July 19, 2007

Wellesley Public Schools
School Committee Meeting - Thursday, July 19, 2007
Superintendent’s Conference Room
62 Walnut Street, Wellesley, Massachusetts

The meeting was called to order by the Chairman at 7:00 pm. Mr. Young, Ms. Allen, Mr. Guiffre, Ms. Littlefield, and Ms. Newman were present.

ACTION ITEM
Stipends
As principal of the middle school, the committee acknowledged and recognized John D’Auria’s additional work as liaison to the middle school renovations project.

Upon a motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously

VOTED: To ratify the previously arranged $2,500 stipend provided to Dr. D’Auria in connection with his oversight of the second year of the WMS building project.

The committee discussed a stipend for Carol Markuson to support the new Library Director and advise on library space design K-12.

Upon a motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously

VOTED: To ratify the previously arranged $1,000 stipend provided to Carol Markuson in connection with support and advisory services to the Library Director

DISCUSSION ITEMS
Massachusetts School Building Authority
The committee discussed the request from the Massachusetts School Building Authority to resubmit an electronic version of the statement of interest for WMS in addition to the paper submission previously submitted. After discussion, the Committee agreed to authorize such resubmission.

Brainstorming
The committee discussed a variety of ideas relating to how it can continuously strive to improve its effectiveness and agreed on a number of ideas upon which it would seek to act.

CITIZEN SPEAK
There were no citizens at the meeting.

On-boarding the New Superintendent
The committee discussed a variety of ideas relating to how it can effectively on-board Ms. Wong in her first year as superintendent. There was strong consensus to strive to provide support to a new superintendent above and beyond the level of support that would otherwise be provided to a continuing superintendent. The committee agreed that it would take the following steps to assist Ms. Wong in the transition into her new role:

• encourage and support Ms. Wong’s objective to engage in active outreach with the community
• continue to communicate with Advisory Committee about possible ways to streamline and make more efficient the budget process
• support a central office expansion

Facilitated Meeting with Citizens
The committee discussed the plan for a facilitated meeting with interested citizens to discuss ways in which the committee could better meet the needs of the Town and agreed to ask Paul Cramer to facilitate such a meeting during the fall of 2007.

High School Project
The committee discussed the progress of the School Building Committee in connection with the potential high school building project. The committee also discussed two topics raised by the School Building Committee: asbestos abatement and a parking garage.

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.

Executive Secretary