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Home My WebLink About1981-01-13-SC-min Page 1 January 13, 1981 A meeting of the Lexington School Committee was held on Tuesday, January 13, 1981, at 8:00 p.m. , in the School Administration Building. Present were: Shaw, Swanson, Michelman, Brown, and Student Represen- tative Anderson. Also present were: Lawson, Pierson, Monderer, DiGiam- marino, Maclnnes, and Barnes. • It was VOTED: to accept the minutes of October 21, 1980, as amended. - EXECUTIVE (Swanson, Michelman, Unanimous) MINUTES: October 21, 19E VOTED: to accept the minutes of December 22, 1980, as amended. (Shaw, Michelman, Unanimous) December 22,198 Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, it was VOTED: to accept the following schedule of payments as listed on the SCHEDULE OF. attached sheet: (Michelman, Swanson, Unanimous) PAYMENTS The financial statement was discussed. FINANCIAL STATEMENT It was VOTED: to accept the bid for special transportation and award it to BID - SPECIAL Commonwealth Coach based on their low bid as indicated on the TRANSPORTATION attached sheet. (Michelman, Swanson, Unanimous) Dr. Lawson presented a list of possible savings in the 1980-81 bud- , get. He said it had been discussed with faculties, principals, and pro- -- gram managers, and no major concerns were expressed. He noted that since special education tuitions and transportation were experiencing a $130,000 deficit, it would nullify any possible savings. Therefore, he recommended that reductions of funds for any instructional iters on the list would be considered individually. All other items would be on "hold;" the Extra Duty Civic item would be discussed at a future meeting when a new School Rental Policy would be recommended. The 1.981-82 Preliminary Budget of $17,295,588 was presented to the 1981-82 BUDGET School Committee by the Superintendent who said the budget provided for the maintenance of quality educational programs and staffing levels for Lexington. It was the consensus of the Committee to begin the intensive budget review at a special meeting on January 20, 1981. Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, it was VOTED: to appoint the following new personnel as listed on the attached NEW PERSONNEL sheet: (Michelman, Shaw, Unanimous) It was VOTED: to approve the personnel changes as listed on the attached sheet: PERSONNEL (Michelman, Shaw, Unanimous) CHANGES The Basic Skills Improvement Program and Graduation Requirements BASIC SKILLS Progress Reports were presented to the School Committee by Dr. Monderer. IMPROVEMENT PRO GRAM & GRADUA- TION REQUIRE- MENTS PROGRESS REPORTS • Page January 13, 1981 He said he was requesting questions and comments from the Committee to sense the direction of the Committee on these items. He added he would then review the School Committee' s comments with the Steering Committee on Basic Skills. Mr. Michelman asked what motivated a proposal to add to our present graduation requirements. Dr. Monderer replied that it might be possible for a student to pass a course without a demonstrated level of basic skills competency. Mr. Michelman added that it was his understanding that the Minimum Competency Tests would assess the whole range of skills for all students and that students who did not achieve at an acceptable level would be identified and receive follow-up instruction. Also, if a student did not achieve the accepted level upon completion of high school, no diploma would be issued. Mrs. Shaw expressed concern that more new testing be Lmplemented, since she assumed present teacher diagnosis could pick up areas of weak- ness. Dr. Monderer said it was a state mandate that a basic skills test- ing program be developed and implemented. Mrs. Swanson requested more information about the total plan and the procedures for "excepted" students. Mr. Michelman asked Dr. Monderer if the plan had been discussed with the faculty. Dr. Monderer responded that it had not, but would be discus- sed with the faculty and parents. Student Representative Anderson said that since the test would be given in Grade 8 and if one didn' t pass it - a student could develop a psychological problem over the matter. He questioned the proposal. Dr. Monderer said this issue had been discussed in detail, and even though a student may be discouraged, it was felt by the Steering Committee that the test would tend to be more motivating than discouraging. Mr. Brown asked Dr. Monderer if he had an estimate on the test suc- cess rate for those students not presently in special needs programs. He answered that approximately 15 failed the present tests. Dr. Monderer said a Report on Basic Skills and Competency Testing would be given in late February. Dr. Lawson presented a parent's letter to the School Committee which PARENT LETTER requested permission for a student to attend the Lexington Public Schools until the end of the school year without tuition. Dr. Lawson noted it was an exception to the policy, but facts in the case supported his recommen- dation. It was VOTED: to make an exception to the student tuition policy for the student recommended by the Superintendent of Schools (Michelman, Swanson, Unanimous) Mr. Brown announced he would not seek re-election to the School Com- Cf?AIRMAN' S STAIR/ENT Page 3 January 13, 1981 mittee. He thanked the other members of the Committee and administrators for their support and cooperation. It was VOTED: to convene in executive session at 9:31 p.m. to discuss matters pertaining to possible litigation and collective bargaining. {Yes, Michelman; yes, Swanson; yes, Shaw; yes, Brown) Respectfully submitted, Richard H. Barnes Recording Secretary /c SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS The following schedules of payments were available for scrutiny and approval prior to this meeting: SCHOOL DEPARTMENT BUDGETS Personal Services December 19, 1980 Classified Payrolls #14-C $73,592.84 January 2, 1981 #15-C 55,455.04 December 26, 1930 Professional Payroll #13 485,290,.97 Expenses December 26, 1980 Bill Schedules. #143 34,669.28 December 26, 1980 #144 22'->. 20 December 26, 1980 #145 5,617.94 December 26, 1980 #146 4,552.07 December 26, 1980 #147 975.25 December 26, 1980 #148 257.41 January 2, 1981 #149 30,990.14 January 2, 1981 #150 20,077.37 January 2, 1981 #151 1,379,33 January 2, 1981 #152 957.35 January 2, 1981 . 1153 1,509.56 January 9, 1981 #154 968.14 January 9, 1981 0155 17,520.62 January 9, 1981 - #156 1,310.22 January 9, 1981 ,',157 9,735.62 January 9, 1981 #158 26,431.37 Out-of-State Travel December 26, 1980 Bill Schedule #12 75.00 Vocational Education December 26, 1980 Bill Schedule ,#2 88.5O Expenses (Carryover) December 26, 1980 Bill Schedule #324 41.44 SPECIAL PROGRAMS - NON LEXINGTON FUNDS Metco Program December 19, 1980 Classified Payrolls 2,115,65 January 2, 1981 394.43 December 26, 1980 Professional Payroll 5,611.06 December 26, 1980 Bill Schedules #8 830,74 January 9, 1981 #9 38,09 Project Mainstream December 26, 1980 Professional Payroll 654.31 (Over) • Transition to Employment , December 19, 1980 Classified Payrolls $ 109.92 January 2, 1981 48.50 December 26, 1980 Professional Payroll 1,377,66 December 26, 1980 Bill Schedule #9 19,50 Adult Education December 19, 1980 Classified Payroll 48.60 December 26, 1980 Professional Payroll 325.96 Driver Education December 26, 1980 Professional Payroll 544,04 January 9, 1981 Bill Schedule #7 160„21 Project Discover December 26, 1980 Professional Payroll 790,12 • Project Assist December 26, 1980 Professional Payroll 583.61 American Roots December 26, 1980 Professional Payroll 35.00 Project Enhance December 19, 1980Classified Payrolls 466,20 January 2, 1981 139,86 December 26, 1980 Professional Payroll 939,69 January 9, 1981 Bill Schedule #7 5,25 Renovations-Senior High (Art.43) December 19, 1980 Classified Payroll 460.08 Bus Tickets January 9, 1981 Bill Schedule #4 959.40 Energy (Art.44) December 26, 1980 Bill Schedule #9 46,061,50 SmokinaPrevention December 26, 1980 Bill Schedule 290.50 • BIDS - SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION On December 24, 1980, requests for bids for Special Transportation were sent to five companies. The bid was also advertised in the January 1, 1981. issue of the Lexington Minute-Man. The specification were for a wheel chair van and included information con- cerning school dates , class hours, pick up times and vehicle requirements. Quo- tation were based on a daily round trip basis. The quotation was to be firm for the remainder of the 1980-31 school year with the option of cancellation by the School Dept. in the event that the need for this transportation is not needed. Two bids were received and opened at 12 :00 Noon, Tuesday, January 6, 1981. They are as follows: Cambridge Taxi Co. $44.40 per day, with an adjustment factor of $1.49 per mile if additional students are added. Commonwealth Coach Inc. $33 .48 per day, with an adjustment factor of $,79 per mile if additional students are added. They also included a 1% increase in rate for each .03C increase in the cost of gasoline. Although we did not specifically budget for this service it is a service that we are required to provide. Commonwealth Coach Inc. , has the appropriate vehicle and is qualified to perform this service. NEW PERSONNEL • SECONDARY NAME SCHOOL/SUBJECT EDUCATION EXPERIENCE ELEMENTARY • • PERSONNEL CHANGES - CERTIFIED APPOINTMENT: INTERIM ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL EFFECTIVE COACHING APPOINTMENT • • • (Over) PERSONNEL CHANGES - CLASSIFIED RETIREMENT YRS. IN LEXINGTON EFFECTIVE RESIGNATIONS YRS. IN LEXINGTON EFFECTIVE REASON RATES: SUBSTITUTE SECRETARIES/AIDES Minimum wage has been raised from $3.15/hour to $3.35 hcur., Present rate for substitute secretaries/aides is S3. 10fhcur. Increase to $3.35/ hour effective January 1, 1981.