| BSC Preliminary Minutes July 27, 2009 |
| PRELIMINARY MINUTES BOXFORD SCHOOL COMMITTEE (BSC) REGULAR MEETING BOXFORD TOWN HALL MEETING ROOM #2 JULY 27, 2009 Members Present: Cynthia Foster, Pam Messenger (Chairperson) and Cindy Murphy Members Absent: Rusty Chadwick, Rebecca Lundrigan Others Present: Kathryn Nikas (Cole School Principal), Tiffany Stone (Cole School/BTA), Lawrence Fliegelman (Spofford School Principal), Steve Greenberg (TTU Director of Finance and Human Resources), Dr. Bernard Creeden (TTU Superintendent) and Ellen Gaskell (Recording Secretary) Chairperson Pam Messenger called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m. ROUTINES: 1. Remarks from the Public: None REPORTS: 1. Remarks from Other Committees: Dr. Creeden reported that there would be a preliminary meeting of the BSC Contract Negotiation Subcommittee on August 5th. 2. Report of the Superintendent: a. Dr. Creeden presented his report, a copy of which was in the packet. b. Personnel Update i. There are 2 positions to fill: the Speech and Language Pathologist and the Spanish teacher. ii. The search continues for the Speech and Language Pathologist iii. Interviews for the Spanish position are pending. One staff member is interested in the position. Dr. Creeden said that there will be a candidate by mid-August. c. Regionalization Study Grant Update i. When the report is finalized, it will be presented in a special meeting. The study conclusions will be posted on the school website. d. Preparation for School Opening i. The Welcome Back Breakfast will be at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1st. ii. School starts on Wednesday, September 2nd for Grades 1-6. iii. The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) New Family Seminar is Wednesday, August 26th; a memo about this was included in the packet. iv. Eighteen school employees across the district are taking summer classes. The 6th Grade teachers have met this summer regarding the changes in the 6th Grade Social Studies Curriculum. e. School Opening Enrollment Update i. The Enrollment Update was covered in the Superintendent’s Report. Total Pre-K to Grade 6 enrollment was 940 students as of 6/24/09 and the September Local Projection is 901 students. f. Summer Facilities Projects Update i. Dr. Creeden mentioned the projects covered in his report: the solar panel installation at Spofford, the Grade 6 classroom repair and the National Grid lighting retrofit. In addition, he spoke of the work being done on the Cole School ductwork and the Spofford School parking lot. g. There was a brief discussion of the children’s summer programs and praise for the parent volunteers involved. 3. Report of the Facilities Director: TTU Director of Facilities, Steve Clifford submitted his report, a copy of which was included in the packet. Since Dr. Creeden covered the facilities summer projects in his report, there was no further discussion. 4. Report of the Director of Finance: a. FY ’09 Budget Closeout i. TTU Director of Finance and Human Resources, Steve Greenberg presented this report, a copy of which was in the packet. ii. In May of this year, the Governor cut $173,929 of Chapter 70 Funds for Boxford and supplanted the cut with American Reinvestment and Recovery (ARRA) funds. The ARRA funds were received by applying for a grant. Budget expenses related to these funds were removed from the operating budget to the ARRA grant for FY’09. iii. The FY’09 surplus is projected to be $25,536, after returning $117,000 to the town and the ARRA/Chapter 70 cut of $173, 929. b. FY’10 State Budget Impact on Local Aid i. Steve Greenberg will email information regarding this to members of the committee. c. There was a short discussion about energy consumption. Dr. Creeden said that Energy Consortium members, such as Boxford, would pay $1 less per unit of natural gas versus last year. Steve Greenberg noted that the 2 schools are the most energy-efficient buildings in town. Pam Messenger praised student energy-conserving efforts. NEW BUSINESS: 1. School Improvement Plan Review and Approval: a. Harry Lee Cole Elementary School Improvement Plan 2008-2011 i. Cole School Principal Kathryn Nikas presented this plan, a copy of which was included in this packet. ii. She spoke of one of the projects she is working on: a compilation of demographic data on each student and tracking student performance over time. This data will be linked to Department of Secondary and Elementary School (DESE) software. iii. Pam Messenger noted that a community member was still needed for the School Site Council and was sorry no one had stepped forward to fill the position, given the small time commitment. b. Spofford Pond School Improvement Plan 2009-2010 i. Spofford School Principal Lawrence Fliegelman presented this plan, a copy of which was included in the packet. ii. Cindy Murphy asked about the status of the school’s Wellness Committee; Dr. Creeden said that this would be separate agenda item for a school committee meeting in the fall. A motion made by Pam Messenger to approve both the Spofford Pond School Improvement Plan 2009-2010 and the Harry Lee Cole Elementary School Improvement Plan 2008-2011, seconded by Cynthia Foster. Motion passed 3-0. 2. School Committee Planning: a. School Handbook 2009-2010 i. A copy of the School Handbook was included in the packet. Spofford Principal Lawrence Fliegelman is responsible for updating it. It must be reviewed and amended by committee members. ii. Cindy Murphy requested that Lawrence Fliegelman send an electronic copy of the handbook to committee members; he agreed to do so. iii. The deadline for the revised document is ten days before the next BSC meeting; the goal is to approve the handbook at that meeting. 3. School Committee Policy Development: a. Free and Reduced Price Guidelines 2009-2010 i. A copy of the Income Eligibility Guidelines was included in this packet. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to approve the Free and Reduced Price Meal Program Guidelines established by the Department of Agriculture, seconded by Cindy Murphy. Motion passed 3-0. ii. A discussion ensued about the need for guidance on financial aid for fee-based programs, such as 5 Day Kindergarten, Preschool and Band. Pam Messenger said aid for 5 Day Kindergarten shouldn’t be necessary, since 3 Day Kindergarten is a free alternative. 4. Correspondence: a. Pam Messenger got a magazine and an advisory from a law firm. She noted that the State Conference is in November and hoped a committee member could attend. b. Dr. Creeden presented 3 letters from parents praising 2 teachers: Tiffany Stone and Allison Barkins. c. Dr. Creeden also discussed a DESE memo regarding meeting the 180-day requirement, in light of a probable return of the H1N1 virus and a bulleting from the Department of Public Health about the virus. 5. Other: a. Spofford Principal Lawrence Fliegelman read a memo about a recent $30 donation by the Liangill family to the library in honor of Lisa Holt. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to accept the $30 donation to the Spofford Pond Library, seconded by Cindy Murphy. Motion passed 3-0. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Minutes of Previous Meetings: a. June 16, 2009 – Regular Meeting i. Reports Section, Paragraph, 3a, Subheading iv, page 3, change it to student council activities. ii. New Business Section, Paragraph 2b, Subheading ii, Line 3, page 4, change that’ll to that will. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to approve the 6/16/09 Regular Meeting Minutes as amended, seconded by Cynthia Foster. Motion passed 3-0. b. June 16, 2009 – Executive Session i. No changes needed. A motion was made by Cindy Murphy to approve the 6/16/09 Executive Session Meeting Minutes, seconded by Pam Messenger. Motion passed 3-0. 2. Bills and Payrolls: a. Bill Warrants i. Two sheets with bill warrants and payrolls needed for approval were included in the packet. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to pay BW#09-66 to BW#09-70, as listed on the sheet, seconded by Cynthia Foster. Motion passed 3-0. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to pay BW#10-01 to BW#10-04, in the total amount of $111,694.96, seconded by Cynthia Foster. Motion passed 3-0. b. Payrolls A motion was made by Pam Messenger to pay the payroll, weeks ending 6/12/09, 6/19/09, 6/26/09 and 6/29, 6/30/09 HRLY, as listed on the sheet, seconded by Cindy Murphy. Motion passed 3-0. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to pay the payroll, weeks ending 7/1, 7/2, 7/3/09 and weeks ending 7/10/09 and 7/17/09, in the total amount of $67,837.86, seconded by Cindy Murphy. Motion passed 3-0. 3. Declaration of Surplus Equipment: a. A memo from Cole Principal Kathryn Nikas, detailing surplus equipment, is included in this packet. A motion was made by Pam Messenger to accept as surplus the items detailed in Cole School Principal Kathryn Nikas’ 7/1/09 memo, seconded by Cindy Murphy. Motion passed 3-0. 4. August Meeting Date: a. Tuesday, August 25, 2009 was determined as the meeting date. b. Cynthia Foster and Cindy Murphy can attend, but Pam Messenger can not. Pam Messenger said that someone will have to make sure that either Rebecca Lundrigan or Rusty Chadwick can attend. 5. Student Supplies Memo a. Kathryn Nikas presented this memo, a copy of which was in the packet. b. It was suggested that she add Kleenex to the supply list. c. Cindy Murphy questioned whether the memo could indicate that the purchases are optional; Dr. Creeden responded that parents can be requested to purchase supplies for their children, if the supplies will be consumed within the school year. EXECUTIVE SESSION: At 9:15 p.m., a motion was made by Pam Messenger to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of preparation of negotiations with represented and non-represented personnel, not to return to Regular Meeting except for the purpose of Adjournment, seconded by Cindy Murphy. On a roll call vote, the motion passed 3-0-0 (in favor: Cindy Murphy, Cynthia Foster and Pam Messenger). At 10:01 p.m., on a roll call vote, the BSC returned from Executive Session for the purpose of Adjournment. Cindy Murphy moved to adjourn, seconded by Pam Messenger. Motion passed 3-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Ellen Gaskell Recording Secretary |
