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These minutes fetched from the district site on 2009-08-31

WESTBOROUGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE

WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS

MINUTES

Wednesday June 3, 2009

The Westborough School Committee meeting was called to order at 6:05 pm by Chairman, Karen Henderson. Committee members present included Mr. Bruce Tretter, Mr. Stephen Doret, Mrs. Ilyse Levine-Kanji and Mr. Craig Harris. Administrators present included Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Anne Towle; Assistant Superintendent Mrs. Marianne O’Connor, Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. Daniel Hendricks; Student Representative, Katherine McManus; Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Maureen Ferguson, Director of Fine Arts, David Jost; Principals, Pattie Berkey and Reene Hatherley.

The meeting opened with the Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.

MINUTES

Upon a motion by Mr. Tretter and a second by Mr. Doret, the Committee voted 5-0 to approve the minutes of May 20, 2009.

Upon a motion by Mr. Tretter, seconded by Mr. Doret, the Committee voted 5-0 to approve the minutes of the Special Meeting, May 16, 2009.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT AND HIGHLIGHTS

The Superintendent recognized retiring members of the staff and presented them with Certificates of Appreciation. Those recognized included Jeanine Wales, Mary Ann Burritt, Beverly Kody, Anna Ventriglia, Shanna Frost, Kathy Farley, Cheryl Bertone. They were thanked for their many years of dedicated service.

Dr. Towle and Mary Ann Burritt, Guidance Counselor at the Hastings School, recognized the second and third grade winning students of the U.S. Department of Energy’s 39^th Annual Earth Day Poster Contest. The students were presented with Certificates of Achievement: 1^st place, Kevin Flahive; 2^nd place, Kathryn Smith; 3^rd place, Aylin Valentijn; and Honorable Mention, Jack Slocum, Maidah Farooq, and Tony Lee.

Joshua Brush was congratulated by Dr. Towle for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest ranking of the Boys Scouts of America. Joshua did construction and organizational work in the Fine Arts Department.

Superintendent Towle introduced Jessica Bready who placed first in the state on the Level 6 National Spanish Exam. Jessica will be attending Regis College in the fall and has been recognized by the college for her accomplishment.

Matthew Spring was recognized for receiving a gold medal in the National Latin Exam for all four years.

Mrs. O’Connor reported five teachers are on a week long sabbatical at the Boston Museum of Science under the auspices of Genzyme. The company has awarded the district a $15,000 grant which covers the costs. Students of the teachers will receive a field trip to the Museum under the grant.

Summer School registration has been completed. Two hundred and fifty students will be attending.

Mrs. O’Connor also encouraged attendance at the Gibbons Writers’ program and the United Nations Summit at the Mill Pond School.

COMMITTEE REQUESTS AND REPORTS

Katherine announced MCAS testing is underway at the High School and Graduation ceremonies will take place June 6 at 5:00 p.m. Academic Awards are scheduled for June 4; the Senior Dinner will be held June 5 at 5:00 p.m. followed by Baccalaureate at 7:00 p.m. Katherine also supported the UN program at Mill Pond School and reported a rape awareness program at the High School was very well received.

School Committee Meeting 2.

June 3, 2009

All members of the Committee offered accolades for Katherine’s service as student representative on the school committee. They recognized the point of view she brought to the committee as well as her intelligence, insightful comments and complete reports. Mrs. Henderson presented Katherine with a gift and one for her parents from the Committee and administration. Good luck was extended for her future at Tufts University.

Mr. Tretter reported a meeting of the Joint Labor/Management Committee was held. Among the topics discussed were staff reductions and payroll issues. Newly elected President of the WTA, Greg Gallagher, offered to meet over the summer to discuss some issues.

Mrs. Levine-Kanji thanked the staff for the emails and suggestions offered for budget reductions. All will be taken under consideration. The summer reading list for all students is on the web. Mrs. Levine-Kanji offered thanks and appreciation to all the staff for the time and effort spent on the outstanding special school programs that are now taking place.

Mr. Doret acknowledged and thanked the administration and staff for the work they performed re-painting the parking spaces at the High School following a senior prank.

Mrs. Henderson announced she does not know when the district will hear the final numbers from the state on the Federal Stimulus money. Upon the recommendation of the Department of Education, the Superintendent filed for $446,610 in Federal Stimulus funds which has been designated to make up a 50% reduction in state aid that the town is not receiving in fourth quarter Chapter 70 funds. This will be used to cover health insurance costs.

The Westborough Education Foundation donated $16,000 in grants to members of the staff who applied with written applications for special programs.

LATIN AND FINE ARTS STUDENTS’ TRIP TO GREECE

Ms. Shelley McCormick-Lane and Mr. John Hayes requested permission to take Latin and art students to Greece during April vacation 2010. The trip would be under the auspices of ACIS, a fully insured travel company at a cost of $3491.

MOTION

Mr. Doret made a motion to approve the trip to Greece for Latin and art students in April 2010. Mr. Tretter seconded the motion and the Committee voted 5-0 in favor of the motion.

SCHOOL CALENDAR

MOTION

Mr. Tretter made a motion to approve the School Committee Calendar for 2009-2010. Mr. Doret seconded the motion and the Committee voted 5-0 in favor of the motion.

BUDGET REVIEW AND REDUCTIONS

Dr. Towle reported the Committee had reduced the FY10 budget by $770,000 before Town Meeting on May 16. The Town Administrator had requested all departments submit a level funded budget. Because of the financial picture, the school department was given $500,000 from the town side to cover some reductions. The submitted FY10 budget resulted in a 1.32% increase over last year’s budget. Before Town Meeting, the school department anticipated receiving $1 million dollars in Federal Stimulus money. That has continuously been eroded by the state. $400,000 of the money has been awarded as a grant to the town to cover the reduction of Chapter 70 funds this year. After much debate by the state legislature, it appears the school Stimulus package will be $139,431 from the state.

After a meeting with administrators, the Superintendent is submitting Scenario A and Scenario B reductions for review by the Committee. Scenario A includes reductions in technology, utilities, SPED and reading paras, ELL tutor, secretary Community Ed and teachers. Scenario B includes reductions in technology, utilities, facilities, freshmen sports, 3^rd grade strings, secretary Community Ed, ELL tutor, SPED paras and fees. Also under consideration should be transportation, field trips and late bus.

School Committee Meeting 3.

June 3, 2009

Mr. Doret felt the mandated programs established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts should be reduced by the district. It is necessary for us to take budget items and staff reductions from the normal school process in order to fund the mandated programs from the State of Massachusetts. Mr. Doret does not feel that is the correct method. If money has to be taken from regular programs, the State should at least have the common sense to offer relief on what the district has to spend the money on. Mr. Doret raised the issue of not paying some of the mandates and being sued by the state. Bring the information forward and have a day in court. We should spend the town’s tax dollars to continue the educational process. The people in Boston continue to take money away from our system. It is resulting in dismantling a quality program.

Mr. Doret added he would also consider looking at the bus program. Some buses are only one quarter full. The district does not have a mandate from the Commonwealth to bus every student. It is time to take back and challenge the state’s right to take the money from us. Mr. Doret stated he does not want to cut any more staff. He does not know what quality of program would be left if more cuts are made. It would not be the kind of school system he would like to see.

Mr. Tretter would like to see the mandates and what they cost. He noted the Superintendent and the MASS havesubmitted recommended mandated reductions and nothing has been forthcoming.

Mr. Harris noted a lot has happened since Town Meeting. He questioned why no one from the town side has come forward to say the schools are bleeding. The school department followed through on its commitment to the Town Coordinator in preparing the budget. “The landscape has changed and we are now in the process of dismantling the school system. I wonder when the citizens are going to come forward.” Mr. Doret stated “we should do something about it”.

Mr. Harris added that $290,000 needs to be reduced at the next meeting. He would like to learn more about administrative contracts and the possibility of going from 12-month to 10-month employees and what the cost savings would be, as well as a further look at non teaching positions within the schools. Mr. Harris noted sub committees have been established to study transportation, fees and energy and are due to report in the fall. He felt the committees should stand and decisions be made after the reports.

Mr. Doret pointed out the entire athletic program costs $530,000 with another $130,000 returned to the program through fees. There are 180 freshmen involved in sports. One twentieth of the school budget is spent on athletics and music which has a place in the curriculum for a very large number of students. The increase cost of stipends has also been covered through an increase in the activity fee.

School Committee members will tour all buildings during school hours and also observe bus capacities. The Superintendent will make arrangements for the School Committee to tour the buildings. She will also provide bus counts.

Mrs. Henderson noted the money voted at Town Meeting for FY10 is the amount the school department will receive, regardless of the changes from the state. The Superintendent added if the Committee considers the proposed reductions, it is $165,000 away from a balanced budget. 80% of the budget is for salaries.

Mrs. Levine-Kanji wished to see a spreadsheet of the reductions to date. She also would consider a bus fee. The Superintendent expressed concern about the timeline for bus fees.

Mrs. Henderson noted teachers should know teaching assignments for next year in June. By Massachusetts law non professional teachers must be formally notified by June 15 regarding their positions. By June 10 the paras must be notified of assignments. Since Town Meeting, the district budget is down $683,000 through significant reductions by the House and Senate.

School Committee Meeting 4

June 3, 2009

It was noted the fixed costs of next year’s budget will increase by 2-3% without contract renewals. All union contracts are up for renegotiation.

Requests for information for the next meeting: Administrative contracts, athletics, including freshmen sports, non teaching positions, dates and times of building tours and buses, and spreadsheet of all reductions.

Mr. Harris and Mrs. Levine-Kanji expressed thanks to the administrators for the tasks they have performed and to the staff for all the anxiety they are experiencing and making sure the students are not feeling it.

MOTION

At 8:00 p.m. upon a motion by Mr. Tretter, seconded by Mrs. Levine-Kanji the Committee voted 5-0 by roll call vote to enter Executive Session under Chapter 39, Section 23B, sub paragraph (3) for the purpose of discussing negotiations and litigation.

At 8:47 p.m. the Committee returned to Open Session, and signed bills.

Upon a motion by Mr. Tretter, seconded by Mr. Harris, at 8:48pm the Committee voted unanimously to adjourn.

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.