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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-11-01-SC-min Page 178 November 1, 1977 The Lexington School Committee met at the School Administration Building, Tuesday, November 1, 1977, at 8:00 p.m. Those in attendance were: Swanson, Brown, Michelman, Hoffman, Gaudet and student represent- ative Miller. Also present were Lawson, Spiris, Barnes, Pierson, Mon- derer and Maclnnes. The following updated administrators' roles were discussed: Super- ADMINISTRATORS intendent, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Assistant Superin- ROLE tendent for Personnel, Administrative Assistant for Business, Director of Pupil Services, Director of Planning and Research, High School Prin- cipal, Assistant Principal and Housemaster. Suggestions for deletions and additions were made to some Central Office administrators roles. Mr. Barnes was asked to incorporate these suggestions in the final role description document. The superintendent said that this would be done. During the discussion of the role of principal, Mr. Hoffman suggest- ed that the role of the principal include a statement that suggested trans- mission of ideas upward from teachers to principals to administration. He said this would encourage the free flow of thought. The superinten- dent responded that a statement would be incorporated in the final docu- ment. Mr. Hoffman suggested that this comment also be contained in the role of the housemaster, department head, etc. Members of the committee said they had additional questions regarding the roles of the principal, housemaster, department head, etc., in relation to budget development, teaching, evaluation, etc. , but would defer discussion until Dr. Clune made his presentation of the high school program. It was agreed to dis- cuss these items at a future meeting. Mrs. Swanson concluded the dis- cussion of the administrators° role descriptions by saying that she hoped that some acknowledgement of the work that had been accomplished in areas such as the re-writing of administrators' role descriptions, etc. , would appear in the local newspaper. Upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools it was NEW PERSONNEL (PROFESSIONAL) VOTED: to accept the following new personnel. (Brown, Michelman, Unani- mous) Upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools it was PERSONNEL CHANGES VOTED:to accept the following personnel changes (classified) (CLASSIFIED) Retirement New Personnel Rescind "Re-Election" Page 179 November 1, 1977 SCHOOL DEPARTMENT BUDGETS Personal Services October 21, 1977 Professional Payroll #98 $429,548.78 Expenses October 28,1977 Bill Schedules #50 7,253.92 October 28, 1977 #51 3,291.56 October 28, 1977 #52 3,914.52 October 28, 1977 #53 40,048.49 Out-of-State Travel October 28, 1977 Bill Schedule #3 357.66 Athletics October 28, 1977 Bill Schedules #10 1,903.29 October 21, 1977 Payroll #3 997.00 SPECIAL PROGRAMS (Non-Lexington Funds) Adult Education October 21, 1977 Professional Payroll 1,252.00 METCO Program October 21, 1977 Professional Payroll 3,061.89 LEADS Program October 21, 1977 Professional Payroll 856.19 PL 94-142 Grant October 21, 1977 Professional Payroll 603.84 October 28, 1977 Bill Schedule #3 4.14 PL 89-313 Grant October 21, 1977 Professional Payroll 548.69 The School Committee discussed a letter received from Town Manager, UNEMPLOYMENT Robert M. Hutchinson, Jr. , requesting that the school committee express COMPENSATION its feelings about the possibility of the Town designating a single ad- STATE AND LOC ministrative agency to handle claims for unemployment compensation. In GOVERNMENT addition, the Town Manager noted that school crossing guards were eligi- EMPLOYEES ble for unemployment compensation unless they were funded through the academic budget of the Town. He asked the school committee to consider adding last year' s cost of crossing guards, ($42,000) to the school budget. The couuuittee expressed its concern with three questions: 1) What are the legal ramifications to the School Committee/School Depart- ment by having unemployment for school employees handled through a gen- eral town government agency? 2) What are the school committee's legal responsibilities in the matter of un-employment? 3) What are the conse- quences of providing school crossing guards eligibility for unemploy- ment compensation? The school committee asked the superintendent to research the matter with Town Counsel. The superintendent agreed to do this. Action on this item was deferred until information is pre- sented by the superintendent. Page 180 November 1, 1977 Geoff Pierson announced that the Lexington Public Schools had been TEACHER TRAIN- selected by the Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children ING PROGRAM IN to participate in a teacher training program funded by the Rockefeller PHILOSOPHICAL Foundation. He said that the program would operate from January to June, REASONING 1978, and would involve twelve 5th or 6th grade teachers in weekly semi- nars. He said that hopefully every elementary school would participate in the program. He noted that the program had been introduced to several Lexington staff last spring, through an EDCO sponsored workshop which has been initiated by the interest of Ray Karras, social studies teacher at the high school. Dr. Pierson said that Karras would coordinate Lex- ington's participation in the program. Mr. Michelman said he hoped it would be possible for junior high teachers to participate in the program. Geoff Pierson replied that there would be room for some junior high tea- chers and system administrators. Mr. Michelman also noted that part of the program was an orientation for parents. Dr. Pierson said the parent orientation was a critical part of the program. He also noted that there would be a formal evaluation of the program. Mr. Hoffman said that in his review of the materials he felt that the focus was on logic rather than philosophy. Mrs. Gaudet asked if the program would be a values clarification process. Dr. Pierson said it would not be that type of approach but one that would focus on teaching basic skills in a far more deliberate way than is customarily done in the schools. The focus of the program was not to have the student get the right answer but rather how and why not. Dr. Pierson also said it was not the schools' responsibility to teach value judgement, but to focus on a process of mechanics to develop good judgment. The school committee expressed its unanimous support for Lexington's participation in the program, and com- plimented Dr. Pierson for the initiation project. The October 1, 1977 Child Count for Special Education was presented CHILD COUNT FOR to the school committee. The figures presented listed Lexington Public SPECIAL EDUCA- Schools students only. In reviewing the statistics, Mr. Michelman asked TION why the figures were so disproportionate among the schools. He wondered if there was good cause to look into the spread. Dr. Monderer noted that the degree of caution that the schools used in placing children in categories would have some effect on the way the figures were determined. He also said that there was great variance among the schools. Mr. Michel- man wondered if similar services were available for all special needs children and if requirements varied in the individual schools, budget ramifications could result. Mrs. Swanson said that it didn' t seem logi- cal that the number and type of variations noted in the chart should oc- cur. She said an individual school should not have its own policy regard- ing services available. She felt that all schools needed uniformity and follow-up should occur. Dr. Monderer said that there would be follow-up and asked the school committee to forward any suggestions that they may have to him. The METCO count as of October 11, 1977, was presented which listed METCO COUNT 271 pupils as registered in the Lexington Public Schools. 1977-78 3 Kage 181 November 1, 1977 Geoff Pierson presented a tentative outline for the study of in- INSTRUCTION'C structional grouping. He said that as an outgrowth of discussion with GROUPING STLT professional staff, parents, administrators and school committee members a study of instructional grouping practices in grades K-12 would take place this school year. He said the study would be under his directicn with assistance from Harvard University intern Steve Tracy. He said the goals of the study were to identify grouping procedures currently in use to analyze their effect and to make recommendations to improve their effectiveness. Areas to be examined included a review of the re- search, analysis of current practices and transitions between elementary and junior high school levels and the junior high school and high school level. A sample of current practices to be reviewed would include such heterogeneous groupings, special abilities program, performance levels, homogeneous grouping, phase placements and the elective system. He said that he would present an interim report on March 1, 1978. The committee expressed its support for the study. Mr. Hoffman added that if possible the study might consider the primary possible ef- fect that homogeneous grouping has on the attitudes of teaching staff. Mr. Michelman said that perhaps it might be interesting to find out how placement influenced student achievement and how achievement influenced placement. Dr. Pierson noted that it would not be possible to research every area but felt the study would be comprehensive. Mr. Barnes announced that the theme of American Education Week for AMERICAN this year was, "Working Together for Education". He then read a news EDUCATION WE? release from the superintendent that would appear in the Lexington news- paper inviting parents and citizens to attend American Education Week activities. The release also emphasized that parents and citizens were welcome at the schools any time. Mr. Michelman announced that EDCO would conduct a law institute EDCO LAW for school committee members, administrators and other interested par- INSTITUTE ties. He hoped that anyone interested would attend. It was EXECUTIVE SESSION VOTED: to adjourn to executive session at 10:14 p.m. to discuss matters dealing with negotiations. (Hoffman, yes; Gaudet; yes; Michelman, yes; Swanson, yes; Brown, yes) . Respee fully submit , 'f hard H. Barnes /k Recording,,;Secretary