BELMONT SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES
CHENERY MIDDLE SCHOOL COMMUNITY ROOM
OCTOBER 9, 2007
Present: Mr. John Bowe, Chair
Dr. Diane Stafford, Secretary
Ms. Leslie Walker
Mr. Scott Stratford
Ms. Ann Rittenburg
Ms. Elizabeth Gibson
Dr. Peter Holland, Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Patricia Aubin, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Gerald Missal, Director of Finance and Administration
Ms. Julia Silverman, Human Resources Manager
Also present: New Professional Status Teachers
RECEPTION - 6:30 p.m.
Honored Guests: Teachers with newly granted Professional Status
2. OPENING BUSINESS
2.1 Call to Order
a. Recognition of Teachers with Newly Granted Professional Status
At 7:04 p.m. Mr. Bowe called the School Committee meeting to order in the Community Room of the Chenery Middle School. School committee members and Dr. Holland congratulated Belmont Public Schools teachers who were granted professional status.
At approximately 7:30 p.m., the regular School Committee began.
2.2 Superintendent’s Report
a. Dr. Holland introduced to the Committee the new Assistant Director of Student
Services, Bernadette Conroy.
b. Following this introduction Dr. Holland commented on the following items:
• The October 18, 2007 visit to Belmont by Patricia Haddad
• The community response and outreach following the tragic death of Maeve Goulding
• The recent release of MCAS scores for the Belmont Public Schools
• The Parent Education Program
• Governor Patrick’s “Readiness Project”
• The many languages other than English spoken by students at Belmont High School
• The November 9, 2007 Veteran’s Day Program
• A letter from the Wellington PTO thanking custodians for their work.
• The new Teachers as Scholars program.
2.3 Chairman’s Report
Mr. Bowe commented on the following items:
• His gratitude to the staff of the Burbank School for their work with the children following Maeve Goulding’s death.
• The Town Meeting scheduled for October 22, 2007
• The School Committee meeting in Boston scheduled for October 16, 2007
• The Superintendent’s Evaluation
2.4 Citizens’ Concerns - none
3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - none
4. MAJOR BUSINESS
4.1 Discussion with Wellington Building Committee - Exhibit A
Mrs. Patricia Brusch and Mr. Mark Haley joined the School Committee at the table to update the Committee on recent meetings with the staff of the Massachusetts School Building Authority. Mrs. Brusch provided a great deal of information on the process the MSBA is using to determine funding.
4.2 Review of Class Sizes at CMS and BHS - Exhibit B
Both Mrs. Alexander and Mr. Harvey were present to answer questions about class size at the Chenery Middle School and Belmont High School.
4.3 2007-2008 Education Improvement Plan
Dr. Aubin was available to answer questions about the Education Improvement Plan for the 2007-2008 school year.
On a motion by Dr. Stafford and seconded by Ms. Rittenburg, it was
VOTED: unanimously to approve the 2007-2008 Education Improvement Plan.
4.4 Appointment of Delegates to MASS/MASC Conference - Exhibit C
The School Committee decided to not send a delegate to this year’s MASS/MASC Conference.
4.5 Bid Awards - Exhibit D
Dr. Missal outlined two projects that required a School Committee vote regarding bid awards.
On a motion offered by Ms. Walker and seconded by Ms. Rittenburg, it was
VOTED: unanimously to accept the ranking of architectural firms as recommended by
the Belmont High School HVAC Project Designer Selection Committee and
to direct the Director of Finance and Administration to enter into a contract
on behalf of the Belmont School Committee.
On a motion offered by Dr. Stafford and seconded by Ms. Rittenburg, it was
VOTED: unanimously to award the contract for repairs to the tennis courts at Belmont
High School to Vermont Recreational Surfacing and Fencing of Barnet, VT at
their low bid price of $38,184 for the total of their base bid plus alternates #’s
1, 2 and 3, and to direct the Director of Finance and Administration to enter
into a contract with Vermont Recreational Surfacing and Fencing on behalf of
the Belmont School Committee.
5. REPORT OF SUBCOMMITTEES/LIAISONS
(Advisory Council/Future Needs of BHS; Capital Budget Committee;
Communications & Community Relations; Community Education; Crofts
Revision Subcommittee; Council on Aging; EDCO Board; ESCO Energy
Study; Foundation for Belmont Education; Health Advisory Committee;
ITAC; Task Force/Supt. Advisory Council; Warrant Committee; Wellington
Building Committee; Vision 21; and Youth Commission)
Mr. Bowe reported that the Warrant Committee was discussing warrant articles for the Town Meeting.
Dr. Stafford reported that the Capital Budget Committee will hold a meeting on October 11, 2007.
Ms. Gibson reported that the foundation for Belmont Education had raised 1.3 million dollars for the
Belmont Public Schools. She announced that February 9, 2008 is the date for the FBE Spelling Bee
and April 5, 2008 is the date for the annual spring dinner.
Mr. Stratford reported that the Youth Commission held its first evening program and had scheduled its first dance. He announced a town-wide treasure hunt sponsored by the Commission.
5. OTHER BUSINESS
6.1 Consent Agenda - none
6.2 Personnel Items - Informational
The following items were presented for the School Committees information:
a. Instructional Assignments - Exhibit E
b. Non-Instructional Assignments - Exhibit F
c. Maternity & Extended Parenthood Leaves of Absence - Exhibit G
d. Resignations - Exhibit H
e. Instructional Change of Assignments - Exhibit I
f. Extracompensatory Assignments for 2007-2008 - Exhibit J
6.3 Business Items - None
6.4 Approval of Minutes - none
At 9:02 p.m. on a motion offered by Mr. Stratford and seconded by Ms. Rittenburg, it was
VOTED: unanimously, to enter Executive Session for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining issues and announced that the Committee would not return to Open Session.
1. EXECUTIVE SESSION
1.1 Collective Bargaining
7. FUTURE BUSINESS
7.1 Next Meeting Dates: October 16, 2007
Central Boston Elder Services
7:30 p.m. - Meeting with METCO Parents
November 6, 2007
CMS Community Room
6:30 p.m. - Reception for Volunteers
7:00 p.m. - Recognition for Volunteers
7:30 p.m. - Regular Meeting
December 4, 2007
CMS Community Room
730 p.m. - Meeting with Student Advisory Council
7:45 p.m. - Regular Meeting
9. ADJOURNMENT
On a motion offered by Mr. Bowe and seconded by Ms. Rittenburg, it was
VOTED: unanimously, at 9:56 p.m., to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully submitted by Dr. Diane Stafford, Secretary
ATTACHMENT A
EXECUTIVE SESSION: October 9, 2007 9:02 p.m. to 9:56 p.m.
RE: Collective Bargaining
The School Committee discussed collective bargaining issues.
At 9:56 p.m., the Committee indicated its readiness to adjourn the meeting.
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