October 23, 2007
Wellesley Public Schools
School Committee Meeting - Tuesday, October 23, 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 Ms. Wong and Ms. Gregory. Representing the Student Congress was Kelsey Woerner.
PERSONNEL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Leave of Absence
Alison Apfel, Middle School Guidance Counselor, 1.0FTE leave of absence 12/17/2007 - 04/28/2008
Alison Apfel, Middle School Guidance Counselor, 0.5FTE leave of absence 04/28/2008 - 06/30/2008
Appendix A Appointments
Patrick Gallagher, 2007-08 Team Room Manager, Group IV-A, Step 1
Ashley Bourne, Assistant Coach, High School Volleyball, Group III-B, Step 1
Guy Enoch, Part Time Assistant Coach, High School Girls Soccer, $40 per diem to $1,000 maximum
David Lyth, Coach, Middle School Boys Soccer, Group II-C, Step 1
CONSENT AGENDA
Upon motion made by Ms. Littlefield, seconded by Ms. Allen, it was unanimously VOTED:
Gifts
To accept
Trumpet (value $250) from Ann McCauley
Contribution ($2500) for unrestricted use at the Preschool from Margaret Allyn Gallerani
1996 BMW 325 4-door sedan for refurbishing in high school auto shop program and resale, from Susan Bell
Salary Lane Change
Master’s - Nicole Paul, effective October 5, 2007
RECOGNITIONS
• Ruth Quinn Berdell, WPS Business Manager, for efficient handling of the many tasks that require simultaneous attention at the start of school and Assistant Business Manager Michael Connelly.
• Conor Stevens, WHS ‘05, who recently addressed a humanities class regarding his experiences serving with the Marines in Iraq.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Budget development for FY09 is well underway. The capital budget will be presented this evening. Preliminary meetings and special education program tours for advisory have occurred. The first cycle of superintendent’s visits to each school will be completed this week.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
The Sprague Fields Task Force has defined its work with three goals: timely development of design for the required remediation for presentation to annual town meeting 2008; master plan for the entire area; plan for risk evaluation of synthetic turf or grass. Gale Engineering has been selected for the design work and master planning work, and a consultant has been identified to work with independent toxicologists to evaluate the health and environmental risks. The committee agreed by consensus to withdraw its placeholder article to seek special town meeting approval of $20,000 funding for this project. School committee and school building committee representatives recently visited Needham High School, which is undergoing extensive renovation. Student Congress has investigated increasing student access to computers in the Mac lab and is pursuing with appropriate department heads locating the math and writing labs in the Mac lab.
CITIZEN SPEAK
There were no citizens present who wished to speak.
ACTION ITEMS
Sprague School Improvement Report 2006-07/Plan 2007-08 Principal Donna Dankner presented the Sprague School improvement report and plan for 2007-08.
Upon motion made by Ms. Littlefield, seconded by Ms. Allen, it was unanimously
VOTED: To accept the Sprague School Report for 2006-07 and Improvement Plan for 2007-08
as presented.
CARRIED (5 - 0).
High School Short Term Space Options Given the school committee’s reconsideration of its decision to request funding from Special Town Meeting to convert the lecture hall into four classrooms for use in September 2008, Mr. Young noted that the committee plans to propose funding the conversation options approved on October 17 through the capital process without requiring town meeting action.
Upon motion made by Ms. Littlefield, seconded by Ms. Newman, it was unanimously
VOTED: To rescind school committee vote of October 9 to request Special Town Meeting approval of proposed interior renovations to the high school lecture hall so as to increase classroom inventory.
CARRIED (5 - 0).
DISCUSSION ITEMS
FY09 Capital Budget Assistant Superintendent Carol Gregory presented the FY09 capital budget proposal, totaling $1,311,569. Following review of the budget with advisory, the sub committee will present its report at the next meeting.
Five Year Capital Plan Ms. Gregory presented an updated five-year capital plan covering FY09 through FY13.
Enrollment Report Business Manager Ruth Quinn Berdell discussed with the committee the updated five- and ten-year enrollment forecast and its implications on the need for classroom space throughout the district.
CITIZEN SPEAK
There were no citizens present who wished to speak.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Upon motion made by Ms. Littlefield, seconded by Ms. Newman, 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 9:22 pm.
Executive Secretary
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