February 28, 2006

Wellesley Public Schools
School Committee Meeting - Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Wellesley High School Library

The meeting was called to order by the Chairman at 7:38 pm. Ms. Jablonski, Ms. Littlefield, Mr. Murphy, Ms. Newman, and Ms. Sereiko were present. Also present were Dr. King and Ms. Wong.

PERSONNEL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Retirement
Dana Cotto, Director of Buildings and Grounds, effective September 29, 2006.
Resignation
Regina Driver, High School English Teacher on leave of absence, effective June 30, 2006
Appendix A Resignation
Natasha Padilla-Goddard, Middle School Supplies, effective February 17, 2006
Appendix A Appointment
Julie Scafati, Middle School Supplies, effective February 27, 2006

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
The FY06 school budget second quarter deficit is $783,000. The Town has applied to the state for extraordinary relief in the amount of $100,000 for special education costs and expects a response to the application by April. Executive Director Hans Larsen reports that the financial picture for FY07 is not yet entirely clear, but the deficit is currently estimated at $4.3 million. As the Selectmen continue to address the issue, they expect to define the final deficit amount in early March. School administrators are preparing a preliminary gap list, and school committee will have to approve a gap budget at the next meeting. Town Meeting will be convened March 26. As the middle school project moves forward, the ground floor science labs are now complete. Problems with the heating system are being addressed. The gym floor is finished.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE’S REPORT
The second of a two night workshop at Babson College addressing resiliency was well attended. Installation of modular classrooms at Fiske and Schofield (pending approval of funding at Town Meeting) may not occur before the opening day of school. Refinements in the program set back are mitigating some of the heating issues at the middle school, but replacement windows were eliminated from the project, resulting in poor insulation of the building. School Committee recognized the recent deaths of retired teachers, Mary Mars and William Cluff. The inter board working group is discussing the process for an operating override. At its meeting on February 16 the Permanent Building Committee discussed the high school project.

CITIZEN SPEAK
Michael Humphrys, Precinct A: Mr. Humphrys referenced “perceived misinterpretations of the report” presented recently to school committee by the high school facilities advisory committee. He encouraged more accurate reflection within school committee’s deliberations of the report recommendation that there should be a special building committee for the project. A focused building committee will share resources for the success of the project. Mr. Humphrys also spoke to the practice of lumping programming into the schematic design phase of the project. Programming is not “just another stage,” but should be considered as distinct from programatic design. The time required for a rigorous programming effort will be time well spent. He urged school committee to reach out to former members of the facilities advisory committee with expertise in this field.

DISCUSSION ITEMS
Elementary Special Education Model Director of Student Services Dorsey Yearley and Elementary Special Education Department Head Beth Brown described the program review of elementary special education, which is currently underway. The needs assessment and key questions have been identified. Throughout the spring and summer the committee will continue its work with an expectation of making a final report to school committee in the fall of 2006.

Coordinated Program Review Dorsey Yearley presented a summary of the findings of the coordinated program review conducted by the Department of Education in the fall of 2005.

FY07 Budget Noting that the dollar amount of the override is still in flux, it was agreed that school committee would discuss fully a gap list budget and the overall town wide approach to the override at its next meeting.

CITIZEN SPEAK
KC Kato, Moderator, Central Council of PTO’s: Citing their commitment of time to the education of all children in Wellesley, Ms. Kato thanked Anna Sereiko and Gerry Murphy for their service on school committee during the past three years.

Led by Ms. Jablonski, school committee added words of tribute and thanks to outgoing members Anna Sereiko and Gerry Murphy.

ADJOURNMENT

The public session was adjourned at 9:07 pm.

Executive Secretary