HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-04-08-Hastings-min
School Improvement Council Meeting, April 8, 2004
Present:
Susan Campbell, Janet Lane, Barbara Lockwood, Maria Moxon, Tammy
Mulligan, Lynne Stinson, Jessie Steigerwald, Beth Somers Sutzman
SURVEY RESULTS:
The committee went over Janet and Tammy's final draft of the school council survey,
written in two versions. The adult responses will be sent home to parents, and the
children's results will be read to children at All School Meeting. They were approved
with minor changes. Jennifer Hertzel had volunteered to read the children's version.
Jessie Stiegerwald will write a statement explaining the School Council and encouraging
parents to run for the Council to accompany the adult survey.
VOLUNTEERISM TASK FORCE:
Weds April 14, at 8:15 there will be a gathering of key committees to begin to coordinate
volunteer calendar and volunteer training. Maria and Jessie shared a draft of topics to be
covered in the volunteer handbook. It was suggested they add items concerning how to
interact with school staff – such as notifying the front office, use of school office
equipment, use of the school library.
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN - EXTRA MEETING DATE: We will hold two
meetings in May: May 6 and May 20 at 3:45 pm. to work on the new school
improvement plan for the 2004-2005 year.
SCHOOL COUNCIL ELECTIONS:
Jessie, Jennifer, & Barbara are due to retire from School Council.
At our last meeting we explored the need to hold school council elections among all
parents, not just PTA members, and to be sure all interested parents had a chance to
participate rather than the PTA Nominating Committee having to recommend a ballot
with the two council representatives. Susan Kenyon has studied the current bylaws and
feels there is enough flexibility in the PTA bylaws that we can hold elections by an open
process separate from a PTA meeting, so she recommended us against the lengthy
process of changing the bylaws.
We plan to announce the need for new School Council candidates during the week of
April 14 and invite new participation. Jessie will write a description of what School
Council does, and ask people to submit statements describing their interest by email or
via the front office to be received by May 10. (Statements should be at most half a page).
We will send home a ballot with all the written statements by the week of May 17 to be
returned the following week (sent home by family count). Hopefully new members can
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attend the May 20 council meeting.
Barbara Lockwood and Lynne Stinson will work on teacher elections.
TOWN BUDGET UPDATE:
Summit meeting of Selectmen, capital, Appropriations and School Committee discussed
what to do with some 575K in extra money found in the town. This is one time money,
should it go to a stabilization fund,or should the override be reduced by that amount?
Joanne Benton asked that a few protected items be put back: Curriculum Specialists and a
municipal clerk The school committee was concerned that it was one time money and
the items should not be at jeopardy next year.
How to present the override?
Five proposals:
1- One single question funding all departments (as was done in failed override)
2- Two independent questions listing a) municipals services, b) school services
3- Three tiers. Money to go to both municipals at schools, but at three different levels of
service (three dollar amounts).
4- Separate line items for each need: Government, Public Safety, Library, DPW,
Transportation, Schools (if one item failed extra money would not be approved).
5- Separate questions grouped by type of need with money to go to a mix of departments.
Categories including: Base need, culture & recreation, public safety, social service,
technology, transportation. Specialists in school such as art, music, PE would go under
the Culture and Recreation category.
Please contact the selectmen immediately at selectmen@ci.lexington.ma.us to share your
opinions about these options.
HASTINGS BUDGET UPDATE MEETING:
The Stand/PTA cosponsored event on April 1 had about 60 adults attending. Nancy
Alloway was eloquent. Teachers' testimony regarding impact of cuts is very moving. The
Town Meeting Members Association will hold a similiar event with a similar format.
School Council felt a meeting specifically for Hastings community would be effective
in informing people of our school's budget needs and the impact of another failed
override.
Tammy Mulligan agreed to organize the next budget "teach-in" for Hastings parents,
sometime near May 19th in the evening in order to reach parents unable to attend the
morning session that was held earlier.
May 6 at 3:45 pm.
NEXT MEETING: