Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-03-15-SC-min Page 58 March 15, 1976 On Monday evening March 15, 1976, the Lexington School Committee conducted a meeting at Clarke Junior High School. The meeting began at 8:00 p.m. Present were Mrs.Swanson, Messrs. Brown, Wadsworth, Michelman, Rotberg. Also present were Miss Quinn, Messrs. Spiris, Barnes, Maclnnes, Monderer. Mrs. Ruth Parton, 6 Abbott Rd. , voiced her opinion concerning the PUBLIC School Committee rule against public dialogue during public participa- PARTICIPATION tion. She said that it was true that one or two citizens could consume all the time available and perhaps a time allotment should be con- sidered in order that more citizens could speak. She also requested either an oral or written response to points or questions raised by citi- zens. With neither type of response citizens feel they have not been heard. She concluded saying that she hoped the School Committee would consider both of her suggestions since there was mutual concern for im- proving communications. Dr. Kenneth Hoffman, Chairman of the Educational Program Study Com- EDUCATIONAL mittee presented remarks regarding the Summary Report and the methodo- PROGRAM STUDY logy used in the study. He reviewed the charge and described the tasks COMMITTEE of describing the five town-wide curricular frameworks and the examining of the educational process. He then read pages 33-39 of the Summary. He outlined the techniques and procedures used (interviews, surveys, etc.) as the committee sought to complete its charge. The School Com- mittee received copies of the summary and documents regarding the method- ology and procedures of the Educational Program Study Committee. The School Committee thanked Dr. Hoffman and his committee for their fine work. Mr. Michelman then asked what the plans were for future discussion. Dr. Hoffman expressed his committee's hope that a discussion be held within 2 weeks with the School Committee. Dr. Rotberg noted his hope to discuss individual segments of the report and the explicit and implicit recommendations of the report. In summary it was agreed to consider the matter of a plan for future disucssion of the Educational Program Study Committee report. It was MINUTES 2/9/76 VOTED: to accept the minutes of February 9, 1976 as amended. (Brown, Wadsworth, Unanimous) VOTED: to accept the minutes of February 23, 1976 as corrected. 2/23/76 VOTED: to accept the minutes of March 1, 1976 as presented. (Brown, 3/1/76 Wadsworth, Unanimous) VOTED: to accept the minutes of March 2, 1976 as presented. 3/2/76 (Brown, Wadsworth, Unanimous) Page 59 March 15, 1976 SCHOOL DEPARTMENT PAYMENTS SCHEDULE OF Personal Services PAYMENTS March 5, 1976 Classified Payroll #18 NC $ 69,129.14 March 12, 1976 Professional Payroll #19 C 400,302.71 Expenses March 5, 1976 Bill Schedules #124 6,400.39 March 5, 1976 #125 4,773.52 March 5, 1976 #126 4,603.41 March 5, 1976 #127 3,095.63 March 12, 1976 #128 3,561.20 March 12, 1976 #129 5,063.26 March 12, 1976 #130 20,699.55 Vocational Education March 5, 1976 Transportation #18 V 71.76 March 12, 1976 Transportation #19 V 107.92 March 12, 1976 Tuition #20 V 4,120.00 Athletics March 5, 1976 Bill Schedules #22 8,402.33 March 12, 1976 #23 440.27 March 12, 1976 Payrolls #21 867.00 March 12, 1976 #22 655.00 Out-of-State Travel March 12, 1976 Bill Schedule #11 140.00 SPECIAL PROGRAMS (Non-Lexington Funds) Adult Education March 12, 1976 Professional Payroll 924.80 Driver Education (Adult Education) March 12, 1976 Professional Payroll 839.50 Metco March 5, 1976 Classified Payroll #11 NC 1,297.69 March 12, 1976 Professional Payroll 3,753.75 March 5, 1976 Bill Schedule #6 26,230.38 Teacher Training Program II March 5, 1976 Classified Payroll #12 NC 96.80 March 12, 1976 Professional Payroll 368.85 March 12, 1976 Bill Schedule #12 1,430.20 Title III - Administrative Grant March 5, 1976 Classified Payroll #11 105.00 LAB-Pre-Vocational Life Care Program March 5, 1976 Classified Payroll #13 1,182.75 March 12, 1976 Professional Payroll 875.46 Page 60 March 15, 1976 LEADS SCHEDULE OF March 5, 1976 Classified Payroll #12 NC $ 545.77 PAYMENTS March 5, 1976 Bill Schedules #11 175.00 (CONT'D.) March 12, 1976 #12 148.60 March 12, 1976 Professional Payroll 1,403.87 Title I PL 89-313 Spec. Ed. March 12, 1976 Professional Payroll - 102.89 Autistic Program (Lexington) March 5, 1976 Classified Payroll #12 280.80 March 12, 1976 Professional Payroll 717.96 March 5, 1976 Bill Schedule #6 50.00 Autistic Program (Arlington) March 5, 1976 Classified Payroll #13 153.60 March 12, 1976 Professional Payroll 2,667.45 Multi-Handicapped (Burlington) March 5, 1976 Classified Payroll #12 120.00 March 12, 1976 Professional Payroll 473.65 Low Income Reading Program March 5, 1976 Classified Payroll #1 98.26 Pre-School Program (Burlington) March 5, 1976 Classified Payroll #11 240.00 March 12, 1976 Professional Payroll 1,475.78 Pre-School Program (Bedford) March 12, 1976 Professional Payroll 311.23 ACE Program March 12, 1976 Bill Schedule - #6 753.48 Annex Magnet (Metco) March 12, 1976 Bill Schedule #1 9,000.00 Upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools it was NEW PERSONNEL (PROFESSIONAL) VOTED: to accept the following New Personnel (Brown, Michelman, Unan.) Upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools it was PERSONNEL CHANGE (CLASSIFIED) VOTED: to accept the following personnel changes (classified). (Brown, Michelman, Unanimous) Page 61 March 15, 1976 Upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools it was VOTED: to accept the following personnel changes (professional) (Brown, Michelman, Unanimous) Rescind Contract Resignation Maternity Leave Mr. Michelman asked if it were appropriate to present views on BUDGET budget items already discussed. An affirmative answer by Mrs.Swanson 1976-1977 led to Mr. Michelman' s presentation of suggestions regarding budget items as follows: 1) to increase the teacher salary account by $26,000 to re-instate specialists 2) to increase the teacher salary account by $13,000 in order to add one Kindergarten teacher 3) to provide a stipend for the high school drama coach 4) to decrease custodial wages by deleting 4 matrons from the budget 5) to eliminate funds budgeted for towel service Item 1 Motion: to increase the teacher salary amount in budget by $26,000 in order to maintain present Staff (specialists--Art, Music, Phys. Ed. , Foreign Languages) levels. (Michelman, Rotberg) Mr. Michelman explained his concern for the reduction that he felt would lead to split schedules, reduced service, spreading out of student contact and was in opposition to the recommendation of program directors. He felt appraisal before reduction was necessary. In this case no plan for redeployment had been presented. Dr. Rotberg supported these comments and noted it would be a step backward in providing quality educational services to Lexington students. A vote on the motion was called. Yes - Michelman, Rotberg No - Brown, Wadsworth, Swanson Item #2 Motion: the statistical K information was reviewed. Mr. Michelman expressed his concern with possible high class sizes. Mr. Spiris said he met with K teachers and they were requesting a Page 62 March 15, 1976 maximum of 15 students per class. He said he supported this ultimate goal, but it was too soon to accommodate the request. He would support an additional K teacher in September if numbers dictated. A vote on the motion was called. Yes - Michelman, Rotberg No - Brown, Wadsworth, Swanson Item #3 Motion: Mr. Michelman inquired as to whether sufficient money would be placed in the budget for a dramatics advisor at Lexington High School. He felt this area was vital to students. Mr. Spiris responded saying that it may be necessary to increase the stipend since we have ex- pected so much of the person. He said he will bring additional information to the committee in the fall. Item #4 Motion: Mr. Michelman said he doubted that custodial services requested would produce a net savings on the budget. He felt the $21,000 increase could make an impact if it were planned to relate to cutting vandalism. He suggested that perhaps a better male-female ratio with- in existing positions would assist. It was moved: to reduce the budget by $21,000. Yes - Michelman, Rotberg No - Brown. Wadsworth, Swanson Item #5 Motion: Mr. Michelman expressed his reservations about support- ing funds for towel service for students. He noted the financial value of the service was equal to the salaries of two teachers. He felt he could not justify the cost for towels. He stated that the money should be spent on educational purposes. Mr. Spiris pointed out that the committee supported mandatory physical education as a requirement for grad- uation. Taking away towel service would not give some an opportunity to fulfill the requirement. It was moved: by Mr. Michelman and seconded by Dr. Rotberg: to eliminate the sum of $23,676 in the 1976-1977 budget for towel services. A vote was called: Yes - Michelman, Rotberg No - Brown, Wadsworth, Swanson Mr. George Coules presented a report on the status of the Driver DRIVER ED Education Program in Lexington Public Schools. He noted that approx- REPORT imately 350 students are enrolled presently and that behind the wheel instruction and classroom requirements have been improved. In conclusion he noted that the program which has a staff of 13 teachers was self-sus- taining. Page 63 March 15, 1976 The committee thanked Mr. Coules for his fine report. A review of the school lunch program was given by Mrs. Dorothy SCHOOL LUNCH Griffin, Coordinator of the Program. She outlined her visits to schools PROGRAM and of the interviews of students regarding the program. She agreed with Dr. Rotberg to allow students to have an input in the program when it involved food preferences. Dr. Rotberg requested that consideration be given to removing cured meats from the menu, due to nitrates and nitrites. Mrs. Griffin said there was conflicting testimony on the topic, but would study the matter. The committee thanked Mrs. Griffin for her informative report. It was moved to GRIEVANCE rescind the vote to deny Grievance #PSC-75-76-4. (Michelman, Rotberg, Unanimous) It was moved to: grant Grievance #PSC-75-76-4. (Michelman, Brown, Unanimous) Mr. Frank Michelman accepted the appointment as school committee EDCO representative to EDCO. REPRESENTATIVE It was VOTED: to go into Executive Session at 10:50 p.m. to discuss the char- acter and reputation of an employee. It was announced that the School Committee would not be returning to open public session. (Michelman, yes; Rotberg, yes; Brown, yes; Wadsworth, yes; Swanson, yes) Respectfully submitted, / Richard H. Ba es /k Recording S retary, Pro tem