December 12, 2007
Wellesley Public Schools
School Committee Meeting - Wednesday, December 12, 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 Michael Kehoe.
PERSONNEL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Resignation
Ashley Adams, 0.4FTE Occupational Therapist, effective November 30, 2007
Appendix A Appointment
Jacqueline Katz, Coach, Middle School Girls Soccer, Group II-C, Step 2
Stipended Appointments
Adam Blumer, Middle School Scheduler
Sue Conrad, Preschool Before- and After School Program Supervision
Katherine Cort, Preschool Before- and After School Program Supervision
Stephanie Ferrano, Preschool Before- and After School Program Supervision
Sheila Geiser, Preschool Before- and After School Program Supervision
Meg Hulluing, Preschool Before- and After School Program Supervision
Shira Kagedan, Preschool Before- and After School Program Supervision
Christine Tavano, Preschool Before- and After School Program Supervision
Erin Thomas, Preschool Before- and After School Program Supervision
Increase in Teaching Time
Corrie Martin, Preschool Physical Therapist, from 0.2FTE to 0.6FTE, effective January 2, 2008
CONSENT AGENDA
Upon motion made by Ms. Littlefield, seconded by Mr. Guiffre, it was unanimously VOTED:
Minutes
To accept minutes of regular school committee meeting dated Novemberf 27, 2007, and executive session minutes dated November 27, 2007
Gifts
To accept
Six benches (value $2,200) for Wellesley High School from Wellesley Garden Study Group
Salary Lane Change
Taryn Elacqua - Master’s Plus 30, effective Novembe 27, 2007
Christina Gerst - Master’s Plus 30, effective Novembe 26, 2007
RECOGNITIONS
Kalise Jacobs, Director of METCO, who planned the annual METCO Directors Association Conference December 7, featuring workshops and speakers, and attended by over 550 participants. Larry Pellegrini, Head Custodian at Hunnewell, who has returned to work following a lengthy military leave in service with the National Guard in Afghanistan and Kosovo.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT Massachusetts School Building Assistance has included the proposed project for Wellesley High School among projects for which state reimbursement funding may be approved.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT The School Building Committee, under the direction of Katherine Babson, convened a meeting recently for officials from every major town board to lay out the groundwork for the proposed high school project. Working with the Permanent Building Committee, the School Building Committee has eliminated all but two options for further development for the project, one option a renovation project; the other option a new school. Michael Kehoe reported that Student Congress approves the new school option for a high school project. Students are talking about options next year for classrooms to accommodate the increasing high school enrollment. Planning for Seminar Day in March is well underway.
CITIZEN SPEAK
Meryl Fink, Hunnewell PTO The proposed start date for the 2008-09 academic year calendar is problematic and does not conform with policy. The date for Professional Day could be changed.
ACTION ITEMS
Sprague Fields Task Force Update: Mr. Guiffre summarized the mission and progress to date of the special task force that is developing a recommendation for consideration by Annual Town Meeting 2008 to remediate playing fields at the Sprague complex. The task force has developed a comprehensive approach to address the immediate and pressing problem affecting fields on a portion of the complex, which the town is mandated to remediate by 2009, and proposing overall upgrades and improvements to the entire area, including provision for an alternate high school football field during construction of a high school project. A public hearing and presentation to Advisory are scheduled in early January. Mr. Guiffre asked the committee to approve a placeholder warrant article for Town Meeting. The task force expects to complete its work by the end of January.
Upon motion made by Ms. Littlefield, seconded by Ms. Allen, it was unanimously
VOTED: To approve a placeholder motion on the Warrant for Annual Town Meeting 2008 to request funds and associated funding sources for the remediation, reconstruction and redesign of the Sprague Fields Complex, exact wording to be determined by Town Counsel.
Mr. Guiffre further reported that the language of the $21,000 contract with Gale Engineering ($5,000 for master planning; $16,000 for design work for remediation) has been approved by Town Counsel. It is anticipated that the funding of this contract will be pooled from several budgets including the field use fund ($11,000), the selectmen ($2,000), recreation ($2,000), the DPW ($2,000), and the school department ($4,000). On recommendation of the task force he requested permission from the school committee to sign the contract, contingent upon the committee’s approval of the $4,000 share from the school budget. Funding from every other budget cited, except the schools, has been formally committed from FY08 funds by each responsible entity.
Upon motion made by Ms. Littlefield, seconded by Ms. Allen, it was unanimously
VOTED: To approve a contract with Gale Engineering in the amount of $21,000 for master planning and design work to remediate the Sprague Fields complex as outlined and recommended.
2008-09 Programs of Study
Suggested changes to the middle school program of studies next year include updated description of nursing services procedures and revised/new offerings in grades 6 and 7 music, revisions in art, special education, and the introduction of Mandarin Chinese instruction at grade 7.
Upon motion made by Ms. Littlefield, seconded by Ms. Allen, it was unanimously
VOTED: To approve the 2008-09 Middle School Program of Studies, as presented.
Recommended modifications to the high school program of studies include new advanced art classes, AP Latin Literature, Mandarin Chinese, new English electives, ballroom dancing, and advanced orchestra. As an outcome of the mathematics curriculum review, revised course descriptions/content of Algebra 2 and Trigonometry 2 will include units in personal finance.
Upon motion made by Ms. Littlefield, seconded by Ms. Allen, it was unanimously
VOTED: To approve the 2008-09 High School Program of Studies, as presented.
2008-09 Academic Year Calendar The committee considered possible student start dates and alternate options for professional day, and revisited the proposed no school period in mid-October, all in light of feedback received from the community since its last meeting. Ms. Littlefield expressed concern that there was very little feedback from the high school. The committee’s consensus supported amending the proposed student start date to conform with policy and to restore Friday, October 10, 2008, as a school day.
Upon motion made by Ms. Allen, seconded by Ms. Littlefield, it was
VOTED: To approve the academic year calendar for 2008-09 as amended, providing for a student start
date of Tuesday, September 2, 2008, and reinstituting Friday, October 10, 2008, as a school day.
Carried 4 - 1.
Ms. Littlefield voted NO.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
FY09 Budget Ms. Wong reviewed the process through which the annual budget is developed. In the summer the school committee establishes goals for the year. School committee develops budget guidelines during the fall. The superintendent works with the administrative team to develop a budget, beginning at the school level and moving to the administration level. Ultimately the superintendent determines what is to be included in the budget request. Comparisons with our benchmark communities reveal a striking difference between enrollment growth in Wellesley and elsewhere. The superintendent’s recommended FY09 budget was developed, at the direction of the school committee, in three tiers. The base calls for an increase of 9.5% over FY08. The sustaining budget represents a 10.7% incrase over FY08; and the advancing budget is 11.1% above FY08. The suggested guideline from the Advisory Committee is 4.78%. Sub committee review of each portion of the budget will occur within the next two weeks. The committee will hear reports and approve a budget request for FY09 in early January 2008.
High School Project Issues PBC policy during recent projects allowed asbestos abatement only upon student dismissal. School committee will discuss possibly modifying this policy during the high school project in its joint meeting with the Permanent Building Committee on January 10. The parking committee, headed by Ms. Allen, is developing comprehensive proposals covering the construction period and afterwards. School committee will develop a position on naming rights, and the Selectmen will develop a town-wide naming rights policy. Enrollment projections for the high school now exceed by nearly 100 students the peak enrollment figure used when the architectural education program was developed. The architect has provided cost estimates for additional classroom requirements, cafeteria, auditorium, and learning center needs based on a 1600 student population. The committee noted that increased student population might also impact band and choral rooms, the library, locker rooms, stairways, elevators, and parking. There followed a lengthy discussion of possibilities and perceived advantages of various models for high school administrative organization.
CITIZEN SPEAK
Gerald Murphy, Precinct E: Mr. Murphy asked the committee to reconsider the proposal for administrative house organization at the high school.
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 10:45 pm.
Executive Secretary
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