| BSC Preliminary Minutes April 7, 2009 |
| PRELIMINARY MINUTES BOXFORD SCHOOL COMMITTEE (BSC) REGULAR MEETING BOXFORD TOWN HALL APRIL 7, 2009 Members Present: Cynthia Foster, Betsy Leary, Rebecca Lundrigan, Pam Messenger (Chairperson) and Cindy Murphy Others Present: Dr. Bernard Creeden (Tri-Town Union (TTU) Superintendent), Ellen Gaskell (Recording Secretary), Lisa Salisbury, Jane Bonaventura, Heather Walker and Debbie Holt (Cole School and Boxford Teachers’ Association (BTA)), Tiffany Stone and Mary Anne York (Cole School), Lesley Gibson, Shannon Estella and Lisa Holt (Spofford School) Chairperson Pam Messenger called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m. ROUTINES: 1. Remarks from the Public: None 2. Reports from Other Committees: a. TTU Subcommittee – Regionalization Study i. Betsy Leary reported that the subcommittee interviewed 2 consultant agencies that hope to conduct the study. ii. Future Management Systems was chosen. 1. This agency has experience: team members worked on the last school regionalization in the Commonwealth, Manchester – Essex. iii. Both agencies will be notified of the selection tomorrow. iv. Betsy Leary said the grant timeframe is only 60 days; the study must be completed by 6/30/09. v. Future Management Systems will be invited to the 4/28/09 TTU meeting to discuss study plans. REPORTS: 1. Report of the Superintendent: a. Dr. Creeden presented his report, a copy of which was included in the packet. b. No Child Left Behind (NCLB) School and District Report Card i. A copy of this report, 2008-2009 NCLB Report Card – Boxford was also included in this packet. ii. The report will be made available for perusal in a variety of ways: 1. It will be emailed to parents in a p.d.f. format 2. A hard copy will be at both the Town Hall and Library. 3. The school website will provide a link to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) where the Report Card can be viewed. iii. The report includes the following: 1. National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results by student group (included for the first time) 2. Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) data 3. 2008 MCAS data 4. Terminology definitions iv. All the information that Boxford had to supply for the report has been provided, but the state still needs to supply information. b. American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) 2009 Stimulus Update i. Dr. Creeden presented a handout of a ARRA slide show prepared by Special Education (SPED) Director Sharon Lyons, a copy of which is included in this packet ii. DESE is scheduling May meeting regarding usage of ARRA funds. iii. This week’s teleconference will deal with IDEA grants. iv. The state recommends this formula to use ARRA funds: 50% should fund strategic investments that will provide benefits beyond the grant’s expiration date in 2011; 50% should fund existing programs. v. Cindy Murphy questioned whether Boxford could apply for additional funds that haven’t been allocated already; Dr. Creeden replied that all funds are allocated. vi. IDEA 1. This grant is the Federal Special Education Entitlement Grant 2. Original estimate of this grant for Boxford - $268K over next 2 years. 3. New estimate is 20% less, or $216K over the same 2-year period. vii. There may be another $10K grant for Early Childhood Education programs. viii. Cindy Murphy asked if any funds could be directed toward five-day kindergarten; Dr. Creeden said, “No.” c. On April 13th, the House Ways and Means Committee will release their budget and there will be more information on Local Aid for schools. d. Sen. Bruce Tarr will host an information session that could help with ’10 school budgeting. e. Regionalization Study Grant Consultant i. This was covered in the Routines Section, paragraph 2 - Reports from Other Committees. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Advertised Public Hearing on FY 2010 Budget a. Dr. Creeden presented a slide show of the budget; a handout of it was included in the packet and the presentation is also available on the school website. Here were the highlights: i. The Finance Committee guidelines for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Elementary School Budget were for a level-funded budget from FY’09, even though health insurance costs will rise 6.8%. ii. There are no new programs or governance for FY’10, but 15 minutes of instructional time will be added. iii. Even with a level-funded budget, class size, Foreign Language and Special subjects (art, music and P.E.) will be maintained in FY’10. The 7-year technology replacement cycle cannot be maintained. iv. There will be one less Kindergarten teacher in FY’10, due to shifts in 3 and 5-Day Kindergarten enrollments. Custodial overtime and 457 and 403B investment plan contributions will also be reduced. v. The largest source of funding for the budget (93.98%) comes from property taxes and Chapter 70 local aid. $1.65 million in Chapter 70 funds is expected in FY’10, the same as the previous year. vi. Enrollment in K-6 is almost the same in FY ’10 as it was in FY ‘09; 874 vs. 873 students. vii. There will be one less classroom in FY’10 (46 classes) vs. FY’09 (45 classes). One 4th grade class will be gone in FY’10. viii. One SPED teacher will be lost at Cole in FY’10. ix. The Annual Town Meeting is on May 12th. x. Pam Messenger hoped those viewing this meeting telecast would look at this budget presentation on the school website and direct any questions to the Superintendent’s Office. b. The League of Women Voters’ Candidates’ Night is 4/30/09. 2. Public Hearing on School Choice for 2009-2010 a. A Public Hearing on School Choice handout was included in the packet. b. Dr. Creeden stated that School Choice has been law in Massachusetts since the early ‘90s. School seats are made available for non-residents. c. If a school becomes School Choice, they receive $5K/student. d. Dr. Creeden did not recommend School Choice for Boxford because the schools don’t have excess capacity. Pam Messenger motioned not to accept School Choice for FY’09-10, seconded by Cynthia Foster. Motion passed 5-0-0. 3. FY 2010 Budget Development a. Preparation for Town Meeting i. Because the FY’10 Budget requires no override passage from the voters, Chairperson Pam Messenger deemed discussion of this agenda item unnecessary. The rest of the BSC agreed. b. Rental Revolving Fund: YMCA Lease c. A cover letter to the Merrimack Valley YMCA from TTU Director of Finance and Human Resources Steve Greenberg and a copy of the rental agreement between Boxford Elementary Schools and the YMCA were included in the packet. d. The YMCA rents space at the Cole School for school-age child care services. e. Dr. Creeden said the YMCA was anticipating a 3% increase of last year’s rent of $15K, or a $450 increase. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to set the’09-‘10 Merrimack Valley rental fee at a 3% increase on $15,000, resulting in a new total of $15,450, seconded by Cynthia Foster. Motion passed 5-0-0. 4. Tentative Organizational Design for 2009-2010 a. A memo from Dr. Creeden to the Boxford Teaching Staff regarding this matter was included in the packet. It will be distributed to them tomorrow. The memo deals with staffing and potential teaching openings. b. Once a similar document is generated in both Middleton and Topsfield, the teachers will also receive these so they are also aware of potential openings in those towns. Dr. Creeden said it is desirable to fill Tri-Town positions in-house. 5. Policy Development a. Community Use of Buildings i. The existing document received much input from Cole School Principal Kathryn Nikas. ii. The policy has been approved by both Cole and Spofford School Principals and the Central Office. iii. Cindy Murphy asked if Steve Greenberg had done school rental revenue projections yet; Dr. Creeden said he had not. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to adopt Community Use of School Facilities Policy KFE, seconded by Cindy Murphy. Motion passed 5-0-0. b. KBB NCLB Title 1 Parent Guardian Involvement Policy i. A copy of this policy was included in the packet. ii. The input on this policy comes from the No Child Left Behind Act and the recent DESE Coordinated Program Review. The Boxford Elementary Schools must accept the existing policy. Because they cannot alter it, no debate is needed on this matter. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to pass the NCLB Title 1 KBB Policy, seconded by Cynthia Foster. Motion passed 5-0-0. 6. Correspondence a. Although it was covered earlier in the meeting, in order to correspond with the Agenda, included in the packet, it is presented here. b. Pam Messenger read a letter from a parent, Alexandra Scott, praising Cole School Speech Therapist Jane Bonaventura for Jane’s work with her son, Joshua. Mrs. Walker and Mrs. York also worked with the child. c. Because of his work with these teachers, Joshua no longer needs his augmentative communication device, the Dynavox 5. His parents wish to donate the Dynavox system to the schools. d. A letter of acknowledgement to the Scott family will follow. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to accept the Dynavox system to aid the Speech Therapy Department, seconded by Cindy Murphy. Motion passed 5-0-0. e. Cynthia Foster received correspondence from Cole School: Mrs. Mahoney’s Multi-Age and Ms. Piesowitz’s Kindergarten classrooms. f. Cindy Murphy received 18 cards from Ms. Stone’s class, thanking her for stopping by. 7. Other a. SPED Teacher Susan Koniares’ son Mike was awarded the 47th Annual Salem News Student Athlete Award. A copy of the press clipping was included in the packet. b. Pam Messenger stated that although the nomination cycle is closed, there is only 1 candidate for the 2 open school committee positions. i. Anyone interested in becoming a write-in candidate should contact the BSC or Town Hall. ii. Dr. Creeden said that if no other candidate comes forward, the Board of Selectmen would interview for a candidate to serve only until the next election. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Approval of the Minutes of Previous Meetings a. March 24, 2009 – Regular Meeting i. Under the Reports Section, Paragraph 1a, Line 1, remove the word was. ii. Under the New Business Section, Paragraph 3d, Line 2, change Ipswich YMCA to Merrimack Valley YMCA. iii. Also under the New Business Section, Paragraph 5b, the phrase …Christine Elliot for developing the English Language Arts rubric…should read …Christine Elliot and all of the teachers at Spofford School for developing the English Language Arts rubric… . A motion was made by Cindy Murphy to accept the 3/24/09 Regular Meeting Minutes as amended, seconded by Pam Messenger. Motion passed 5-0-0. b. March 24, 2009 – Executive Session i. These minutes were not available for approval at this time. 2. Bills and Payrolls a. Bill Warrants Pam Messenger motioned to approve BW#09-52 for payment, in the amount of $75,651.30, seconded by Cindy Murphy. Motion passed 5-0-0. Pam Messenger motioned to approve BW#09-53 for payment, in the amount of $7,646.20, seconded by Cynthia Foster. Motion passed 5-0-0. Pam Messenger motioned to approve BW#09-54 for payment, in the amount of $6,054.98, seconded by Cynthia Foster. Motion passed 5-0-0. b. Payroll Pam Messenger motioned to approve the payroll, weeks ending 3/20/09 and 3/27/09, in the total amount of $285,217.54, seconded by Rebecca Lundrigan. Motion passed 5-0-0. EXECUTIVE SESSION: At 8:50 p.m., Pam Messenger motioned to enter into Executive Session for the purposes of discussing Privacy Matters and Preparations for Negotiations with Non-Represented Personnel, seconded by Cindy Murphy. On a roll call vote, the motion passed 5-0-0 (In favor: Cynthia Foster, Betsy Leary, Rebecca Lundrigan, Pam Messenger and Cindy Murphy; Opposed: None) ADJOURNMENT: At 9:40 p.m., on a roll call vote, the BSC returned from Executive Session for the purpose of Adjournment. Pam Messenger moved to adjourn, seconded by Cindy Murphy. Motion passed 5-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Ellen Gaskell Recording Secretary |
