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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-04-28-SC-min Lexington School Committee Minutes - April 28, 1987 Pace 1 A meeting of the Lexington School Committee was held on Tuesday, April 28, 1987 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lexington High School Student Library. Present were Koplow, Leader, Newman, Wik and Clough. Also present were Pierson and Barnes. It was VOTED: to convene in Executive Session at 7:31 p.m. to discuss EXECUTIVE SESSION matters pertaining to contract and potential litigation. Yes, Leader; Yes, KoplOW, Yes, Newman; Yes, Wil; Yes, Clough. It was VOTED: to reconvene in Public Session at 8:07 p.m. Ye=_, Koplow; Yes, PUBLIC =PggT^ii Wik; Yes, Leader; Yes, Newman; Yes, Clough Present were Koplow, Leader, Newman, Wik, Clough and Student Representative Chuang. Also present were Pierson, DiGiammarino and Barnes. A letter from the Fiske staff was read by Phyllis Sinclair, Fiske FISKE LETTER. teacher, expressing concern that services to students were being reduced while increasing the number of supervisors in the system. Mrs. Federici expressed concern that all morning kindergarten was being implemented at the expense of other programs. Mr. Clough responded that if kindergarten were not implemented in the 87-88 school year, it might not be implemented in the next year due to the fact that Proposition 2 1/2 continued to place extreme financial con- straints on the Town. He said it was projected that there would be a serious money situation in the next few years. Pat Morrissey, Bridge teacher and Lexington parent said that trust and respect were problematical at the moment between staff and School Committee. She encouraged the School Committee to review its position on various items and give support to its professional staff. She sug- gested the School Committee support smaller class sizes, fewer ques- tionnaires, more materials and more time with students rather than more fragmentation. Mr. Clough began the discussion by stating that the School Com- ALL MORNING mittee had expressed clear support for the all morning kindergarten KINDERGARTEN and that the money remained in the budget as of that evening. PROGRAM Mr. Newman stated that he had the same view as before. He felt a year delay in implementing the all morning kindergarten program was most appropriate and in the best interests of the Town. Mrs. Koplow said she felt that certainly there was always room for review of redistricting issues if there were problems but her decision to support the all morning kindergarten program was based on thorough review of literature and the issues. She said it was not a frivolous decision and agreed with the experts that it was time to give the all Lexington School Committee Minutes - April 28, 1967 Pace 2 morning kindergarten full service. Mrs. Leader said she had read about and listened to some of the staff and citizen concerns and read the Early Education Committee report. She felt that it was time to support the all morning kinder- garten. Mrs. Wik stated she felt the administration and staff would do an excellent job of implementing the K program the next school year. Dr. Pierson said his position was of course the same, conditions had changed and it was a matter of timing. He suggested that the K program be delayed a year. However, if the School Committee continued to support the all morning kindergarten and it was implemented as pro- posed, the staff would do it in a positive way. • Mr. Clough noted that the 87-88 budget cuts were not final. He 1987-88 BUDGET c .uraged staff to respond before other judgements were made by the School Committee. Mrs. Leader asked that staff take a look at some of the Potential reductions and make some determinations at the local level and inform their principals of their feelings. Proposed reductions of housemaster, Clarke Stream, Activities fee, etc. were discussed. The first reading of the policy on user fees was presented by USER FEES POLI Dr. Pierson. After the presentation of the policy and its implica- FIRST READING tions, a discussion was held. Mrs. Leader said she did not feel philosophically 100% in tune with the concept but felt that due to monetary constraints it was an appropriate way to raise money which was a necessity at this time. However, she voiced support for a waiver for students who could not afford the fees. Mr. Newman said user fees certainly were a policy issue requiring three public readings and felt the School Committee should not be taxing those who participated in programs. He said he was in conflict with the philosophical use of user fees. He noted it was a book- keeping nightmare, created issues not needed, and in totality was not worth it. Mrs. Koplow responded that the fee program was unpopular but 12 school systems had insitituted similar fee structures quite success- fully. She encouraged the Committee to consider a tentative policy for Lexington. Mrs. Wik said she shared the concerns of many but felt user fees were appropriate for consideration at this time. A vote was called. It was VOTED; to support the policy in concept and send the policy back to the Administration for follow through on the concept of user fees. (Leader, Koplow, Wik, Clough, Yes; Newman, No) L + School Committee Minutes - Aeril 2B 185' _ Page j VOTED: to accept the 1987-88 METCO budget proposal and submit it to ME77n BUDGET the State Department for approval. (Newman, leader, Unanimous) (To be embodied in the Official Minutes. ) The School Committee complimented Ms. Prescott and staff for the fine program being offered to the students and staff in Lexi_ Public Schools, the _.._ gton The School Committee and Dr. Pierson reviewed some of the issues at Bridge School for the comingBRIDGE ISSUES schoolyear including construction schedules, kindergarten implementation, extended day, etc, After brief discussion, it was the consensus of the mm" tDr. a Committee n Pierson should search for funds within the present that a. addi- tional assistanceforbudget for o Bridge and Estabrook and recommend .options to the School Committee at a future meeting. Mr. Clough said that there were several alternatives in relation TOWN MEETING to Town Meeting vote on the School Committee Budget. The School Com- BUDGET ISSUES mittee could to reaffirm its vote, vote the budget with $150,000 re- duction or request reconsideration. After discussion, it was VOTED: that the School Committee not ask for reconsideration of the school budget at Town Meeting• Newman, kik, Leader and (Yes, Newman, r-; Clough; No, Koplow) ,..,..' The question arose that if any Town Meeting members requested re- cu4sideration, the School Committee needed to establish its position. After discussion, it was VOTED: that if any Towm Meeting member(s) requested reconsideration that the School Committee agree and make a presentation on the budget_status. (Yes, Leader, Koplow, kik, Clough; No, Newman) Another option discussed was the responsibility of the School Com- mittee giving a report under article 2 to the Town Meeting. After discussion it was that the School Committee give a budget status report under Article 2 at the Town Jec Meeting. Clough; No, Newman) . 9 ._ , Koplow, Leader, Wik, The 1387-88 budt was voted as .follows: VOTED: to set a figure of $22,151,077, (Newman, kik, Unanimous) It was VOTED: to adjourn at 11:18 p.m. (kik, Newman, Unanimous) Respect • y submitted, 'chard/d APPROVED: October 20, 1987 Recording ecretary