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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-06-09-SC-min   LSC  Meeting  Minutes  6/9/2015         1   LEXINGTON  SCHOOL  COMMITTEE  MEETING   Tuesday,  June  9,  2015   Lexington  Town  Office  Building,  Selectmen’s  Meeting  Room   1625  Massachusetts  Avenue     PRESENT:    Superintendent  Dr.  Paul  Ash,  Chair  Jessie  Steigerwald,  Vice  Chair  William   Hurley,  Alessandro  Alessandrini,  Judith  Crocker,  Margaret  Coppe     The  Minutes  were  taken  by  Christine  Ashness,  Recording  Secretary   The  meeting  convened  at  7:00pm       Call  to  order  and  welcome:    Chair  Jessie  Steigerwald  called  the  meeting  to  order,  and   introduced  committee  members.     Steigerwald  asked  Mary  Ellen  Dunn  to  come  forward  to  be  recognized  for  her  incredible   contribution  to  the  town.    She  helped  recognize  the  need  for  financial  aid/scholarships,   addressed  community  concerns  regarding  recycling,  oversaw  food  services,  transportation,   and  so  many  other  things.         Joe  Pato,  Selectman:    The  Board  of  Selectmen  also  wanted  to  express  their  appreciation  for   Ms.  Dunn’s  invaluable  services  to  the  town.     Crocker:    Also  wanted  to  recognize  Ms.  Dunn  for  her  work  on  emergency  readiness  and  the   nursing  program.    On  behalf  of  everyone  who  likes  things  to  be  done  more  efficiently,  Ms.   Dunn  will  be  missed  Crocker  wishes  her  the  best  of  luck.         Alessandrini:    Thanks  Ms.  Dunn  from  the  bottom  of  his  heart,  while  others  were  making   cuts,  we  were  lowering  fees  and  keeping  jobs.     Hurley:    It  was  a  thrill  for  Hurley  to  join  Ms.  Dunn  in  Lexington,  as  he  had  known  her  for   many  years.    Her  job  is  very  complex  and  we  appreciate  her  years  here  helping  to  guide  the   Superintendent  and  administrators.     Coppe:    Coppe  is  going  to  miss  Ms.  Dunn.    She  has  been  recognized  statewide  and  should   very  proud.    Coppe  wishes  her  all  the  best.     Dr.  Ash:    Last  week  Ms.  Dunn  received  the  President’s  Award  from  the  Massachusetts   Association  of  School  Business  Officials.    She  is  one  of  the  finest  in  Massachusetts,  and   others  look  to  her  as  a  tremendous  leader.    He  thanked  Ms.  Dunn  for  all  of  her  hard  work.     We  have  a  very  fine  business  office  thanks  to  Ms.  Dunn  and  we  wish  you  well.     Committee  members  presented  her  with  a  gift.           LSC  Meeting  Minutes  6/9/2015         2   Steigerwald:    Ms.  Dunn  has  also  been  very  helpful  with  the  policy  review  work  by  helping   to  codify  the  finance  department  practices  and  it  will  be  a  legacy  in  Lexington  for  many   years  to  come.     Mary  Ellen  Dunn:    Thanked  everyone  very  much.    Leaving  is  bittersweet.    Some  challenges   have  happened  but  she  has  loved  working  here.    She  loves  a  challenge  and  is  ready  for   some  different  ones.    She  will  miss  her  relationships  here  and  she  will  treasure  them.     MOTION  to  go  to  into  Executive  Session  under  Exemption  3  to  discuss  strategy  with   respect  to  Collective  Bargaining  regarding  LEA  Unit-­‐A  negotiations  and  Exemption  6  to   consider  the  purchase,  exchange,  lease  or  value  of  real  property  regarding  Lexington   Children’s  Place.     We  will  return  to  open  session  and,  further,  the  Chair  declared  that  an  open  session   would  be  detrimental  to  the  bargaining  and  negotiating  position  of  the  School   Committee.    (Steigerwald,  Hurley)   The  Motion  was  approved  5-­‐0  by  a  roll  call  vote.   M.  Coppe  –  AYE   J.  Crocker  –  AYE   W.  Hurley  –  AYE   A.  Alessandrini  –  AYE   J.  Steigerwald  -­‐  AYE       Executive  Session  started  at  7:11pm     Return  to  open  session  at  7:36  pm     Steigerwald  asked  Phyllis  Neufeld  to  come  to  the  microphone.    Steigerwald  expressed   heartfelt  thanks  and  extended  good  wishes  to  Ms.  Neufeld  on  the  occasion  of  her   retirement.    The  committee  thanked  her  for  40  years  of  service  to  the  students  in   Lexington,  beginning  with  her  years  serving  as  a  classroom  teacher.    In  her  role  as  LEA   President,  her  advocacy  for  teachers  and  staff  has  contributed  back  to  the  classroom  and   children.    Ms.  Neufeld  put  children’s  interests  at  the  front.    She  was  presented  with  flowers   and  a  card.     Phyllis  Neufeld:    Ms.  Neufeld  thanked  the  School  Committee,  the  community  and  everyone.     Her  40  years  have  been  a  labor  of  love  and  she  has  loved  every  minute  of  it.    Almost  her   entire  career  was  in  Lexington.    Thanks  to  the  School  Committee  for  your  collaboration.     Andrew  Baker  will  be  a  good  advocate  and  is  willing  and  eager  to  work  with  you.     Agenda:     Proposal  to  Name  the  Estabrook  Gymnasium  in  Honor  of  Former  Estabrook   Physical  Education  Teacher  Jim  Banks     Former  Principal  of  Estabrook,  David  Horton  and  current  Principal  Sandra  Trach   acknowledged  Jim  Banks  on  behalf  of  the  Estabrook  community  and  gymnasium  naming     LSC  Meeting  Minutes  6/9/2015         3   committee.    Mr.  Banks  was  a  Physical  Education  Teacher  of  43  years,  1985  teacher  of  the   year  for  the  Lexington  Public  Schools,  and  still  serves  as  a  Lexington  coach  and  youth   volunteer.    Nearly  1,000  parents,  staff  and  members  of  the  community  signed  a  petition  to   have  the  gymnasium  named  after  him.    Mr.  Banks  has  always  had  a  commitment  to  all   children.    He  has  a  long  history  of  supporting  students  in  and  out  of  the  school.    He  has   exceptional  teaching  skills,  and  is  known  for  celebrating  health  and  wellness  well  before  it   was  part  of  the  health  curriculum.    He  leads  the  international  dance  night  at  Estabrook  each   year.    He  is  known  for  his  extensive  volunteerism  in  the  Lexington  Public  Schools.    He  is  an   outstanding  role  model  and  is  loved  by  students,  staff  and  parents.    He  is  deeply  respected   and  lives  by  example.    He  is  a  legend,  and  an  excellent  human  being.    On  behalf  of  the   Estabrook  community,  they  respectfully  request  that  the  new  Estabrook  School  gymnasium   be  named  after  Jim  Banks.     School  Committee  members  also  shared  comments  and  compliments  about  Mr.  Banks.         Steigerwald  noted  that  though  some  other  areas  in  schools  have  been  named  after  people,  it   is  a  very  rare  and  high  honor  reserved  for  those  who  have  made  truly  exceptional   contributions  and  who  have  vast  community  support.     MOTION  that  Estabrook  gymnasium  be  named  in  honor  of  former  Estabrook  Physical   Education  teacher,  Jim  Banks    (Steigerwald,  Alessandrini)     The  Motion  was  approved  5-­‐0.     Public  Comments:       Meghan  Soens,  42  Bartlett  Avenue:    She  is  reemphasizing  from  her  previous  visit  and   comments  made  at  a  prior  meeting.    How  do  we  find  additional  space  and  facilitate  the   expansion  of  the  program  for  longer  after  school  program  hours?         There  were  no  other  Public  Comments.       Steigerwald  stated  that  after  announcements  they  will  go  to  agenda  item  9.     Superintendent  Announcements:   Following  the  spring  Town  Meeting  Members  Association  tour  of  Hastings,  the  School   Committee  received  complaints  of  a  musty  smell  at  the  Hastings  School  with  questions  of   whether  there  could  be  mold  or  water  damage.    EHE  was  hired  to  inspect  and  identify  the   cause  of  the  odor.    The  entire  report  will  be  on  the  Hastings  website.    With  the  exception  of  a   corridor,  no  mold  was  found  in  the  modular  classrooms.    Since  that  was  not  the  source,  they   have  begun  to  remove  ceiling  tiles  from  the  hallways  because  some  were  wet.    They  now   think  they  have  gotten  to  the  bottom  of  the  problem.         School  Committee  Member  Announcements:   Steigerwald:    Lexington  High  School’s  graduation  was  wonderful.    Thank  you  to  Laura  Lasa   and  the  entire  staff  for  coordinating  the  ceremony  and  for  supporting  students  through  their   high  school  years.    The  next  School  Committee  meeting  is  June  16th.    There  will  also  be  one   on  July  7th,  with  summits  July  14th  and  16th.         Crocker:    Tomorrow  morning  the  Site-­‐Based  School  Council  Roundtable  is  having  a  meet   and  greet  breakfast  at  Central  Office.    Permanent  Building  Committee  (“PBC”)  update:     There  is  a  DiNisco  public  forum  about  Hastings  proposals  on  Thursday  night  at  Hastings.       LSC  Meeting  Minutes  6/9/2015         4   Thanks  to  all  parents  for  the  success  of  the  All  Night  Graduation  party.    The  DiNisco  middle   school  meeting  is  June  15th.         Allocation  of  School  Space  for  Before/After  School  Care   Mary  Ellen  Dunn,  William  Hurley,  Jessie  Steigerwald  ad  Dr.  Ash  met  this  afternoon  and  the   committee  all  agrees  that  they  need  to  investigate  the  issues  surrounding  community   requests  to  add  space  and  consider  extended  hours  for  before  and  afterschool  care,  and  to   explore  adding  middle  school  afterschool  hours.    June  16th  from  3:30-­‐5:00pm  is  the  next   meeting  to  explore  a  Youth  Coalition  where  people  can  come  and  share  any  concerns  they   have  for  youth  and  Steigerwald  encouraged  people  who  were  concerned  about  the  need  for   increased  childcare  options  to  consider  sharing  their  concerns  at  that  meeting  to  reach  a   broader  set  of  town  staff  and  community  organizations.    Steigerwald  noted  the  large  volume   of  email  received  and  asked  the  audience  generally  whether  there  was  a  contact  person  or   contact  list  so  the  members  might  be  able  to  respond  when  more  than  100  email  messages   come  in  one  day.         Pamela  Tames,  Lextended  Day  Board  President:    She  has  access  to  a  current  list  and  a  list  of   people  interested  in  Lextended  Day  and  could  help  distribute  or  forward  a  message.         Mary  Ellen  Dunn:    Regarding  the  question  of  whether  it  is  possible  to  identify  additional   space  to  be  offered  for  before/after  school  care,  the  town  needs  to  publicly  bid  public  space   and  it  is  the  highest  bid,  based  on  market  value  and  other  factors.    The  current  5-­‐year  lease   expires  June  20,  2016.    It  is  a  competitive  bid  process  required  by  statutes.    We  are   cognizant  of  the  quality  of  the  current  program  but  it  has  to  be  an  open  and  objective   process.         Starting  tomorrow  through  the  end  of  September  the  district  needs  to  look  at  the  impact  on   the  space.    Principals  will  need  time  to  think  about  the  impact  on  their  buildings.    Other   considerations  include  whether  we  have  any  type  of  staffing  requirement,  and  what  space   would  actually  be  available.    While  we  in  part  believe  that  Lextended  day  is  part  of  us,  the   reality  is  that  they  are  a  renter.    They  have  been  great  partners  and  it  has  been  a  positive   relationship.    There  needs  to  be  an  understanding  of  what  the  goals  are  and  their  impact.     We  know  there  is  not  enough  childcare  in  this  community.    The  demand  is  great  and  our   space  is  not  going  to  meet  the  demand  that  they  have.    There  are  2  factors  for  not  being  able   to  open  space  for  September  2015  –  not  enough  time  to  thoughtfully  plan  and  do  it  well  and   right;  and  we  can’t  add  more  than  25%  to  the  procurement  of  a  contract  because  you  would   have  to  go  out  to  bid.         Members  agreed  it  is  a  complicated  issue.    Some  believed  there  is  potential  space,  others   noted  that  work  on  the  master  plan  could  include  adding  additional  space  for  this  type  of   program,  and  others  said  they  would  like  more  information  including  hearing  from  the   principals  of  the  schools.    Crocker  and  Coppe  agreed  to  do  more  fact  finding  on  the  subject   and  to  provide  an  update  to  the  full  committee  at  upcoming  meetings.     Malka  Burnt,  57  Spring  Street:    She  has  a  4th  grader  at  Bridge.    She  thinks  the  committee  is   trying  to  address  entire  problem  at  once,  but  she  asks  that  they  try  to  accommodate  a   smaller  section.         Pamela  Tames,  26  Bertwell  Road:    She  is  President  of  the  Board  of  Lextended  Day.    She   thanked  them  for  putting  time  into  the  issue.      The  memo  shared  is  just  the  tip  of  the  iceberg   and  raises  as  many  questions  as  answers.    She  offered  to  share  what  and  where  the     LSC  Meeting  Minutes  6/9/2015         5   discrepancies  are.    The  policy  you  shared  in  the  packet  is  very  outdated  and  not  consistent   with  culture  and  practice.    Please  don’t  approve  it  without  reviewing  the  current  practices.     Melanie  Taliones,  30  Wachusett  Drive:    In  addition  to  the  wait  list  for  Lextended  Day,  there   are  76  families  on  the  waiting  list  at  Hayden.         Update  on  Minuteman  Regional  Vocational  Technical  High  School  from  David  Horton,   Minuteman  School  Committee  Member   Mr.  Horton  reviewed  the  current  options  for  a  new  building  for  Minuteman.    The  current   building  is  in  Lexington  and  the  future  one  would  be  in  Lincoln.    16  towns  participate  in  the   regional  school  and  Minuteman  would  have  50%  of  the  cost  covered  by  the  state  through   MSBA  if  they  gain  approval  from  participating  towns  in  time.      They  could  do  major   educational  and  structural  projects  and  students  could  stay  in  old  building  until  new  one  is   built.      There  were  questions  and  comments  from  committee  members.         Dr.  Ash  asked  about  going  to  a  single  ballot  question  in  all  16  towns  instead  of  having  all   towns  vote.    He  would  strongly  recommend  this  approach.         Alessandrini  asked  about  having  the  Minuteman  students  offer  childcare,  as  it  would  be  an   option  for  the  needs  of  Lexington.         Lexington  Education  Foundation  Update   Janice  Litwin,  Board  Member  for  LEF,  updated  the  committee  on  the  grants  and  programs   that  LEF  has  supported  for  the  Lexington  Public  Schools.    Litwin  also  described  LEF’s  major   fundraisers.    Some  of  the  awards  made  for  next  year:    $281,518  dollars  in  grants.    $158,485   program  grants  and  $57,750  for  school  community  grants.       They  received  a  record  number  of  fellowship  grants  (28)  this  year.    They  have  close   relationships  with  the  teachers  in  each  school.    They  have  been  working  on  improvements   to  their  website  and  are  making  it  more  accessible  for  teachers  trying  to  apply.    Their   mission  has  always  been  putting  every  dollar  raised  back  in  to  the  schools.     Litwin  answered  questions  from  the  committee  and  also  described  the  LEF  Star  Award   program.     MOTION  to  accept  LEF  commitment  to  donate  $281,518  for  the  2016-­‐2017  school  year   (Hurley,  Alessandrini)   The  Motion  was  approved  5-­‐0.   Motion  withdrawn.     MOTION  to  accept  the  LEF  commitment  to  donate  $281,518  for  the  2015-­‐2016  school   year  (Hurley,  Alessandrini)     The  motion  was  approved  5-­‐0.     MOTION  to  accept  the  LEF  donation  to  Lexington  Public  Schools  of  $154,521  for   program  grants.    (Steigerwald,  Alessandrini)   The  Motion  was  approved  5-­‐0.             LSC  Meeting  Minutes  6/9/2015         6   Update  on  2015-­‐2016  K-­‐5  School  Enrollment  Numbers   Maureen  Kavanaugh:    The  FY16  projected  enrollment  as  of  June  1,  2015  is  2920.    There   were  questions  and  comments  from  the  committee.       K-­‐5  Social  Studies  Curriculum  Review  –  Year  4  Report   Ms.  Jane  Hundley,  K-­‐5  Social  Studies  Curriculum  Coordinator  presented  the  report.   Members  had  some  questions  and  comments,  thanked  Ms.  Hundley  for  her  presentation,   and  extended  thanks  to  the  team  who  had  worked  on  the  extensive  curriculum  review.       K-­‐12  World  Languages  Curriculum  Review  –  Year  1  Report   Marie  Murphy,  High  School  World  Language  Department  Head  and  Catherine  Brooks,   Middle  School  World  Language  Department  Head  presented  the  report.   Members  had  some  questions  and  comments,  thanked  Ms.  Murphy  and  Ms.  Brooks  for  their   report,  and  thanked  the  team  who  had  worked  on  the  initial  year  of  the  curriculum  review.     Dawn  McKenna,  9  Hancock  Street:    Given  that  the  School  Committee  has  articulated  that   there  will  be  elementary  world  language,  as  chair  of  the  Tourism  Committee  she  doesn’t   think  we  do  a  good  enough  job  with  the  programs.    They  want  to  partner  with  us  and  work   with  our  sister  city  group.    She  hopes  the  School  Committee  will  support  blending  together   those  relationships.     Revisions  to  the  Pre-­‐Kindergarten  through  Grade  5  Space  Plan     Dr.  Ash  presented  a  memo  to  the  School  Committee:   He  recommends  that  a  Superintendent’s  Advisory  Committee  be  established  to  study  this   question  and  make  a  recommendation  to  the  School  Committee  by  July  8,  2015.    The  charge   of  the  committee  will  be  to:     *Work  with  available  members  of  the  former  Enrollment  Working  Group  and  the   Superintendent  to  project  the  number  of  general  and  specialized  classrooms  needed  in  each   school  through  June  30,  2019  (general  education,  art,  music,  English  language  learners,  and   special  education).    The  committee’s  recommendation  on  the  location  of  the  new  spaces   may  take  into  consideration  the  reasonableness  of  possible  short-­‐  and  long-­‐term   redistricting  plans.   *Recommend  by  mid-­‐September  a  redistricting  plan(s)  to  be  implemented  at  the  beginning   of  the  2016-­‐2017  school  year.       Alessandrini  thinks  that  as  a  school  committee,  what  we  are  doing  here  is  premature,   creating  a  committee  is  premature,  and  drawing  the  lines  is  premature.    He  thinks  it  will   create  tension  between  communities.    He  will  not  vote  or  support  it  and  thinks  we  are   pushing  the  costs  down  the  road.         Hurley  explained  that  it  is  a  “what  if”  scenario.    He  doesn’t  disagree  with  anything   Alessandrini  said.    He  thinks  we  would  have  the  input  from  families  of  what  makes  sense  for   redistricting.    And  doesn’t  see  it  as  making  prejudgments.         Coppe  thinks  that  if  we  form  the  committee  it  should  be  a  Superintendent’s  Committee.    This   is  a  fast  moving  process.    She  would  also  urge  that  the  people  selected  be  aware  that  they   have  to  make  a  commitment.         LSC  Meeting  Minutes  6/9/2015         7   Dr.  Ash  stressed  the  urgent  issue  of  what  we  will  bring  to  the  summit.    The  committees   (Selectmen,  etc.)  will  want  to  know  how  many  rooms  we  want  and  to  prove  it.         Crocker  wants  to  have  the  committee,  but  thinks  it  should  work  under  the  open  meeting   law.         Kate  Colburn,  49  Forest  Street:    DiNisco  is  now  going  through  the  process  of  what  space   they  have  and  need,  and  they  are  trained  to  do  it.    She  worries  about  whether  the  parents   would  be  the  better  decision  makers.    DiNisco  is  already  doing  the  work.     Committee  members  discussed  the  focus  for  parents  is  on  the  possible  redistricting   situations,  not  the  need  for  space  for  educational  purpose,  which  is  a  staff  role  and  not  really   for  this  group,  though  they  might  be  updated  about  DiNisco’s  process.     MOTION  to  establish  the  Superintendent’s  Advisory  Committee  (Hurley,  Coppe)   The  Motion  was  approved  3-­‐2  with  Alessandrini  and  Crocker  opposing.     Steigerwald  asked  for  two  volunteers  to  serve  on  the  group.    Crocker  and  Hurley   volunteered.    Steigerwald  said  she  was  willing  but  would  miss  the  first  meeting  as  she   would  be  out  of  town  the  24th.    There  were  no  other  volunteers.    Crocker  and  Hurley  will   serve.     Hurley  explained  that  we  don’t  want  people  to  have  the  impression  that  because  four   classrooms  will  become  available  we  don’t  need  ultimately  need  to  add  four  later.    It’s  just   that  it  is  speeding  up  some  of  the  process  by  potentially  having  four  available  sooner  and   the  goal  is  to  see  the  best  way  to  have  that  space  contribute  to  alleviate  overcrowding.     Report  on  School  Professional  Climate     Maureen  Kavanaugh  presented  the  report.    Members  had  some  questions  and  comments.     Budget  Transfers     MOTION  to  authorize  the  use  of  up  to  $159,000  in  furniture,  equipment,  and  unforeseen   expenses  at  the  close  of  FY15.  (Crocker,  Hurley)       The  Motion  was  approved  5-­‐0.     MOTION  to  authorize  the  use  of  up  to  $115,000  from  the  Food  Service  Revolving  Fund   for  a  dishwasher  and  related  installation  expenses  subject  to  $10,000  or  more  in  new   fund  balance  generated  by  the  FY15  program  year  (Alessandrini,  Crocker)   The  Motion  was  approved  5-­‐0     Vote  on  2015-­‐2016  District  Goals   This  will  be  moved  to  next  week’s  meeting.     Report  on  2014-­‐2015  District  Goals   This  will  be  moved  to  next  week’s  meeting.     Review  and  Approve  in  Form  the  Following  Policies:   IJND  –  Curriculum  and  Instruction:  Access  to  Electronic  Media   IJNDB  –  Standards  for  Acceptable  Use  of  Technology   IJNDD  –  Policy  on  Use  of  Social  Media  Sites     LSC  Meeting  Minutes  6/9/2015         8   IJNDC  –  School  and  district  Web  Pages   IHBG  –  Consideration  of  Home  Schooling  Policy   IJOC  –  School  Volunteers  Lexington  Public  Schools  IJOA  –  Field  Trips   IKE  –  Promotion  and  Retention  of  Students   IKB  –  Homework   AD  –  Mission/Vision   KF  –  Facilities   FF  –  Naming  New  Facilities   GCBB  –  Employment  of  Principals   GCRD  –  Private  Tutoring  for  Pay   MOTION  to  approve  the  above  policies  in  form,  as  amended.    (Alessandrini,  Coppe)   The  Motion  was  approved  5-­‐0.     MOTION  to  adjourn  (Hurley,  Coppe)   The  Motion  was  approved  5-­‐0.   The  meeting  was  adjourned  at  11:35  pm.     Meeting  Materials:    Agenda;  LEF  Spring  2015  Awards  List;  Memo  from  Jane  Hundley   regarding  K-­‐5  Social  Studies  Review;  Memo  from  Catherine  Brooks  and  Marie  Murphy   regarding  the  World  Language  Curriculum  Review;  Memo  from  Maureen  Kavanaugh   updating  projected  enrollment;  Memo  from  Dr.  Ash  regarding  revisions  to  the  PreK-­‐5  space   plan;  LPS  Professional  Climate  Surveys;  Memo  from  Fary  ellen  Dunn  regarding  school  space   for  before/after  school  care;  Memo  from  Mary  Ellen  Dunn  regarding  use  of  available  funds   and  update  to  food  service  revolving  fund;  2015-­‐2016  District  Improvement  Plan;  Policies  I,  K,   G;  World  Language  Curriculum  Review  Year  1;  K-­‐5  Social  Studies  Curriculum  Review   Overview;  Memo  from  LEF  regarding  STAR  Awards;  Memo  from  LEF  regarding  grant  activity;   Copy  of  the  Minuteman  presentation;  PBC  Update  from  J.  Crocker       Voted by the School Committee July 7, 2015