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Home My WebLink About1976-05-17-SC-min Page 99 May. 17, 1976 On Monday evening May 17, 1976 the Lexington School Committee con- ducted a meeting at the Clarke Junior High School. The meeting began at 8: 15 p.m. Present were Mrs. Swanson, Messrs. Brown, Michelman, Rot- berg, Wadsworth, and student representative Nancy Abelmann. Also pre- sent were Messrs. Spiris, Barnes, Monderer. Mr. Gerald Abegg of 261 Waltham Street, requested that the school PUBLIC committee continue the Redistribution Committee and Financial Implica- PARTICIPATION tions Committees. He felt that several questions had been posed that needed responses in the near future. He said that the redistricting materials submitted by the Advisory Committee were based upon the 1974- 75 year, and suggested that the Advisory Committee monitor new infor- mation in the months ahead and continuously provide the school committee with up-to-date information. He also noted that the Financial Implica- tion committee provided cost analysis to the school committee, which also needed reinterpretation due to the fact that state reimbursements had now changed drastically. He felt that these committees would be the most appropriate body to monitor the latest information and make recom- mendations to the school committee. In conclusion he requested that the two committees be standing committees rather than have their ser- vices terminated. A brief discussion was held on a letter received from Mr. John LETTER FROM Deutch regarding the January 12, minutes. After discussion it was JOHN DEUTCH VOTED: to incorporate the letter from Mr. Deutch into the minutes of January 12, 1976. (Brown, Michelman, Unanimous) Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent it was SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS VOTED: to accept the following Schedule of Payments. (Brown, Michelman, Unanimous) SCHOOL DEPARTMENT BUDGETS Personal Services May 14, 1976 Classified Payroll #23 $65,762.51 Expenses May 14, 1976 Bill Schedule #159 5,492.82 May 14, 1976 #160 64,511.60 Out-of-State Travel May 14, 1976 Bill Schedule #19 365.00 Athletics May 14, 1976 Bill Schedule #31 494.94 May 21, 1976 Payroll #27 136.00 Vocational Education May 14, 1976 Transportation #25 147.68 Page 100 May 17, 1976 SPECIAL PROGRAMS (Non-Lexington Funds) METCO Program May 14, 1976 Classified Payroll #17 $ 1,308.13 May 14, 1976 Bill Schedule #9 13,627.20 Teacher Training Program II Nay 14, 1976 Classified Payroll #18 96.00 LAB Pre-Vocational Life Care Program May 14, 1976 Classified Payroll #19 1,182.75 May,14, 1976 Bill Schedule #16 34.06 LEADS Program May 14, 1976 Classified Payroll #17 400.88 Autistic Program (Arlington) May 14, 1976 Classified Payroll #19 153.60 May 14, 1976 Bill Schedule #12 25.09 Autistic Program (Lexington) May 14, 1976 Classified Payroll #18 280.80 May 14, 1976 Bill Schedule #7 17.07 Multiple Handicapped (Burlington) May 14, 1976 Classified Payroll #17 240.00 Pre-K Burlington May 14, 1976 Classified Payroll #16 456.00 ESEA Library May 14, 1976 Bill Schedule #6 52.73 ESEA Math May 14, 1976 Bill Schedule #2 333.91 ACE Program May 14, 1976 Bill Schedule #11 2,114.75 Mr. Wadsworth moved to discharge both the Financial Implications ADVISORY Committee and the Pupil Redistribution Committee. Themotion was COMMITTEES seconded by Mr. Brown. REDISTRICTING - FINANCIAL IMPLI Mr. Michelman began the discussion by stating that the vote by the CATIONS school committee on February 9, to move ahead with school closings was in his opinion premature since there were determinations yet to be made regarding policies within the Lexington Schools that could give the school committee an opportunity to explore other alternatives. He said that if the committee were to explore other alternatives such as the large school concept versus small school concept, the closing down of sections of large buildings, advisory committees would be needed to re- view data and make recommendations to the school committee. He suggest- ed that the present committees could do similar analyses of the items that he mentioned as they did with the school closing issues. In summa- tion he suggested that committees should explore all alternatives in depth and recommended that the committees be authorized to continue as advisory committees. Page 103 May 17, 1976 Mr. William Terris, program manager and principal of Estabrook School,SOCIAL STUDIES explained the social studies summer program as one that would focus on the rewriting of units, the in-service education of staff, and the up- dating of references within units. Dr. Rotberg commented that the Edu- cational Program Study Committee report also suggested that this was an area of importance due to the fact that some of the materials were out of date. A vote was called: (Yes, Michelman, Brown, Unanimous) The principal of Franklin School and program manager of language LANGUAGE ARTS arts, Miss Elizabeth Murray, presented the language arts proposal for the pilot program at the Franklin School this coming year. She noted that originally the program was not just confined to Franklin School, but the budgetary cut request did affect the size of the program. She said, however, that she would give demonstrations and disseminate the results during the next school year with all staffs. Dr. Rotberg voiced his support for the proposal and complimented Miss Murray for the work- shops that she had conducted previously in other buildings, stating that the feedback was most impressive. A vote was called: (Brown, Michelman, Unanimous) Mr. Foley, program manager for mathematics, and principal of Parker MATHEMATICS School, reviewed the objectives of the summer workshop request. After a brief discussion a vote was called. (Brown, Michelman, Unanimous) Miss Evelyn Brega, Coordinator of Foreign Languages reviewed the FOREIGN proposal and objectives of the summer program. LANGUAGES A vote was called: (Yes, Michelman, Rotberg, Unanimous) Mr. Warren Winslow, teacher at the Clarke Junior High School, pre- SCHOOL VANDALISM sented his proposal regarding a request for a school vandalism summer workshop. He said that it would be a comprehensive report, and would contain specific recommendations, and it would pull together all of the procedures recommended to curtail and lessen school vandalism. He com- mented that he had experience in this area, because his graduate program was on school vandalism. Mrs. Swanson said that it did seem like a good idea, but felt there was so much being done now, such as local and region- al conferences and magazine articles devoting suggestions to local school systems, that she could not recommend a summer program on this. Mr. Michelman said that he questioned the proposal. This kind of proposal was not in his viewpoint a professional development program, but one of administrative needs. Mr. Brown said that perhaps this could be a lead- ership proposal for next year, subject to review of the committee, but did not see it as a viable summer workshop. There being no motion on the proposal, it was not accepted. Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent it was PERSONNEL CHANGES VOTED: to accept the following personnel changes. (Brown, Michelman, Unanimous. Leave of Absence Page 104 May 17, 1976 Mrs. Swanson announced there would be a professional consultation on phasing and a date was being arranged. She also said that the June 21, school committee meeting would be held at the Minuteman Vocational High School. Dr. Rotberg disagreed with the place of the meeting stating that since the school was not under the control of the school committee, it would not be acceptable to meet there. Also he felt that this would be Dr. Lawson's first meeting in the Lexington Public Schools with the school committee and it should be held in a Lexington school. Dr. Rot- berg said that although it was a nice gesture, he felt procedurely, he could not agree to it. Mrs. Swanson said that in a sense of coopera- tion, and the fact that Lexington sends students there, it would seem most appropriate to work closely with the Minuteman School. Mr. Michel- man commented that he had no objection to meeting there on some occasion, but felt it would be most appropriate to meet in a Lexington school on June 21, due to the fact that this would be Dr. Lawson's first school committee meeting in Lexington. It was voted to adjourn at 11:25 p.m. , to Executive Session to discuss the reputation and character of one or more individuals. It was announced that the school committee would not be returning to pub- lic session. (Yes, Brown; Yes, Swanson; Yes, Michelman; Yes, Wadsworth; Yes, Rotberg) . Respectfully submitted, is arfi d H. �es /k RecordialvSecretary, Pro Tem