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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-02-24-SC-min Page 62 February 24, 1975 The regular meeting of the Lexington School Committee came to order at 7:30 p.m. at Unit F of Lexington High School. Present were Messrs. Currier, Rotberg, and Wadsworth, Mesdames Berchtold, Davison, and Swanson. Also present were Messrs. Barnes, Maclnnes, Dr. Fobert and Mrs. Cummings. Mrs. Barbara Hills, representing the Munroe Building Survey Committee, read a statement regarding the results of a questionnaire which was sent to Munroe parents. Fred Tarr, speaking for the Munroe, Parker, Hancock and Muzzay PTSA, read a statement regarding the importance of the neightborhood school. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Ms. Claire Zalewski, representing the LEA, Ms. Sylvia Schatz, Franklin School, and Ms. Anne Lane, Bowman School, made comments regarding the value of the Science specialists. Ms. Zalewski quoted Article VII of the LEA contract which states that "the committee, where educationally and financially feasible, shall make an effort to continue, in effect, the present number and areas of special teachers for the life of the agreement." It was VOTED: To approve the names of the following citizens to sit on the EDUCATIONAL committee to study the educational program in the Lexington Public PROGRAM Schools. COMMITTEE James C. Beck Martha Hauptman Nancy Bender Kenneth M. Hoffman Marjorie Daggett Melvin G. Holland Ronald R. Edmonds Robert Turvene (Davison, Swanson, Unanimous) Dr. Fobert reviewed his February 24, 1975 memorandum to the school committee which stated that the cost of living increase for the 1975-76 salary schedule is 7.5% rather than 8.5%. This reduces the budget by $112,973 giving a new figure of $14,272,244 and still contains a reduction of fifteen professional staff. Dr. Fobert said that Mr. William Read, 1/2 time Assistant Principal at Harrington and also a 1/2 time elementary teacher in the fall. This will reduce the number of specialists from 4 1/2 to 4. He added that as schedules for teaching specialists at the elementary level in art, music, physical education and French are developed, it may be possible without reducing teaching ratios, to reduce by 1/2 or less in each area. He recommended that the total decrease in staff remain at 15 to provide the administration with the flexibility to assign staff where needs occur. Page 63 February 24, 1975 A discussion regarding the 1975-76 budget request of $8,000 for the summer coop program was tabled at a previous meeting. Mr. Rotberg SUMMER COOP MOVED to remove the MOTION from the table. The committee agreed PROGRAM unanimously to this action. Mrs. Swanson said she would not support a 60% increase and questioned the legality of the school committee to support the program while having no control over it. Mr. Wadsworth agreed and recommended that we keep the figure at $5,000. Responding to questions from Mr. Wadsworth, Mrs. Krensky described the program, staff requirements and attempts to raise money to supplement the budget figure. Mrs. Davison remarked that the students require an active program such as the one described and felt that this is an expense that the school committee should support and hoped it would give its vote of approval. Mr. Currier felt the program was unique in the town and should be supported. He noted that $8,000 is not a huge amount of money. Mrs. Swanson suggested that the request go through Town Meeting to be voted on by the citizens of Lexington. Dr. Fobert told the committee that he discovered an error in addition in the coop budget. He requested the MOTION be changed to reflect the true figure of $7,386 in place of $8,000. A vote was called to approve the request for $7,386. (Rotberg, Davison, YES, Swanson, Wadsworth, Berchtold, NO) Mr. Wadsworth made a MOTION which was seconded by Mrs. Swanson, to increase the summer coop budget by $1,000 for a grand total of $6,000, for the year 1975-76. Asked by Mrs. Davison for his rationale behind a $1,000 increase, Mr. Wadsworth explained that he allowed a 10% increase for cost of living($400) plus $600 for the winter coordinator. A vote was called. The committee unanimously agreed to this MOTION. Mrs. Swanson asked that a ruling be obtained from Town Counsel on the school committee's relationship in this program. SCIENCE At a previous meeting, Mr. Spiris mentioned that he had received SPECIALISTS information from the Science Specialists regarding the program and asked the school committee to hear it before making any decisions. Dr. Fobert asked Mr. Lawrence Costanza, a Science Specialist, to review the results of the questionnaire which was sent to all elementary teachers directly involved in the teaching of science. He told the committee that ninety three teachers responded. An important conclusion from this survey was to call for continuing teacher involvement and training. Thus, workshops are being planned for teachers to attend on a voluntary basis. Page 64 February 24, 1975 At the February 18, 1975 meeting, Mrs. Davison made a MOTION, which was seconded by Mr. Rotberg, to TABLE discussion of the specialists until this evening. Mrs. Swanson MOVED to remove Mrs. Davison's MOTION from the table. Mr. Wadsworth, Mrs. Berchtold and Mrs. Davison were in agreement while Mr. Rotberg was in opposition to this action. SCIENCE SPECIALISTS (co Mrs. Berchtold told the audience that the committee was not questioning the specialists' performance or how they spend their time serving the students. The committee was examining a policy issue - that is - the level of staff to be provided and whether there is a total balance between the classroom teachers and specialists. She added that we are all faced with the need to scale down staff and noted that it will be necessary for the committee to make some hard decisions. She then presented some figures which she had compiled earlier regarding projected staffing needs and the number of teaching stations K-6 for the years 1969, 1974 and 1975. The information had been reviewed previously at a January meeting. For the year 1969 we had a total of 198 classroom teachers, including 16.5 at the kindergarten level. By 1974 the figure had dropped to 165.5 teachers with 12.5 at the kindergarten level. For 1975, the total number of teachers K-6 will drop to 156.5 but the number of kindergarten teachers will remain at 12.5. She noted that support staff rose from 72 in 1969 to 82.1 for 1975. This figure did not include town-wide staff. Because of the decline in enrollment, she questioned the need to keep all the specialists. She pointed out that some specialists consult directly with teachers rather than with students. The specialist/teacher ratio changed from 1:2.8 in 1969 to 1:1.9 in 1975. Mr. Rotberg said that if we took an enrollment decline of 5% the re- reduction of specialists would be .2 rather than 2.5 within a year. He asked the committee why emphasis was being placed on reduction in the science area and not in art, French, math or physical education. He suggested that we call upon the elementary principals in the audience to hear what they had to say about the reduction would have in the schools. Mrs. Davison also questioned the reasons for cutting only in the science area and not in any other. She said she could not see how we could withdraw a program without understanding the consequences. She felt we would be destroying the program if this is done. Mr. Wadsworth said that he has felt all along that too much support staff existed with the administration doing nothing to correct the situation. He felt that a reduction of science specialists would have the least effect on the system. Dr. Fobert commented that there was a question of reducing a program by degrees or destroying it. Two principals of elementary schools were called upon to give their views on the subject. Mr. William Terris of Estabrook School, supported the science program and suggested that eight specialists be added to the Social Studies department someday since there are none at present. Page 65 February 24, 1975 Mr. Edward Jacobus of Adams School supported the science program and said we should not underestimate the value of the specialists. He added that we should seriously consider the impact on the students and teachers if a reduction is made. The balance of the discussion included further comments from Mr. Abegg, Mr. Costanza, Mr. Turner and Mrs. Schatz. Mrs. Davison asked Mrs. Swanson if she woul consider making a MOTION to reduce the staff on the elementary level by two to take care of her concern regarding reduction in the budget. Mrs. Swanson declined. Mrs. Davison then made an amendment which was seconded by Mr. Rotberg, to amend Mrs. Swanson's MOTION to decrease the staff at the elementary level by two. She commented that if the consideration is the budget and total costs, she would prefer the superintendent to carry out our concern by adjusting his elementary staff by two. Dr. Fobert said he would like the flexibility to do this. He said he could implement this MOTION and not destroy the science program as it is now. Mrs. Berchtold said the program was not being destroyed and felt the intent of Mrs. Swanson's MOTION was clear. Dr. Fobert answered the a re- duction of 2 1/2 specialists would destroy the program. A vote was called on Mrs. Davison's MOTION. It was defeated 3-2. (Wadsowrth, Swanson, Berchtold, NO, Rotberg, Davison YES) . Mr. Rotberg then made an amendment which was seconded by Mrs. Davison, that since there is so much disagreement about the teaching of science in Lexington, the school committee should appoint a blue ribbon citizens' committee to investigate the teaching of science to see how it may be improved and whether it is overstaffed. This MOTION was defeated 3-2. (Wadsworth, Swanson, Berchtold, NO, Rotberg, Davison, YES) A vote was called on the original MOTION of Mrs. Swanson which was "To eliminate the category of elementary science specialists and establish a new title of science coordinator". The vote was 3-2 in favor. (Wadsworth, Berchtold, Swanson, YES. Davison, Rotberg NO) . Mrs. Davison asked Mrs. Berchtold if she would reconsider the vote at another time. Mrs. Berchtold said she would not unless new information was presented. The list of non-tenure personnel was presented for approval. After NON TENURE STAFF - 1975-76 a brief discussion, it was MOVED:TO approve the list of non-tenure staff for 75-76. (Rotberg, Wadsworth,seconded) Page 66 February 24, 1975 It was MOVED: To table the previous MOTION until the meeting of March 3, 1975. (Davison, Swanson, Unanimous) It was VOTED: To move to Executive Session at 10:20 p.m. to discuss a personnel matter. (Swanson, Wadsworth, Unanimous) The meeting adjourned at 12:15 a.m. Respectfully submitted, -Isabelle J. Cummings Recording ecretary