School Committee Minutes of June 23, 2009

Posted: September 11, 2009, by Cathy Grant

BELMONT SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
CHENERY MIDDLE SCHOOL COMMUNITY ROOM
JUNE 23, 2009


Present:      Ms. Ann Rittenburg, Chair
            Ms. Leslie Walker, Secretary
            Ms. Laurie Graham
            Ms. Becky Vose
Mr. Paul Roberts
Ms. Karen Parmett
            Dr. Patricia Aubin, Superintendent of Schools
            Mr. Denis Fitzpatrick, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction
            Dr. Gerry Missal, Director of Finance and Administration
            Ms. Julie Silverman, Human Resource Manager

            Also in attendance were Dr. Michael Harvey, Mr. Ken Kramer and Ms. Mary Jane Weinstein.


1.      EXECUTIVE SESSION       - None     
                       
      At 6:45 p.m., Ann Rittenburg called the meeting to order in the Chenery Middle School Community Room.

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

VOTED: 6 -0 (on a roll call vote) to enter Executive Session for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to collective bargaining and contract negotiations with both union and non-union personnel,  The Committee announced its intention to return to Open Session for its regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. 


2.      OPENING BUSINESS

2.1      Call to Order           
                       
      At 7:35 p.m. the School Committee returned from Executive Session to resume the public portion of the meeting.

      2.2      Superintendent's Report 

      Dr. Aubin informed the School Committee that Dr. Missal is engaged with the LABBB program in a discussion regarding special education transportation collaboration.

      Dr. Aubin responded to a citizen’s concern regarding the recent contract award for custodial cleaning services.  Dr. Aubin provided the committee with a memo from Dr. Missal outlining the process following Massachusetts General Law Chapter 30 B.

      Dr. Aubin shared a copy of Blast from the Past, a publication from Mr. Levy’s intergenerational project with his fourth graders at Winn Brook.

      Dr. Aubin also shared a booklet prepared by Kathy Hogan’s first graders at Burbank School about their insights on retirement.
                                   
      2.3      Chairman's Report 

      Ms. Rittenburg noted that this evening’s meeting is Dr. Aubin’s last formal meeting with the School committee prior to her retirement.  Ms. Rittenburg reviewed Dr. Aubin’s many accomplishments and contributions to the Belmont Public Schools both in her role this year as Superintendent and for the previous fifteen years at Assistant Superintendent      .

      Each member of the School Committee expressed his or her appreciation for Dr. Aubin’s fine work.  The BHS Student Council representative also thanked Dr. Aubin.     

      Ms. Rittenburg reported on the recent Warrant Committee meeting.

      Ms. Rittenburg noted that the Senate’s budget came out recently.                 

      2.4      Citizens' Concerns - None                             

3.      UNFINISHED BUSINESS

4.      MAJOR BUSINESS
                 
      4.1      Fees:                                   
•      BHS and CMS Activity Fee – Exhibit A-1
     
      Dr. Aubin reviewed the fees previously approved by the School Committee for the FY10 school year.  Dr. Aubin reviewed Dr. Harvey’s recommendation for a BHS FY10 activities fee of $100, and Mrs. Alexander’s recommendation for a CMS FY10 activities fee of $150.  School Committee members and members of the audience asked questions and offered suggestions.

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

      VOTED: 6 – 0  to accept Superintendent’s recommendation for a $100 activities fee at BHS for FY10.


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

      VOTED: 6 – 0  to accept Superintendent’s recommendation for a $150 activities fee at CMS for FY10.

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

      VOTED: 6 – 0  to retain basketball as an interscholastic sport at CMS for a fee of $280 per participant for FY10.

•      Rental Fee for After School Programs – Exhibit A-2

      Dr. Aubin outlined the administration’s proposal for a two-tier fee structure based on licensed capacity.  School Committee members and after care directors asked questions and offered suggestions.

      On a motion offered by Mr. roberts and seconded by Ms. Vose it was

      VOTED: 6 – 0  to accept administration’s proposed two-tier fee structure.

      The sense of the School Committee calls for the new superintendent to work with the after care directors to work toward a long term agreement about rental rates and space allocation.
                                   
      4.2      Report on Special Education Programs and Services     

      Mr. Ken Kramer, Director of Student Services, used a recent report from the Special Education Financial Task Force in Acton-Boxborough as a jumping off point for highlighting Belmont’s success in addressing many of the issues in the Acton-Boxborough report.  Ms. Mary Jane Weinstein, Assistant Director for Student Services, also contributed to the presentation.  Mr. Kramer provided the committee with a redacted chart outlining out-of-district placement expenses.  School Committee members and members of the audience asked questions and commented.  Dr. Aubin thanked Ms. Weinstein for her fine work during her first year with Belmont Public Schools.                                                             
      4.3      Second Reading of School Committee Policy – Exhibit B           

      Ms. Silverman returned to the School Committee table for the second reading of policy changes.  Ms. Silverman reviewed a revision to the budget transfer policy.     

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

      VOTED: 6 – 0  to approve the revisions to the 3000 and 7000 series of policy previously presented by the Policy Subcommittee of the School Committee.

      4.4      Proposal for Expenditure of Funds Voted at Town Meeting –           
            Exhibit C

      Dr. Aubin presented her proposal regarding the funds voted at Town Meeting for the School Department.  Dr. Aubin’s proposal focused on the restoration of most library aide time, the hiring of an elementary librarian, the return to two additional campus monitors to BHS, and the purchase of textbooks.
School Committee members and members of the audience asked questions and commented on the proposal.

      On a motion offered by Ms. Walker and seconded by Mr. Roberts it was

      VOTED: 6 – 0 to accept Dr. Aubin’s proposal for expenditure of Funds Voted at Town Meeting.

      4.5      Proposed BHS Student Handbook Policy Changes – 2009-2010 – Exhibit D

      Dr. Harvey reviewed proposed policy changes to the BHS Student Handbook and answered questions from School Committee members.  Issues included the abolition of the weighted GPA beginning with incoming freshmen, the requirement of a minimum of 10 hours of community service each year, and the institution of a minimum 1.7 GPA for sports eligibility.  School Committee action was not required.

      4.6      Strategic Improvement Plan Highlights – Exhibit E     

      Mr. Fitzpatrick provided the School Committee with an update on the 2005-2010 Strategic Improvement Plan with examples of work done by central office administrators, principals, and curriculum directors to accomplish the goals in the plan.  Special mention was made of the contributions of the FBE and school PTO/PTAs to the accomplishments of the Belmont Public Schools.                 

4.7      Relocation Update     

             Dr. Missal provided an update on plans to locate modulars at Belmont High School by December 2009.  Dr. Missal stated that the Wellington Building Committee will meet every other week alternating between Tuesday morning and Tuesday evening meetings.  Dr. Missal stated that the Wellington Building Committee will soon be meeting with the Planning Board.
           
                 
5.      REPORT OF SUBCOMMITTEES/LIAISONS                 
     
      Ms. Rittenburg stated that School Committee members are usually appointed in the fall to serve as liaisons to various town boards and to School Committee Subcommittees.  However, she recommended that member Paul Roberts be appointed at this time to serve as School Committee representative to ITAC.  Members agreed with this suggestion.  Ms. Vose and Ms. Walker expressed in serving on proposed town committees focusing on Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School and on override options for next year.
           
6.      OTHER BUSINESS

      6.1      Consent Agenda                       
                    
            a.      Vote on Compensation for Non-Contractual Employees for the
                  2009-2010 School Year – Exhibit F
            b.      “Springtime in Paris” Tour Proposal – Exhibit F-1     
                  
      On a motion offered by Ms. Graham and seconded by Mr. Roberts it was

      VOTED: 6 – 0  to accept the consent agenda.
                       
      6.2      Personnel Items – Informational

            1.      Instructional Assignments – Special Education Programs 2009 – Exhibit G
            2.      Resignations – Exhibit H
                                                     
      6.3      Business Items - None

      6.4      Approval of Minutes -  None                                                          
7.      FUTURE BUSINESS                                                                                   
8.      ENCLOSURES
                                   
      8.1      May 2009 Chenery PTO Newsletter
      8.2      Summary of College Admissions – BHS Class of 2009     
      8.3      The Highpoint
      8.4      BHS Graduation Program
      8.5      Administrative Council Meeting Dates – 2009-2010
      8.6      Award of Custodial Cleaning Contract
      8.7      Letter to Parents of Kindergarten Students re:  Tuition for Full Day Kindergarten
      8.8      Sample Waiver Guidelines
      8.9      Memo from Jim Davis re: Athletic Reductions
      8.10      Memo from Debbie Alexander re: Basketball at CMS                                   
9.      ADJOURNMENT

        At 12:01 a.m., on a motion offered by Ms. Graham and seconded by Mr. Roberts, it was

      VOTED:   6-0 (on a roll call vote) to re-enter Executive Session for the purposes of continuing discussion of strategy with respect to collective bargaining and contract negotiations with both union and non-union personnel.  The Committee announced that it would not return to Open Session.

      At 12:30 a.m., on a motion offered by Ms. Vose and seconded by Ms. Parmett, it was

      VOTED:   6 – 0 (on a roll call vote) to adjourn the Executive Session and the meeting.


                        Respectfully submitted by _____________________________________
                                    Leslie Walker
                                    Secretary