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[The following minutes, posted 3/02/10 on the district site, were copied on 7-Mar-2010. 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                                                                                                                                                      January 20, 2010

The Westborough School Committee meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m by Chairman, Karen Henderson.  Committee members present included Mr. Craig Harris, Mr. Stephen Doret and Mrs. Ilyse Levine-Kanji.   Mr. Bruce Tretter arrived shortly after the opening of the meeting.  Administrators present were Superintendent, Dr. Anne Towle, Assistant Superintendent, Mrs. Marianne O’Connor; Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. Daniel Hendricks; Student Representative, Afeefa Bhatti.

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

MINUTES

Upon a motion by Mr. Harris seconded by Mr. Doret, the Committee voted 4-0 in favor of approving the minutes of January 6, 2010.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS

Superintendent Towle reported Fine Arts Director, David Jost, announced the High School Honors Quartet, directed by Richard Hager, has been selected by the Massachusetts Educators Association to perform at the All-State Conference in Boston as the featured group that will open the conference.  The performance will take place March 18^th at the Seaport Convention Center in Boston.  Members of this ensemble are Anthony Liu, Tony Yang, Elizabeth Anderson and Jordan Hensley.

Mr. Tretter arrived at the meeting.

Ruisi Shang and Tony Liu accompanied Dr. Towle to the Superintendent Scholars from Central Massachusetts Luncheon at Holy Cross on January 12^th.  Father McFarland, president of Holy Cross, and Mitchell Chester, Commissioner of Education spoke to the students.

Thanks were extended to Representatives Carolyn Dykema and George Peterson who each spent a morning visiting the schools in  Westborough.  They visited regular and special education classes as well as the preschool program, heard the strings orchestra, attended a principal’s meeting and talked with administrators.

Dr. Towle congratulated and introduced the Telegram Fall All Star Athletes. Each was presented a certificate of achievement.  Player of the Year Awards were given to Byron Jones, Boys Cross Country and Kasey Kraus, for Volleyball. All Star Team honorees were Jeff Bush, Boys Cross Country; Bethi Ledoux, Girls Soccer; Karly Murphy, Field Hockey; Alex Cincotta, Volleyball.

Congratulations and a certificate of achievement was extended to Bianca Homberg for being named the 2010 recipient of the National NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing awarded by the National Center for Women and Information Technology.

Mrs. O’Connor announced the kindergarten packets will be mailed January 29 and should be returned by February 26.  A curriculum day was held a week ago highlighting K-8 social studies, 21^st Century Skills and streamlining the curriculum.  January 19, a full Professional Day, was held with other districts in attendance.  All staff members were involved, including librarians and nurses.

Mr. Hendricks reported an energy report will be forthcoming at the next meeting,, including consumption.  He also noted the process is underway to obtain funding for Gibbons School repairs. A Facilities Committee meeting will be scheduled.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Afeefa reported mid year exams will begin tomorrow with two exams per day.  The athletic teams are doing well with basketball and swim teams awaiting tournament bids. By invitation only, band and chorus members performed at the 53^rd Honors Concert at Mechanics Hall January 16.  Maggie Adaval is one of five students to receive a bid to

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January 20, 2010

States as a result of the recent Speech and Debate Tournament.  The team was among the finalists.  The high school administration and guidance departments are preparing the Program of Studies for next year.

Mr. Tretter announced the Game of the Week is at the North Star Arena against Assabet.

 

Mrs. Levine-Kanji noted the Town Manager, Jim Malloy, gave a financial presentation to all town stakeholders last week.  She also stated she was invited to attend an history elective course, “Facing History and Ourselves”, which deals with ethical decisions and diversity of community.

Mr. Doret inquired how the recently passed Education Bill will impact the district.  The Superintendent replied it will primarily impact districts having difficulty in meeting standards or underachieving.  The Bill puts a cap on Charter Schools, allows failing districts to open Charter Schools, allows more authority for the superintendent to make changes only in under performing schools. The Race to the Top Fund may look at different ways of evaluating and will need to be discussed through negotiations.

Mrs. O’Connor added the Race to the Top brings together administrators, school committee and union to agree on best practices and how teachers perform in relation to student performance.  It is a positive step to bring the parties to the table together.  The grant could bring between $15,000 - $20,000 to the district.

Mrs. Henderson reported Mill Pond’s Black and White Dinner will be held January 23.

ACTION ITEMS

The administrators are asking to enter into negotiations with the School Committee.

MOTION

Upon the Superintendent’s recommendation, Mr. Tretter made a motion to enter into negotiations with the administrators.  Mr. Harris seconded the motion and the Committee voted 5-0 in favor of the motion.

MOTION

Mr. Tretter made a motion to approve the Massachusetts School Building Authority Initial Compliance Certification. Mr. Harris seconded the motion and the Committee voted unanimously, 5-0 in favor of the motion. This is part of the process for the Gibbons School repairs, which include window replacement, plumbing, floors, roof, infra structure.

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE REPORT

Mr. Hendricks reviewed the charge to the committee:

1. continue current transportation program and estimate costs for 2010-11 budget
2. make recommendations for alternatives to current program
3. make a recommendation regarding fees for bus service

Committee members:  Mr. Hendricks, Cindy Crowley, Jeff Slomski, Chris Fournier, Chip Dapolite, Ilyse Levine-Kanji, Karen Henderson, Lynn Oswill and Amanda Priest.

Mr. Hendricks reported the committee met 8 times.  The district has 3600 students; it transports 2000 per day.  The district is looking at a 5% increase in the cost of transportation.  It presently budgets $1.2 million dollars for transportation.  Approximately one-half of the K-6 students live outside of the 2-mile limit and cannot be charged fees.

Recommendations:

1. Continue discussion with administrators to determine whether additional late buses could be reduced.
2. Reduce the number of regular buses used to transport students.  Each bus costs approximately $46,000.
3. Initiate efficiencies in the transportation program.  Administrative research on fewer stops. .

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January 20, 2010

 

1. School Committee should consider implementing fees for student parking and bus fees.

The committee does not recommend dropping grades 7-12 busing.  It did recommend an  increase in the loading, and if implementing fees, to collect them early, develop the routes, and possibly eliminate one or two buses.  The time spent on a bus must also be taken into consideration, especially for those 14 and under.  There is a four hour minimum in the contract, which should be reduced.

Mr. Doret pointed out the reason the School Committee is looking into this matter is because of the dire financial straits of the town.  There is a significant amount of money in this area.

ELL STATE RESULTS

Mrs. Joanne Fridley is a Department of Education certified ELL trainer.  The Westborough ELL program has 346 students enrolled from over 18 countries who speak 30 different languages.  The Department of Education has three units of measure: (1) achievement – percentage of LEP students making adequate English progress. Westborough has 87% making that progress.  (2) attainment – percentage of students scoring at level 5.  55% met the target versus 25% at the state level.  (3) MCAS – students have made adequate progress since 2007.

Westborough is one of fourteen districts in Massachusetts with a Title 1 school where Limited English Proficiency students are making significant progress.  Based on the results of students in the school, Westborough is eligible to apply for Title 1 Academic Achievement Grant funds covering the period March 2010 to August 2011.  As a model district, Westborough’s best practices will be evaluated.  The grant for $25,000 can be used for professional development, instructional materials and teacher collaboration.  $5,000 will be provided to cover the cost of the review. There will be more grant funds available in the second year for developing materials, increase instruction. The funds can be used to supplement only.

In response to Mr. Harris’s question, Mrs. Fridley responded teacher training is required by the Department of Education, but is an unfunded mandate. Sixty Westborough teachers have received four-day training. Westborough has the only suburban program recognized and eligible for the grants.

FY10 FINANCIAL REPORT

Mr. Hendricks presented the Committee with a financial report for the period July 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010, which is on target.  There will be some changes in the lighting account due to changes that have been made.  Salaries, Expenses and status of the Warrant Articles is included.

Mrs. Levine-Kanji inquired about the $3 million dollar out of district tuition account.  A discussion of reductions in IDEA funds, Circuit Breaker and Chapter 70 ensued.  The Committee was also given a copy of an updated list of Capital Expenses.  Mr. Hendricks was asked to create a “must do” capital column so that major necessary repairs will not fall through the cracks.

 

SCHOOL CALENDAR 2010

The Committee was in receipt of a draft version of the School Calendar for 2010-2011.  It has also been sent to the WTA union president. School will open September 1 for students.  There will be no school September 6 and 9. A vote on the calendar will be taken at the next school committee meeting, February 10, 2010.

MOTION

At 7:32 Mr. Tretter made a motion, seconded by Mr. Doret to enter Executive Session under Chapter 30, Section 21, for the purpose of discussing negotiations.  The Committee voted 5-0 in favor of the motion by roll call vote.  There was a short recess until the room cleared.  The Committee returned to Open Session at 9:12 p.m. Upon a motion by Mr. Tretter and a second by Mrs. Levine-Kanji, the Committee voted 5-0 to adjourn at 9:13 p.m.

 

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January 20, 2010

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.