| BSC Preliminary Minutes December 15,2009 |
| PRELIMINARY MINUTES BOXFORD SCHOOL COMMITTEE (BSC) REGULAR MEETING BOXFORD TOWN HALL DECEMBER 15, 2009 Members Present: Rusty Chadwick, Cynthia Foster, Rebecca Lundrigan and Cindy Murphy (Vice Chairperson) Members Absent: Pam Messenger (Chairperson) Others Present: Beth Yando and Terry Marcille (Cole / Spofford), Claudette Bellia (Cole parent), Jane Bonaventura (Cole / BTA), Robert Sparkes (Spofford), Dr. Bernard Creeden (Tri-Town Union (TTU) Superintendent), Steve Greenberg (TTU Director of Finance and Human Resources), Kathryn Nikas (Cole School Principal), Lawrence Fliegelman (Spofford School Principal) and Ellen Gaskell (Recording Secretary) ROUTINES: 1. Call to Order: Vice Chairperson Cindy Murphy called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m. 2. Remarks from the Public: None 3. Remarks from Other Committees: a. TTU Regionalization Readiness Study Committee: i. Dr. Creeden said the 3rd meeting would be tomorrow night at the Flint Library. A model of a regional budget will be presented. ii. Cynthia Foster said all meetings have been well-attended and that Susan Beckmann of Future Management Systems presented at the November 18th meeting. The goal is to present a recommendation to the TTU in January. iii. Dr. Creeden reported on a recent meeting between himself, Policy Director of the Executive Office of Education, J.D. La Rock, Steve Greenberg and Study Committee member Joseph Gianino. iv. A meeting with Christine Lynch from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is scheduled for this Friday at 9 a.m. in the Central Office. REPORTS: 1. Report of the Building Principals: a. Kathryn Nikas, Cole School Principal: i. Kathryn Nikas presented her report, a copy of which was included in the packet. ii. An American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) grant has been used to fund a Homework Club. iii. Teachers on the Professional Development Committee looked at the Professional Development survey. iv. Kathryn Nikas thanked Barbara Boulay for her work on the book fair. v. Rebecca Lundrigan voiced concern over the parents parking in the Fire Lane during drop-off; Kathryn Nikas responded that she is working on the problem. b. Lawrence Fliegelman, Spofford School Principal i. Lawrence Fliegelman presented his report, a copy of which was included in the packet. ii. An ARRA-funded Homework Club has also been set up at Spofford; he thanked Crystal Calderone for her efforts in this matter. Cindy Murphy asked how parents can enroll their children in the club; he told her they should e-mail Ms. Calderone. A new club session starts in February. iii. The book fair was at Barnes and Noble at the Northshore Mall. School artwork was displayed and student musicians entertained the customers. iv. He thanked the Peacock family providing New England BioLabs grants information. Kathy Cyr applied for 2 grants and received one. There was a corresponding letter in the packet. v. He thanked Lannie Foster and Mary Dodge for mobilizing office volunteers. vi. Teachers will be working with the Boxford Garden Club regarding school improvement. vii. A lockdown drill is scheduled for tomorrow at 1:15 p.m. 2. Director of Facilities Report: a. A full report from Steven Clifford will be e-mailed to Committee members later this week. 3. Report of the Superintendent: a. Dr. Creeden presented his report, a copy of which was included in the packet. b. H1N1 Planning Update: i. 1,200 children were immunized at a clinic 2 weeks ago; yesterday there was a clinic for school staff. 3,000 people have been immunized in the Tri-Town. Rusty Chadwick praised the organization of the school-age children clinic. The next clinic will target the general public; information will be on the town web page and community bulletin boards. c. January Meeting Calendar Change: i. Due to the “The Art of Possibility” presentation by Boston Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor Benjamin Zander (flyer in packet), Dr. Creeden wished to change the 1/5/10 BSC meeting. It was agreed to change the meeting to Monday, 1/4/10. The venue must also be changed from the Town Hall Meeting Room, since it will be occupied on that night. Dr. Creeden encouraged all to attend “The Art of Possibility”. d. ARRA “Race to the Top” Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): i. A memo from DESE regarding this was included in the packet as was a handout of a PowerPoint presentation regarding the state’s grant proposal. ii. States will apply for $4 billion in grants; each grant is $250 million. iii. In order to be eligible for grant money, a MOU regarding the state’s proposal must be signed by each district’s school committee chairman, superintendent and Teachers’ Association president by 1/13/10. iv. This MOU must be an action item at the 1/4/10 BSC meeting. More information will follow. NEW BUSINESS: 1. School Committee Strategic Plan 2009-2012 Review: a. Dr. Creeden handed out 2 copies of the plan; one with the details of the plan changes and the amended plan. Committee members will receive an electronic version of the amended plan and should email comments to Antonette at the Central Office. The plan should be voted on at the next meeting. 2. School Calendar 2010-2011 Draft #1: a. Dr. Creeden presented 2 calendars, included in the packet: one that started before Labor Day and one that started after. Both calendars have an early release day moved from the end of October this year to Election Day next year. b. Most Committee members prefer the pre-Labor Day start. Kathryn Nikas said a post-Labor Day start would make Kindergarten screening too late. c. Dr. Creeden said the calendar must be finalized by the 1st BSC meeting in February. 3. FY 2011 Budget Development: a. North Shore Coalition for School Funding: i. Dr. Creeden said that the coalition is having a 1/10 meeting and the Committee is invited to attend. At that point, the Committee can decide whether to join or not. b. FY 2010 State and Local Budget Update (provided by Dr. Creeden): i. Payments in Lieu of Taxes, or PILOT funds will be down by $40K. ii. Representative Brad Hill came to the last Department Heads’ meeting and said there would be more 9C cuts. Next year, a 20% reduction in state aid should be expected. iii. Recently, the Governor did find a $124 million settlement that will help the shortfall. c. Finance Committee FY 2011 Budget Guidelines (Dr. Creeden): i. The Board of Selectmen and FinCom recommend a level-funded budget with no relief for health insurance. The Town Budget is $167K out of balance because of health insurance and Essex County Retirement Board payments. d. Capital Planning Requirements for FY 2011 (Dr. Creeden): i. A memo from Kathy Benevento regarding this was included in the packet. The deadline for projects to be submitted for the Spring Town Meeting is 1/15/10. Cole School roof repair will be submitted; Dr. Creeden said it could be a $300 K project. The roof repair will be an agenda item at the next BSC meeting. ii. At the Fall Town Meeting, the 5th Grade Wing heating and ventilation system and school water quality assessment projects will be submitted. 4. Correspondence: a. There was a note from Terry Marcille, thanking the Committee for their support of her being hired for the Spanish position. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meetings: a. November 17, 2009 – Regular Meeting: i. In Others Present, 5th line, Page 1, insert Karen Hussey’s name as the PTO representative and Kelly Chung’s as the BEST representative. On the 6th line, delete the phrase …and her son, 1 other woman and her son… . ii. New Business, Paragraph 1g., Line 3, Page 2, change Chris to Chris Esolen. Line 5, remove only after troubleshoot. iii. New Business, Paragraph 2b., Line 2, Page 2, change said to suggested. iv. Consent Agenda 1. Approval of Previous Meetings (10/20/09- Regular Meeting and Executive Session), Page 3, omit Chairperson from both motions. 2. Approval of Previous Meetings (11/3/09- Quorum Discussion), omit Paragraph 1c., Subsection ii., Number 1b., Page 4. A motion was made by Cindy Murphy to approve the November 17, 2009 Regular Meeting minutes as amended, seconded by Rusty Chadwick. Motion passed 4-0-0. b. November 17, 2009 – Executive Session: i. Rusty Chadwick felt that in the future, due to their confidential nature, previous Executive Session minutes should be reviewed and approved during the current Executive Session. ii. The beginning of the first sentence in Paragraph 3, should be changed from Dr. Creeden said that they may … to It was discussed at the meeting that towns may…. iii. The beginning of the first sentence in Paragraph 9, should be changed from He also thought… to Another suggestion was that… . The second sentence in this paragraph should start with Dr. Creeden instead of He. A motion was made by Cindy Murphy to approve the November 17, 2009 Executive Session minutes, as amended, seconded by Rusty Chadwick. Motion passed 4-0-0. 2. Bills and Payrolls: a. A Bill Warrants and Payrolls handout was included in the packet. A motion was made by Cindy Murphy to approve and accept BW#10-31, in the amount of $51,623.83, seconded by Rusty Chadwick. Motion passed 4-0-0. A motion was made by Cindy Murphy to approve and accept BW#10-32 CF, in the amount of $3,943.46, seconded by Cynthia Foster. Motion passed 4-0-0. Motion made by Cindy Murphy to accept only BW#10-29, for $16, 473.23 , seconded by Cynthia Foster. Motion passed 4-0-0. Motion made by Cindy Murphy to accept only BW#10-30, for $5,501.15, seconded by Cynthia Foster. Motion passed 4-0-0. Motion made by Cindy Murphy to accept only the 12/2/09 Payroll, weeks ending 11/13 and 11/20/09, totaling $286,356.16, seconded by Rebecca Lundrigan. Motion passed 4-0-0. 3. Home Schooling Requests: None 4. Acceptance of Donations to the Schools: a. Supporting documents were included in the packet. Larry Fliegelman thanked 5th Grade Teacher Deb Stone and Kathy Cyr for writing grants requesting the donations. Dr. Creeden noted that the textbook donation from Invest in People, if accepted, would require that the books have Invest in People stickers inside them. Motion made by Cynthia Foster to accept the Invest in People donations to both the Cole and Spofford Schools for investment in textbooks in the amount of $500 (per school), seconded by Rebecca Lundrigan. Motion passed 4-0-0. Motion made by Rusty Chadwick to accept the $800 grant from New England BioLabs for Spofford Pond School programs, seconded by Cindy Murphy. Motion passed 4-0-0. EXECUTIVE SESSION: At 9:05 p.m., a motion was made by Vice Chairperson Cindy Murphy to leave the Regular Meeting and enter into Executive Session for the preparation for negotiations with represented personnel, returning to Regular Meeting for the purpose of adjournment only, seconded by Cynthia Foster. Motion passed 4-0-0 by roll call vote (in favor: Rusty Chadwick, Cynthia Foster, Rebecca Lundrigan and Cindy Murphy). ADJOURNMENT: At 10:01 p.m., on a roll call vote, the Committee returned from Executive Session for the purpose of adjournment. Vice Chairperson Cindy Murphy moved to adjourn, seconded by Rusty Chadwick. Motion passed 4-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Ellen Gaskell Recording Secretary |
