| BSC Minutes May 11, 2009 |
| PRELIMINARY MINUTES BOXFORD SCHOOL COMMITTEE (BSC) REGULAR MEETING COLE SCHOOL LIBRARY MAY 11, 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, Lawrence Fliegelman (Principal- Spofford School), Ellen Gaskell (Recording Secretary), Steve Greenberg (TTU Director of Finance and Human Resources), Lisa Salisbury and Jane Bonaventura (Boxford Teachers’ Association (BTA) and Cole School) and the family of Betsy Leary Chairperson Pam Messenger called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. ROUTINES: 1. Recognition of Betsy Leary: a. It was Betsy Leary’s last meeting; she served 2 terms on the BSC for a total of six years. b. She received citations from both the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Senate, praising her service. c. Pam Messenger presented her with the Tercentennial Coin of the Town of Boxford and expressed the committee’s gratitude for her work; her family was there to witness the event. d. Pam Messenger asked if there were any possible successors to Betsy; Cindy Murphy responded that Prosecuting Attorney Rusty Chadwick is definitely interested in running for the seat and Heather Fecto is considering it. e. Refreshments were served. 2. Remarks from the Public: None 3. Remarks from Other Committees: TTU Chairperson Cindy Murphy reported on the April 28th meeting. Here are the highlights: a. The Superintendent’s Contract was ratified. The contract went through several drafts; each time Dr. Creeden made more concessions. His salary is the same as last year. Cindy Murphy expressed gratitude that Dr. Creeden was attentive to the economic state of the town. b. Future Management Systems, the consulting firm conducting the Regionalization Study, was introduced to the BCS. They presented the project timeline and proposed action plan. c. Superintendent Evaluations: 12 of the 15 school committee members have completed the evaluation. Three evaluations still must be submitted – one from Topsfield and two from Middleton. REPORTS: 4. Report of the Superintendent: a. American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) Stimulus Update: i. Last Thursday, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) hosted a roundtable discussion concerning ARRA. A handout of the presentation was included in the packet. ii. Half of ARRA dollars should be used for recovery, or preserving existing programs; half should be used for investment. iii. Also last Thursday, the Governor announced 9C cuts in Chapter 70 aid in the total amount of $412 million, essentially the final Local Aid payment to cities and towns. The Mass. House and Senate have requested that Stabilization funds from ARRA be used to cover the Local Aid shortfall. The only problem is that the ARRA funds will have to be applied for; Steve Greenberg will find out how to apply for these funds. iv. There was a recent Special Commission on Municipal Relief. Here’s what was presented: 1. Legislative summary 2. Special commission report 3. Actions taken. v. The State Budget won’t be passed until June. Because of the direness of the economic situation, towns may have to scale down budgets passed this spring by the time autumn comes. b. Regionalization Study Grant Update i. A copy of the 4/28/09 Future Management Systems presentation to the TTU was included in the packet. ii. After Town Meeting, invitations to participate in the study will go out to groups. iii. Masconomet will meet with the consultants running the study, Future Management Systems, tomorrow. iv. Special Education Administrator Sharon Lyons has also met with Sue Beckman of Future Management Systems, who is the project leader. v. School committee members prior to 1999 will also be invited to participate in the study. c. Personnel Update i. Laura Frost of Cole School will take a leave of absence, freeing up capacity there and potentially lessening staff reductions. 1. Pam Messenger asked what personnel could be preserved with Laura Frost’s leave of absence; Dr. Creeden hoped that .6 of a position could be kept. ii. Peg Russell is returning from a medical leave today. Sharon Fenderson will return 6/1/09. iii. Two resignations have been submitted: Susan Primo of Lunch Buddies and Teaching Assistant Lauren Rice. iv. Spofford School must reduce 1 classroom teacher, 1 SPED teacher and .4 Kindergarten teacher next year. v. It is a goal to let teaching assistants know about next school year’s employment by the end of May. vi. The final Boxford Elementary Schools’ employment configuration will be posted by the end of May, after confirmation from both Cole School Principal Kathryn Nikas and Spofford School Principal Lawrence Fliegelman. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Middleton School Committee a. Teresa Buono and Deirdre Donarumo are running for re-election; James Pearl may accept being a write-in candidate. 2. Masconomet Contract Negotiations a. Dr. Creeden said there was nothing new on negotiations. 3. FY 2010 Budget Development a. Preparations for Town Meeting i. A handout of a presentation concerning the highlights of the FY 2010 budgeting process was included in the packet. ii. Cindy Murphy said school committee members should be prepared to speak at Town Meeting. Pam Messenger said she would nominate Tri-Town Union Director of Finance and Human Resources Director Steve Greenberg to speak, if necessary. iii. Dr. Creeden spoke of the other Town Meetings in the Tri-Town. He spoke of the Middleton school issues that would be addressed at their Town Meeting and noted that all school-related items passed at Topsfield’s Town Meeting. b. FY 2010 State Budget and Chapter 70 i. A memo from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education regarding Chapter 70 budget reductions for FY 2009 was included in the packet. c. Last Day of School: Wednesday, June 24th, 1:15 p.m. Dismissal A motion was made by Pam Messenger to approve Wednesday, June 24th, 1:15 p.m. dismissal, as the last day of school, seconded by Cindy Murphy. Motion passed 5-0. 4. Correspondence a. An Office for Civil Rights (OCR) letter, included in the packet, was received. It closed the complaint filed against the Boxford Elementary Schools last autumn. Pam Messenger remarked at how quickly the issue was resolved. Dr. Creeden said the training provided by the OCR to the schools was a week ago. b. Pam Messenger and Betsy Leary received magazines. c. Dr. Creeden spoke of two recent Salem Evening News articles, included in the packet. One was about the search for a new Masconomet superintendent. Masconomet will meet with the candidates and make a decision by 5/20. The other article was about the upcoming Boxford Town Meeting. 4. Other a. Cindy Murphy thanked the Boxford Parent Teacher Organization for organizing the recent Science Night. b. No one from the school committee attended the recent “Day on the Hill” event at the State House. Dr. Creeden stated the importance of the school committee to have good relationships with the state representatives of both parties. c. Cynthia Foster thanked Boxford Elementary School Trust (BEST) for the home tour fund raiser they organized last Saturday. It had a “green” theme. d. Dr. Creeden addressed the Mary Farley memo, included in the packet, on moving Executive Session minutes of this term to Open Minutes. He said that the 11/04/08 minutes could be released. Pam Messenger advised to hold them all. These minutes are approved, but will not be released to the public. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to keep the minutes referenced in the 5/8/2009 memo from Mary Farley as Executive Session minutes, seconded by Rebecca Lundrigan. Motion passed 5-0. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Minutes: April 7th, 2009 Meeting a. Regular Meeting i. New Business 1. Paragraph 1a., Subheading ii., Lines 1-2, Page 2, change the phrase, …but 15 minutes of instructional time will be added. to …but we are retaining 15 minutes of instructional time added over the last 3 years.. 2. Paragraph 6b., Line 1, Page 4, omit the name. 3. Paragraph 6c., Line 1, Page 4, change the word his to the child’s and change the name to the child. 4. Paragraph 6d., Line 1, Page 4, omit the name. 5. Paragraph 6e., Line 2, Page 4, change the spelling of Piesowitz to Piecewicz. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to approve the 4/7/09 Regular Meeting Minutes as amended, seconded by Cindy Murphy. Motion passed 5-0. b. Executive Session i. Paragraph 16, Line 1, Page 2, change the word will to may. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to approve the 4/7/09 Executive Session as amended, seconded by Cynthia Foster. Motion passed 5-0. 2. Bills and Payrolls a. Sign and Vote to Accept i. Payroll A motion was made by Pam Messenger to approve the payroll, weeks ending 5/01/09 and 5/08/09, in the total amount of $305,387.99, seconded by Cynthia Foster. Motion passed 5-0. ii. Bill Warrants A motion was made by Pam Messenger to approve BW#s 09-57, 09-58 and 09-59, in the total amount of $102,536.34, seconded by Rebecca Lundrigan. Motion passed 5-0. b. Vote to Accept Only (Already Signed) i. Payroll and Bill Warrants A motion was made by Pam Messenger to approve BW#09-55 and 09-56 and payroll, weeks ending 4/03/09, 4/10/09, 4/17/09 and 4/24/09, in the total amount of $582,450.61, seconded by Rebecca Lundrigan. Motion passed 5-0. ADJOURNMENT: At 8:45 p.m., a motion was made by Cynthia Foster to adjourn, seconded by Betsy Leary. Motion passed 5-0-0. There was no need for Executive Session. Respectfully submitted, Ellen Gaskell Recording Secretary |
