NEW 2007-2008
Boxford Elementary
BUS ROUTES
Boxford Elementary
BUS ROUTES
RESULTS, UPDATES & RESOURCES
TOWN OF BOXFORD
MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE
Email Contacts:
• House of Representatives
• State Senate
| BSC Preliminary Minutes 12.16.08 |
| PRELIMINARY MINUTES BOXFORD SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING BOXFORD TOWN HALL DECEMBER 16, 2008 Members Present: Cynthia Foster, Betsy Leary, Rebecca Lundrigan, Pam Messenger, Cindy Murphy Others Present: Dr. Creeden, Antonio Marin-Vargas, Tiffany Stone and Lisa Salisbury (all Cole teachers), Jane Bonaventura (BTA – Cole), Karen Careri (Spofford teacher) and Ellen Gaskell (Recording Secretary) Pam Messenger called the meeting to order at 7:30pm. ROUTINES: 1. Remarks from the Public: None 2. Reports from Other Committees: Betsy Leary reported on the Health and Wellness Committee. A schedule for the rest of the year’s meetings was assembled. There was a discussion of healthy snacks and a brochure developed last year about snacks. The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, February 3rd at Cole School Conference Room at 3:30pm. REPORTS: 1. Report of the Foreign Language Teachers: a. Karen Careri and Antonio Marin-Vargas i. Karen Careri presented the report. She spoke of: 1. Curriculum Consistency 2. Current Topics Covered at Each Grade Level 3. Outlook for the Year a. There was good retention from last year. b. A 6th grade interdisciplinary project with the Art Department was very worthwhile. 4. Curriculum Development 5. Improvements/Successes: Positives to Date a. Since Spanish is now on the report cards, there is increased accountability. 6. Differentiate Instruction 7. Future Plans 2. Report of the Building Principals: a. Kathryn Nikas, Principal of Cole School i. Parent conferences were last week; this is the first set of conferences using the new report cards. ii. There has been progress on the school improvement planning. Surveys concerning this will be sent to staff and parents. iii. Grade 2 On-Line Math League is ranked 12th out of 37 teams. b. Larry Fliegelman, Principal of Spofford School i. Mr. Fliegelman could not be at the meeting due to sickness, so Dr. Creeden spoke for him. ii. Recent school activities included a 5th grade visit with author Kathy Dougal, a 4th grade trip to Lowell Mills, also band and choral concerts. iii. On December 17th, the school will work with the police department on safety issues. iv. A 5th grade teacher, Ms. Diane Owens, has invited the BSC to a presentation on what 5th graders are doing with Smart Technology. 3. Report of the Superintendent: a. Personnel Update i. Ellen Rice is on bereavement leave. ii. Betsy Gadbois has returned from maternity leave. iii. During the Holiday Assembly, presentations will be made to retired teachers Ms. Spinosa and Ms. Buckley. iv. Some school employees were impacted by recent ice storms. b. NESDEC Enrollment Projection i. NESDEC enrollment is part of the budget development process. ii. Kindergarten and 1st grade projections most volatile. iii. Dr. Creeden then spoke of Boxford’s schools projected enrollment for the upcoming year. iv. Enrollment affects budgets and staffing. c. FY2010 School Calendar Update i. The revised calendar was included in the packet. NEW BUSINESS: 1. FY2010 Budget Development and Preview: a. Preschool Tuition Rates i. Preschool tuition usually goes up 5%/year, but due to the weak economy, the increase should only be 3%. ii. The program doesn’t make money, but does lower future Special Education costs (due to early intervention). iii. A memo regarding the extended preschool program, Lunch Buddies, was also presented. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to set a 3% increase in Preschool tuition for the 2009-2010 school year, seconded by Betsy Leary. Motion passed 5-0. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to increase the rate of Lunch Buddies from $7.00/hr. to $7.50/hr., seconded by Betsy Leary. Motion passed, 5-0. b. Five Day Kindergarten Tuition Rate 2009-2010 i. Comparing FDK rates of Massachusetts towns, Boxford was slightly above average; rates included in this packet. ii. Kathryn Nikas doesn’t want a tuition increase this upcoming year. iii. FDK, like Preschool, is a revenue-neutral program. iv. Dr. Creeden presented the FDK report, included in this packet. c. MASS Municipal Relief Recommendations i. The response of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents to the Legislature’s Special Municipal Relief Commission was included in this packet. 1. One suggestion to save money was that the Boxford School employees should get health insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC). d. Budget Development Planning Calendar i. Five Year Capital Plan Report ii. The meeting to discuss this report with the selectmen and the Finance Committee is scheduled for January 9th, 2009, but may be postponed. 2. School Committee Strategic Plan a. The Strategic Plan needs some environmental or “green” goals. b. More work will be done on the Strategic Plan during the January 6th, 2009 BSC meeting. 3. Correspondence a. Cindy Murphy received an invitation to a school committee member convention in San Diego. 4. Other a. Betsy Leary reviewed Executive Session Minutes from 1978-2008, as noted in the memo included in this packet. The dates of the Executive Session Minutes that cannot be released to the public, due to privacy issues, were noted in the memo. b. Cindy Murphy thanked her for reviewing these minutes. A motion was made by Betsy Leary to release the Boxford School Committee Executive Minutes for public record, except for the noted exceptions, seconded by Pam Messenger. Motion passed 5-0. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting: a. December 2, 2008 – Regular Meeting i. New Business Section, paragraph 3b., line 3, delete and English. A motion was made by Cynthia Murphy to accept the 12/02/08 Regular Meeting Minutes as amended, seconded by Pam Messenger. Motion passed 5-0. 2. Bills and Payrolls a. Bill Warrants A motion was made by Pam Messenger to pay BW#s 09-31 through 09-34, in the total amount of $57,080.30, seconded by Cynthia Foster. Motion passed 5-0. b. Payroll A motion was made by Pam Messenger to pay the payroll, weeks ending 11/2 and 12/05/08, in the total amount of $284,810.59, seconded by Rebecca Lundrigan. Motion passed 5-0. EXECUTIVE SESSION: ADJOURNMENT: At 8:55pm, a motion was made by Pam Messenger to enter into Executive Session for the purposes of discussing a matter requiring privacy and negotiations with represented personnel. Seconded by Cynthia Foster. On a roll call vote, the motion passed 5-0. Respectfully submitted, Ellen Gaskell Recording Secretary |
