School Committee Minutes of December 9, 2009 |
Posted: March 30, 2009, by Cathy Grant |
BELMONT SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES Present: Mr. John Bowe, Chair 1. EXECUTIVE SESSION 2.1 Call to Order Dr. Aubin reported her meeting with Jenny Fallon, Chair of the Planning Board, which is moving ahead with plans to establish a Citizens Council and an Advisory Board to focus on housing, growth, and economic development in the town. A consultant working with the Planning Board may be contacting school committee members for input. 2.4 Citizens' Concerns In response to a citizen’s concern raised at the November 18, 2008 School Committee meeting, Mr. None
4. MAJOR BUSINESS Dr. Aubin presented Anji Tang and Lincoln Hill, seniors at Belmont High School, with Certificates of Academic Excellence from the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents. These two students have distinguished themselves academically as well as through their contributions to their school community. Mark Haley, Gerry Missal, and Matt LaRue provided an update on the Wellington Building Project. Dr. Missal presented the revised schematics for the building based on recent meetings with the MSBA. Mark Haley outlined the schedule for the project. Matt LaRue, associate with the architectural firm, answered questions about site orientation and traffic patterns. Steve Mazzola, Director of Technology, presented background information and answered questions on the proposed School Committee Policy on E-Mail Record Retention. This policy will be submitted to the School Committee for a vote after it has been reviewed by the School Committee Policy Subcommittee. Kathy Miller and Elizabeth Gibson, members of the School Committee Policy Subcommittee, answered questions and clarified items about the most recent revisions of the sections of the School Committee policy manual pertaining to Governance and Operations. These revisions will be voted on at the next School Committee meeting. The subcommittee is working to revise all sections of the policy manual. Ken Kramer, Director of Special Education, provided the School Committee with an update on Special Education programs. Mr. Kramer provided enrollment information, gave an overview of special education initiatives for the 2008-1009 school year, and answered questions about the legal requirements and the cost effectiveness of the program.
Dr. Missal presented the capital budget requests for FY 10. Dr. Missal outlined building and grounds requests, building envelope study priority requests, and a technology request to upgrade the existing data network. Mr. Bowe suggested moving one item on the building and grounds request to a lower position on the list. 4.7 Discussion of FY10 Budget Dr. Aubin reminded the School Committee of the Warrant Committee’s request from last spring for budget information early this fall. Dr. Aubin reviewed the School Department’s assumptions as it worked to arrive at a level-service budget and then an available funds budget, based on figures provided by the Warrant Committee. Dr. Aubin then used a power point presentation to outline the major differences between these two budget scenarios and the potentially necessary reductions to arrive at the figure provided by the Warrant Committee. School Committee members asked questions and offered suggestions about ways to both produce revenue and to make savings to avoid these potentially necessary reductions. Dr. Aubin will present this same information to the Warrant Committee on December 10, 2008. None 6. OTHER BUSINESS 6.1 Consent Agenda None 6.2 Personnel Items - Informational a. Extra-compensatory Positions – Exhibit D None
On a motion offered by Ms. Walker and seconded by Ms. Vose, it was VOTED: unanimously to approve the minutes of the October 1, October 7, October 21, and October 29, 2008 meetings of the School Committee. 7. FUTURE BUSINESS 7.1 Next Meeting Dates: January 6, 2009 - 7:30 p.m. 8. ENCLOSURES 8.1 December 1, 2008 Enrollment At 11:05 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 _____________________________________ |