March 13, 2007

Wellesley Public Schools
School Committee Meeting - Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Wellesley High School Library

The meeting was called to order by the Chairman at 7:30 pm. Mr. Young, Ms. Allen, Mr. Guiffre, Ms. Littlefield, and Ms. Newman were present. Also present were Dr. King and Ms. Wong. Representing the Student Congress was John McDermott.

School Committee welcomed Mr. Guiffre upon his election to the board March 6, 2007.

PERSONNEL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Appointments
Virginia Balicki, Associate Principal, Sprague School, effective March 5, 2007
Sheryl Boris-Schacter, Principal, Hunnewell School, effective July 1, 2007
Leave of Absence
Marci Karp, Speech/Language Pathologist, 1.0FTE leave for the 2007-08 school year
Appendix A Appointment
Jesse Davis, Assistant Coach, High School Wrestling, effective February 2, 2007
Appendix A Appointments -- Coaches, Spring Season 2007
HIGH SCHOOL
Baseball
Head Coach Rob Kane Group IIA, Step 5
Assistant Coaches Greg Rice Group IIB, Step 4 Drew Kelton Group IIB, Step 5
Part Time Assistant Coach Patrick Gallagher $40 Per Diem to $1,000 maximum
Softball
Head Coach Jeff LaCure Group IIA, Step 5
Assistant Coaches David Nichols Group IIB, Step 5 Vacant Part Time Assistant Coach Vacant
Outdoor Track
Head Coach, Girls James Ash Group IIA, Step 5
Head Coach, Boys Bob Bergeron Group IIA, Step 3
Assistant Coaches Lou Pearlman Group IIB, Step 5 Dan Rubin Group IIB, Step 5 Vacant
Part Time Assistant Coach Vacant $40 Per Diem to $1,000 maximum
Boys Tennis
Head Coach Mike Sabin Group IIIA, Step 5
Girls Tennis
Head Coach Alan Brazier Group IIIA, Step 5
Sailing
Head Coach Doug Johnson Group IIIA, Step 4
Part Time Assistant Coach Vacant
Girls Lacrosse
Head Coach Chris Molonea Group IIA, Step 5
Assistant Coaches Blair Anstey Group IIB, Step 5 Caroline Nesbit Group IIB, Step 5
Part Time Assistant Coach Kristin Cieri $40 Per Diem to $1,000 maximum
Boys Lacrosse
Head Coach Chris Gelinas Group IIA, Step 5
Assistant Coaches Mike Reidy Group IIB, Step 5 Vacant
Part Time Assistant Coach Angelo Macchiano $40 Per Diem to $1,000 maximum
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Equipment Manager Kirk Fredericks
Baseball Vacant
Softball Vacant
Track Anne White Group IIC, Step 5 Charles Walsh Group IIC, Step 5
Tennis Robin Kanter Group IIC, Step 3

CONSENT AGENDA
Upon motion made by Ms. Littlefield, seconded by Ms. Allen, it was VOTED:
Minutes
To approve minutes of Regular School Committee Meetings dated February 6 and 27, 2007

Acceptance of Gifts
To accept
• Contribution ($500) for the Wellesley High School Robotics Team, from Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc.
• HP430 Large Format Plotter (value $2,000) for WHS technology education (architectural drafting/design), from Laura Glen Design, Wellesley, MA
• Computer equipment (value $513) for WHS technology education (architectural drafting/design), from Veechwin Li, Wellesley, MA

Salary Lane Change
Ellen Banthin - M+60, effective February 26, 2007

The motion CARRIED (4 - 0) , with one abstention

RECOGNITIONS
Kevin McDonald, High School Choral Director, who stepped in on a last minute basis when a colleague was ill to conduct the Song Sisters in performance at the League of Women Voters Candidates Night. John Brown, High School Athletic Director, who left a season ending track team banquet in order to attend and speak at a public hearing at which the proposed installation of synthetic turf on the Sprague fields was under consideration. John D’Auria, Middle School Principal, upon his recent appointment to become superintendent of schools in Canton.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
The Sprague principal search has been reopened. Although it is very early in the developmental process, the governor’s budget released last week calls for a dramatic increase (32%) in funding for Wellesley, which is experiencing significant enrollment increases in contrast to other towns.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE’S REPORT
Advance preparations are well underway for the opening of Town Meeting on March 26, at whichthe next stage of the high school project will be considered. The town’s Municipal Light Plant has requested agreement from the schools to participate in an energy efficient lighting retrofit at Hunnewell School. The School Building Committee is continuing its schedule of meetings. A day-long charette is scheduled for Friday, March 23. Central council requested school committee consideration to establish a new policy prohibiting schools from sponsoring special events such as fundraisers, book fairs, etc., on election days due to parking and venue access issues. Various town boards are reaching alignment regarding the proposed debt exclusion that will come before town meeting. Committee21 is preparing an awareness campaign for voters, who will be asked to consider the debt exclusion question, assuming it is approved by town meeting. The League of Women Voters will arrange precinct meetings. Seminar Day at the high school on March 14 will offer a choice among 86 seminars on a wide range of topics.

PUBLIC HEARING: School Choice
The hearing was opened at 7:58 pm. There were no citizens present who wished to speak.

CITIZEN SPEAK
There were no citizens present who wished to speak.

A CONVERSATION WITH THE PRINCIPAL
Dr. King introduced Sheryl Boris-Schacter, who has been appointed principal at Hunnewell School, effective July 1, while serving this year as interim principal. Ms. Boris-Schacter and the committee discussed her experiences this year in Wellesley and her plans for continued leadership in the Hunnewell community.

DISCUSSION ITEM
Mathematics Curriculum Update: Director of Curriculum and Instruction Becky McFall described initiatives in classrooms underway this year at all levels of the system in response to the recommendations of the recently concluded K-12 mathematics curriculum review.

ACTION ITEMS
School Choice:
Upon motion made by Ms. Littlefield, seconded by Ms. Allen, it was unanimously
VOTED: That the Wellesley Public Schools not participate in the School Choice Program
in the 2007-2008 school year.

The motion CARRIED (5-0)

Playing Fields Task Force Fee Schedule:
The five boards comprising the Playing Fields Task Force must act on the fee schedule developed to cover the costs of proposed installation of synthetic turf on two fields at Sprague. The committee discussed the importance of establishing a prioritized consideration of requests for field use that will assure that Wellesley teams are not displaced by non-resident teams and usage of the high school football field.

Ms. Allen recused herself from participation in the school committee’s discussion and vote.

Upon motion made by Ms. Littlefield, seconded by Mr. Guiffre, it was unanimously

VOTED: To approve a Field Users Fee Policy as recommended by the Playing Fields Task Force, subject to approval of Town Warrant Article 22 by the 2007 Annual Town Meeting and subsequent approval by town voters of a debt exclusion question. The fee policy is:

Field use fees are collected by the Recreation Department and are then segregated into an account to be used by Department of Public Works for field maintenance of all town fields, repayment of Sprague field debt service, and provision for payment of Sprague field replacement. Money may be expended by Board of Public Works after consultation with the Recreation Commission, School Committee and the Natural Resources Commission. Quarterly reports will be given to the boards and to the Playing Fields Task Force.

Town wide special events: No Fee
School use: no fee/Coaches clinics $15 per participant/Coaches clinic at Sprague field $27.50 per participant
Resident youth sports: $27.50 per member per season per sport
Wellesley Recreation Department programs: no fee
Wellesley adult groups: $25 per member; $40 per member when using lights ($15 to field account and $25 to light account)
Wellesley resident: one time use $50 per game
Charitable groups: no fee
Non resident adult groups: $150 per game
Non Recreation Department camps: $32.50 per participant.

The motion CARRIED (4-0)

High School Project Position Papers:
School committee discussed and refined drafts of several position papers regarding the high school project.

Upon motion made by Mr. Guiffre, seconded by Ms. Littlefield, it was unanimously

VOTED: To approve position papers substantially in the format discussed:
• Academic and Architectural Program
• Build for Peak or Less than Peak Enrollment
• Values and Principles
• Wellesley High School as a 9-12 School

The motion CARRIED (5-0)

Position papers will be posted on the district website. Other position papers remain under development.

High School Project DeJong Report:
School committee discussed the programming report prepared by DeJong, Inc.

Upon motion made by Mr. Guiffre, seconded by Ms. Littlefield, it was unanimously
VOTED: To accept the programming report of DeJong, Inc., substantially in the format presented.

The motion CARRIED (5-0)

Lighting Agreement: Hunnewell School

Upon motion made by Ms. Allen, seconded by Ms. Littlefield, it was unanimously

VOTED: To enter into an agreement with the Municipal Light Plant to retrofit lighting at Hunnewell School as recommended.

The motion CARRIED (5-0)

CITIZEN SPEAK
There were no citizens present who wished to speak.

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:58 pm

Executive Secretary