The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2016-03-30-SC-minLSC Meeting Minutes 3.30.16 – Approved 6.21.16 1 LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, March 30, 2016 Lexington High School, Library Media Center 251 Waltham Street Present: Chair William Hurley, Jessie Steigerwald, Alessandro Alessandrini, Judy Crocker, Eileen Jay, Superintendent Dr.Czajkowski Student Representative Abigail Schwartz – Not present Minutes were taken by Ana Paula McDonough, Executive Assistant to the School Committee. The meeting convened at 6:45 p.m. Call to Order and Welcome: Chair William Hurley called the meeting to order, and introduced committee members. Mr. Hurley held a moment of silence for Ms. Heather Zarkada who recently passed away. Ms. Zarkada was a Special Education Literacy Teacher at the Bowman elementary School. Public Comment: Enrico Spolare, 244 East St. - Mr. Spolare, is concerned about alleviating the overcrowding at Fiske could lead to an overcrowding at Estabrook. He also expressed concern over transportation. Amrita Bhattacharyya – 5 Centre St. – Ms. Bhattacharyya expressed concern in uprooting of any existing kindergartener, from their school, friends. She acknowledges the over-crowding at the Lexington Schools is an issue. Vin Antarkar, 60 Forest Street – Mr. Antarkar inquired when the addresses and school locations will be published? When will the answers be provided that are currently on line? Buffer zones are not very clear. Randa Nuseibeh, 12 Fox Run Lane – Ms. Nuseibeh heard that her street is being affected. It is approximately 3.7 miles to Estabrook Caroline Yang, 9 Fox Run Lane – Ms. Yang inquired to the reasoning that her neighborhood was geographically chosen. Elizabeth Warren, 9 Fulton Road – Ms. Warren would like to address three points; (1) Communications have been electronic and focused on selected parents. Ms. Warren is suggesting direct mailing to be inclusive among the voters. (2) Asked that another forum be scheduled with updated information for all residents. (3) To recognize the current redistricting proposal is part of a much greater district wide capacity issue. LSC Meeting Minutes 3.30.16 – Approved 6.21.16 2 Superintendent’s Announcements: • Acknowledged Dr. Anton, Principal at Bowman for her leadership. Dr. Czajkowski met with Dr. Anton and her staff this morning (Social Workers as well as our Director of School Counseling) - it was an extremely difficult day for the staff, students and families. The 4th grade MCAS was canceled for today, a communication was sent out to parents and students will be taking the test tomorrow. • Dr. Czajkowski addressed some of the comments made earlier this evening in the public comments regarding redistricting. The target date that we are looking at is at the end of May. This continues to be an issue of capacity at the elementary schools. The scenarios that have been put forth are draft scenarios. Dr. Czajkowski held a meeting with staff and consultants from Applied Geographics to review the parent and community feedback regarding the two public forums. The goal is to ensure that every child who attends the Lexington Public Schools receives a high quality education in dedicated and appropriate classrooms and program spaces. • The Lexington School Committee has charged Dr. Czajkowski to fill two classrooms at Estabrook and one at Hastings. • Parents have been asked if they are interested in volunteering to move their child to another school to alleviate the overcrowding. Dr. Czajkowski shared some data that she has received. At the K-4 level we have 10 families with 15 children who have volunteered to enroll their child in another school and 3 families with 4 children at the pre-school level for a total of 13 families and 19 children. The closing date for parents to respond to this survey is April 15th. • Third public forum is scheduled for Tuesday, April 12th at 7:00 p.m. location is to be determined. School Committee Member Announcements: Hurley: He asked the committee to forgo announcement so that Ms. Crocker would have time to make her presentation on Save Routes to Schools. If time permits after her presentation announcement can be made then. Steigerwald: None Alessandrini: Inquired about communities getting together to speak about later start times. Mr. Alessandrini asked for clarification on the time for the executive meeting to be held at 8 a.m. on April 4th. Crocker: • Ms. Crocker attended the Senior Art Show Reception at Central Administration where the student artists were able to discuss their work with parents and the community. • She also attended the retirement reception for Bill Hadley. Attendees celebrated Mr. Hadley's 40 years of service to Lexington and recognized his many awards and accomplishments. He has set the bar high for all to follow. • The annual Germanfest is 3.31 at 7pm in Commons II. LSC Meeting Minutes 3.30.16 – Approved 6.21.16 3 • Colleagues received the final copy of policies JKAA and JLDBA. Please place them into your Policy Manuals. • When Dr. C arrived in Lexington last July, the School Committee welcomed her with a tricon hat. Unfortunately, it did not fit. Tonight we present you with the tricon hat so that you will be properly attired for Lexington's Patriot Day activities. Jay: None Consent Agenda: 1. Vote to Approve Minutes of February 23, 2016 2. Vote to Accept a $1,000 Donation from the Bennett/Rosenberg Family to Support the Lexington High School Counseling Department 3. Vote to Accept a $1,000 donation to the Lexington School District from the Massachusetts Elementary School Principals’ Association Motion to approve consent agenda Items 1-3. (Alessandrini/Hurley) The Motion was approved (5-0). Agenda: A.1 –Agenda Title: Before Safe Routes To School presents Article 14 to Town Meeting (date currently certain) Presenter: Judy Crocker Summary: Safe Routes To School proposes the installation of flashing school zone traffic calming mechanisms similar to those used in Woburn and Winchester. Their purpose is to reduce vehicular speeding, increase driver awareness, and improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety around school grounds. Each of these topics was reviewed and supporting Power Point presentation presented at the meeting. There were questions and comments from the School Committee. Mr. Hurley asked the committee what time and what agenda items the committee would like for April 4th. Alessandrini would like to include Discussion of Town Meeting Articles at the April 4th School Committee meeting. Steigerwald suggested including discussion of the buffer zones at the April 4th School Committee meeting. Dr. Czajkowski – April 26th was when the Student Assignment Committee was going to present the School Committee with the recommendations. Public Forum on April 12th; Student Assignment Committee on April 7th. LSC Meeting Minutes 3.30.16 – Approved 6.21.16 4 Jay: Ms. Jay agreed that it would be important for us to have a chance to have a discussion about this and welcomed putting it on our agenda. Ms. Jay also commented that, although the previous two public forums were listed as School Committee Workshops, it seemed more appropriate to allow them to focus on parent input. Ms. Jay asked Dr. Czajkowski if the third forum on April 12th might be a chance for School Committee members to give their feedback as well. A.2 –Agenda Title: Discussion of Town Meeting Articles There were no requests to discuss articles. 7:29 P.M. Steigerwald moved to adjourn and Hurley seconded. The vote was unanimous and the meeting adjourned. Materials: Agenda; A.1- Item Summary Sheet - Before Safe Routes To School presents Article 14 to Town Meeting; PowerPoint Presentation; A.2- Discussion of Town Meeting Articles. Place on Consent Agenda for SC Approval 6.21.16 Voted Approved by the School Committee 6.21.16