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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-05-07-SC-min LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING Tuesday, May 7, 2019 Lexington Town Office Building Selectmen's Meeting Room 1625 Massachusetts Avenue CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOME: 7:05 p.m. Chair Eileen Jay welcomed and introduced committee members SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Eileen Jay, Chairperson Kate Colburn, Vice-Chairperson Kathleen Lenihan, Clerk Deepika Sawhney Scott Bokun NOT PRESENT: Peter Rowe, Interim Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Rosanna Jiang, Student Rep SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS PRESENT Dr. Julie Hackett, Superintendent Dr. Christine Lyons, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development The minutes were taken by Kristen Cronin, Executive Assistant to the School Committee and Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent Ms. Jay noted public comment would take place at the beginning of the meeting due to a highly sensitive topic of interest that has been happening in the community recently and reminded comments are to be respectful and to remain at a 3 minute limit. COMMUNITY SPEAK Steve McKenna, Precinct 6 TMM and Assistant Coach for LHS Track and Field - Mr. McKenna spoke on behalf of the center track and field reconstruction project that was discussed during the Annual Town Meeting. Mr. McKenna expressed his appreciation to the Committee for their commitment to the kids and supporting them, but expressed disappointment that School Committee voted against the hybrid grass field. Mr. McKenna is looking for answers to a message that Dr. Hackett sent to coaches and read to students. 1 LSC Meeting 5/7/2019 MINUTES APPROVED-8/27/19 SCHOOL COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS/LIAISON UPDATES School Committee members extended congratulations to students who participated in the Legally Blond performance at the high school over the past weekend and to those who participated in the Special Olympics at the high school. Mr. Bokun attended the Lexington Human Rights Committee (HRC) meeting. Dr. Hackett was also at the meeting and gave a presentation on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work. Mr. Bokun commented that is was a good update on how we are moving forward and building consensus among the administration and the schools to make progress on this issue. It was an engaging discussion, taking a lot of data from a lot of sources, not just one school but a team. Ms. Lenihan reported on the 2020 Committee and remarked that a subgroup of the committee is enhancing communications in Lexington as they are aware of a disconnect with the communication. Ms. Lenihan announced the "Rubbish to Runway" show will be held at Clarke. Ms. Sawhney shared that the Permanent Building Committee and Sustainable Lexington are trying to come up with one cohesive policy which will provide sustainability guidelines for the construction of new buildings and renovations within Lexington. They are working hard to come up with a policy that meets all requirements and acceptable goals for sustainability within Lexington and that outlines the purposes that the policy would be used for. Ms. Sawhney gave a brief update from her meeting with Julie Fenn from SHAC to discuss ideas on how to suppress the vaping that is happening among our youngsters. Ms. Sawhney would like to report further on the anti-vaping steps at the May 21 School Committee meeting. Ms. Sawhney reported on the Strategic Planning/Synthesis Team community workshops that were held at the Community Center and in Boston. The community groups participated in the Keep Loose Dream (KLDI) activity to provide their thoughts about the schools. Ms. Sawhney noted that she was very impressed with the METCO Director, Barbara Hamilton and the work that she continues to do with the Boston families and was surprised to learn that Ms. Hamilton is also a pastor. Ms. Colburn thanked the Board of Selectmen for attending the suicide prevention training, QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer), along with the School Committee. Ms. Colburn commented that it was a really eye opening training. It helped to understand what staff members are trained to do if ever they are faced with a person who seems to be suicidal and how to intervene in that process and assist in getting the person the help that they need. Ms. Colburn thanked LexPride for hosting the One Teacher in Ten program on April 25th. It was a very interesting and informative panel discussion of staff members and educators, who identify as LGBTQ. Panelists shared their experiences and their ideas on how their experience as educators could be better and what improvements can be made. 2 LSC Meeting 5/7/2019 MINUTES APPROVED-8/27/19 Ms. Colburn thanked the SEPAC parents for coming to SEPAC events that are held with School Committee members and for sharing their ideas and concerns. Ms. Colburn reported on the SHAC LBGTQ Subcommittee meeting she attended. Ms. Colburn noted that Naomi Martin, Athletic Director, attended the meeting and discussed how to address gender identity in sports, so students can participate in sports that correspond to their gender identity. Ms. Colburn expects this topic of discussion to come to the Committee within the next 12-18 months. Ms. Colburn gave a brief review of the School Master Planning Advisory Committee meeting on April 12th. Ms. Colburn noted the cost for the short term space solutions for the high school are expensive and acknowledged that it is hard to comprehend spending a lot of money on a building that may be replaced. Ms. Colburn informed the committee that a final report would most likely be presented sometime in August. Ms. Jay echoed her colleagues' remarks on Legally Blond, and QPR Training. Ms. Jay and Mr. Bokun attended the "Intelligent Lives" film screening on April 11th. The film is the newest film from Dan Habib, creator of the film "Including Samuel." The film serves as a catalyst to transform the label of intellectual disability from a life sentence of isolation into a life of possibility, as it portrays three young adults with intellectual disabilities as they navigate high school, college, and the workforce. Ms. Jay provided a brief update from the Recreation Committee meeting she attended. She noted that the Recreation Department will run a pilot program this summer to install a device at either the town pool or one of the fields that displays a reading of the ultra violet sun ray intensity. It is intended to help educate families and children and has an on-site sunscreen dispenser. Ms. Jay reported that a Policy Subcommittee meeting was held recently on policies related to redistricting and noted that a first reading of the revised policy would be held later on this evening's agenda. CONGRATULATIONS AND CELEBRATIONS Dr. Hackett extended her congratulations to the great performances from Legally Blond and the Special Olympics event, both held over the past week, and to Clarke for winning the National Science Bowl Competition. Dr. Hackett recognized teachers, administrative assistants and nurses for National Teacher Appreciation Week, Administrative Assistant's Day and Nurse's Day. CONSENT AGENDA ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS/GIFTS 3 LSC Meeting 5/7/2019 MINUTES APPROVED-8/27/19 Ms. Lenihan moved to approve donation from Wilson Farms to Bridge School's Gift Account in the amount of$52.00;seconded by Ms. Sawhney(Approved 5-0) PAYROLL AND ACCOUNTS PAYABLE WARRANT APPROVAL Ms. Lenihan moved to approve the School Department's payroll warrant dated April 12, 2019 in the amount of$3,891,589.86 and payroll warrant dated April 26, 2019 in the amount of $3,789,695.01;seconded by Ms. Lenihan (Approved 5-0) Ms. Lenihan moved to approve the School Department's accounts payable warrant dated April 19, 2019 in the amount of$883,141.66; US Bank Reconciliations dated April 19, 2019 in the amount of$65,424.65& accounts payable warrant dated May 3, 2019 in the amount of $1,352,616.74;seconded by Mr. Bokun(approved 5-0) APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Bokun moved to approve School Committee minutes from March 12, March 25&April 1, 2019;seconded by Ms. Sawhney(approved 5-0) COMMUNITY SPEAK: Mark St. Louis -Vice Chair for Association of Black Citizens of Lexington (ABCL) read a memo to the Lexington School Committee with proposals and recommendations related to the reported racial incidents at the high school and overall racial climate in the Lexington Public Schools. Many community members expressed frustration and concerns about racial incidents happening in the district and town of Lexington. Something needs to be institutionalized and become systemic in order to not have to continue genuflecting to incidents and being reactive to incidents rather than addressing the culture and the way that we are living together in this town. We should all work together. Superintendent's Report: Superintendent Hackett addressed members of the audience, saying that individual acts of meanness are not to be tolerated. She wants to make it very clear to students and the community that it will not be tolerated in the school system at all.The administration and staff are very interested in getting on with the work that has to be done. We are dealing with decades of racism, hurtful and bias language that happens not just in Lexington, but in Massachusetts, and in the United States, unfortunately. We will work on a way that will, hopefully, be lasting and working toward a common vision to implement changes. Dr. Hackett shared with the School Committee the presentation she gave at the Human Rights Commission (LHRC) meeting. A copy of the full presentation can be viewed here: -7-19 SC Packet PRESENTATION: LABBB Update - Preparing for Independent life after 22-TABLED 4 LSC Meeting 5/7/2019 MINUTES APPROVED-8/27/19 UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Update on 2019-2020 Plans for the LHS Swim Team: Dr. Hackett read a memo provided by Naomi Martin with an update for the 2019-2020 plans for the LHS swim team. The memo states that we are still waiting on pool availability at Atkinson Pool in Sudbury and at Hanscom Airforce Base for the Fall 2019 season. We should have further information in a few weeks as well as an updated schedule to parents at the Annual Pre-Season Fall Student Athlete and Parents Sports Meeting for incoming 9th-12 graders at Lexington High School on Tuesday June 4th at 6:00 p.m. Track& Field Update: Mr. Rowe noted that in December, the Recreation Department recommended that the center track and field be renovated with a synthetic field rather than a hybrid field. The Recreation Committee agreed and asked for School Committee to support the decision. Mr. McKenna's question asked earlier in the evening regarding the students' concern was for space for the throwing sports to practice on a grass field. The school athletic department will be working with the Recreation Department to see what can be done to help improve the grass area by Worthern Road for the throwing field. Superintendent Hackett announced that there are currently three administrative vacancies and requested two School Committee members be part of the Interview Teams for the Principal of Clarke Middle School and the Director of Innovation and Instructional Technology. Dr. Hackett will be meeting with a recommended candidate for the Director of School Health Services and hopes to make a final decision next week. Dissolve School Committee appointments to PBC for Clarke and Diamond projects Ms. Colburn moved to dissolve School Committee appointments to Permanent Building Committee for Clarke& Diamond projects-seconded by Ms. Lenihan (approved 5-0) COMMUNITY SPEAK: Some community members expressed their concerns over the travel time for the swim team to practice at Atkins pool in Sudbury. Due to traffic, it was very difficult and would sometimes take at least 45 minutes to an hour-and-a-half before practice to get there, then they would have to turn around and sit in traffic again. It's a long day for the kids and a long bus ride. Parents had additional concerns about when students would be able to get their homework done. They are hoping to work out something closer, such as Hanscom because it is a shorter bus ride. Ms. Kelly Suber- Member of ABCL, echoed what was said earlier about the direction and efforts that are being taken and is encouraged about ways to address the systemic issues that have been happening around town and schools around issues of racism. 5 LSC Meeting 5/7/2019 MINUTES APPROVED-8/27/19 Ms. Suber commented as a Unit C member for Lexington Public Schools and addressed to School Committee regarding a grievance. NEW BUSINESS: Vote on EDCO's Amended Articles of Agreement-TABLED Policy Reading#1- Revisions to Policies EEA,JCA,JC,JCAC: School Committee members reviewed suggested revisions for the following policies: 1. EEA- Student Transportation Policies & EEAA -Walkers and Riders 2. JCA-Assignment of Students to Schools 3. JC-Attendance Areas and JCAA - Redistricting 4. JCAC- Student Transfer Policy Members agreed to send suggested feedback to Policy Subcommittee members and to Maureen Kavanugh. Changes will be included in the next reading. At 10:28 p.m., Ms.Jay made a motion to adjourn, so moved by Ms. Colburn (approved 5-0) 6 LSC Meeting 5/7/2019 MINUTES APPROVED-8/27/19