HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-04-08-SC-min LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Tuesday,April 8, 2019
Selectmen's Meeting Room
1625 Massachusetts Avenue
CALL TO ORDER 6:01 p.m.
Chair Eileen Jay welcomed and introduced committee members
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Eileen Jay, Chairperson
Kate Colburn, Vice-Chairperson
Kathleen Lenihan, Clerk (6:17 p.m.)
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 Superintendent
Article 27-Additional Appropriation for Center Track and Field
Ms. Jay gave a brief update regarding the additional appropriation for the Center Track and
Field alternates from the Recreation Committee that will be discussed at Town Meeting later
this evening. The base bid which requires no additional appropriation includes installation of a
synthetic turf field. The LPS administration and athletic department have recommended of the
synthetic turf. During its last meeting, the Recreation Committee voted 4-1 in favor of going for
the synthetic turf and opted not to select the organic fill option due to maintenance of the
organic fill. Alternates are listed below:
Alternate 0: Extend the synthetic turf field warranty from 8 years to 10 years
Alternate 1: Organic infill in the synthetic turf field
Alternate 2: High end natural grass field with synthetic fibers (hybrid field)
Alternate 3: Upgrade the athletic lighting levels
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Ms. Colburn moved to approve the administration recommendation for synthetic field
surface at Center Field with Alternate 0;seconded by Ms. Sawhney(Approved 4-0)
Members had further discussion on Article 27 ending with the following vote.
Ms. Colburn moved to approve the use of Article 27 to seek additional appropriations
for the Center Track and Field project; seconded by Ms. Sawhney-(Failed 0-4)
Lexington Children's Place (LCP) and Hastings Update
Mr. Mike Cronin, Director of Public Facilities, provided a brief update on the progress of
Lexington Children's Place and Hastings Elementary building projects. Mr. Cronin reported that
Lexington Children's Place is still tracking an August 15, 2019 completion date while Hastings
Elementary is tracking for February 2020 occupancy. Both building projects are within budget.
Mr. Cronin responded to questions asked by School Committee members.
COMMUNITY SPEAKS:
Avon Lewis-Dr. Lewis requested the School Committee to take action against one of the
questions asked on the 10 grade ELA MCAS test. Students read a passage from the book, The
Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead. After reading the prompt, they were asked to
write a journal entry from the point of view of Ethel, a character who is openly racist.
Dr. Lewis requested that members of Lexington School Committee join the MTA, American
Federation of Teachers of Massachusetts, the NAACP, and others to write a letter to
Commissioner Riley and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and demand two
things:
1. Cancel the entire 10th grade MCAS exam and hold students harmless.
2. Implement a moratorium on MCAS and any other high stakes testing.
Members and the Superintendent agree to bring this topic up at an upcoming agenda.
Discussion of Amendment to Article 39:
Ms. Colburn reported that School Committee voted at the last meeting for Ms. Colburn to make
a Motion to Reconsider Article 39 at Town Meeting in order to offer an amendment. At the
March 27 Town Meeting, the School Committee had learned after the close of debate that
Article 39 applies not only to the private uses that were discussed on Town Meeting floor, but
also to Lexington Public Schools' building projects. After some feedback on the original
amendment, Ms. Colburn is proposing additional language be included to clear up any
confusion and to narrow down the language about "Lexington Public Schools" on Lexington
land.
Ms. Colburn moved to approve the following amendment to Article 39, Paragraph 6:
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the use of land or structures for
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educational purposes by Lexington Public Schools on land owned or leased by the
Town of Lexington or Lexington Public Schools shall not be subject to site plan review
pursuant to §9.5-motion seconded by Ms. Lenihan (Approved 5-0)
First Policy Reading- Integrated Building Design & Construction Policy
The Superintendent and Committee members had a discussion on the Integrated Building
Design & Construction Policy Goals. Ms. Colburn noted that the goals are a different document
than what they were originally looking at while working on the policy in the working group. Ms.
Colburn reported that further work needs to be done to clarify what is going to be in the goals
document and to have the work integrated with the policy in a consistent manner.
The Superintendent and Committee members had further discussion and comments on the
policy.
School Committee remained in open session and relocated to Battin Hall for the purpose of
participating in Town Meeting.
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LSC Meeting 4/8/2019
Minutes Approved 5/21/19