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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-08-25-SC-min 1 LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING OPEN SESSION MINUTES Tuesday, August 25, 2015 Lexington Town Office Building, Selectmen’s Meeting Room 1625 Massachusetts Avenue PRESENT: Superintendent Dr. Mary Czajkowski, Chair Jessie Steigerwald, Judy Crocker, Margaret Coppe, Alessandro Alessandrini ABSENT: Bill Hurley The Minutes were taken by Jessie Steigerwald. The meeting convened at 6:00 pm. At 6:00 p.m. Jessie Steigerwald called the meeting to order and the School Committee went into Executive Session. Minutes for the Executive Session are found in a separate document. At 7:28 p.m. the Committee returned to Open Session. Public Comment: There were no public comments. Superintendent’s Announcements: Dr. Czajkowski’s announcements included information about Orientation for new teachers; the School Committee secretary posting (which will combine the half-time position in the FY16 budget and the funds previously allocated for the recording secretary position, and now will be a full-time position); upcoming events hosted by Ravi Sakhuja on August 29 and Carolyn Coppe Peacock on September 3 (for LexFun!); the new traffic pattern at Bridge Elementary; an initial FY17 Budget meeting with Carl Valente (Town Manager), Rob Addelson and Ian Dailey in preparation for the October 8 Summit. Dr. Czajkowski also reported that a Lextended Day program at Bridge School is scheduled to open on October 15 and that school bus ridership has increased by approximately 10% and there are families on a wait list. Dr. Czajkowski asked to recognize Ian Dailey, Interim Director of Finance and Operations, who shared further details, including that there are currently 69 routes and 3,290 riders, and about 38 students on a wait list. Members had some questions and Steigerwald will include an appropriate agenda item on the September 8 agenda for an update on transportation expenses. School Committee Member Announcements: Steigerwald provided an update on the Permanent Building Committee school project vacancy created when Kate Colburn was appointed to the Appropriation Committee. She thanked Ms. Colburn for her work and noted that Town Manager Valente will update the Committee when he has designated projects to the Permanent Building committee. In addition, she invited community members who would be interested in an appointment to work on a specific school capital project to submit a letter of interest and complete an application by September 30. Steigerwald noted that Dr. Czajkowski had updated her earlier in the day that DiNisco projected an additional $2 million expense would be necessary to provide appropriate space at Diamond Middle School to accommodate the moderate 2 Intensive Learning Program (“ILP”). Students currently attend Hastings Elementary and then move to Clarke Middle School. This divides them from their peers. School Committee had asked the prior administration to provide necessary steps to allow students to remain with peers between elementary and middle school. The alternative would be to move the elementary ILP program from Hastings to a Clarke feeder elementary school: Harrington, Bridge and Bowman. Margaret Coppe asked that consideration also be given to changing the feeder pattern of elementary schools to middle school. Steigerwald reviewed upcoming dates, including Special Town Meeting tentatively November 2, 9 and 16. She also noted the assignments Committee members agreed to take on at the August 20 retreat: Policy: Judy Crocker, Margaret Coppe Curriculum: Margaret Coppe, Bill Hurley Superintendent Evaluation: Sandro Alessandrini, Margaret Coppe Finance: Jessie Steigerwald, Judy Crocker She noted that Sandro Alessandrini agreed to take Bill Hurley’s place and work with her on the Coalition project. Alessandrini welcomed back the school community and also thanked the community members who sent in feedback on capital projects. Crocker welcomed back the school community to the new school year. She expressed appreciation to Lexington High School principal Laura Lasa for her letter in the LHS newsletter. Lasa’s message stressed a balanced approach and the value of taking time to be less stressed. Margaret Coppe thanked Superintendent Czajkowski and Interim Director of Finance and Operations for working on successfully implementing the Lextended Day program at Bridge. Consent Agenda On a motion from Alessandrini, seconded by Crocker, the Committee voted unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda, including: 1. Vote to Approve School Committee Minutes of July 7, 2015 2. Vote to Approve School Committee Minutes of July 13, 2015 3. Vote to Approve School Committee Minutes of July 14, 2015 4. Vote to Approve School Committee Minutes of July 22, 2015 5. Vote to Approve School Committee Minutes of July 27, 2015 6. Vote to Approve and Not Release School Committee Executive Session Minutes of August 3, 2015 7. Vote to Accept a $250 Donation from Leigh-Anne Malio to the Fiske Gift Account 3 Agenda: 1. Finance Department Position Change (10 minutes) This item was tabled. 2. Financial Audit (10 minutes) Mr. Dailey reviewed the current status of the audit process and recommends that Melanson Heath should be hired to conduct an audit. LPS is audited annually by Melanson Heath, and Student Activities Accounts are audited on a 3 year basis. Two other companies were consulted, but they do not offer local assistance. On a motion from Crocker, seconded by Coppe, the Committee voted unanimously to authorize Superintendent Czajkowski to implement an audit by Melanson Heath, at a cost not to exceed $45,000. 3. FY 17 Budget Guidelines and Timetable (20 minutes) Mr. Dailey presented an outline of the draft FY17 budget guidelines. There were comments and suggestions from the committee and the Committee will revisit the item at the September 8 meeting. Steigerwald requested an update on the operating expense projections to accommodate rising student enrollment. Dr. Czajkowski discussed her meeting with Town Manager Valente and an approach to determine a level service budget cost compared with a budget to serve an increased number of sections. Alessandrini requested further information about enrollment projections for special education programs. 4. Revision to 2016-2017 Academic Calendar (5 minutes) Carol Pilarski, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, provided an update on the calendar and the need for a change in the last day of school. On a motion by Steigerwald, seconded by Alessandrini, the Committee voted unanimously to approve the 2016-2017 Academic Calendar as recommended. 5. School Committee Liaison Assignments for 2015-2016 (20 minutes) Committee members reviewed liaison assignments for 2015-2016, including the proposed Community Center Program Advisory Committee (Steigerwald and Alessandrini both interested and Steigerwald will pass their names to Linda Vine). There was a discussion about the Munroe Center for the Arts appointment. Colby Brunt, School Committee attorney from Stoneman, Chandler and Miller, will look into the questions and provide advice to the Committee. Coppe agreed to contact the people she suggested for Munroe if the Committee is advised to proceed with recommendations. 6. Article IV of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Board of Selectmen, Town Manager, and School Committee – Vote to Designate 4 Bargaining Agent for AFSCME Local 1703 (10 minutes) On a motion from Crocker, seconded by Coppe, the Committee voted unanimously to designate the Board of Selectmen, acting through the Town Manager, as the bargaining agent for AFSCME Local 1703, for the purpose of negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement and any other matters associated with implementing and enforcing the new agreement, which will be effective on July 1, 2015. 7. Discussion and Vote Regarding the Enrollment of Two Students Whose Residency in Lexington Is Currently Pending (30 minutes) On August 13, 2015 Aaron Roth and Liudmila Gavrilova, Judith Lane, Waltham, requested permission to enroll their two children at Bowman Elementary School while their Lexington home renovation project was completed. They intended to be living in their home by the start of school but the project ran over and is now expected to be completed in November. Rather than start the two children in the town where they are currently renting, they ask to enroll in Lexington. Colby Brunt, Committee counsel, conducted fact-finding during the meeting and Mr. Roth provided answers. There were questions and comments from committee members. Members reviewed their “Policy on Non-Resident Students” File: JFAB. Concerns raised included the ability to hold the same standard for all future families in the same position, the difficulty of ascertaining whether individuals truly reside in Lexington, instances where individuals provide false information to the school department to try to attend Lexington schools without any intent to actually reside in Lexington, a desire to be consistent with the policy, a desire to be consistent with past practice, a preference for requests to move from the school building level to the Superintendent, and then to the Committee. Ms. Brunt provided information about updates in case law interpreting residency. Mr. Roth stated that the family owned no other home, had sold their home in London and had secured a three-month temporary rental in Waltham. Ms. Brunt agreed to draft an agreement that Mr. Roth and Ms. Gavrilova would be required to sign prior to their children attending school if the Committee agreed to grant permission. On a motion made by Alessandrini, and seconded by Crocker, the Committee voted 3-1 (Steigerwald voting no) to allow the family of Aaron Roth and Liudmila Gavrilova to attend first and third grade at Bowman following provisions provided by our attorney with a move-in date by December 1, 2015 with the provision that if they do not move in by that date they will be charged a pro-rated per pupil tuition rate for the months that their children were in attendance at the Bowman School from September 1, 2015 until occupancy in Lexington. 5 9:55 p.m. Adjourn: On a motion made by Coppe, and seconded by Crocker, the School Committee voted unanimously to adjourn at 9:39 p.m. Draft minutes for July 7, 2015; July 13, 2015; July 14, 2015; July 16, 2015; July 22, 2015; July 27, 2015; Executive Session minutes for August 3 2015. Materials: Letter from Thomas Martellone, Fiske Principal, July 8, 2015 Memo from Ian Dailey, August 21, 2015 “Reclassification of Employee and establishment of new/modified position” Memo from Ian Dailey, August 21, 2015 “School Department Financial Operations Review” Letter to Mary Ellen Dunn, July 10, 2016 from Melanson Heath Memo from Ian Dailey, August 21, 2015 “FY2017 Budget Guidelines and Calendar” with Recommended guidelines Draft Revised School Calendar for 2016-2017 “Massachusetts Legal Holidays” for 2015-2017 Draft School Committee Member Roles & Liaison Assignments 2015-2016 Letter to Jessie Steigerwald from Carl Valente, Town Manager, July 31, 2015 regarding AFSCME Local 1703 collective bargaining agreement Memorandum of Agreement Between the Board of Selectmen, Town Manager and School Committee Letter from Aaron Roth to Lexington School Committee, August 13, 2015, “Enrollment of children at Bowman Elementary while home under construction” Memo from Dr. Czajkowski to School Committee, August 21, 2015, materials related to Mr. Roth’s request Policy File JFAB, Policy on Non-Resident Students Handouts: DiNisco Presentation Packet “Multiple School Projects”, September 8, 2015 DiNisco Design Partnership, August 25, 2015 “Existing Conditions” DiNisco, “Elementary Schools Existing Sites” Voted Approved by the School Committee September 8, 2015