January 29, 2008
Wellesley Public Schools
School Committee Meeting – Tuesday, January 29, 2008
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 Ms. Wong and Ms. Gregory. Representing the Student Congress was Kelsey Woerner.
PERSONNEL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Retirements
Rhonda Silverman, Speech/Language Pathologist on leave of absence, effective June 30, 2008
Resignations
Andrea Dewhirst, 0.6FTE Speech and Language Pathologist, effective June 30, 2008
Diane King, Elementary Teacher on leave of absence, effective June 30, 2008
Stacy Lake, Elementary Teacher on leave of absence, effective June 30, 2008
Reduction in Teaching Time
Kari Sciera, Middle School Fitness and Health Teacher, from 0.9 to 0.5FTE, effective 2008-09 school year
Leave of Absence
Blair Anstey, Elementary Teacher on leave, 1.0FTE leave for the 2008-09 school year
Erica Ilyin, Elementary Teacher, 1.0FTE leave, February 18 – June 30, 2008
Brian Meringer, Middle School Social Studies Teacher, 1.0FTE leave for the 2008-09 school year
Erica Pilat, Elementary Special Educator, 0.5FTE leave for the 2008-09 school year
Mariessa Theodorou, 0.5FTE Preschool Special Educator, for the 2008-09 school year
Erica Vina, High School Family/Consumer Science Teacher, 0.1FTE leave for the 2008-09 school year
CONSENT AGENDA
Upon motion made by Ms. Littlefield, seconded by Ms. Newman, it was unanimously VOTED to accept:
Minutes
Regular School Committee Meeting dated January 7, 2008.
Gifts
Contribution ($750) for library books, from Sprague PTO
Salary Lane Change
Ilene Sharpe – Master’s Plus 60, effective January 22, 2008
Nancy Smith – Master’s Plus 60, effective January 2, 2008
RECOGNITION Gayle Vonasek, who will retire in June upon completion of 12 years as principal of Hardy School. With particular expertise in literacy, Gayle established a high standard for instruction throughout the curriculum and fostered initiatives in math instruction.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT The month of January is a time of assessments. Students receive progress reports and report cards. Teachers also receive mid-year internal assessments of their work. These evaluations are lengthy written documents prepared by principals, department heads, and administrators, which are based on observations and conversations about teaching.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT Student Congress Representative Kelsey Woerner reported that students are developing a food services survey, working together with Food Services Director Bernard Darcy, regarding the cafeteria. The school committee report cited the work underway through the high school project parking sub group, activity involving the Parent Advisory Council, and the principal’s letter in the most recent issue of the high school PTSO newsletter.
CITIZEN SPEAK
SUSAN RYAN, Precinct E: The cumulative effect of budget cuts over several years is inescapable. With concern over the apparent perception that the school committee has been uncooperative in reducing its budget to reduce the town’s budget deficit for FY09, Ms. Ryan asserted that the current quality of the system cannot be sustained in the face of additional substantial cuts. Given the historically strong support of citizens for the school system, Ms. Ryan urged the committee to allow the citizens to continue to demonstrate this support.
SUSAN DORAN, Precinct C: The $55 Million budget approved by the school committee reflects the real cost of educating students in Wellesley today. Urging the committee to preserve quality in the education program by avoiding cuts that erode excellence, Ms. Doran inquired if increases in revenues are feasible. The town’s citizens support education and approve overrides. She asked the school committee to give the citizens the opportunity again this year to vote their support.
ANN RAPPAPORT, Precinct C: Information from the Massachusetts Department of Education website confirms that over the past six years per pupil expenditures in Wellesley have dropped. She distributed a graph she had prepared illustrating Wellesley per pupil costs in comparison with several similar and dissimilar communities, including Lawrence and Lowell.
MAGGIE MULQUEEN, Precinct B: There is a perception in the town that the school budget is high end. In the past five years, the experience of any given student has been diminished. The school committee should hold the line. Enrollment is rising. We will reach a point where we cannot provide for every student. She urged the committee to support the sustaining budget and to find a way to deliver the message with stories, not with figures.
NANCY PERLMUTTER, Precinct B: Fifth grade parents are concerned about the rising costs of the Thompson Island environmental education experience and the $432 tuition for that program this year. Due to the high cost of this program, available funds for subsidy to allow for full participation is limited, and parents are reluctant to apply for assistance. Ms. Perlmutter called for a complete re-examination of the program. The system should not and cannot require parents to pay a fee for the delivery of educational programming during the day.
Ms. Wong responded that the administrative team is concerned about the cost of the Thompson Island program and committed to discontinue it after this year due to the costs. The letter to parents about the program was mailed two months earlier than in prior years, and for the first time the letter offered parents the opportunity to donate to a subsidy fund.
ACTION ITEMS
Health Policies Director of Student Services Ellen Honeyman, joined by Department Head of Nursing Anne Prinn, distributed draft policies addressing two issues requiring school committee action in order to comply with a mandate by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Discussion about the policy, Do No Resuscitate or Comfort Care, focused on process and responsibility as well as the impact of such a situation upon the affected community. The committee tabled action on the proposed policy.
Ms. Prinn reported that the proposed policy, Managing Students with Identified Serious Allergic Reaction, describes our current practice and is in compliance with all regulations. At least 12% of the population is affected by serious allergies. There has not yet been an instance requiring the use of an epi pen for a student in allergic reaction, thanks to diligence among faculty and staff.
Upon motion made by Ms. Littlefield, seconded by Ms. Allen, it was unanimously
VOTED: To adopt a policy, as proposed and recommended: Managing Students with Identified Serious Allergic Reaction.
(5 – 0)
Temple Beth Elohim Building Project/Schofield Parking Representatives of Temple Beth Elohim described developing plans for construction adjacent to Schofield School, which will include modifications to the parking area on temple property, including location, grading and lighting, and a formal arrangement for shared parking for both communities. Construction of the new temple is anticipated to begin May 2009.
Upon motion made by Mr. Guiffre, seconded by Ms. Littlefield, it was unanimously
VOTED: To support plans for construction of a new temple on Cedar Street adjacent to Schofield School, including modifications of the parking area on temple property, as presented, with intent to develop a formal arrangement for shared parking for the communities of Temple Beth Elohim and the Schofield School, subject to advice, recommendations, and formal approval of the arrangement by Town Counsel.
(5 – 0)
FY09 Budget Mr. Young reviewed the process by which town boards develop budgets each year for consideration by Town Meeting. Based upon current sources and uses information and a projected shortfall of approximately $6.4 Million, Advisory established guidelines for each department. The school committee’s recommended FY09 budgets exceed the target set by Advisory, capital by approximately $360,000; the operating budget by approximately $3 Million. All town boards are working to reduce their budget requests for FY09. The school committee’s recommended operating budget of $55 Million set a baseline to sustain the existing quality program and meet needs incurred by rising enrollment, but the town’s financial circumstances will require changes to the budget.
Mr. Young outlined Advisory’s request for the committee now to develop two budgets: (1) a budget providing full funding for special education tuition and transportation, but modified from the original $55 Million through reductions totaling $1.4 Million, and (2) a budget reduced by $3 Million in order to meet the 4.78% increase guideline established at the outset of the budget development season by Advisory.
Ms. Wong framed the challenges facing the committee in this task. Sustaining program is less costly than replacing programs in the future. An override vote will be necessary this year. There are contractual obligations to notify faculty when jobs are impacted by the need for an override. School administration will develop, in a careful, thoughtful process, the two budgets for presentation to school committee on February 12.
CITIZEN SPEAK
There were no citizens present who wished to speak.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Upon motion made by Ms. Littlefield, seconded by Mr. Guiffre, it was unanimously
VOTED: To go into Executive Session for purposes of collective bargaining and personnel matters, 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 9:05 pm.
Executive Secretary
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