February 12, 2008
Wellesley Public Schools
School Committee Meeting – Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Wellesley High School Library
The meeting was called to order by the Chairman at 7:35 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 Mike Kehoe.
PERSONNEL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Resignation
Molly Zuckerberg, Elementary Teacher on leave, effective June 30, 2008
CONSENT AGENDA
Upon motion made by Ms. Littlefield, seconded by Ms. Allen, it was unanimously VOTED to accept:
Minutes
Regular School Committee Meetings dated January 15 and January 29, 2008
RECOGNITIONS Deb Ward, High School METCO Academic Coordinator, and Patrick Gallagher, High School English Teacher, whose work with participants in the African American Studies Program culminated in a successful student initiative celebrating African American Heritage Day, Saturday, February 2. The program included workshops, conversations about race, music, and dance. Steven Scott, High School Band Director, and the Two O’Clock Jazz Band, first place winners in the 40th annual Berklee College Jazz Festival.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT A project manager has been selected for the elementary schools work that was funded through last year’s debt exemption vote. The Community Preservation Committee voted to support a request from the Sprague Fields Task Force for funding of remediation options A and B ($1.5 Million) and of option C ($700,000). The Playing Fields Task Force approved designating $5 of the $15 user fee to create a replacement fund for synthetic turf, subject to approval by school committee.
Upon motion made by Mr. Guiffre, seconded by Ms. Littlefield, it was unanimously
VOTED: To endorse the Playing Field Task Force recommendation that $5 of the user fee be set aside as a replacement fund for synthetic turf.
Mr. Young announced that an agreement has been reached between the school committee and the Wellesley Educational Secretaries Association covering the period July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. Agreement upon a fixed adjustment to the top step has resulted in an overall contract increase of 2.98%.
Upon motion made by Ms. Littlefield, seconded by Ms. Allen, it was unanimously
VOTED: To approve the agreement between the School Committee and the Wellesley Educational Secretaries Association as outlined.
In behalf of the Student Congress, Mike Kehoe reported that planning is well underway for Seminar Day, March 12. The conversation is continuing about climate and culture, building on the panel presentation to the community on February 5, and including a suggestion to establish home rooms as a way for students to connect with one another.
CITIZEN SPEAK
ANN RAPPAPORT, Precinct C: Ms. Rappaport presented statistics drawn from information posted through the Department of Education with particular reference to Wellesley regarding inflation adjusted per pupil spending and total spending for regular and special education. Though she commended the administration and teachers for managing the budget well, she fears trouble in the future if the apparent trends continue. The committee responded with a brief discussion. Some communities include shared health care costs in their school budget reporting to the Department of Education. The allocation of health care costs to the schools in Wellesley appears as a percentage of the town’s total obligation in that regard.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
NEASC Presentation High School Principal Andrew Keough and faculty tri chairs Elisa Morris, Doug Brown, and John Burns described the preliminary planning and self study that the high school faculty has engaged in during the past two years in preparation for the decennial accreditation site visit this March of a team representing New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Naming Rights Mr. Guiffre reported. A committee representative of all town boards was recently convened to discuss naming rights. A proposed bylaw amendment, which requires endorsement by all town boards, has been presented to the Selectmen. It will be necessary for the school committee to produce a naming rights policy that is consistent with the bylaw soon, in light of the Sprague fields remediation proposal and the upcoming high school project.
Upon motion made by Mr. Guiffre, seconded by Ms. Littlefield, it was unanimously
VOTED: To endorse the proposed bylaw amendment regarding naming rights as presented for consideration by the Board of Selectmen.
System Goals Mid Year Update Ms. Wong summarized the midyear status of ongoing work throughout the district to address the system goals for 2007-08.
FY09 Budget The committee reviewed proposed cuts to the FY09 operating budget suggested by the administration to accommodate Advisory’s request for two budgets from the schools, one which meets the original Advisory guideline established last fall (4.78%), and one which meets an adjusted guideline (8.03%). Both budgets will be presented to Town Meeting. With intentions to defer action until a later meeting, school committee discussed some elements in the administration’s proposals, including the revised allocation for virtual high school, cost sharing with the PTO for elementary math textbook purchases, reallocation of custodial personnel, the philosophy that guided choices within the proposed across-the-board reductions, expense budget level funding, high school academic lab staffing, fees.
CITIZEN SPEAK
ANN RAPPAPORT, Precinct C: Ms. Rappaport urged retention of a geometry program option for middle school students.
SUSAN RYAN, Precinct E: Ms. Ryan expressed concern that the proposed budget cuts will penalize “the best and brightest of our children.”
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Upon motion made by Ms. Newman, 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 10:10 pm.
Executive Secretary
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