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[The following minutes, posted 12/22/09 on the district site, were copied on 2010-01-28.  Minor differences in formatting do occur, please access the district site if you desire an official, formal copy --webmaster]

WESTBOROUGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE

WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS

MINUTES

Wednesday                                                                                                                                                    December 2, 2009

 

The Westborough School Committee meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Chairman, Karen Henderson.  Committee members present included Mr. Bruce Tretter, Mrs. Ilyse Levine-Kanji, and Mr. Craig Harris.  Administrators present were Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Anne Towle; Assistant Superintendent, Marianne O’Connor;  Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. Daniel Hendricks;  Student Representative Afeefa Bhatti; Director of Fine Arts, David Jost, Director of Athletics, Johanna DiCarlo.

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 4-0 to approve the minutes of November 18, 2009.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT AND HIGHLIGHTS

Dr. Towle extended congratulations to the WHS Football team for reaching the Districts and having such a successful season. A pep rally was held featuring videos of each of the fall sports teams.  The band and math team were also recognized for their achievements.   The high speed fiber is connected and the speed of access has been noted immediately.  The high school and middle school have completed the H1N1 clinics.  Mill Pond will be next and the elementary schools will follow.

The Superintendent thanked the Westborough Country Club Charity Corporation for donating $500 to the elementary schools for the Kids Fund.  Mill Pond’s sixth grade classes held a World Religion Symposium December 1.  Representatives from many religions explained their cultures and beliefs.

The Massachusetts Association of Approved Private Schools has provided statistical special education information.  The total enrollment of disabled children aged 0-3 receiving Early Intervention Services has increased 201% in the past 15 years.  The number of children with delays enrolled in Early Intervention has increased 348% in the same time frame and between 1995 and 2005 the rate of infants born at low birth weight in Massachusetts has increased by more than 25%.  The national rate was a 12% increase.

Mrs. O’Connor reminded everyone December 7 is a half day for students and a full day for teachers who will be having ELL and technology training.  The dismissal buses will be running 15 minutes earlier at each school.  The Mill Pond Literacy Night was held November 30 and was an excellent program.

Mrs. O’Connor stated the Chamber of Commerce School//Business Partnership is very supportive of the schools, both financially and materially.  The Grant Committee met December 1 and is looking into the OWL program, a credit card partnership with local businesses.  There is an excellent article, “Reimaging” in Education Week on how the Kindle will impact what is purchased in the future.

Mrs. O’Connor will be presenting a position paper at the 21^st Century Skills Conference, December 3, and will be co-chairing the elementary piece of Global Education with the Superintendent of the Carlisle school district.

COMMITTEE REQUESTS AND REPORTS

Afeefa reported the traditional Winter Ball will be held December 4 at the High School, and “Are You Smarter Than A Freshman” will be held December 10 at 7:00 p.m. Ned’s Coffee House is scheduled for December 11 and continued charitable events are ongoing, for the food pantry, Dress for Success in Worcester, and several other charities.

Mr. Tretter hopes Diane Edgecomb’s story telling at the Literacy Night can become an annual event.  The Polar Plunge is being held at Lake Chauncy December 5 from 2 to 4:00 p.m. Proceeds will benefit Westborough people in need.

School Committee Meeting                                                                                                                      2.

December 2, 2009

Mrs. Levine-Kanji noted a recent Boston Globe article spoke to the matter of people staying in jobs because of uncertainty in this time of high unemployment.  Thus, the decision to look internally for a superintendent appears to be a wise decision.

Mrs. Levine-Kanji attended a fifth grade presentation on disabilities focusing on asperger's, a form of autism. The questions and answers were most respectful. Tim Dodd of the Board of Selectmen along with the Central Massachusetts Planning Commission will be hosting a walkability seminar December 12 at the Forbes Building, 9:00-12:00. Time Magazine for Kids contains an article by Westborough student, Allie Slocum, “Should Schools Ban Bake Sales”.

Mrs. Henderson will update the Committee on the MASC Conference at a future meeting.  The Literacy Night at the Mill Pond School was made possible through a grant from Target. The Transportation Sub Committee has been meeting, with additional meetings still scheduled.  A report will be forthcoming.

Mrs. Henderson announced Mrs. O’Connor will be interviewed December 10 at 7:00 p.m. for the superintendent position.  Faculty and staff will have an opportunity to ask questions on December 14 after school, and residents and parents are invited to ask questions at 7:00 p.m. Both sessions will take place at the High School Library.

CITIZENS REQUESTS AND REPORTS

Judy Wilchynski and Terry Gavin informed the Committee the WMPA has received a donation of $2200 from Avidia Bank for the purchase of a digital piano for the Hastings School.  The Committee extended its appreciation to WMPA and the Bank for the equipment.

ACTION ITEMS

MOTION

Mr. Tretter made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Levine-Kanji to approve the Agreement of Understanding between the Westborough School Department and the Westborough Police Department for the 2009-2010 school year.  The Committee voted 4-0 in favor.

REPORTS

The Committee was in receipt of the Gibbons School Improvement Plan.  In response to a question, Mrs. O’Connor stated expanding the Mandarin program for students and staff will depend upon someone coming to the district at no cost.  She will not have that information until the spring.

David Jost and Johanna DiCarlo, representing the Fee Sub Committee, presented its recommendations to the School Committee. The Sub Committee recommends volunteer and community service organizations should not be charged any fee for participating (ELNA, Cooking Club, National Honor Society, Peer Mediation, Student Ambassadors, Trim, Interact, SADD, Best Buddies).  For music and athletics, the fees should remain at the same level:  $135 at Gibbons, (family cap $270); $185 at the High School, (family cap $420). There should be a $50 charge per club. All registrations and fees should be able to be paid on line and required payment be completed for fall activities in August. The sub committee recommends an administrator be responsible for coordinating participation for the clubs.  A second notice for payment should be mailed to the parents.  It is also recommended the administration meet to discuss ways to ensure accuracy in billing and collecting fees.  The matter of late bus fees has been forwarded to the Transportation Sub Committee; the Kindergarten fees have already been increased for 2010-2011; the Spirit Program fees should remain the same, however, the billing sheet needs clarification; the fees for the Pre-school at the Hastings School are in place.  The Sub Committee recommends a review of the fee for the Pre school program at the high school.

Mrs. Levine-Kanji was assured there is a hardship provision built into the programs and no child will be denied admittance because of lack of funds.

 

School Committee Meeting                                                                                                                                                           3.

December 2, 2009

Ms. DiCarlo clarified the high school amount of $185 is for each activity until the cap of $420 is reached.  The perception has been that $185 was for the full year of activities.

Mr. Harris was informed the revenue raised should be approximately $209,000 versus the $116,000 collected under the current system.  He questioned whether club fees have ever been collected.  He added that the collection of fees was handed off to the Community Ed program.  It was suggested an administrator in each building be responsible for overseeing that the fees are billed and collected.

Mr. Jost noted a release form is necessary to stay on campus.  The billing could occur after its receipt.

Mrs. Henderson expressed concern regarding any drop in participation and she does not want the fee structure to discourage participation.  Parents can apply for a waiver and all information is kept strictly confidential.  A total of $500,000 is spent on the athletic and fine arts programs.

The Committee encourages input from the community and will vote on the Fee structure after the Transportation Sub Committee finalizes its report.

DISTRICT STANDARDS STEERING COMMITTEE/BUDGET FOCUS

Mr. Tretter stated the district cannot in future years afford the school services currently provided due to the economic climate.  He suggests forming a Steering Committee to develop a plan to adjust how we deliver services, to set school operating priorities that correspond with current and forecasted financial support.  The mission of the committee would be to detail how to operate the schools in face of declining financial resources.  Consideration should be made for class size, course offerings, extracurricular activities, discretionary vs. non discretionary spending, and learn from outside school district experience.

The Committee discussed the make up of such a committee and the goals it would be asked to accomplish.  Mr. Tretter feels significant operational changes will need to be made.  The Committee discussed duplicating the financial charge of the School Committee and the suggestion was made that perhaps the School Councils would be the proper group to discuss the topic, being building specific, and make recommendations by school.  In that way, parents and staff would be involved in the discussions and the School Committee would receive the priorities of stakeholders.

Mr. Harris favored a heavy parental involvement in the discussions.  They are the taxpayers.  We are facing a $1.7 million dollar budget deficit next year with a level service budget.

The Committee would like the principals to charge the School Councils with making the number one priority finances in the school.  The principal will then report back to the School Committee.

Mrs. O’Connor suggested the Councils address the vision of the district, what is our mission, and what sacrifices can be made to preserve programs.

The matter will be placed on the December 16 agenda.

MOTION

At 7:45 p.m. upon a motion by Mr. Tretter, seconded by Mr. Harris, the Committee voted 4-0 by roll call vote in favor of entering Executive Session under Chapter 30, Section 21 for the purpose of discussing negotiations.

The Committee returned to Open Session at 8:20, signed bills.  Upon a motion by Mr. Tretter and a second by Mr. Harris, the Committee voted 4-0 to adjourn at 8:22 p.m.

 

 

 

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.