October 25, 2005

Wellesley Public Schools
School Committee Meeting - Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Wellesley High School Library

The meeting was called to order by the Chairman at 7:35 pm. Ms. Littlefield, Ms. Jablonski, Mr. Murphy, Ms. Newman, and Ms. Sereiko were present. Also present were Dr. King and Ms. Wong. Representing the Student Advisory Committee was Ryan Speers.

PERSONNEL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Decrease in Teaching Time
Lila Heideman, High School Social Studies Teacher, 0.2FTE decrease, from 1.0FTE to 0.8FTE, effective August 31, 2005

Leave of Absence
Jamee Beaudry, Elementary Teacher, 1.0FTE leave for the period January 23, 2006 - June 30, 2006

Elementary Mathematics Resource Teachers
Kindergarten Rita Cutroni, Andra Jacobs
Grade One Tim Baldwin, Susan Lydon
Grade Two Lisa Giaquinta, Lisa Mortarelli
Grade Three Jayne Byrne, Karen Poole
Grade Four Kate Barry, Melissa Gladtke-Coultas
Grade Five Bevin Hale

CONSENT AGENDA
Upon motion made by Ms. Littlefield, seconded by Mr. Murphy, it was unanimously VOTED:
Minutes
To approve minutes of Regular School Committee Meeting dated October 11, 2005
Salary Lane Change
Susan Flynn - Master’s Plus 30, effective October 6, 2005

RECOGNITIONS
Superintendent’s Certificate of Academic Excellence awarded to • Scott Jelinek, WHS ‘06 and to • Maryam Nilforoshan, WHS ‘06. •Julie Verret, instrumental music teacher, who reorganized all the venues for the extension instrumental music program, which was necessary due to renovations underway at Wellesley Middle School. This after school hours program requires the use of 44 spaces to accommodate the participating 430 students and 33 teachers.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Construction of the new preschool facility adjacent to Fiske School is proceeding more slowly than planned. It is now expected that the new facility will be ready for occupancy in January 2006. The updated enrollment projection report and FY07 capital budget request cite the need for, and make provision for seven modular units, three for installation at Schofield and four at Fiske, as a means of meeting the needs of increasing enrollment in those communities. The contractor which has provided modular units to Wellesley Public Schools in the past is now under contract to FEMA for their full inventory of modular classrooms in response to the recent Gulf Coast hurricanes. Other providers are similarly committed. Dr. King has met with town administrators to develop an alternate plan. The Wellesley Public Schools will solicit bids for modulars by early December in hopes that with bids in hand it will be possible to obtain either new or refurbished modular classrooms for 2006-07. There have been several thefts recently at Wellesley High School. Police are working hard to resolve this matter.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE’S REPORT
No new reports have been received by the Superintendent’s office. Construction at the middle school is progressing on schedule. The elementary facilities sub committee is completing its work on the draft report that was presented October 11. Two high school project forums have occurred and were well attended. Three public tours of the high school are scheduled: November 4, 9:00 am; November 8, 6:15 pm; November 17, 5:45 pm. Upcoming neighborhood forums will occur October 26 at Schofield; November 1 at Upham; and November 5 at the Wellesley Free Library. The Facilities Advisory Committee will meet October 27. A health care sub committee will address issues of health care costs for the operating budget and for post retirement health care. Its next meeting will be November 3. The School Committee meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday, November 22, will be rescheduled to Tuesday, November 29. Budget sub committee assignments are as follows: Capital - Susan Jablonski, Suzy Littlefield; Elementary - Suzi Newman, Anna Sereiko; Middle School - Suzi Newman, Suzy Littlefield, High School - Anna Sereiko, Gerry Murphy, K-12 - Susan Jablonski, Gerry Murphy. An interboard meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 17. The Wellesley Bee will take place Thursday, November 3. The date for School Committee’s presentation of its capital budget to Advisory has not yet been finalized. The committee will offer an oppportunity to the Board of Selectmen and Advisory to hear the high school presentation that is presented to the community forums.

STUDENT CONGRESS REPORT
Student Congress is continuing efforts to brainstorm ways to address overcrowding, including redistributing lunch assignments now that schedules are finalized. Students will respond to surveys about how hall crowding affects their day and their school experience. Students will continue to attend the listening forums, to offer their perspective on the issues.

CITIZEN SPEAK
Elaine Gillim, Precinct F: An eleven-year resident of Wellesley, Ms. Gillim addressed the importance of the school system, which is at a “critical juncture.” Classes are too large; the high school needs renovation; the elementary schools are having difficulty housing the current population of students; aging school buildings present maintenance challenges; there are equity issues among schools, etc. Ms. Gilliam is concerned for the amount of short term and long term support the schools will receive. If the school budget has been “cut to the bone,” then it is necessary to restore services. A 5% increase next year will not be enough. She urged School Committee to work closely with groups that are organized and urged that the Town make a long term investment in the future of Wellesley through support of the schools.

DISCUSSION ITEMS
MCAS Results In reporting the results of the most recent administration of MCAS testing in math, science, and English/language arts among students in grades 4, 8, and 10, Director of Curriculum & Instruction Judy Boroschek cited significant stability in the results from year to year across each school and from grade to grade, and consistency among results from Wellesley with the results reported by comparable communities. Science test results reflect a non-alignment of the Wellesley curriculum with state frameworks. Ms. Boroschek also described the supports in place for students whose MCAS results fall below the necessary standard for graduation. In many cases these interventions have resulted in significantly improved performance by the students in question.

Enrollment Report Business Manager Ruth Quinn Berdell presented the annual update of enrollment projections for the next ten years. Though the number of reported births this year is stable in comparison with last year, there is not enough data available to confirm whether this may be a trend. Together with in- and out-migration and progression rates from grade to grade, the projections take into account the development of several new housing areas, notably in the Fiske community. In order to accommodate the populations at Fiske and Schofield, where classes this year are established in designated art and music rooms, the district is soliciting bids for modular classrooms, three to be installed at Fiske, and four at Schofield. Upon completion of the renovation, the middle school will have sufficient space to accommodate enrollment. The high school will require modular classrooms to accommodate projected enrollment, most likely in FY08.

FY07 Capital Budget Dr. King reported that the capital budget request for FY07 of $5.4 million includes recommended expenditures to meet a building needs standard established by school administration. In recent prior years, the capital budget request from the schools has been in the general range of $1 million, in conformance with an advisory guideline established outside the school department. Ms. Wong detailed the proposed outlay request, which covers expenses for equipment, furniture, infrastructure, maintenance, safety, technology, and some instructional capital needs. A budget sub committee will review this request and School Committee will approve its FY07 capital budget on November 8.

CITIZEN SPEAK
Elaine Gillim, Precinct F: Ms. Gillim advocated for wide public access to and distribution of the data and reports presented to School Committee this evening.

Rich Page, Precinct E: Mr. Page commended the work of those who made presentations this evening. He advocated for the opportunity for members of his community (Fiske) to give feedback to school administrators as they develop draft plans for capital expenditures before final budget requests have been approved. Modulars at Fiske are needed in order to maintain class size guidelines. He advocated for wide public access and distribution of the data and reports presented to School Committee this evening, including posting of them on the web site. He commended the School Committee for hearing admonitions from Town Meeting last spring and acting on them.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 pm.

Executive Secretary