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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-12-20-SC-min Page 197 December 20, 1977 A regular meeting of the Lexington School Committee was held Decem- ber 20, 1977, at the school administration building. The meeting opened at 8:00 p.m. Those in attendance were Swanson, Brown, Michelman and Hoffman. Also present were Lawson, Maclnnes, Monderer, and student representative Miller. Sheila Wells, 20 Nichols Road, read a letter concerning the Parker PUBLIC School closing. She commented on Prudent Margin for possible error as PARTICIPATION it related to enrollment projections, METCO assignments, population trends and implications, transfer of students as determined by the com- mittee for reorganization of pupils. Deborah Kearney, 44 Harding Road, also presented a letter expressing her concerns. Mr. John Fresina, 23 No. Hancock Street, commented on a matter he felt had been overlooked at last week' s open meeting: the fact that the closing of Parker School and re-distribution of students would disrupt a very real, identifiable political and social community. He felt that the physical/geographic considerations had been taken into account, but that these two other concerns had not. He indicated that these very con- cerns had been addressed in the Nablo report, and expressed the hope that the school committee would include all three factors in their future de- liberations. Mrs. Swanson took the opportunity of this end-of-year meeting to express her gratitude to the school administrators and staff for an ex- cellent year. She noted that no one had expected to spend as much time as had been necessary on the school closing issue, but that she and other members of the school committee were aware and appreciative of the ef- forts of all staff and administration on the many other concerns in pro- viding good education for Lexington students. She said that her comments reflected not only her own sentiments, but those of many townspeople with whom she had come in contact. Mr. Michelman asked that the school committee consider and announce the next step in the Parker School closing plans. He noted that there remained issues unanswered or unaddressed by Committee members themselves, since it has recently been the role of the school committee to listen and absorb the many public concerns but not to respond. It was agreed that a portion of the January 3, agenda would be de- voted to the Parker issue. Both Mrs. Swanson and Mr. Michelman expressed the hope that any other citizen concerns or requests for information would be forthcoming so that all would feel that the issue had had a complete hearing. Mrs. Deborah Kearney asked to be heard again and noted that it was the understanding of the Parker P.T.A. that the school closing guidelines required a second open meeting if one was requested by a concerned group. She said that the letter she had presented earlier was a formal request for that second open meeting. Mrs. Swanson responded that there had been several open meetings on the issue, but that the school committee would consider the request and make a decision. Page 198 December 20, 1977 Mr. Robert Navarro, 43 Gleason Road, noted that at last week's meet- ing and again tonight, Mr. Michelman had said that there had been no dia- logue as yet. That dialogue, he said, is what the Parker parents were seeking in the two letters presented tonight. Mrs. Edith Sandy, 353 Emerson Road, asked if it would be possible for the school committee to look into redistributing the numbers going from Parker to Estabrook or Bridge. The present distribution, she con- tended, constitutes possible overcrowding at one school and lack of famil- iar peer group at another. Changing the distribution, she said, might address both issues. Mr. Jonathan Miller, Student Representative introduced two new mem- bers of the Student Advisory Board to the School Committee: Alison. Case and Howard Buck. They were welcomed by committee members. Mrs. Swanson asked Mr. Miller when the student group was planning to meet with the school committee. He responded that he hoped it would be soon, though he expected it would be a brief session, since the group had nothing concrete to discuss at this time. Dr. Lawson suggested a portion of one of the January agendas. Dr. Lawson then asked to respond briefly to Mrs. Sandy's redistri- bution suggestion. He said that he had referred the possibility to Mr. Barnes and Dr. DiGiaum.arino, and asked for any other division that would make sense. He reminded the committee that the Nablo report had con- sidered not only elementary school boundaries, but junior high assign- ments, in its distribution suggestions. He indicated, however, that this realignment of numbers was a question under consideration by the admini- stration. It was MINUTES EXECUTIVE VOTED: to approve November 22, 1977, executive session minutes. SESSION (Michelman, Brown, Unanimous) VOTED: to approve November 28, 1977 executive session minutes. (Michelman, Brown, Unanimous) The November 22, 1977 minutes were held for reading of revised MINUTES - Page 3. REGULAR It was VOTED: to approve November 28, 1977 minutes. (Michelman, Brown, Unanimous) It was SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS VOTED: to approve the Schedule of Payments. (Brown, Hoffman, Unanimous) Page 199 December 20, 1977 SCHOOL DEPARTMENT BUDGETS Personal Services November 25, 1977 Classified Payrolls #12-C $ 70,583.11 December 9, 1977 #13-C 74,229.57 November 18, 1977 Professional Payrolls #11-P 433,821.57 December 2, 1977 #12-P 428,248.88 Expenses November 18, 1977 Bill Schedules #70 2,011.80 November 18, 1977 #71 6,895.21 November 18, 1977 #72 19,466.73 November 25, 1977 #73 7,451.65 November 25, 1977 #74 4,405.55 November 25, 1977 #75 7,850.10 November 25, 1977 #76 8,129.44 November 25, 1977 #77 15,196.02 November 25, 1977 #78 6,376.71 November 25, 1977 #79 10,516.98 November 25, 1977 #80 1,035.09 December 2, 1977 #81 7,472.77 December 2, 1977 , #82 3,721.70 December 9, 1977 #83 3,314.51 December 9, 1977 #84 2,574.67 December 9, 1977 #85 3,216.80 December 9, 1977 #86 30,726.74 December 9, 1977 #87 22,034.75 December 9, 1977 #88 684.35 December 9, 1977 #89 6,634.04 December 16, 1977 #90 4,618.91 December 16, 1977 #91 20,321.34 December 16, 1977 #92 338.31 December 16, 1977 #93 11,703.63 December 16, 1977 #94 4,483.86 December 16, 1977 #95 7,566.09 Out-of-State Travel November 25, 1977 Bill Schedules #6 523.00 December 9, 1977 #7 810.21 December 16, 1977 #8 103.49 Athletics November 18, 1977 Payrolls #5 766.50 December 2, 1977 #6 779.00 November 25, 1977 Bill Schedules #13 2,879.08 December 9, 1977 #14 1,717.60 December 16, 1977 #15 2,574.23 Vocational Education November 18, 1977 Transportation #5-V 157.80 December 9, 1977 #6-V 499.76 Page 200 December 20, 1977 SPECIAL PROGRAMS - Non-Lexington Funds Adult Education November 18, 1977 Professional Payrolls $ 1,327.61 December 2, 1977 1,262.96 December 16, 1977 Bill Schedule #4 252.93 Driver Education (Adult Education) November 18, 1977 Professional Payrolls 867.34 December 2, 1977 1,358.59 December 16, 1977 Bill Schedule #4 283.43 METCO Program November 18, 1977 Professional Payrolls 3,384.39 December 2, 1977 4,098.14 November 25, 1977 Classified Payrolls 1,652.53 December 9, 1977 1,567.05 December 6, 1977 Bill Schedule #12 145.76 LEADS Program November 18, 1977 Professional Payrolls 856.19 December 2, 1977 856.19 November 25, 1977 Classified Payrolls 1,373.08 December 9, 1977 1,375.10 December 9, 1977 Bill Schedule #28 1,391.34 PL-94-142-Grant (Transition to Employment) November 18, 1977 Professional Payrolls 603.84 December 2, 1977 603.84 November 25, 1977 Classified Payrolls 410.55 December 9, 1977 450.66 November 25, 1977 Bill Schedules #4 89.59 December 16, 1977 #5 1,454.88 PL89-313 (Special Education) November 18, 1977 Professional Payroll 1,241.69 December 2, 1977 734.69 Pupil-School Material Recovery December 16, 1977 Bill Schedule #4 817.60 Bus Ticket December 16, 1977 Bill Schedule #2 2,599.80 Dr. Lawson commented on the Financial Statement summary. He noted FINANCIAL that the budget was within 1% of last year' s spending, and that expenses STATEMENT were as unpredictable as ever (weather, heating costs, e.g.) . Therefore, it would be premature to anticipate unexpended monies at this time. Page 201 December 20, 1980 Mr. Michelman indicated that, while the grievance may raise all L.E.A. GRIEVANCE levels of questions, he has satisfied himself that the contract was not 77-78-1 violated. Mrs. Swanson agreed that it boiled down to the legality of the grievance itself. He wished, however, that the grievance had not come before the school committee, and the fact that it di raised ques- tions about the relationship between strong teachers and administrators. Mr. Brown commented that the provisions comments seemed to reflect the feeling of the entire committee: that ruling on the grievance is a po- sition in which they have been placed, on which they must rule, and abouc which they have some concerns. It was VOTED: to deny the grievance. (Brown, Michelman, Unanimous) Dr. Lawson presented to the school committee members a response UNEMPLOYMENT from Mr. Robert Hutchinson concerning unemployment compensation. In COMPENSATION response to a question from Mr. Michelman, Dr. Lawson recommended that (1) the school committee should cooperate with the town wherever pos- sible, and (2) that the school committee suggest that the 40K be pre- sented as a separate article at Town Meeting, so that the amount is clearly not a school committee or administrative desire or request. It was VOTED: that the school committee authorize the superintendent to advise the town manager that the school committee will be pleased to cooperate with the board of selectmen in this matter, and carry the salaries for the school corssing guards . (Michelman, Brown, Unanimous) . Mrs. Swanson then asked if the school committee should pursue the separate article suggestion. Dr. Lawson responded that at least it should be a separate line item in Article 4. Mr. Maclnnes noted that it would have to be all on one line but might be asterisked. Mr. Michelman then suggested that it would be advisable for Mrs. Swanson to tell the board of selectmen that the school committee would like to flag this item in any way appropriate to them. It was RIGHTS OF STUDENTS POLICY VOTED: to accept the document as amended. (Michelman, Brown, Unanimous) (See attached) Related Arts Stipend - Junior High PERSONNEL CHANGES Mathematics Team Coach Re-Election (Second Election) Resi nation Page 202 December 20, 1977 Upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools it was PERSONNEL 1 CHANGES VOTED: to accept the following personnel changes (classified) (Brown, (CLASSIFIED) Michelman, Unanimous) (See attached) Postponed because department head could not be present. L.E.A. GRIEVANCE 77-78-3 Upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools it was BIDS VOTED: to accept the bid from Sportcraft Company as low bidder meeting specifications for football equipment reconditioning. (Brown, Michelman, Unanimous) Mr. MacInnes noted that changes in rates this year reflect not so TUITION RATES much an increase as a change in the formula to reflect more accurately the costs of educating these students. He added that we have no tuition paying students now, per school committee policy. Dr. Lawson noted that, in looking at the old school committee policy it would seem to be a good idea for the school committee to direct the administration to re-examine the taking of tuition students for a number of reasons. Mr. Michelman thought that was an excellent idea. Mr. Maclnnes noted further that special class tuition rates reflect TUITION RATES direct services, not including administrative costs. He said the change (SPECIAL CLASS) in dollar amount this year also reflects a change in formula, more than a change in the dollar amount. Upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools it was VOTED: to establish the tuition rates for the 1977-78 school year. (Hoffman, Michelman, Unanimous) (See attached) Upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools it was VOTED: to accept the tuition rate of $3502 for students in special edu- cation classes for the 1977-78 school year. (Brown, Michelman, Unanimous) . Dr. Lawson presented a memo from Dr. Pierson regarding voluntary EXTERNAL services being provided by Dallas Gale as Director of External Resources RESOURCES to expand and coordinate the participation of local industry and organi- zations in collaborative projects with the Lexington Public Schools. School Committee members and Dr. Lawson were most enthusiastic about the possibilities of such a program and praised Ms. Dallas Gale for her efforts. Mr. Lombard noted that school committee approval of these prelimi- PRELIMINARY nary figures is necessary in order to apply for funding. He reminded SUMMER READING the members that, as he had predicted last year, this would probably be BUDGET the last year that the program could exist at the current level of school committee funding. State funds have been cut back, and the State has requested further decreases in staffing. I Page 203 December 20, 1977 Mr. Michelman asked if that meant that Mr. Lombard ,,duld be asking the school committee for more money. Mr. Lombard said yes, unless the guidelines changed. It was VOTED: to approve the Preliminary Summer Reading Budget. (Michelman, Hoffman, Unanimous) It was EXECUTIVE SESSION VOTED: to go into Executive Session at 9:35 p.m. for the purpose of discussion of matters of litigation, collective bargaining, ne- gotiations, and possibly the character and reputation of an in- dividual. It was announced that the school committee would not return to open public session. (Hoffman, yes; Brown, yes; Michel- man, yes; Swanson, yes) . Respectfully submitted, Eli beth A. Quin 1k Recording Secretary Pro-tem