SC Minutes of August 26, 2008

Posted: October 8, 2008, by Cathy Grant

 BELMONT SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES
CHENERY MIDDLE SCHOOL COMMUNITY ROOM
AUGUST 26, 2008

Present:      Mr. John Bowe, Chair
            Ms. Elizabeth Gibson, Secretary, pro tem
            Ms. Ann Rittenburg
            Ms. Leslie Walker
            Ms. Laurie Graham
            Dr. Peter Holland, Superintendent of Schools
            Dr. Patricia Aubin, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction
            Dr. Gerald Missal, Director of finance and Administration

1.      EXECUTIVE SESSION                                   

      1.1      No executive session                                                                       
2.      OPENING BUSINESS

      2.1      Call to Order                                   
     
      At 7:04 p.m., Mr. John Bowe called the meeting to order in the Community Room of the Chenery Middle School.

      2.2      Superintendent's Report                   

      Dr. Holland announced
•      the resignation of Bernadette Conroy, Assistant Director of Student Services.  A search committee will begin interviewing in early September for a replacement.
•      that the elementary principals will distribute a letter to parents from Belmont Chief of Police about the Massachusetts Anti-Idling Law.
•      the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents’ website contains information on the Ballot Question #1, the elimination of the state income tax.
•      the publication and distribution of the Belmont Community Education brochure.

      2.3      Chairman's Report                         

      Mr. Bowe noted the retirement party for Dr. Holland will be held on September 26 at the Westin Hotel in Waltham.  Reservation information is available on the district’s web site.

      Mr. Bowe noted that the School Committee and Board of Selectman will meet on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 7:00 p.m. in the Selectman’s Meeting Room to select a replacement for Dr. Diane Stafford who recently resigned from the School Committee.  Mr. Bowe said he would discuss the process to be used that evening with Mr. Firenze, Chair of the Board of Selectman.

      Mr. Bowe noted the impact of Ballot Question #1, the elimination of the state income tax, on local funding.

      2.4      Citizens' Concerns                         

      None

3.      UNFINISHED BUSINESS

      No unfinished business was discussed.

4.      MAJOR BUSINESS

      4.1      Search Process for New Superintendent                 

      Members of the School Committee discussed the search process to date.  Dr. Holland will arrange a meeting between the School Committee and Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates for the week of
September 1.  Dr. Holland was asked to contact all three firms to inform them of the School Committee’s intention to make a decision at its September 9, 2008 meeting.
                                               
      4.2       FY09 Budget and Energy Costs – Exhibit A                 

      Dr. Missal addressed the budget deficit created by the increase in the cost of fuel oil.  He outlined the conservation measures being taken, and he cited areas in the operating budget that are potential funding sources to cover the deficit.                                                           
      4.3      Update on MSBA for new Wellington School     

      On a motion offered by Ms. Rittenburg and seconded by Ms. Graham, it was

VOTED:      unanimously to revise the education specifications for the new Roger
Wellington Elementary School by accepting the education specifications for a school of approximately 85,000 - 88,000 square feet to accommodate 500 regular-day students at ideal class sizes plus 75 special education students for a total capacity of 575 students as outlined in Exhibit Wellington. 
                                                           
      4.4      Report on Full Day Kindergarten                  

      Dr. Aubin commented on the current status of preparation for the Full Day Kindergarten.

      4.5      Approval of MOU with Belmont Police Department – Exhibit B                                         
      On a motion offered by Ms. Walker and seconded by Mr. Gibson, it was

      VOTED:      unanimously to approve the Memo of Understanding between the Belmont Public Schools and the Belmont Police Department as outlined in Exhibit B.
                                   
4.6      Award Contract for Building Envelope Repairs –  Exhibit C

      On a motion offered by Ms. Rittenburg and seconded by Ms. Walker, it was

      VOTED:      unanimously to award the contract for building envelope repairs to Commercial Construction Corporation of Amesbury, Massachusetts, at their low bid combined price of $165,000 for the base bid plus alternate #1, and to direct the Director of Finance, Administration and Capital Planning to enter into a contract with Commercial Construction Corporation on behalf of the Belmont School Committee.
                                                                                                           
5.      REPORT OF SUBCOMMITTEES/LIAISONS                 
                 
      No reports of subcommittees/liaisons

6.      OTHER BUSINESS

      6.1      Consent Agenda           
            AP Art Class Paris Trip – April 17-25, 2009

            On a motion offered by Mr. Bowe and seconded by Ms. Gibson, it was

      VOTED:      unanimously to approve the consent agenda.
                 
      6.2      Personnel Items – Informational - None                 
                                                           
      6.3      Business Items - None

      6.4      Approval of Minutes – June 24, 2008
                       
            On a motion offered by Mr. Bowe and seconded by Ms. Gibson, it was

      VOTED:      unanimously to approve the minutes from the June 24, 2008 School Committee Meeting as amended.     
                       
                                              
7.      FUTURE BUSINESS           
                             

8.      ENCLOSURES
                             
                                   
9.      ADJOURNMENT

      At 8:40 p.m., on a motion offered by Mr.. Bowe and seconded by Ms. Gibson, it was

      VOTED:      unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

                              Respectfully submitted by ______________________________
                                    Ann Rittenburg, Secretary