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[The following minutes fetched from the district site on 2009-12-02 --webmaster]

WESTBOROUGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE

WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS

MINUTES

Wednesday November 4, 2009

The Westborough School Committee meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m by Chairman, Karen Henderson. Committee members present included Mr. Bruce Tretter, Mrs. Ilyse Levine-Kanji, Mr. Stephen Doret and Mr. Craig Harris. Administrators present were Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Anne Towle; Assistant Superintendent, Marianne O’Connor; Principals, John Smith; Pattie Berkey, Reene Hatherley, Maryann Stannard, and John Mendes.

The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

MINUTES

Upon a motion by Mr. Tretter seconded by Mr. Harris, the Committee voted 5-0 to approve the minutes of October 21, 2009.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT AND HIGHLIGHTS

Dr. Towle announced a report from the Stipend Committee will be presented at the next meeting.

The Superintendent presented High School Librarian, Diane Libbey, with a Certificate of Achievement for having received the Central Area Directors’ Award by the Massachusetts School Librarian Association. Ms. Libbey is on the Library Board of Trustees in Grafton and is a Central Massachusetts Regional Library Director.

Hastings School students, Shirley Wang and Ellen Sharon, were recognized by Dr. Towle for being finalists in the ADL’s A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE Institute’s 25^th Anniversary 2010 Calendar Art Award.

The Westborough Board of Health has received 100 H1N1 vaccines that will be distributed to high school seniors. Another 100 will be available November 10 and distributed between 2:30 and 4:00 p.m. Because of the close proximity of this group of students, the decision was made to start with them. Parents are asked to keep students home if they show signs of illness.

Mrs. O’Connor extended an invitation from Mr. and Mrs. Don Chouinard and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Szymczak to join them at a Welcome Reception November 15 for two principals from China that will be visiting Westborough schools for a week.

A total of 179 children have been identified to date as entering kindergarten next year. That total will change.

A meeting on Global Education was hosted by Westborough and will be followed up with two more sessions.

Mrs. O’Connor commented on the recent Math Technology Conference, co-sponsored by the MASS. The keynote speaker talked on “New Literacy Skills for On-line Learning”. Grant applications encourage partnering literacy with technology. A new type of reading and navigating skills are needed when going to web sites.

Mr. Doret asked for Mrs. Libbey’s opinion on the news some colleges are doing away with textbooks. Mrs. Libbey noted students absorb information in different ways; some need a book; others can search a website and gather pertinent information.

COMMITTEE REQUESTS AND REPORTS

Afeefa updated the Committee on High School events. Today is the end of the first term. The play, “Splendor in the Grass” will be presented this weekend and Boys Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Girls Field Hockey and Boys Cross Country teams are in post season competition. On November 17 a “Band O Rama” will take place at the school, and on November 19 the National Merit Breakfast will take place.

Mr. Tretter presented the Committee with a draft of a proposal put together for a District Standards Steering Committee. He feels in these tough economic times, some priorities should be discussed. The Overview states,

School Committee Meeting 2.

November 4, 2009

“Cannot afford the school services we provide in the current and foreseeable financial climate. Need to develop a plan that involves all stakeholders to adjust how we deliver school services.”

Mr. Doret noted under Ed Reform, the administration has certain responsibilities and the school committee is responsible for fiscal management and direction to the superintendent.

Dr. Towle added she is chairing a panel at the MASS/MASC Conference on fiscal financing and the next logical steps.

The topic will be placed on an agenda after November 18.

A short discussion was held on combining and expanding purchasing power for supplies.

Mrs. Levine-Kanji announced the Fales and Hastings Schools are holding their annual Book Fair and Ice Cream Social this evening. The Transportation Sub Committee met and among the topics discussed were changes to the start time at schools to allow for combining bus trips.

Mrs. Levine-Kanji thanked David Jost for the time he has spent on putting together the Fine Arts Grant and the expanded tour he gave her of the Fine Arts Department.

Mr. Harris reported the Fee Sub Committee met and will bring forward a proposal in December.

Committee members extended thanks to the townspeople for attending Town Meeting.

Mrs. Henderson reviewed the meetings she attended in the past week. In addition to Town Meeting, Mrs. Henderson attended the Mill Pond Parent Group Meeting, taped a Chalk Talk TV show, attended the Transportation Sub Committee Meeting, the Bi-weekly Luncheon at Armstrong School, will be in Lynnfield November 5 to attend a meeting on negotiating and at the Trivia Bee November 9 at 6:30 p.m.

The Superintendent Search Survey is on the district’s web site through November 6. Dr. Towle was asked to post the superintendent vacancy internally. A 45 minute block of time is to be set aside on the next agenda to discuss superintendent search procedures and the timeline.

Fales, Hastings, Armstrong and Mill Pond Schools submitted their School Improvement Plans for 2009-10. Mr. Tretter was assured the three K-3 schools will share this information at one of their joint meetings.

Principal Hatherley stated the Mill Pond Improvement Plan involved many hours of preparation and most of the language comes from many people. In response to a question of resources, Mrs. Hatherley replied people work very hard to meet the needs of the students. Mill Pond School will be reapplying for the “School of Character” grant.

The Committee discussed the Professional Learning and Observation program. The peer partnership has had many rewards and advantages that are invaluable and will be scheduled throughout the district. Grant money is used for substitutes.

ACTION ITEMS

On behalf of the WTA leadership, Mr. Louis Cornacchioli has requested dates to commence negotiation for the newly formed Tutors union.

MOTION

Mr. Tretter made a motion, seconded by Mr. Doret, to open negotiations with the Tutors. The Committee voted 5-0 in favor of the motion.

School Committee Meeting 3.

November 4, 2009

KINDERGARTEN FEES

The administration recommends raising the Full Day Kindergarten fees from $2800 to $3000. Massachusetts law requires half day kindergarten; full day participants pay all expenses for the additional time. No other programs are funded by the tuitions. Community Ed and PreSchool fee recommendations will be forthcoming.

The Committee requested cost information from surrounding towns and private kindergartens.

POLICY

The Committee will review Policy JRD, Student Photographs, and take a vote at the next meeting.

The Committee signed bills.

MOTION

Upon a motion by Mr. Tretter, seconded by Mr. Harris, the Committee voted 5-0 in favor of adjournment.

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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.