Alajuela, Costa Rica, March 7-16, 2013
Dr. Steven Flynn, Principal Clarke Middle School presented next year’s 8th grade Spanish
Field Trip for students to travel to Costa Rica for approximately thirty students and three
chaperones. There were questions and comments from the Committee regarding
financing, donations, financial aid, and host families.
Motion to Approve 2012-2013 Clarke Middle Schools Grade 8 Spanish Field
Trip to La Guacima de Alajuela, Costa Rica, March 7-16, 2013. (Stewart,
Brodner). The Motion was approved (4-1, Steigerwald opposed)
2. Discussion of 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 School Improvement Plans
Dr. Ash invited all principals to come forward and explained why these plans are so
important as it looks at how they can build a more effective school. He wants school
goals to align with district wide goals. If teachers look at student performance and work,
use that information in real time to modify their instruction more, then students will
achieve at a higher level. He stated that this really reflects what they are trying to do at
the district level and believes that it will be a long lasting goal. Increasing student pro-
social behavior and resiliency, and reducing sources of unhealthy student stress will
improve student academic performance and well-being. He believes the schools are more
intentional about what healthy behavior looks like. The Committee posed questions to
the principals regarding pro-social goals and how the schools address the individual
needs of children, technology in the classroom, school facilities, the iPad project, capital
budget needs, SPED staffing, and ECOVE software. The principals spoke about their
individual schools and what steps would be taken to monitor and assess goals. The
Committee also inquired about each principal’s work with site councils.
Thomas Plati, Director of Education Technology and Assessment, addressed the
Committee on school and district websites as well as the need for more trainers to assist
the teachers in technology training.
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3. Report on Improving Professional Relationships
Dr. Ash presented the Report on Improving Professional Relationships PowerPoint
presentation to the Committee. He thanked Phyllis Neufeld, teachers, and staff on
thinking of ways to create a better school system. His presentation discussed what needs
to be done to build positive relationships and went over the LPS core purposes (i)
academic excellence, (ii) create a caring and respectful environment and (iii)
continuously improve the school district. This happens because we hire fabulous faculty
and staff, performing and working together and promoting the students’ pro-social goals
and helping teachers be the most effective teachers. Culture should be respectful, safe,
supported, innovative, and continually building improvement for professional learning.
Mr. Wellman’s report cited multiple causal factors for influencing morale (external –
economic, policy, policy pressures; internal (district history, personnel changes, shifting
goals, changes in working relationships). Dr. Ash shifted his remarks from the Wellman
report to what they are doing within the District. The report cited three themes (i) culture
of high expectations, (ii) collaboration for success and (iii) leadership capacities. His
handout tonight, which he believes should be the focus over the next year, will be
available online.
Dr. Ash then presented the next steps which included (i) Steering Committee (LEA &
Administration), (ii) district focus, and (iii) school focus. The district level includes (i)
clarify the district vision, (ii) prioritize projects (concepts known as fragmentation and
initiative fatigue) what do we really want to focus on to increase morale and
effectiveness; too many initiatives create frustration leading to low morale, (iii) clarify
key terms (be clearer about what we mean), (iv) improve K-12 Meetings (i.e., special
education), (v) enhance skills to mange difficult conversations, (vi) expand leadership
skills for all staff members. Professional development programs to include (i) expanding
leadership training for existing leaders, (ii) emerging leaders, (iii) and teacher leaders
without a formal role. He believes that this will take time to implement and is willing to
take the time to develop these skills.
At the district level Dr. Ash intends to (i) increase visibility by K-12 administrators, (ii)
improve K-12 special education meetings, (iii) clarify the district’s long-range vision and
leverage short-term goals consistent with long range planning, and (iv) model caring and
respectful relationships at all times Everyone must respectful.
At the school level Dr. Ash would like to see (i) communication (open and honest,
increased listening, refining work with difficult conversations/managing conflict), (ii)
celebration (ways that people can be seen and recognized) this is very important for
teachers, (iii) concentration (prioritize high leverage goals), (iv) clarification (what is
mandatory versus voluntary time, roles/responsibilities, decision-making processes, key
terms), (v) climate (caring and respectful relationships), and (vi) continuous improvement
(a culture reflection, conversation and collaboration). This also means change which can
be a problem if it is not stated clearly, managed and implemented.
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The next steps include school level – priorities, sufficient time and resources, building
trust in a caring atmosphere, increase opportunities for meaningful involvement through
improved communication, clarify roles, responsibilities, and decision-making. He is
looking forward to this summer with the LEA and Committee and working with
principals next year to develop action steps and periodic sharing with the Committee.
There were questions and comments from the Committee regarding next steps, training
and collaboration.
4. Superintendent’s Evaluation by School Committee Members
The Chair gave a brief overview of the evaluation process, which included public
comment, survey, self-evaluation by Dr. Ash as well as individual evaluations by the
members of the Committee. Each member orally presented their evaluation to Dr. Ash.
The Chair agreed to combine the evaluations into one document for the public record.
Committee members had until Friday to submit their evaluations to the Chair for
inclusion.
5. Vote to Approve Recommended 2013-2014 School Calendar
Motion to Approve Recommended 2013-2014 School Calendar (Brodner,
Alessandrini) The Motion passed (5-0).
Carol Pilarski addressed the Committee regarding shading of extra days in June on the
school calendar and will look into updating those days throughout the year as snow days
are used.
6. Vote to Approve Recommended Contract for Food Services
Dr. Ash and Mary Ellen Dunn, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Business
addressed the Committee regarding new food service regulations and introduced
Whitsons Culinary Group, the recommended new food service provider for the Lexington
Public Schools, the current process for finding a new service provider and community
expectations. There were questions and comments from the Committee regarding the
new contract, cafeteria staff, vending machines and nutrition education.
Motion: Whitsons Culinary Group is awarded a five-year Food Service
Management Company contract pending successful execution of contract
documents with the Department of Secondary and Elementary Education,
the district and the Food Service Management Company (FSMC). (Stewart,
Steigerwald). The Motion passed (5-0).
7. Vote to Accept an $845 Donation from a Wilson Farms’ Shop at Wilson
Farms School Fundraiser to Lexington High School
Motion to Accept, with gratitude, an $845 Donation from a Wilson Farms’
Shop at Wilson Farms School Fundraiser to Lexington High School.
(Steigerwald, Brodner) The Motion was approved (5-0).
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Motion to Adjourn. (Stewart, Alessandrini). The motion passed (5-0).
The meeting adjourned at 10:52 p.m.
Documents: Meeting Agenda; Lexington Public Schools Field Trip Request Form from Grade 8
Spanish at Jonas Clarke Middle School for trip to La Guacima de Alajuela, Costa Rica March
7th – 16th, 2013; 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 School Improvement Plans; PowerPoint Slides on
Improving Professional Relationships; 2013-2014 Lexington Public School Calendar;
Memorandum from Mary Ellen Dunn to Dr. Paul Ash dated May 31, 2012 regarding Required
Action for School Food Authorities (SFAs) Contracting with a Food Service Management
Company (FSMC) – Award for Five Year Contract; Letter from Natalie K. Cohen, Principal
Lexington High School dated May 18, 2012 to Dr. Paul Ash regarding donation from Wilson
Farm.
Voted by the School Committee July 17, 2012