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Home My WebLink About2015-01-06-SC-minLSC Meeting Minutes 1/6/2015 1 LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING Tuesday, January 6, 2015 Lexington Town Office Building, Selectmen’s Meeting Room 1625 Massachusetts Avenue PRESENT: Superintendent Dr. Paul Ash, School Committee Members Jessie Steigerwald, Judith Crocker, Alessandro Alessandrini, William Hurley, Student Representative Abigail Schwartz Member Absent: Margaret Coppe The minutes were taken by Christine Ashness, Recording Secretary The meeting convened at 7:30 pm 7:00pm Executive Session: The Executive Session was not needed. Jessie Steigerwald called a recess. Call to Order and Welcome: Jessie Steigerwald welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order. Margaret Coppe is ill and will not be here tonight so Jessie Steigerwald will Chair this meeting. We wish her a speedy recovery. Public Comment: None School Committee Member Announcements: William Hurley: During his fall campaign he promised to hold office hours. He has booked the main conference room at central office, for every other Monday from 9:30-10:30am. No appointment is necessary. It will not be a time for campaigning. Alessandro Alessandrini reminded everyone that all members are also available by phone. Abigail Schwartz: If anyone wants to contact her, her email is on the school committee website or students can find her at LHS. Judith Crocker: She is beyond humbled to have received the final working enrollment report. It is great. This Thursday 1/8 the School Committee is meeting with the Ad Hoc School Master Planning Committee at 6:00pm so that people can attend and learn with the school committee. The meeting will be held at 201 Bedford Street. Phase 3 of the master plan won’t be ready until Friday or next week. Jessie Steigerwald: The School Committee will be meeting jointly with the Ad Hoc Master Planning Committee. She asked if someone could formally reach out to the MSBA, and Dr. Ash responded that he already had. He called Diane Sullivan to get feedback. It is her opinion that Lexington had a meritorious proposal, but other communities had dire needs. She understood that Hastings is overcrowded. Category 1 schools, the safety category, took priority. She did think that Lexington could get funded at some point in the future and it is a strong proposal. If Lexington thinks it is important they should file the statement of interest by April. At the LSC Meeting Minutes 1/6/2015 2 appropriate time Dr. Ash will bring a recommendation to the School Committee to file the statement of interest. He is encouraged by what he has heard. Dr. Ash: At the bottom of the agenda, dates for the next meetings are listed, but if the school master planning committee reaches a conclusion Thursday night, there may be a school committee meeting next Tuesday 1/13/15, so they may hear the recommendations. Alessandro Alessandrini: He asked that the statement of intent be added to 1/13 meeting. Superintendent’s Announcements: None Agenda Vote to Approve the Contract for New Superintendent of Schools MOTION that the School Committee ratify the proposed contract encompassing the negotiated terms between the Lexington School Committee and the incoming Superintendent Dr. Mary Czajkowski. (Hurley, Crocker) The Motion was approved 4-0. Jessie Steigerwald informed everyone that Margaret Coppe would vote in support if in attendance. William Hurley: He has spoken with Dr. Czajkowski a lot the past few weeks. Mary asked him to please share how grateful she is and how she is looking forward to joining Lexington Public Schools and the community. He said we are fortunate to have her coming to us with such experience in public education. She has risen through the ranks. He knows parents and students from the Cape and everyone consistently compliments her. In regards to the no site visit comments from public, the School Committee exercised their right to not do it. The Committee did not feel it was required. However 5 members of our community did go and spend a day in Barnstable to get feedback and the theme of consistency still reigns. He thanked Dr. Ash and the entire staff for being available to her. The contract will be signed tonight, and will be delivered to her afterwards. After everyone signs, it will be a public document. Dr. Czajkowski’s salary will be $255,000, it is a 3-year contract and most other aspects of the contract are standard (sick days, vacation days, etc.) Jessie Steigerwald thanked Carol Pilarski, Lynn Perry and Eileen Jay for going on the site visit. Alessandro Alessandrini thanked William Hurley, Margaret Coppe and the Town Manager for all of their work. Presentation and Discussion of the Superintendent’s FY 16 Recommended Budget Dr. Ash presented the Recommended 2015-2016 Budget Advance Academic Excellence & Promote Student Social and Emotional Wellness Dr. Ash explained in the presentation that there are no new initiatives in this budget. He recommends that the $1,314,656 in remaining available funds be set aside for the large capital needs in the school system. LSC Meeting Minutes 1/6/2015 3 Members had questions and comments for Dr. Ash, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development Carol Pilarski, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Operations Mary Ellen Dunn and Director of Education Technology and Assessment Tom Plati regarding the budget. All members were impressed with the presentation. Questions and comments were regarding health benefits, math/language arts specialists, online credit recovery at LHS, examining sports booster clubs, elementary bus captains, Lextended day rental fees, nurses, technology, guidance counselors, Wi-Fi, iPads for middle/high school, administrative support in Superintendent’s office, central registrar, and social workers Dawn McKenna, Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member: Asked what is the cost of the eighth grade iPad program? Why are we moving to fund grade 8 if the LHS program is not figured out? Regarding the medical records: why are there 8,000 medical records if the student population is lower? She suggested that adding the .5 Admin position to the Superintendent’s office should be solely as a clerk to the School Committee. Regarding the World Language Program: 1.3 million in extra funds could put towards that program now. She is concerned the language in the motion is tied to a time frame. She also asked to hire a K-6 World Language Coordinator to see what can be done in programs, as they would be knowledgeable. Ms. McKenna provided the secretary with her questions/comments in written format and they were forwarded to Dr. Ash. Tom Diaz: He thought it was a clever idea to set aside 1.3 million. He also noted no co-teachers in then budget. He urges them to consider additional hiring of teachers. Crowded classrooms could use co-teaching teams. That would be a potential use for some of that money. Elementary World Language – Vote on Next Steps Motion to vote to direct Superintendent to propose a plan for implementing an elementary World Language program in the FY18 academic year and if possibly sooner, that is in line with the recommendation from the World Language Committee's June 2014 report that current academic programming not be compromised, and to advise the School Committee of the additional time that may be required for elementary students, and any related expenses thereto, knowing that we are not able to commit funds for future years. (Alessandrini, Hurley) The Motion was approved 4-0. Jessie Steigerwald explained that the committee has had discussion previously, and if Margaret Coppe were here she would support it. MOTION to accept a $1,500 donation from Cubist Pharmaceutical Inc. in support of the 2015 LHS Science & Engineering Fair (Hurley, Alessandrini) The Motion was approved 4-0. Jessie Steigerwald relayed a comment from a parent that Lexington sends many kids to the fair, but doesn’t contribute financially. She asked Dr. Ash to look into it. MOTION to approve School Committee minutes of September 30, 2014, as amended (Crocker, Alessandrini) The Motion was approved 3-0 with William Hurley abstaining. LSC Meeting Minutes 1/6/2015 4 MOTION to approve School Committee minutes of October 21, 2014 This motion/minutes were set aside. MOTION to approve School Committee minutes of November 3, 2014, as amended (Hurley, Crocker) The Motion was approved 3-0, with William Hurley abstaining. MOTION to approve School Committee minutes of November 14, 2014, as amended (Hurley, Crocker) The Motion was approved 4-0. MOTION to approve School Committee minutes of November 15, 2014, as amended, and to authorize Ms. Crocker to give Ms. Coppe the title of the handout used. (Hurley, Alessandrini) The Motion was approved 4-0 MOTION to approve School Committee minutes of November 17, 2014, as amended (Hurley, Alessandrini) The Motion was approved 4-0. MOTION to approve School Committee minutes of December 2, 2014 (Hurley, Alessandrini) The Motion was approved 4-0. MOTION to approve School Committee minutes of December 10, 2014 (Alessandrini, Crocker) The Motion was approved 4-0. MOTION to rescind prior vote. (Steigerwald, Alessandrini) The Motion was approved 4-0. MOTION to approve School Committee minutes of December 10, 2014, as amended (Steigerwald, Hurley) The Motion was approved 4-0. MOTION to approve and not release School Committee Executive Session minutes of October 21, 2014(Steigerwald, Alessandrini) The Motion was approved 3-0 by roll call vote, with William Hurley abstaining. MOTION to approve and not release School Committee Executive Session minutes of December 11, 2014 (Steigerwald, Alessandrini) The Motion was approved 4-0 by roll call vote. LSC Meeting Minutes 1/6/2015 5 MOTION to approve and not release School Committee Executive Session minutes of December 16, 2014, 5:15pm (Alessandrini, Crocker) The Motion was approved 4-0 by roll call vote. Motion to adjourn (Hurley, Alessandrini) The Motion was approved 4-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:50pm Meeting Materials: Agenda; FY2016 Superintendent of Schools Level Service and Recommended Budget; Donation memo from Cubist Pharmaceutical, Inc.; School Committee minutes of 9/30/14, 10/21/14, 11/3/14, 11/14/14, 11/15/14, 11/17/14, 12/2/14, and 12/10/14; Handout from 1/8 Ad hoc School Master Planning Committee Voted by the School Committee February 10, 2015