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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-05-19-SC-min Lexington School Committee Minutes - May 19, 1987 Pace 1 A meeting of the Lexington School Committee was held on Tuesday, May 13, 1387 at 8:00 p.m. at the Clarke Middle School Auditorium. Present were: Koplow, Leader, Newman, Wik, Clough and Student Repre- sentative Ted Chuang. Also present were Pierson, Zimmerman, DiGiammarino, MacInnes and Barnes. Mr. Clough reviewed recent votes of the School Committee per- PUBLIC taining to all morning kindergarten (April 28) and the school budget PARTICIPATION vote with a final review of the budget being scheduled for June 2, 1387. He noted that the main issue on the evening's agenda was the Bridge School. On behalf of the School Committee he entertained public comments during this segment. Sample comments: Ellen Schultz, Fiske School teacher and resident, stated that students should not be forced to participate in user fees. She felt she idea was pernicious and urged reconsideration by the School Com- mittee. Carl Rudy read a letter from the Estabrook PTE suggesting a delay in the kindergarten programs especially when renovations were not pro- jected to be ready. He said the results of a poll among the parents were 6 in favor of implementing the K program in 1987 and 220 in 1988. M. Alexander read a letter to the School Committee from the rep- resentatives of GAC (Guidance Advisory Committee; K-12) which stated that user fees were an idea to which they were opposed. Mrs. MacKenzie read a petition from the Fiske School PTA which urged that the AM K program be deferred until the 88-88 school year. Mrs. Shoffler, representative of the Bridge School said she rep- resented the kindergarten parents and suggested that the School Com- mittee delay its decision to implement all morning kindergarten also. She said the parents supported redistricting of a segment out of Bridge to accommodate the all morning kindergarten since in a long term, it would have a positive effect on the school program and the extended day program. Phyllis Sinclair, Fiske School teacher asked the School Committee the following question: "Why do you not listen to your professionals?" and requested an answer from the School Committee. Mr. Clough re- sponded that the School Committee was generating a statement. Mrs. Koplow said that the answers to many of the questions posed were not simple and felt that the staff and parents did deserve a full and genuine response which would come shortly. Dr. Pierson noted for the audience that there was a difference between listening and agreeing. He stated it was important to dis- tinguish the difference. He said the School Committee had listened but not necessarily agreed in all cases. Lexin.ton School Committee Minutes - Mav 19 1987 p, .- • Kevin Murray, High School teacher, said that he felt: that the situation was clear. He noted that the actions of the School Commit- tee spoke louder than anything and indicated the value the School Com- mittee held of the professional staffing by rejecting all their opin- ions. Martha Hutchinson voiced her disagreement with the use of user fees. Reverend Helen Cohen, representing the Clergy Association said that their association was opposed to the user fee concept because it discriminated against students of less wealth and felt that it was op- posite to the concept of free public education. Linda Abramson suggested that the School Committee wait until 1588 to implement the all morning kindergarten. Jim Martin, Bridge School parent, urged the School Committee to keep its quality program and suggested continuance of support for ex- tended day programs. He also suggested the phase in of all AM kinder- garten and other programs when appropriate. Dan McCabe said the Town Meeting had sent a message to the School Committee that it was not happy with the way things were going. He said the School Committee should listen closely to the parents and especially to the teachers. He noted there was a need to get things straightened out and suggested the School Committee take a year before implementing the K program. John Gillis said he supported the budget but agreed that the Town Meeting message was for the School Committee to listen to its profes- sional staff and recommended that the School Committee postpone kinder- garten implementation for one year. Sylvia Kalambokas, Fiske School teacher, agreed that the Town Meeting had sent the School Committee a message not only as to the Kindergarten program but on a number of other issues. She suggested the School Committee reconsider its vote on all AM Kindergarten until 1988. William Welch, Town Meeting member and Lexington High School tea- cher, noted that the budget cut of approximately $150,000 sent a message to the School Committee. He said some people felt that be- cause of declining enrollment coupled with increases in the budget, it was not clear as to what the School Committee needed. He suggested a need for better planning and communication to the community in future budget_. Al Fruscione said many teachers were looking forward to the statement of the School Committee. Sharon MacDonald, Town Meeting member, said she would support the all morning kindergarten but recommended deferrment until the 1988 school year. Lexington School Committee Minutes - Mav 19, 1987 Pace Dr. Pierson reviewed three options pertaining to Bridge School BRIDGE SCHOOL redistricting. He noted that 78 questionnaires had been mailed and OPTIONS 39 responses were rceived. He said that those in favor of Option 1 totaled 4, Option 2, 10 and Option 3, 13. Following the presentation, there was a discussion by the School Committee. Mr. Newman stated that if the buildings were in order by September, it would be a miracle. He suggested that it would be in the best interest of all to postpone the implementation of the AM kindergarten. He said that as far as the concept of redistricting was concerned, it was too soon to consider since the facts were all the same as before. Therefore, he felt he could not recommend redistrict- ing only three months later from the previous vote. He reminded the School Committee that its job was to pull the community together and urged his colleagues to reconsider its vote by deferring the implemen- tation of the AM kindergarten program for one year which he felt would be the most proper way. Mrs. Wik responded that the Superintendent's recommendation could also help solve some of the space problems. Mrs. Leader agreed with Mrs. Wik's remark and said the Superintend- ent's recommendation was a correct one. Mrs. Koplow noted there would be enormous competition for finances within the Town during the next fiscal year. She also agreed it was the appropriate time to support the AM kindergarten program and re- districting. It was VOTED: that the School Committee accept the recommendation of the REDISTRICTING Superintendent to proceed with redistricting as presented, with a hearing and final vote on which districts would be redistricted at the May 26 hearing at the Bridge School. Yes, Leader, Wik, Koplow, Clough; No, Newman Mr. Newman said that one more aspect of discomfort was when the School Committee made a commitment before all of the evidence was in on the issue of all am kindergarten. He said it was a questionable process at that. Mrs. Koplow responded that she had studied the information (re- districting and kindergarten) a long time and was prepared to make a decision when a vote was called. Mr. Clough said the redistricting options were quite clear, and there was no additional information available nor needed. No further discussion occurred on this topic. At this point, the Chairman of the School Committee asked Mr. RENOVATIONS Maclnnes for a status report on the construction plans for the schools. Lexington School Committee Minutes - Mav 19, 1987 Page 4 Following his report, . the School Committee complimented Mr. Maclnnes for his excellent work. • A discussion of the Bridge/Estabrook Extended Day Proposal plan EXTENDED DAY was held. It was PROGRAM VOTED: to accept the Superintendent's recommendation for an extended day program for the Bridge/Estabrook at Hastings school and if the Higashi negotiations failed, then the School Committee would continue to review other options. (Leader, Newman, Unanimous) Student representative, Ted Chuang, noted it was his last meeting STUDENT REPRE- as student representative to the School Committee. He thanked all the SENTATIVE COMMENTS School Committee members and administration for their support and kindness. He noted that new elections would be held and the new student representative would be assigned as of June 2, 1937. Members of the School Committee and administration thanked Ted Chuang for his excellent contributions to the school and to the work- ings of the School Committee. It was VOTED: to adjourn at 11:30 p.m. (Leader, Koplow, Unanimous) The Minutes of February 24, March 10, 17, 30 and April 3 and 7 and MINUTES Executive Minutes March 11 and 17 and April 3 and 7 were deferred. Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, it was VOTED: to accept the Schedule of Payments listed on Page 117 and 117A. SCHEDULE OF (Newman, Koplow, Unanimous) (To be embodied in the Official PAYMENTS Minutes. ) VOTED: to accept the Personnel Changes (Certified) as listed on Page PERSONNEL CHANGES- 118. (Leader, Newman, Unanimous) (To be embodied in the CERTIFIED Official Minutes. ) VOTED: to accept the Personnel Changes (Classified) as listed on PERSONNEL CHANGES- Page 118-A. (Leader, Newman, Unanimous} (To be embodied in CLASSIFIED the Official Minutes. ) VOTED: to accept the Personnel Changes (Food Services) as listed on PERSONNEL CHANGES- Page 118-8. (Leader, Newman, Unanimous) (To be embodied in FOOD SERVICES the Official Minutes. ) VOTED: to accept the Personnel Changes (Certified) as listed on PERSONNEL CHANGES- Page 118-C. (Leader, Newman, Unanimous) (To be embodied in CERTIFIED the Official Minutes. ) The School Committee noted that Dr. J. Geoffrey Pierson had sub- SUPERINTENDENT`S mitted his resignation effective August 21, 1987 to accept the super- RESIGNATION intendency in Vienna, Austria. Mr. Clough, on behalf of the School Lexington School Committee Minutes - May 19, 1997 Page 5 Committee, extended congratulations to Dr. Pierson and acknolwedged the many quality contributions that he had made to students, staff, parents, and citizens. The School Committee wished him well and ex- tended its best wishes for success. Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, it was VOTED: to re-elect the non-tenure staff listed on Page 119, 119-A, RE-ELECTION NON- 119-B at the step and level indicated for the school year TENURE STAFF 1987-28. (Leader, Koplow, Unanimous) (To be embodied in the Official Minutes. ) VOTED: to re-elect the Secretarial and Clerical Personnel for the RE-ELECTION school year 1997-88 at the Class, Step and hourly rate indi- SECRETARIAL AND cated on Page 120 - 120-D, (Leader, Newman, unanimous) (To CLERICAL be embodied in the Official Minutes. ) PERSONNEL VOTED: to re-elect the Special Class Teacher Aides as noted on RE-ELECTION Page 120-G. (Leader, Newman, Unanimous) (To be embodied in SPECIAL CLASS the Official Minutes. ) TEACHER AIDES VOTED: to re-elect the personnel not under contract guidelines as RE-ELECTION OF listed on Page 120-F at the hourly rate indicated for the PERSONNEL NOT 1997-89 school year. (Leader, Newman, Unanimous) (To be UNDER CONTRACT embodied in the Official Minutes. ) VOTED: to accept the Bid-General Supplies as listed on Page 121 based BIDS-GENERAL upon low unit prices meeting specifications. (Newman, Leader, SUPPLIES Unanimous) (To be embodied in the Official Minutes. ) VOTED: to accept the Bid-Duplicating Supplies with the companies BID-DUPLICATING and approximate totals as listed on Page 121A. (Newman, SUPPLIES Leader, Unanimous) (To be embodied in the Official Minutes. ) VOTED: to accept the Bid-Visual Arts Supplies with the companies BID-VISUAL ARTS based upon low unit prices meeting specifications as listed on SUPPLIES Page 121B. (Newman, Leader, Unanimous) (To be embodied in the Official Minutes. ) VOTED: to accept the Bid-Bakery Products with the companies indicated BID-BAKERY on Page 121C. (Newman, Leader, Unaimous) (To be embodied in PRODUCTS the Official Minutes. ) VOTED: to accept the Bid-Doughnuts based on their low bid meeting BID-DOUGHNUTS specifications as listed on Page 121D. (Newman, Leader, Unanimous) (To be embodied in the Official Minutes. ) VOTED: to accepspecifications the Bid-Milk as the low bidder meeting specifica ions BID-MILK as listed on Page 121E, (Newman, Leader, Unanimous) (To be embodied in the Official Minutes. ) VOTED: to accept the Bid-Food Service Paper Supplies based on low BID-FOOD SERVICE unit prices meeting specifications as listed on Page 121F. PAPER SUPPLIES (Newman, Leader, Unanimous) (To be embodied in the Official Minutes. ) Lexington School Committee Minutes - May 19, 1987 Page 6 VOTED: to accept the Bid-Ice Cream based on their low bid meeting BID-ICE CREAM , specifications as listed on Page 1216. (Newman, Leader, Unanimous) (To be embodied in the Official Minutes. ) VOTED: to accept the Bid-Snacks based on their low unit prices meet- BID-SNACKS ing specifications as listed on Page 121H. (Newman, Leader, Unanimous) (To be embodied in the Official Minutes. ) Dr. Zimmerman presented the Evaluation report of the Harrington TECH TEAM REPORT School Technology Stream Project. She noted that there would he a one-year interregnum regarding the program being extended to Clarke. The School Committee thanked Dr. Zimmerman for the report. Dr. Pierson said that in order to find the .75 FTE necessary to HIGH SCHOOL STAFF- restore the fifth housemaster position at the High School, Dr. Waring INC was proposing reallocations of staff as follows: From the 1.0 reading assignment at the High School .55 would be transferred to Diamond Middle School where the position was needed reducing the High School allocation. Linda Murbach, Reading Coordinator, would teach one class at the High School next year thus reducing the need for a 1.0 FTE. From the 1.0 position assigned to the supervisor of the internship and work study program, .2 will be reallocated to the housemaster position. A .80 position would fullfil the requirements. Therefore, the .75 restoration of the housemaster would be a result of .55 from reading and .20 from Experienced Based Education. The consensus of the School Committee was that this reallocation was appropriate. It was VOTED: adjourn at 11:30 p.m. (Leader, Koplow, Unanimous) Res ec1•f 'v submitted �� i�3rd H. ernes / Recording Secretary APPROVED: November 2, 1987