SC Minutes of October 7, 2008

                                   
BELMONT SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES
CHENERY MIDDLE SCHOOL COMMUNITY ROOM
OCTOBER 7, 2008

Present:   Mr. John Bowe, Chair
                Ms. Ann Rittenburg, Secretary
                Ms. Elizabeth Gibson
                Ms. Leslie Walker
               Ms. Laurie Graham
               Ms. Becky Vose
               Dr. Patricia Aubin, Superintendent of Schools
              Mr. Denis Fitzpatrick, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction
              Dr. Gerry Missal, Director of Finance and Administration

RECEPTION at 6:30 p.m.                                                     

Honored Guests:  Teachers with Newly Granted Professional Status

1.      EXECUTIVE SESSION -  None                             

2.      OPENING BUSINESS

      2.1      Call to Order           

      At 7:00 p.m. Mr. Bowe called the meeting to order in the Community Room of the Chenery Middle School.  Mr. Bowe and Dr. Aubin congratulated teachers with newly granted Professional Status.  Members of the School Committee read brief professional biographies about each teacher.  These teachers were presented with a certificate and gift from the School Department.                       

      At 7:31 p.m. Mr. Bowe concluded the presentations and reception, returning the School Committee to the evening’s regular agenda.

           
      2.2      Superintendent's Report 

      Dr. Aubin thanked Rosemary Peterson and the school nurses for last week’s very successful elementary school nutrition program entitled P.A.C.K., Pack Assorted Colors for Kids, which encouraged students to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables based on a single color each day.
      Dr. Aubin congratulated Margot Reavey, music teacher, on her election as President-Elect of the American String Teachers Association of Massachusetts.
      Dr. Aubin announced the appointment of Mary Jane Weinstein as the new Assistant Director for Student Services.  Dr. Aubin will invite Ms. Weinstein to the next School Committee meeting.
      Dr. Aubin asked Mr. Fitzpatrick to announce information from the National Merit Scholarship Program citing 27 BHS seniors as Commended Scholars and 9 seniors as National Merit Semifinalists.            

      2.3      Chairman's Report       

      Mr. Bowe complimented Dr. Aubin and her planning committee for the very successful and well attended retirement party for Dr. Peter Holland which was held on Friday, September 26, at the Westin Hotel in Waltham.  Mr. Bowe announced that the School Committee has named the BHS Library in honor of Dr. Holland.                 
      Mr. Bowe provided an update on the Superintendent Search process.

      2.4      Citizens' Concerns       

      None                 

3.      UNFINISHED BUSINESS

      No unfinished business was discussed.

4.      MAJOR BUSINESS
                                   
      4.1      Crofts Policy – (7000 Series) – Exhibit A

      Mr. Bowe led a discussion between the School Committee and Kathy Miller and Deborah Emello, members of the Policy Subcommittee of the School Committee, on recently revised sections in the Crofts Policy Manual covering School Committee Governance and Operations.  This constituted the first reading of the revisions.                                   
                        
4.2      Update on the Wellington

      Dr. Missal reported on last week’s meeting with the Wellington Building Committee regarding the reduction of square footage to meet MSBA guidelines.  Dr. Missal stated the next major hurdles involve developing a schematic design and a project budget.
           
                 
      4.3      Review of Class Sizes       -- Exhibit B-1, B-2, B-3

      Dr. Aubin reviewed class size information at the elementary schools.  Mr. Fitzpatrick reviewed class sizes at the middle school and high school.                                               
                       
      4.4      Curriculum Report on Literacy Initiatives

      Mr. Fitzpatrick provided a report on the upcoming Staff Development Day, Friday, October 10, 2008.  Mr. Fitzpatrick also provided a report on the district’s work with the Hanson Initiative for Language and Literacy (HILL) on the topic of literacy.                                                                                     
      4.5      Appointment of Delegates to MASS/MASC  -- Exhibit C

      While Ms. Rittenburg and Ms. Vose indicated an interest in possibly attending a portion of the upcoming MASS/MASC meeting in Hyannis, no delegate was appointed to attend this meeting.           

4.6      Discussion of Budget Priorities  -- Exhibit D-1 Revised, D-2, D-3

              Dr. Aubin provided the committee with a draft document listing required and non-required aspects of the program offered by the Belmont Public Schools.  Dr. Aubin also reviewed Dr. Missal’s projected level-service staffing and salary figures for next year.  Dr. Aubin also provided the committee with a calendar that outlines the school department’s budget process as well as the Warrant Committee’s anticipated budget dates.

              Committee members engaged in a discussion of FY 10 Budget.

4.7      Mr. Bowe asked committee members to consider taking a vote indicating their position on Question 1 on the ballot

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

      VOTED:      unanimously to adopt the MASC statement opposing passage of Question 1 on the November 4 ballot that the Belmont School Committee opposes Question 1, a ballot initiative that would eliminate the state income tax.  Passage of Question 1 would cut the state budget by 40%, cause massive reductions in local aid to cities and towns, and result in drastic reductions in school programs.  The School Committee urges the residents of Belmont to vote No on this ballot question.
     

                                                       
5.      REPORT OF SUBCOMMITTEES/LIAISONS                       
      
      No reports of subcommittees/liaisons
           

6.      OTHER BUSINESS

      6.1      Consent Agenda

            a.      Assistant Director of Student Services Job Description  -- Exhibit E
            b.      Translucent Panel Replacement Project at BHS  -- Exhibit N

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

      VOTED:      unanimously to approve the consent agenda.
           
                                               
      6.2      Personnel Items - Informational

            a.      Maternity Leave 2008-2009  -- Exhibit F
            b.      Leave of Absence 2008-2009  -- Exhibit G
            c.      Administrative Assignments 2008-2009  -- Exhibit H
            d.      Resignations 2008-2009  -- Exhibit I
            e.      Instructional Assignments 2008-2009  -- Exhibit J
            f.      Non-Instructional Assignments 2008-2009  -- Exhibit K
            g.      Instructional Change of Assignments 2008-2009  -- Exhibit L
            h.      Extra-compensatory Assignments  2008-2009  -- Exhibit M

                                       
      6.3      Business Items

      None

      6.4      Approval of Minutes
      
      On a motion offered by Ms. Walker and seconded by Ms. Vose, it was

      VOTED:      unanimously to approve the minutes of the September 9, 2008 meeting and the minutes of the September 19, 2008 meeting of the School Committee.
                                         
           
7.      FUTURE BUSINESS

      7.1      Next Meeting Dates:      October 21, 2008
                              Central Boston Elder Services
                              7:00 p.m. - Meeting with METCO Parents
                             
                              November 18, 2008
                              Wellington Music Room
                              7:30 p.m. – Meeting with Student Advisory Council
                              7:45 p.m. – Regular Meeting

                              December 9, 2008
                              CMS Community Room
                              7:45 p.m. - Regular Meeting

 8.      ENCLOSURES

      8.1      September 2008 The Highpoint (electronic)                             
      8.2      September 15, 2008 Words From Winn Brook (electronic)                             
      8.3      September 2008 Belmont High School Newsletter (electronic)           
      8.4      EDCO Flyer re: 2008-2009 School Committee Leadership Roundtables
      8.5      Staff Development Day – October 10, 2008
      8.6      Becoming A Better Board Member
      8.7      Fall 2008 Edition of The Beacon (electronic)
           

9.      ADJOURNMENT

      At 10:05 p.m., on a motion offered by Ms. Walker and seconded by Ms. Vose, it was

      VOTED:  unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

                        Respectfully submitted by _____________________________________
                                    Ann Rittenburg
                                    Secretary