Schools Committee Minutes School Committee Minutes 2009-05-20
School Committee Minutes 2009-05-20
These minutes fetched from the district site on 2009-08-31
WESTBOROUGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE
MINUTES
The Westborough School Committee meeting was called to order at
The meeting opened with the Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.
MINUTES
Upon a motion by Mr. Tretter and a second by Mr. Harris, the Committee voted 5-0 to approve the minutes of
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT AND HIGHLIGHTS
Superintendent Towle introduced and extended congratulations to Fritz Kaelber who attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Fritz constructed cubbies for the Fine Arts Department to store musical instruments. He plans to attend the Citadel next year.
Dr. Towle thanked the Westborough town officials and citizens for their support of next year’s school budget. State revenues continue to fall. The Superintendent reported she filed for $446,610 in AARA stimulus funds which has been designated to make up a 50% reduction in state aid that the town is not receiving in this, the fourth quarter payment of Chapter 70 funds. The district has also heard the AARA funds will only be available for FY10 and not FY11. The Senate has affirmed the House vote to increase the sales tax. Dr. Towle will recommend further reductions at this meeting to bring the district to the House’s recommended funding level of $319,000 in stimulus funds. The Senate Ways and Means budget has projected only $139,000 in that account.
The circuit breaker funding has fluctuated from 60% reimbursement, to 70% to 30%. Currently, our budget is $406,252 in additional funding. That could change.
The Superintendent extended thanks to the school committee, administration, and principals who have had the
difficult task of making the reductions. The decisions have been made in the best interest of students. The
principals also have the burden of telling people that they will not have a job. We are losing many, many good
people. The Superintendent will also recommend holding some funds in abeyance.
The financial status now reduces 18 people and moves three full time employees to half time. It is possible the bottom line will not be known until July.
Mrs. O’Connor reported the Westborough Educational Foundation breakfast will be held May 22. It will be awarding $16,532 in grants to Westborough staff at the High School, Mill Pond school, Armstrong, Fales and Hastings.
Mr. Hendricks stated he attended a state workshop last week that discussed the state of flux of revenues.
SUB COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
Mrs. Henderson appointed the following sub committees members:
Karen Henderson – Forbes Loan Sub Committee
Ilyse Levine-Kanji, Bruce Tretter, Karen Henderson – Budget Sub Committee
Craig Harris, Ilyse Levine-Kanji – Sick Leave Bank
Bruce Tretter – Joint Labor/Management Committee
Stephen Doret, Craig Harris – Safety Committee
Bruce Tretter – Facilities Committee
Karen Henderson – Delegate to MASC Annual Meeting
School Committee Meeting 2.
Ilyse-Levine-Kanji – Community Education liaison
Steve Doret, Karen Henderson – Grant writing (This sub committee will be advertised and open to community members and parent groups.)
COMMITTEE REQUESTS AND REPORTS
Mr. Tretter reported the Senior Music Banquet is being held this evening with 92 seniors participating. The Stipend Sub Committee met and agreed all new positions will be posted on the web site, and information will be forwarded to all principals and the WTA. Building principals will ask someone from each building to act as a liaison to the sub committee to bring needs and concerns forward. The position of supervisor in the Fitness Room was approved for recommendation to the School Committee as a stipend position.
Spring Concerts were held last week at the High School. Some performances were well attended; others not as well attended. A better job of promotion should be considered.
All Committee members extended thanks and appreciation to Dr. Towle, the administration, staff and community for passing the school budget at town meeting. Mr. Doret felt the information presented was factual and concise. Mrs. Levine-Kanji noted the teacher assignments will not be mailed until mid summer because of the uncertainty of staffing reductions. Mrs. Henderson noted the community may contribute to the Westborough Ed Foundation by “Buying a Brick”, donate in the name of a teacher, or support the Trivia Bee. Police Chief Gordon has sent letters to parents regarding the Social Host Law. The junior prom and graduation are upcoming events and safety is a concern.
The Energy Sub Committee will be meeting as soon as the town side appoints a representative.
PUBLIC HEARING – SCHOOL CHOICE
MOTION
At
Mrs. Henderson called to order a Public Hearing on School Choice. Dr. Towle recommended that no additional School Choice students be admitted to the Westborough Public Schools for next year. At
MOTION
Mr. Tretter made a motion to accept the administrations’ recommendation regarding School Choice. Mr. Harris seconded the motion and the Committee voted 5-0 in favor of the motion.
RECOGNITION
Dr. Towle recognized Abhinav Gupta who has been named a semi finalist in the 2009 Presidential Scholars Competition. One male and one female from each state will be chosen to attend a week long seminar in
REDUCTIONS
The administration recommends the following reductions:
1. Full time elementary Guidance Counselor
2. $15,000 athletics
3. .5 music (keep violin and viola for 3rd grade strings)
4. .5 Middle School Psychologist
5. Elementary technology specialist
6. 3rd grade
7. Grade 5 Mill Pond
8. 1 position at High School
9. .5 nurse leader
School Committee Meeting 3.
One additional position will be added, a grade three position at
Mr. Doret requested David Jost, Director of Fine Arts, respond at the next School Committee meeting, whether there is any other solution to keeping the third grade strings program whole.
The Committee reviewed the enrollment numbers in the elementary schools and inquired whether one of the Mill Pond guidance counselors could take on some of the K-3 numbers to equalize the case load. Counselors at Mill Pond average 250 students; K-3 counselors will have approximately 560 students. The administration was directed to review the situation and decide on a plan to go forward.
MOTION
Mr. Tretter made a motion to accept the administration’s recommended reductions. Mr. Doret seconded the motion with great regret. The Committee voted 5-0 in favor of the motion.
MOTION
Mr. Tretter made a motion to keep $200,000 in abeyance to cover any future financial reductions. Mr. Harris seconded the motion and the Committee voted 5-0 in favor to hold the funds in abeyance.
$50,000 in technology
$50,000 in facilities
$25,000 in energy (reduce temperatures in all schools)
$50,000 in school choice funds
$25,000 in all supplies and materials.
PARENT GROUPS –HASTINGS, MILL POND, WABA
Kim Keogh, co-president of the Hastings School PTO, informed the Committee the PTO gives approximately $25,000 to the school in the forms of enrichment, playground equipment, field day participation, and landscaping. The principal fundraiser is the Winter Festival followed by the Ice Cream Social. Lisa Segal of the Mill Pond PTO, reported the organization returns $14,000 to the school in the form of enrichment and programs. Colonial Day and America Day receive a total of $5,800. There is also a Kid’s Fund that is available for students not able to afford a field trip or have needs identified by the guidance department. Maura Shunney stated WABA is a non-profit organization that supports all schools, all sports, all levels. Funds have been expended on Turfs Up, the weight room, and wall graphics. A total of $11,200 will be awarded for sixteen scholarships at graduation.
OUT OF DISTRICT PLACEMENT
Director of Pupil Personnel, Maureen Ferguson, reported she investigates what Westborough has to offer a student, then the Assabet Collaborative, and finally Out-of-District placements for students. Currently there are 38 students in Out-of-District placements for a total of $2,781,486. Next year there will be 45 students in the program because of the Collaborative Vocational Life Skills program. Ms. Ferguson noted the staff is committed to keeping students in the district when possible. Those served are between the ages of 3 to 22 and program costs range from $25,000 to $200,000. The Out-of-District transportation costs are $525,000 down from $700,000.
The School Committee was given a copy of proposed meeting dates for 2009-2010. It will review the dates and take action at the next meeting. A Special Town Meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 19.
MOTION
Mr. Tretter made a motion at
The Committee returned to Open Session at
School Committee Meeting 4
At
Respectfully submitted
Ilyse Levine-Kanji
Secretary
These minutes are as recorded by the secretary to the school committee and do not become an official part of the record until so noted in a subsequent record.
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