Minutes

January 2, 2008

Wellesley Public Schools
School Committee Meeting - Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Juliani Room, Wellesley Town Hall

The meeting was called to order by the Chairman at 7:45 pm.  Mr. Young, Ms. Allen, Mr. Guiffre, Ms. Littlefield, and Ms. Newman were present.  Also present was Ms. Wong. Ms. Gregory was absent.

PERSONNEL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Appointments
Andrew Bennett, 1.0FTE Long Term Substitute High School English Teacher, Step B-1, effective January 24, 2008
Mark Bugden, 0.4FTE Occupational Therapist, Step M+30-7, effective December 13, 2007

Leave of Absence
Michele Karol, 0.8FTE Middle School Social Studies Teacher, 0.8FTE lave February 27 – June 30, 2008
Julie Kenerson, 1.0FTE Grade Six Teacher, 1.0FTE leave March 18 – June 10, 2008
Kristen Walsh, 1.0FTE Fitness and Health Teacher, 1.0FTE leave February 27 – May 22, 2008

CONSENT AGENDA
Upon motion made by Ms. Allen, seconded by Ms. Littlefield, it was unanimously VOTED to accept:

Gifts
Contribution ($5,000) to support the program of PAWS, from Brian Schulz and Mate Converse
Contribution ($617.90) to purchase iPods and microphones at Wellesley High School, from WHS PTSO
Contribution ($2,990.56) for high school mathematics department, from WHS PTSO
Contribution ($489) for Brentware cart for high school ceramics, from WHS PTSO
Contribution ($10,000 Marriott Foundation Grant) for computers, from WHS PTSO
Contribution ($1,000) for Performing Arts Department, from  IDG/The Expo Group, Irving, TX
Mac Book  ($1,200) for Wellesley Middle School students and teachers, from Gillian Callaghan
Shelving Materials ($125) for PAWS, from PAWS PTO
Photo Enlarger ($1,253) for middle school photography program, from WMS PTO
Solder tank and supplies ($403) for middle school jewelry program, from WMS PTO

RECOGNITION
Ms. Wong acknowledged the generosity of the Middle School community in stocking the pantry of the shelter program administered by Voices Against Violence.

PUBLIC HEARING – FY09 BUDGET
Virginia Ferko, Precinct F: Urges adoption of a budget that accomplishes the goal of sustaining services, with decision based upon what is known. Wellesley citizens are proud of the quality of education in the Town. Assume that the citizens will want to maintain that quality unless they speak otherwise at the ballot box.

Susan Doran, Precinct C:  It is important to understand the trend in education and funding and not to pit mandated programs against regular education. Over the past ten years there has been an increase in state mandated, but unfunded, initiatives. Special education accounts for 27% of the total proposed FY09 school budget. From 1999 to 2008 special education costs in Wellesley increased from $5.3 Million to $12.7 Million, an increase of 140%. The English Language Learner program adds incremental cost to the budget. These numbers, which are not within our control, and which overwhelm the budget, do not fit into the framework of a 4.78% guideline, nor with the restrictions of Proposition 2-1/2. Ms. Doran urges support of the sustaining budget presented by the administration.

Cathy Taylor, Precinct B: After researching health care expenses within the Town on a “percent of total” basis, Ms. Taylor commended the School Committee for its work in past years to absorb rising special education costs, rising enrollment, and infrastructure costs. In 1984 the percentage of the Town’s total budget was 46.3%; in 2008 it was 48.9%. Group health insurance costs have risen during that time period from 3% of the total budget to 13.1%. She urges continued support of a strong curriculum. The “pain” needs to be spread more evenly. This Town values education.

Trina Foster, Precinct E:  Preserving manageable class sizes remains a top priority. In Wellesley this year, according to the October enrollment report, over 10% of elementary classes exceed guideline. With reference to the Star Project in Tennessee, Ms. Foster spoke to the reasons why small class size is important for “average” students. Students on IEP’s receive the services they need. Advanced students can handle directed study time, but average students are “squeezed.”

SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
Work is progressing on the Middle School punch list. A public hearing is scheduled regarding proposed remediation to the Sprague Fields complex Tuesday, January 8, 2008, 7:00 pm, at Town Hall. The parking sub committee will meet on January 3. The mental health steering committee met recently. The elementary school infrastructure debt exclusion project is moving forward. A majority of the costs will be incurred in the next eighteen months. Selection of a project manager is imminent.

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

DISCUSSION ITEMS
Elementary Budget Sub Committee Report
Ms. Newman reported for the sub committee. The proposed base elementary budget calls for:

  • One additional section at Bates
  • Increase of 4.3FTE instructional staffing

The proposed sustaining elementary budget calls for

  • Increase of .5FTE for ELL program and materials
  • Implement 2nd edition Investigations curriculum, grades 3 – 5
  • Increase 3.5 FTE building support for special education

The advancing elementary budget provides for

  • Two year implementation of Investigations

The committee’s discussion of class size issues included consideration of factors that support the placement of  teaching assistants in classrooms; addressing the imbalance of class sizes among the schools through limited redistricting or establishing one school for all sections of certain grades; working to observe the guideline at its low end, not the upper limit; budgeting each year for an unassigned position for contingency; unpredictable in migration. The committee also discussed secretarial staffing, the role of school psychologists, the school nurse, the environmental education program, and bus transportation.

K-12 Budget Sub Committee Report

Ms. Newman reported for the sub committee.    There is a projected deficit in this budget of $1,031,646. Ms. Newman charted the various placements of students enrolled in special education programs and iterated the assignment of staff, including support staff, who serve the needs of special education students. Other items within the K-12 budget include

  • Technology
  • Professional development
  • English Language Learner program
  • Library books ($59,000 for system wide purchasing)
  • Finance secretary (.48FTE)
  • Custodian

In follow up discussion, it was noted that the proposal to add a new administrative position to serve as out of district liaison is a high priority to the administration. This position will support the special education department heads, who are required increasingly to provide data analysis. The new position is recommended at 1.0FTE based on case load. The department continues to seek savings by developing in house special education programs, but faces space constraints in our buildings. There was some discussion about vocational education options.

CITIZEN SPEAK

Janet Seidl, Precinct C:  Though she supports the sustaining budget, Ms. Seidl characterized it as less than sustaining, given the losses in recent years of the elementary Spanish program and library book purchases. She would like restoration of the elementary Spanish program and the position of library assistant throughout the district. She urged the committee to support the sustaining budget and, in the future, to increase technology and “grow” the program.

Elaine Gillim, Precinct F:  Special education represents 27% of the total school budget. Of the proposed staffing increases in FY09, 71% are for special education purposes. The sustaining budget is 62% special education. The all inclusive nature of the budget does not separate special education increases. She urges the committee to make it more apparent to the Town that the special education increases are a large reason why the school budget goes up each year.

Susan Ryan, Precinct E: The Town does not have enough revenues. Why is the school committee reluctant to accept funding for teacher salaries and equipment from other sources, such as foundations that raise money. It is necessary to think of alternative creative solutions to raise money to help supplement some of the budget.

EXECUTIVE SESSION
Upon motion made by Ms. Newman, seconded by Ms. Allen, it was unanimously

                  VOTED: To go into Executive Session for purposes of collective bargaining, with intent to return to public session solely for the purpose of adjournment.

Ms. Allen, aye; Mr. Guiffre, aye; Mr. Littlefield, aye; Ms. Newman, aye; Mr. Young, aye.

The public session adjourned at 10:05 pm.

 

Executive Secretary