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LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Monday, March 18, 2013
Cary Memorial Building, Estabrook Room
1605 Massachusetts Avenue
Present: Dr. Paul Ash, Superintendent, Margaret Coppe, School Committee Chair;
Alessandro Alessandrini, Vice Chair; Members Bonnie Brodner, Jessie Steigerwald and
Mary Ann Stewart; and Sam Alpert, Student Representative
The Meeting Minutes were taken by Jean Curran, Recording Secretary
The Meeting convened at 6:35 p.m.
I. Call to Order
The Chair called the meeting to order and invited public comment.
There were no public comments.
II. Member’s Report/Members’ Concerns
Mary Ann Stewart congratulated Jessie Steigerwald on all the work that had been done
for Incorporation Weekend. Ms. Stewart announced that she missed last week’s meeting
because she was in Washington DC attending National PTA’s Annual Legislative
Conference and met with the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation on public policies
regarding reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act/No Child Left
Behind, support for students in special education and discussion on school safety and
security measures.
Jessie Steigerwald thanked all the teachers involved in Incorporation Weekend for
helping with student’s work K-5 Social Studies which is on display in the High School
Media Room and the 8th grader mock town meeting. She wants to arrange to show the
K-5 Social Studies work in the lobby of Cary Hall prior to Town Meeting. Ms.
Steigerwald announced the Master Planning Committee will meet on Wednesday. Ms.
Steigerwald also asked the Chair if she would share the student letters received by her.
Dr. Ash stated that he fully supports Ms. Steigerwald’s suggestion for showing student
work and will work with Carol Pilarski, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum,
Instruction and Professional Development to arrange the showing if the Moderator will
allow them to do that.
Margaret Coppe shared that Robert Harris, Assistant Superintendent is looking for
confirmation on who will be the School Committee Liaison with respect to Collective
Bargaining for the four upcoming contract negotiations. Ms. Brodner will be the Liaison
to the Association of Lexington Administrators (ALA) and the Lexington Education
Association Technology Unit. Ms. Steigerwald will be the Liaison to the Lexington
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Education Secretaries Association (LEA-Unit D). Ms. Coppe will be the Liaison to the
Lexington Education Association (LEA Unit C).
III. Agenda
1. Discussion of the Superintendent Evaluation Process
Margaret Coppe shared that Dr. Ash’s Evaluation is contractually to be completed
in March. Ms. Coppe met with Ms. Stewart and they both reviewed last year’s
procedures. The packets to the Committee are what Ms. Coppe proposes to use
for the Evaluation. Ms. Coppe asked members if two to three weeks from March
18 to complete the Evaluation would be acceptable. There were questions and
comments from the Committee regarding a limited 360 survey being sent to
PTAs, Site Councils, Principals, and Town Administrators. Discussion included
(i) sending the survey out this week and providing those taking the survey ten (10)
days to complete the survey; (ii) posting the survey on the community link and on
Global Connect; (iii) breaking down the data from the survey from each
individual group responding; and (iv) confidentiality of those taking the survey;
and (v) providing room for comments on survey.
Margaret Coppe suggested April 12, 2013 for members to send their evaluations
to her. Ms. Coppe will send out the survey this week. Public comments to the
Committee will be due by April 5, 2013.
Ms. Coppe also announced that Massachusetts Association of School Committees
(MASC) will be holding a training session for Committee members on the new
evaluation procedures the state is requiring.
2. Superintendent’s Recommendation to Appoint Ellen M. Sugita as the
Director of Special Education, Effective July 1, 2013
Dr. Ash recommended the Committee appoint Ellen M. Sugita as the Director of
Special Education, effective July 1, 2013. There were questions and comments
from the Committee.
Motion to Appoint Ellen M. Sugita as the Director of Special
Education (Alessandrini, Stewart) The Motion was Approved (5-0)
3. Discussion of Town Meeting Articles
The Committee discussed the following Town Meeting Articles:
Article 2 - Land Purchase
Article 4 – Budget
Article 8 - CPA projects having school interest
Article 8(N) – system to connect pathway on safe routes to school
Article 9 - Lincoln Park improvements
Article 13 - school project
Articles 14 Finance for Schools
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Article 2 Special Town Meeting
This is an article to approve the purchase of the Marrett Road property by the
town. Ms. Brodner will speak on this Article.
Motion to Support Article 2 of Special Town Meeting (Brodner,
Steigerwald) The Motion was Approved (5-0)
3. Vote to Accept a $1,502 Donation from Shire Human Genetic Therapies Inc.
in Support of the 2013 LHS Science and Engineering Fair
Motion to Accept with Gratitude, a $1,502 Donation from Shire
Human Genetic Therapies Inc. in Support of the 2013 LHS Science
and Engineering Fair (Stewart, Steigerwald) The Motion was
Approved (5-0)
4. Vote to Accept a $10,000 School Award and a $5,000 Educator Independent
Study Award from Genzyme Corporation to the LHS Science and
Engineering Fair
Motion to Accept with Gratitude, a $10,000 School Award and a
$5,000 Educator Independent Study Award from Genzyme
Corporation to the LHS Science Department (Alessandrini, Brodner)
The Motion was Approved (5-0)
The Chair moved to recess and reconvene on the floor of Town Meeting at 7:21 p.m.
Documents: Meeting Agenda; 2012 Superintendent Evaluation Form; Resume of Ellen M.
Sugita; Memorandum dated March 8, 2013 re Shire Human Genetic Therapies Inc. donation to
the 2013 LHS Science and Engineering Fair; Email dated February 10, 2013 from Ellie Tishler
to Whitney Hagins and Jacquie Crowe regarding Genzyme Corporation donation to the LHS
Science Department; and 2013 Town Warrant
Voted by the School Committee May 14, 2013