HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-10-07-SC-minLSC Meeting 100714 Page 1
LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Lexington Town Office Building
Selectmen’s Meeting Room
1625 Massachusetts Avenue
PRESENT: Dr. Paul B. Ash, Superintendent; Margaret Coppe, Chair; Alessandro Alessandini,
Jessie Steigerwald, Judy Crocker and Abigail Schwartz, Student Representative
The Minutes were taken by Jean Curran, Recording Secretary
The Meeting Convened at 7:35 p.m.
I. Call to Order and Welcome:
The Chair called the meeting to order and invited public Comment
Judy Crocker representing Safe Routes to School (SRTS), a subcommittee of the
Sidewalk Committee, handed out the Annual FYI sheet about SRTS and the Annual
Bookmark Calendar. The first walking Wednesday is tomorrow but may be postponed
due to rain. Ms. Crocker shared what the SRTS has accomplished and their goals for the
coming year.
II. Superintendent’s Announcements
Dr. Ash announced that yesterday was the ribbon cutting at the Estabrook Elementary
School. The project could not have happened without the services of Ken DiNisco, the
architect who designed the project, the Shawmut Construction Company, and Patrick
Goddard, Director of Public Facilities. He thanked the town for all of its support and a
special thanks to Principal Sandy Trach.
Margaret Coppe thanked Witson Culinary Group for providing food before and after the
Estabrook Elementary School ribbon cutting ceremony.
III. School Committee Member Announcements
Jessie Steigerwald thanked Reggie O’Hare Gibson who wrote the Estabee song.
Ms. Steigerwald also shared that she and Dr. Ash attended the EDCO Collaborative
Board Meeting last Thursday and encouraged members to see the new facility. There
will also be a speaker series.
Ms. Steigerwald announced the Holiday Trick or Treat on Friday October 31 from 2:00
pm-5:00 pm in Lexington center. Adults are reminded to please accompany their
children during this event.
Ms. Steigerwald also shared that the Policy Manual Subcommittee had a short meeting
earlier tonight. She will meet with Jim Hardy of the Massachusetts Association of School
Committees (MASC) to work on Sections C & D for the October 28 meeting.
Judy Crocker would like to distribute a map of the Laconia Street parcel at the end of the
meeting.
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Alessandro Alessandrini shared that Jill Gasperini, School Nurse Coordinator sent a letter
to the Committee stating the schools are prepared for the Enterovirus D68 which can be
especially harmful to kids with asthma.
IV. Agenda
1. Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates Report on the Superintendent Search.
John Connolly, Gary Burton and Stephen Dlott submitted their Leadership Profile
Report. Mr. Connolly reviewed the following (i) Participation which included 215
personal interviews or focus groups and 686 participated in the online survey; (ii)
strengths of the School District which includes (a) pride in the outstanding state and
national rankings, (b) high student scores on MCAS, SAT and Advanced Placement
examinations, (c) rich K-12 curriculum and extensive course offerings at the high school,
(d ) emphasis on community service and citizenship; (e) high praise for comprehensive
staff development program; (f) large number of offerings available to the Lexington staff
in the areas of curriculum and instruction, new teacher orientation, technology and crisis
intervention; and (g) school committee has invested heavily in this approach as a vehicle
of continuous improvement for Lexington Schools; (iii) Town is supportive of the school
system with excellent cooperation between school and town officials.
Mr. Connolly then reviewed the challenges, concerns and issues facing the district which
include (i) student stress which is the number one concern of the district; (ii) challenge of
meeting the diversity and demographic changes within the system; and (ii) enrollment
growth which has created overcrowding along with inadequate cafeterias, inadequate
libraries and undersized classrooms; and (iv) Lexington is an affluent town, but there are
students who live in poverty and that poses challenges for the district.
Mr. Connolly then reviewed the desired characteristics. A number of respondents spoke
of a need to improve the culture of the Superintendent’s office, a desire for a
superintendent who is available, accessible, and approachable and a good listener; and
open to new ideas from the town.
The Committee had comments and questions (i) hopes no one believes that the challenges
facing the schools are not being met; (ii) with respect to the survey it was disappointing
that they were only allowed to select eight items; (iii) students have a large stake in the
search and it might be helpful to count them separately from the whole community; (iv)
were there any surprises in the data generated; (v) were all groups able to participate in
focus groups; (vii) are there data which puts these lists comments and challenges in a
particular order; (viii) would you confirm that articulating the challenges of the district is
a good thing for the district; ix) would you confirm respondents by category and go over
60% went on the list; and (x) what is the Committee’s next steps.
Mr. Connolly shared the search process dates and how the process will work. HYA will
send to the Committee the draft advertisement for the position.
Dawn McKenna, 9 Hancock Street inquired whether any preference would be given to
local candidates and are any steps being taken to reach out to Lexington residents or
Lexington graduates. Ms. McKenna suggested that the School Committee reach out to
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Town Counsel to verify if compensation can be discussed once candidates become
publicly known.
Harvy Simkovits, 4 Angier Road shared his thoughts on the survey results and categories.
Bill Hurley, 33 Young Street, shared his thoughts on responses to student stress and
inquired what other areas would contribute to student stress.
2. Elementary World Language Update
Carol Pilarski, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Professional
Development shared the Elementary World Language Committee’s (EWLC)
recommendation s and possible timetables as were suggested in the June 10, 2014. The
recommendations included (i) EWLC wholeheartedly endorse the reinstatement of an
elementary world language program; (ii) EWLC feels strongly about retaining the highly
effective curricular and instructional programs currently in place in the elementary
schools; and (iii) preferred options of the of the EWLC.
Ms. Pilarski also shared the suggested implementation, and timetable and next steps.
The Committee had comments and questions (i) appreciates the planning needed to
implement change successfully; (ii) does the school day need to be extended for all
levels; (iii) one concern from high school students is if you extend the school day, you
should consider reducing the homework level; (iv) revisit those questions if decision is to
lengthen school day; (v) there is research backing up starting the school day later in the
morning would have much more impact on students rather than extending the day; (vi)
extending the day by 30 minutes would be helpful for parents; (vii) can this program be
done for all six grades of elementary schools; (viii) separate start time for high school;
(ix) homework is separate from implementing this program ; (x) longer work day would
impact collective bargaining; (xi) can professional learning days alternate instead of each
week; (xii)adding a more time to lunch/recess; (xiii) the research team would be teacher
only; (xiv) what the benefits for each language which might be offered;(xv) if the school
day is extended maybe the starting time can be earlier; and (xvi) the EWLC will speak
with the public as part of the process.
Ms. Pilarski responded that there are 18 teacher Thursdays which are for teacher
planning; 9 principal days dedicated to professional learning and 4 Thursdays for
conferences.
Dawn McKenna, 9 Hancock Street expressed her concerns delaying the implementation
of the EWL for three years. Urged the Committee not to wait three years because we
have the finances, political support and the learning that will be missed. Ms. McKenna
urged the Committee to have a teacher now to come into the elementary schools to begin
a language and begin a partnership with our sister city Antony, France because they have
requested it.
Tom Diaz, Precinct 4, Town Meeting Member, thanked the Committee for bringing the
EWL back. Mr. Diaz inquired would a longer day to provide some stress relief and
longer lunches and assumes that that is part of what they would review as part of the
process.
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Dr. Ash shared his thoughts on implementing the EWLP.
Harvy Simkovits, 4 Angier Road shared that he was on the EWLC and is in agreement
with Ms. Pilarski and Dr. Ash in that it will take time to do it right. Mr. Simkovits
shared that the Committee should be prepared to answer questions from the community
on why it would take three years to implement. If you do it right we will do it in a bigger
way other than just doing it one grade at a time.
Alessandro Alessandrini shared his thoughts on why it will take three years to implement
a good EWLP that entails several grade levels; would require input and would need an
override.
Dawn McKenna, if we ask the school department to come up with a program to cover
this three year program and what would it look like and why are other high performing
school districts able to implement an elementary world language.
Shawna Paul, representing the PTA, is there an option available to offer foreign language
classes either before or after school that people would be willing to pay for.
Margaret Coppe shared that any programs that might be implemented be run by counsel
to make sure it is done in a legal way.
3. Vote to Approve Superintendent’s Professional Practice and Student Learning
Goals for 2014-2015
The Committee engaged in discussion of Dr. Ash’s recommended goals for 2014-2015
and they include (i) Student Learning Goals and the key action steps; (ii) Professional
Practice Goals and the key action steps; (iii) Standard 1 (Instructional Leadership)
Section E – Data Informed Decision Maker Indicator and key action steps; (iv) Standard
2 (Management and Operations), Section A – Environment Indicator and key action
steps; (v) Standard 3 (Family and Community Engagement) )Section D – Family
Concerns Indicator and key action steps; and (vi) Standard 4 (Professional Culture)
Section D – shared Vision Development Indicator and key action steps.
The Committee decided to postpone a vote on the Superintendent’s Standards.
Motion to Approve Superintendent’s Professional Practice and Student
Learning Goals for 2014-2015 (Steigerwald, Alessandrini) The Motion was
Approved (4-0)
V. Consent Agenda
1. Vote to Approve Diamond Grade 8 Spanish Field Trip to LaGuácima de Alajuela,
Costa Rica, January 28 – February 6, 2015
2. Vote to Approve Lexington High School Community Service Field Trip to
Golfito, Costa Rica, February 15 - 25, 2015
3. Vote to Approve Clarke Grade 8 Spanish Field Trip to LaGuácima de Alajuela,
Costa Rica, March 4 - 13, 2015
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4. Vote to Approve Diamond Grade 8 French Field Trip to Quebec City, Canada,
May 26 – 29, 2015
5. Vote to Approve Clarke Grade 8 French Field Trip to Quebec City, Canada, June
3 – 5, 2015
Ms. Steigerwald shared that the Committee should consider a policy which bans students
from using swimming pools. Ms. Steigerwald also shared that we don’t have a policy on
out of country field trips.
Ms. Crocker asked if the busses used on these field trips had seat belts. Ms Dunn said
they do. She expressed concern that one airline booking seemed to have been done prior
to Committee approval.
Motion to Approve Consent Agenda Items 1-5 Above (Crocker, Alessandrini)
The Motion was Approved (4-0)
VI. Adjourn
Motion to Adjoun (Crocker, Steigerwald) The Motion was Approved (4-0)
The Meeting adjourned at 10:17 p.m.
The next scheduled meetings of the School Committee are as follows:
Wednesday, October 8, 2014 — 7:00 p.m., Public Services Building, Cafeteria, 201 Bedford
Street. This meeting is a Budget Collaboration/Summit Meeting with the Board of Selectmen
the Appropriation Committee and the Capital Expenditures Committee.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014 — 7:30 p.m., Lexington Town Office Building, Selectmen’s
Meeting Room, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue (Regular Meeting) All agenda items and the
order of items are approximate and subject to change.
Meeting Materials: Meeting Agenda; Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates Report on the
Superintendent Search; Elementary World Language Update; Superintendent’s Draft
Professional Practice and Student Learning Goals for 2014-2015; Consent Agenda
Voted by the School Committee December 16, 2014