Schools Committee Minutes School Committee Minutes 2010-05-19
School Committee Minutes 2010-05-19
[The following minutes, posted 6/7/10 on the district site, were copied on 8-Jun-2010. Minor differences in formatting and occasional odd content occur (e.g. headers and page numbers are included), so please access the district site if you desire an official, formal copy -- webmaster]
WESTBOROUGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE
WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS
MINUTES
Wednesday May 19, 2010
The Westborough School Committee meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m by Chairman, Ilyse Levine-Kanji. Committee members present included Mrs. Karen Henderson, Mr. Stephen Doret, and Mr. Bruce Tretter. Administrators present were Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Anne Towle; Assistant Superintendent, Mrs. Marianne O’Connor; Principals, Dr. David Fredette, Mr. John Smith, and Mrs. Maryann Stannard; Student Representative, Afeefa Bhatti.
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
MINUTES
Upon a motion by Mr. Tretter, a second by Mr. Doret, the Committee voted 4-0 in favor of approving the minutes of May 5, 2010.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS
Dr. Towle recognized, gave a brief overview of their years of service, and congratulated the 2010 faculty retirees. The honorees included Dr. David Fredette, Diane Libbey, Yvonne Topping, John Dodson, Richard Hagar, and Dennis Fenton. The Superintendent also congratulated Mr. Fenton as a member of the team that resulted in the Mill Pond School being named a National School of Character Education for the second time. Mill Pond is one of thirteen schools in the country to achieve this recognition. Dr. Towle thanked all the retirees for their life’s work and career that was devoted to the students in Westborough.
Dr. Towle congratulated and presented Certificates of Achievement to several Middle School students who had entered the 11th Annual Worcester Regional Middle School Science and Engineering Fair. Seventh graders Luke Sciarappa, Sam Lehman and Dongpeng Xia placed 2nd with a special Army Award from the Natick Labs. Hannah Cayem and Gina Bates placed 3rd. Eighth graders Kate Buress placed 4th. Riona Reeves received 3rd place with a special “Climate Award”. Rachel Harris and Steven Homberg placed 3rd. Steven was one of 800 students, out of 20,000, who had a perfect score on the 2010 Introduction to Latin National Latin Exam and had previously been recognized as a regional math champion. Emily Reilly also was a top scorer on the Latin Exam.
The Superintendent also congratulated and thanked Afeefa Bhatti for serving as student representative to the School Committee and presented Afeefa and her family with tokens of appreciation.
Mrs. O’Connor thanked the retirees for their years of service. She also extended thanks to the Mill Pond Staff, especially Principal, Reene Hatherley, the guidance department and all the people who worked on achieving the National School of Character in Education. Mrs. Hatherley will be receiving the award in San Francisco this summer.
May 21 is a half day for students. The staff will be working on placements and transitions. Mrs. O’Connor suggested reading the Lobby-O on-line, especially the interview by Miles Goldman of the new assistant superintendent, Daniel Mayer.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Afeefa invited the Committee to attend Islam Awareness Day, May 20, at the High School. This is Senior Class Week, and final exams will take place next week. “Broadway Fights Aids” will be presented Saturday night, May 22. Peer Mediation training is next week. There are 7-8 new members.
Mrs. Henderson extended congratulations to the retirees and thanked the people for attending Town Meeting and approving the budgets. Many communities are suffering in the area of education.
School Committee Meeting 2.
May 19, 2010
Mr. Doret thanked the town for its vote. He noted the successful cooperation of all the people who work for the school department including the union agreements to the insurance changes required. Next year will not be any easier.
Mrs. Levine-Kanji announced the Senate Ways and Means Committee will begin budget discussions next week. Information is available for the Summer Literacy event at the high school. Anyone may choose a book and discuss it with a student in the fall. A Westborough Walkability Workshop will be held this evening in the Forbes Building.
Mrs. Henderson and Mrs. Levine-Kanji will serve on the Budget Sub Committee.
The Committee was in receipt of the 2010-2011 School Committee Meetings Calendar. It will take it under advisement and vote on the final Calendar at the next meeting. It was suggested the August meeting be held on Monday, the 30th of August.
MOTION
At 6:30 p.m. upon a motion from Mr. Tretter, seconded by Mrs. Henderson, the Committee voted 4-0 by roll call vote to enter Executive Session under Chapter 30A, Section 21.
The Committee returned to Open Session at 7:45 p.m. and signed bills.
MOTION
Mr. Tretter made a motion to ratify the contract with the Paraeducators’ Union. Mr. Doret seconded the motion and the Committee voted 4-0 in favor of the motion.
MOTION
Upon a motion from Mr. Tretter, seconded by Mrs. Henderson the Committee voted unanimously 4-0 at 7:50 p.m. to adjourn.
Respectfully submitted
Stephen Doret
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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