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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-03-17-SC-min Page 28 March 17, 1979 A meeting of the Lexington School Committee was held on March 17, 1979, at 8:00 a.m. in the School Administration Building. Those in attendance were: Brown, Michelman, Shaw, Gaudet. Also present were: Lawson, Maclnnes, Pierson, DiGiamnarino, Monderer, Barnes. Several parents in attendance expressed their concerns for the PUBLIC potential reduction of librarian time in the Harrington and Adams Schools PARTICIPATION due to declining enrollment. It was the opinion of the parents assembled LIBRARIANS that full time librarians should service each school. Parents also stated (STAFFING) their concerns regarding coverage in the schools in the absence of profes- sional librarian services to teachers and service to students. Dr. Pierson explained that the administration was concerned with equitable treatment of all specialist, and other staff members. He said that specialists in the areas of art, music, physical education, etc. , had been reduced due to declining enrollment. He felt that the librarians who had not experienced similar reductions the past year should also be reduced. Mr. Michelman said that the School Committee knew of the Superintendent's concern. However, there was a larger concern that being educational policy. He felt that perhaps the School Committee should recognize an exceptional situation when it occurred, and felt the recommended ratios did not. He noted that it was necessary to have trained, qualified personnelprovide services. He suggested full time librarians be placed in each of the buildings now that • the consolidation process was nearly complete. He said that in the case of the Harrington School, it would probably be unwise, in the spirit of contin- uity, to reduce the librarians` time there since it would be a full service school the following year, if Adams closed. He added there was a need to un- derstand why librarians were distinctly different from other staff members due to the fact that they operated a specialized facility within the school. Mrs. Shaw said she agreed that schools at the elementary level should be staffed by full time librarians. She stated that librarians operated specialized facilities, and felt that in the situation of Harrington School, since it was going to increase in size, a one year of reduction was not a valid one. She did not agree that the ratio theory was valid, either. She expressed her support for full time staffing of each library. Mr. Brown noted the history of librarians and assignments in Lexington and noted that all smaller schools had shared librarians at one time. Mrs. Gaudet said she felt that the past system had worked quite well. She stated with the decline in enrollment, she felt the librarians could staff the schools with the quality service as recommended by the administra- tion. Dr. Pierson said the ratio in the past was informal, and there was never more than full time librarians in a building. Part-time aides were available to assist the librarians. The Superintendent noted that an in- crease at Adams and Harrington to full time would require approximately an additional $14,000. He felt it was a critical issue especially since the School Committee had asked the Administration to be responsive to the financial problems of the Town. At this point, Mr. Michelman Page 29 March 17, 1979 MOVED: that pending any different recommendations from or through the Coordinator of Libraries that the Lexington School Committee adopt a policy of staffing each library with one full time per- son, and it be so reflected in the 1980 fiscal budget. (Michelman, Shaw) At this point, Mr. Michelman said that since the full School Com- mittee was not in attendance, he would request tabling the motion. Mrs. Jean Gaudet moved to table the motion until a future date, since it was a policy matter needing the full Committee's attention. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Shaw. Mr. Michelman said that if the policy were voted after the Town Meeting, he would suggest that perhaps $13,500 less be turned back to the town this year by purchasing of other materials that would other- wise be in the 1979-80 budget, thus compensating for the additional cost. The Superintendent agreed it could be done for librarians if policy changed. Mr. Brown then asked the Superintendnet to respond to suggestions 1979-80 for possible cuts in the budget he made at the last meeting. The BUDGET Superintendent then outlined his feelings on the cuts. He said that he would not agree with a reduction of the substitute budget by $10,000 or the In' s and Out's Accounts by $50,000, but felt that a reduction of $15,000 in Administration, $1,090 in Materials and Equipment, $2,700 in Crossing Guards, $7,500 in Sabbatical Leaves, $20,000 in Transporta- tion, $5,000 in Tutoring, and $10,000 in Athletics, for a Grand Total of $61,290 could be managed. He said these reductions would be agree- able to him since the reductions would not affect the program. It was MOVED: to reduce the budget by $51,290, and increase the receipts by the figure of $10,000, and decrease the appropriation by $61,290. (Michelman, Gaudet, Unanimous) Mr. Brown, on behalf of the School Committee, extended his compli- ments to Dr. Lawson and staff for the excellent school budget informa- tion presentation on the evening of March 15. It was VOTED: to adjourn at 9:44 a.m. (Gaudet, Michelman, Unanimous) Respectfully sub]m( i.ed, is and H. By es Recording secretary /c