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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-12-05-SC-min Page 164 December 5, 1978 The Lexington School Committee meeting was held on Tuesday, December 5, 1978, at 8:00 p.m. at the School Administration Build- ing. Those in attendance were: Brown, Swanson, Hoffman, Michelman, Gaudet, and student representative Mende. Also present were: Law- son, Spiris, Maclnnes, Pierson, Monderer, Barnes. It was MINUTES 11/21/78 VOTED: to accept the minutes of November 21, 1978 as amended. It was EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES VOTED: to accept the executive session minutes of October 3, 1978 10/3/78 as presented. (Michelman, Hoffman, Unanimous) It was EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES VOTED: to accept the executive session minutes of November 21, 11/21/78 1978 as presented. (Michelman, Gaudet, Unanimous) Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, it was SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS VOTED: to accept the following schedule of payments: (Michelman, Gaudet, Unanimous) (See attached sheet.) Dr. Lawson noted that he had been in conversation with Mr. Jones CHILD ABUSE of Palmer and Dodge who felt that a review of the language of the State POLICY law prior to a Lexington vote on a formal child abuse policy was need- ed. The Superintendent suggested that the policy be delayed until the next meeting. Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, it was PERSONNEL CHANGES (PROFESSIONAL) VOTED: to accept the following personnel changes (professional) : (Gaudet, Michelman, Unanimous) PERSONNEL CHANGES - PROFESSIONAL EXCHANGE WITH EDCO RESIGNATION YRS. IN LEXINGTON EFFECTIVE REASON MEDICAL DISABILITY PAYMENT FOR MATERNITY UNDER SICK LEAVE SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS The following schedules of payments were available for scrutiny and approval prior to this meeting: SCHOOL DEPARTMENT BUDGETS Personal Services November 17, 1978 'Professional Payroll #10 $423,017.27 November 24, 1978 Classified Payroll #120 71,660.18 Personal Services(Carr7-Over) November 17, 1978 Professional Payroll 8,629.21 Expenses November 24, 1978 Bill Schedules #81 1,281.86 November 24, 1978 #82 2,103.04 November 24, 1978 #83 10,726.22 November 24, 1978 #84 48,736.70 November 24, 1978 #85 409.56 December 1, 1978 #86 2,171.70 December 1, 1978 #87 2,174:63 December 1, 1978 #88 8,424.97 December 1, 1978 #89 21,368.50 December 1, 1978 #90 11,717. 14 Expenses (Carry-Over) November 24, 1978 Bill Schedule #235 44.97 SPECIAL PROGRAMS NON-LEXINGTON FUNDS Adult Education November 17, 1978 Professional Payroll 946.36 Driver Education November 17, 1978 Professional Payroll 1,156.08 METCO November 24, 1978 Classified Payroll #6C 1,527.09 November 17, 1978 Professional Payroll 5,934.21 TRANSITION November 24, 1978 Bill Schedule #4 698.90 P.L. 94 - 142 Grant - Transition To Employment November 17, 1978 Professional Payroll 1,465.77 November 24, 1978 Classified Payroll if6C 81.84 (over) SPECIAL PROGRAMS -(Non-Lexington Funds) Title I P.L. 89-313-SPECIAL EDUCATION November 17, 1978 Professional Payroll 529.41 Driver Education November 24, 1978 Bill Schedule #2 177.03 Low Income November 24, 1978 Bill Schedule 81.25 Bus Tickets November 24, 1978 Bill Schedule 1,438.50 Page 165 December 5, 1978 ADULT EDUCATION SALARIES - 1978-79 Director - $2,199.60 annually Staff - $ 8.42 per hour DRIVER EDUCATION SALARIES - 1978-79 Director - $1,770.00 annually Staff - $ 7 .60 per hour (Behind-the-wheel training) $ 8.77 per hour (Classroom instruction) Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, it was PERSONNEL CHANGES (CLASSIFIED) VOTED: to accept the following personnel changes (classified) (sub- ject to change upon completion of negotiations) : (Michelman, Swanson, Unanimous) PERSONNEL CHANGES - CLASSIFIED RETURN FROM LEAVE OF ABSENCE LEAVE OF ABSENCE WITHOUT PAY TRANSFERS NEW PERSONNEL Effective: 11/27/78 *Subject to change upon completion of negotiations. Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, it was BIDS - FOOTBALL EQUIPMENT VOTED: to award the bid for football equipment reconditioning to RECONDITIONING Sportcraft Company as indicated as follows as the low bid- der meeting specifications: (Michelman, Gaudet, Unanimous) Page 166 December 5, 1978 BIDS - 1978 FOOTBALL EQUIPMENT RECONDITIONING On November 10, 1978 requests for bids for reconditioning of football equipment were invited from two companies. The bid was also advertised in the November 16, 1978 issue of the Lexington Minute-Man. Specifications were drawn for the repair and reconditioning of seven items with a per item price for additional charges for specific parts, if their replacement is needed. The approximate quantities were based on previous experience. Two sealed bids were received and opened at a public reading at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, November 27, 1978. A recap of the bid is as follows: Item Phil Murray Co. ,Inc. Sportcraft,Co. Last Year's 1. Helmets - Recond. Unit Total Unit Total Bid Price Clean & Sterilize 3.75 750.00 3.75 750.00 3.75 Specific replace- 5.00 3.00 2.70 ment parts to 10c 1511.25 to 25c 989.25 to 10c 17 items 2. Shoulder Pads Clean & Sterilize 3.50 612.50 5.25 918.75 2.95 & Replace parts plus parts 3. Thigh Guards - Clean only .40 80.00 .25 50.00 .10 4. Knee Pads - Clean only .30 60.00 .25 50.00 .10 5. Girdle Pads-Clean only 1.50 300.00 .15 30.00 .50 6. Hand, Forearm, Elbow Pads - Clean only .50 50.00 .25 25.00 .10 7. Pants - Sew & Replace Pockets 4.00 200.00 3.50 175.00 2.00 Total Estimated Cost *Not inc. item #7 3563.75 2988.00 Sportcraft has been a successful bidder in the past and performed satisfactorily. The budget for this service is $2,600. The above totals $2,988. This is an approximate total and will increase or decrease with the actual number of pieces to be cleaned or reconditioned. In the event that we do exceed the budgeted amount, the difference will be trans- ferred from other accounts within the athletic budget. Dr. Monderer presented the final report of the Elementary and FINAL GUIDANCE Junior High School Guidance Program Evaluation. He stated that prin- REPORT cipals and counselors reviewed the data for the system and for their schools. He described actions to be applied in the individual schools. Dr. Monderer noted that the evaluation reflected a high general satis- faction of parents, students, and teachers, and felt it was a mandate to continue the basic elements of the program being provided. He ad- ded that he felt the program could be enhanced by actions designed to improve the lowest rated areas. Page 167 December 5, 1978 Mr. Michelman asked Dr. Monderer if he agreed with the statement in the Massachusetts Department of Education policy on guidance that counselors should be in the forefront of eliminating stereotypes. Dr. Monderer said that it was not a priority in a counselor's role, but felt they should be knowledgeable of the law and do all they could to foster improved human relations. Mrs. Swanson said she felt that it would be extremely informative to the School Committee if Dr. Monderer would provide the numbers of students serviced by each counselor at each level rather than the sub- mission of a ratio for each level. Mrs. Gaudet stated that counselors indicated that the ratio of stu- dents to counselor was too high. She wondered why then counselors were augmenting a program which included parent counseling. Dr. Monderer said that every counselor had a load which assumed not only counselor responsibilities for the student represented by the ratio, but also assumed that the counselor would work with parents and teachers as well. Often the work the counselor performed with parents and teachers was critical to helping students. To the extent to which parents or teachers could become more effective in their relationships with the students, the greater impact there could be on the performance of students. Mrs. Swanson added she felt some of the counselors were not quali- fied to perform some of the rolesthey were being asked to perform (ex- ample-involvement in social work) . She asked if counselors received training in areas such as Chapter 622. She also asked if anyone was sure that counselors had been trained to handle such problems. Dr. Monderer responded that some of the counselors were trained in social work and some were more trained in areas such as Chapter 622/Title IX than others. Dr. Lawson added that the focus of the guidance program was not remediation but preventive, and felt this certainly should be kept in mind when reviewing the entire program. Mr. Hoffman said that during the Educational Program Study Com- mittee review, staff and parents had expressed noticeable gaps in per- ception within the system (skills and knowledge) ; instructional areas vs. aiding in judgment of values, etc. Mr. Hoffman also suggested that the next questionnaire include such items as 1) "Do you know if you, the student, has an assigned counselor?" 2) "Do you confer with a counselor at the High School?" Mr. Brown stated that it was his understanding that parents and staff would have input into the High School questionnaire as it was de- veloped. Dr. Monderer responded in the affirmative and noted that the Advisory Committee on Guidance would be very involved in the final High School questionnaire. Dr. Lawson added that during the present year, parents of elementary and junior high school students had returned the questionnaire without Page 168 December 5, 1978 first receiving a program description. He noted that the High School par- ents would have the benefit of having a description of the program prior to the questionnaire. He suggested that next Spring or Fall a survey be con- ducted at the elementary and junior high school levels after receipt of the year' s program descriptions. Dr. Pierson presented curriculum materials for racial awareness that RACIAL AWARE- were developed in a workshop this past summer, and was funded by the METCO NESS MATERIALS program. He noted that the initiation for the curriculum began with a group of parents who were concerned that the elementary school program needed activities that would foster better understanding of racial and other human differences. He noted that the materials were developed by three teachers, a principal, counselor and social worker; and would be piloted by the workshop participants during the 1978-79 school year. He added that after the materials were evaluated and changes made, recommen- dations would be forthcoming that would emphasize systemwide use during the 1979-80 year at the fifth and sixth grade level. He said workshops would be conducted in the Winter of 1978 and during the Fall of 1979. Pauline Black, social worker, reviewed highlights of the Racial Awareness materials, and noted that the cirruculum materials focus more on human differences than racial awareness. Members of the School Committee suggested that the title might be changed in the next phase of development to note a broader implication of the curriculum materials of human differences. Dr. Pierson said it would be taken under consideration. Members of the School Committee suggested that the title might be changed in the next phase of development to note a broader implication of the curriculum materials of human differences. Dr. Pierson said it would be taken under consideration. The Superintendent stated that a letter from the Massachusetts TITLE I AUDIT Department of Education, Bureau of External Audit, noted that Lexing- ton' s expenditures in the area of E.S.E.A. , Title I were in conformity with federal regulations, and that the audit was closed. Dr. Monderer presented an information memo which noted the follow- FOLLOW-UP OF up of the senior class of 1978 as to the type of institutions that stu- SENIORS dents were planning to attend upon graduation. It was also noted that a follow-up of actual placements would be of great benefit to the system. The Superintendent said that he felt that Pupil Services planned to ex- ecute such a study in the near future. A communication was read from Mayor Mann of Newton who requested CHAPTER 70 support from the School Committee for legislation intended to protect AID school systems against erosion of state aid by inflation and that would continue the increase of Chapter 70 aid to school systems, and petition the governor to guarantee to grant such funding beyond 1979 for education. Mr. Brown said that he would be in contact with Mayor Mann to see if Committee approval was sought or individual letters would be as ef- fective. It was the consensus, however, to support the proposal in or- der to protect funding against advancing inflation. It was suggested by Page 169 December 5, 1978 the Superintendent that Mr. Brown suggest to Mayor Mann, the Committee supported working with Newton and other committees so that towns and cities may receive sufficient State funds to support State mandated educational programs and also by working together communities would get funds to which they were entitled. Student Advisory Couwuittee member, Paul Mende, introduced new mem- STUDENT ADVISORY bers of the Student Advisory Committee. School Committee members sug- COMMITTEE gested that regular meetings be held with the Student Advisory Committee. It was VOTED: to convene in executive session at 10:20 p.m. on matters relating to collective bargaining strategy. (Michelman, yes; Hoffman, yes; Gaudet, yes; Swanson, yes; Brown, yes) The Chairman announced that the School Committee would not be com- ing out of executive session. Respectfully submitted, Richard H. Barnes Recording Secretary /c