HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-02-27-SC-min
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LSC Meeting 2/27/18
Minutes Approved by SC – 5-8-2018
LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Town Hall, Selectmen’s Meeting Room
1625 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA
Present:
Chair, Alessandro Alessandrini; Vice Chair, Eileen Jay; Jessie Steigerwald; Kathryn Colburn; Kathleen
Lenihan; Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations, Ian Dailey (in place of Dr. Czajkowski);
Student Representative, Rosana Jian.
Not Present Superintendent, Dr.Czajkowski
The minutes were taken by Kristen Cronin, Executive Assistant to the School Committee and
Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent
The meeting convened at 7:00 pm
Call to Order and Welcome:
Chair, Alessandro Alessandrini called the meeting to order, and introduced committee members. He
asked for a moment of silence on behalf of students gunned down in Parkland, Florida.
Public Comments:
Many community members came out to thank Jessie Steigerwald for her dedication and commitment to
the School Committee over the past 9 years. Several speakers said that many Lexington residents felt
well represented by Jessie while she was on the School Committee. Community members
recommended that all School Committee members take advantage of the MASC courses that are made
available to all members. These opportunities are very useful so that other School Committee members
can be as effective.
School Committee members thanked Jessie for her nine years of service . They appreciated her
advocacy, tenacity, and commitment to Lexington and its students.
Superintendent’s Announcement:
None.
School Committee Member Announcements:
None.
Consent Agenda:
1. Vote to Accept a Donation from Lexington Chamber of Commerce to the Lexington High School
Jazz Band Program in the Amount of $300.00 - Motion approved 5-0
2. Approval of School Department Payroll Warrant dated February 16, 2018 - Motion approved 5-0
3. Approval of School Department accounts Payable Warrant dated February 23, 2018 - Motion
approved 5-0
4. Vote to Approve School Committee Minutes of December 19, 2017 - Motion approved 5-0
5. Vote to Approve Joint Permanent Building Committee and School Committee Minutes of
December 21, 2017 – Motion approved 5-0
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LSC Meeting 2/27/18
Minutes Approved by SC – 5-8-2018
Agenda:
1. Fiscal Year 2018 Second Quarter Financial Report
Ian Dailey, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations, gave a brief overview of the
2018 Second Quarter Financial Report.
The School Department currently projects a surplus of $320,460 from the approved Fiscal Year
2018 Budget. This represents a surplus of approximately 0.32% of the total School Department
budget. $616,849 of the total projected surplus resides in the Salary & Wages portion of the
budget while a deficit of $296,390 resides in the expense portion of the budget.
Highlights:
Description of Activities – Salaries & Wages:
o Salary Differential
o Vacancies
o Leaves of Absence
o General Budgetary Management/Budget to Actual Variances
o One time budgetary savings/additional notes
Important to note that the FY2018 budget includes amounts that are not
realized and will not continue in future budget cycles.
Additionally, the Early Childhood Revolving Fund, which charges tuition
for regular education students who attend the program, has
accumulated a balance over the past 10 years.
Description of Activities – Transfers:
o In order to address shifting needs across the district, the transfers below are
required. A summary of Fiscal Year 2018 budget transfers from the Second
Quarter Financial Report can be found in Table 7 below:
Move that the School Committee approve the transfers outlined in Table 7 of Fiscal Year 2018 Second
Quarter Financial Report, per School Committee Policy DBJ. (Steigerwald/Alessandrini)
Motion was approved 5-0.
2. Discussion on School Safety Protocols and March 14 Student/Staff Response
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LSC Meeting 2/27/18
Minutes Approved by SC – 5-8-2018
Shawn Newell, Assistant Director of Facilities, and Chris Bouchard, LHS Facilities Manager, led the
discussion on security at Lexington High School. The discussion was centered on the number of
doors at the high school.
Mr. Bouchard explained that at Special Town Meeting in October, LPS will be moving forward to
request funds to implement a centrally controlled system for locking doors at the high school.
Currently, there are 96 door leafs at the high school with 16 locked throughout the day and 78
unlocked during the school day. With this project, the hope is to limit the number of doors that
are unlocked during the day.
School Committee members asked whether the glass entrance doors at the elementary schools
could potentially be a security problem if there were an intruder. Director of Facilities Mike
Cronin tested the bullet proof glass with the police department at another district and
unbreakable glass is not fully there yet. He will keep an eye out on any updates to bullet proofing
glass doors.
The Department of Facilities is not only looking at locking doors at the High School, but also
potentially changing parking assignments to restrict access at the High School as well.
Emily Weinberg (10th grader at LHS) spoke about the planned Walkout on March 14 to protest
gun violence following the Parkland, FL shooting. She has helped organize this student walkout
at the High School and is finding students at Clarke and Diamond who are also interested in
participating.
The high school students are trying to plan this walkout to take place at the Battle Green, write
articles, and take pictures during the walkout. They aim to make this an empowering movement
towards change. This walkout is to show “what being a community is all about and how we can
all take care of each other.”
LEA President Andrew Baker spoke on behalf of teachers. He felt that there is something hopeful
about this time because it seems different now that young people are involved and demanding a
change. Many teachers and staff want to stand in solidarity. Mr. Baker asked questions of the
School Committee about the extent to which it is feasible under collective bargaining for faculty
to walk out along with the students. There were questions as to whether it would be looked at as
a potential strike. For the students who do not want to participate, there will need to be
teachers who have to stay back to supervise.
The School Committee discussed the possibility of consequences for staff, teachers, and students
for the civil disobedience of leaving the classroom. The School Committee would like to come to
a district-wide agreement as this would apply to all schools. The walkout is part of a nationwide
planned event on March 14. School Committee will need to speak to legal counsel about the
options for a district response and the possible implications for teachers and students. Creating a
safety plan and sticking to it could possibly alleviate some potential problems.
Dawn McKenna – 9 Hancock Street, Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member - Students are getting
civically engaged and we should encourage it. As long as students organize a rally, no matter the
cause, it should be supported.
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LSC Meeting 2/27/18
Minutes Approved by SC – 5-8-2018
Pastor Brent Maracle – 451 Lowell Street – Pastor Maracle is concerned about lack of
consequences for students and teachers. He feels that consequences are important for young
people because suffering consequences will make them feel that they are making a conscious
statement. Consequences should be outlined in advance of the Walkout.
Many other community members spoke on the March 14 Walkout. The Walkout is going to
happen whether or not it is agreed upon by the school administration. The goal is to make this
walkout as safe as possible for the students.
The School Committee will take a stand on this Walkout by sending a letter to state and Federal
officials from the School Committee. There will be many concerns during the Walkout nationally,
but in the weeks going forward the School Committee will work with the Superintendent and
town officials and police to make this event as safe as possible for students. The School
Committee will follow up with the Superintendent and LPS legal counsel regarding the
consequences for the civil disobedience.
Motion to adjourn. (Alessandrini/Colburn)
The Motion was approved 5-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:58 p.m.
Meeting Materials: Agenda; A.1- Agenda Item Summary, Second Quarter Salaries and Wages Budget –
Detail, Second Quarter Expenses Budget - Detail A.2- Agenda Item Summary