WATERBURY-DUXBURY SCHOOL BOARD

“APPROVED AS CORRECTED” MINUTES FOR DECEMBER 18, 2008

Meeting Held at Thatcher Brook Library

 

IN ATTENDANCE

BOARD:        Dale Smeltzer, Susan Flynn, Dawn Poitras, Scott Rathke, and Sherry Ziemke

ADMINISTRATORS:         Kevin Hamilton, Richard Moser, Ken Page, Don Schneider, and Barbara Tomasi-Gay, Michelle Baker

STAFF:    Mary Abele-Austin, Pattie Casari, Dan Gratton, Eric Hall, Eileen Harvey, MK Monley, Wendy Moore, Lori Morse, Gayle Moskowitz, Carol Senning, Victoria Smith, and Tom Thurston          

PUBLIC: Georgeanne Baker, Tom Cahalan, Michael Corcoran, Claire Doyon, Carmel Kelley, Bill Minter, Erin Mooney, Josh Reid, Melissa Riegel-Garrett, Lisa Scagliotti, and Ben Smith

 

1.                  Ms. Smeltzer called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.

 

2.                  Ms. Smeltzer confirmed the agenda.

 

3.                  DISCUSSION ITEMS

A.    Public Comment on FY10 Budget Draft in Advance of Board Discussion - Victoria Smith of the Titan team forwarded a letter prior to the meeting and added a desire for the Board to look at attrition when making cuts in staffing.

 

B.     CBMS Principal/District Coordinator Search Process – Superintendent Moser provided an update of the process to date.  He indicated that he has met with the CBMS staff for their input.  In January, upon return from the break, Mr. Moser will meet with the TBPS staff and the community.  He provided a written overview of action steps with coordinating dates.  The application deadline is January 23, 2009.  Input was given to Mr. Moser regarding the timeline of the process and the composition of the committee.  At the next school board meeting, the Board will finalize the committee.  Mr. Moser will send the Board a one-page reference sheet about the time commitment for any of the members of the committee.  Lisa Scagliotti suggested the information be disseminated via a press release. 

 

C.     FY10 Budget Development/Public Hearing –  

a.      Review of Updated information; Board Questions and Comments – Ms. Michelle Baker distributed a draft of the W-D School District, FY 2010 Budget, dated 12-18-08.  Since the last meeting, her office received changes in the SFA, which the draft incorporated.  The equalized pupil list was impacted by poverty levels, pre-K enrollment, and Duxbury’s faster-declining enrollment.  The state views Waterbury and Duxbury as two towns and not one district, when calculating equalized pupil limits.  Mr. Page then reviewed the worksheet noting specific implications.  He complimented the Board on its decision to begin the work early in the budget process and continued by explaining the decision-making process that educational leaders worked under.  Mr. Schneider spoke briefly about the desire to hire an employee to teach health/PE curriculum.  Mr. Page indicated that the numbers are declining for the next six years for CBMS grade sizes.  The next large class is currently in kindergarten.  Conversely, he added that 39% of this year’s 7th grade is not making AYP.  The needs within this group are many and varied. Mr. Hamilton indicated that the majority of the 39% are already receiving special education services.  Ms. Ziemke asked about sharing positions between TBPS and CBMS.  The administration indicated that travel and set-up makes sharing a position unfeasible.  The group reviewed reductions in special education.  The draft projects a reduction of 2 aides.  One change is due to the way services are provided and the other is through a placement change.  Mr. Hamilton indicated that the administration is looking at how to improve special education services.  The recommended cuts are in line with other communities in the supervisory union.  Responding to Ms. Ziemke’s question about savings for short-term and long-term maintenance, Ms. Poitras indicated she was not in support of decreasing any maintenance due to current and future needs in both buildings.

 

b.      Further Public Comment – Individuals from the public made the following points:

 

·         Do not push the panic button because the community support for the budget is there,

·         Given the concerns raised regarding being on the failing school list it does not seem reasonable to cut positions as this decision will not help the district get off the AYP list,

·         A staff reduction would eliminate team planning time,

·         There is strong staff support for maintaining a middle school philosophy in the day-to-day operations,

·         A decrease in staffing will impact options for difficult children,

·         7th and 8th grade are critical years for students that will impact the rest of one’s life,

·         Someone might want to voluntarily have his or her hours cut,

·         Maintenance cuts should be made before teaching cuts

·         Adding a position seems odd when the Board is talking about cuts,

·         It is important to keep the W-D School District motto in mind when making these decisions (where children learn to soar and dreams take flight),

·         The district should enlist the help of volunteers for the Guided Study program,

·         Music lessons go beyond simply learning music,

·         Ms. Moore read from a letter she previously sent emphasizing the number of students in classes, pointed out 5/6 grade teachers are generalists, 7/8 grade teachers are specialists,

·         The process needs to be as transparent as possible,

·         Student learning is impacted by the number of students in class,

·         The arts save souls,

·         A breakdown of reductions/additions in the proposed budget would be helpful to see

 

The Board requested information regarding the home school coordinator, specific funding impacts, a breakdown of historical reductions/additions, tax rate, revenues, and the CLA.

 

4.                  WRITTEN REPORTS – Board Feedback

A.    Superintendent Report, WWSU – The WWSU full board will meet on Tuesday, January 13, 2009, to vote on the WWSU FY10 budget.

 

B.     Educational Leaders’ Report – A written report was distributed dated December 18, 2008, and the board noted the staffing recommendations that were included.

 

5.                  OTHER BUSINESS

  1. Out of State Fieldtrip – Don Schneider reported that Tom Thurston would like permission from the Board to take his class to a Red Sox game for a day. He indicated that the students will look at the history of national ball fields and the game of baseball before going; geography and writing will be also be included.  Funding for the trip will be by parents and fundraising initiatives. The Board approved the concept and of Mr. Thurston proceeding with his investigation of the costs of this trip and expects him to provide more details at a later meeting.  It was suggested that samples of the student’s writing be provided for the Board to read.

 

Scott Rathke left at 9:20 p.m.

 

C.     Leave Request Approval – Ken Page passed on a request from the CBMS art teacher for a week leave of absence following the April break as professional development leave.  The purpose is to travel to New Zealand participating in an internship in schools there.  She believes that CBMS students would benefit from her travel experiences.  The Board asked the educational leaders to develop some general guidelines that will guide such requests for professional development leave.  The Board agreed to revisit this request in January.  Approval was not given at this time.

 

6.                  ACTION ITEMS

A.    Board Minutes – Ms. Susan Flynn moved to accept Board minutes dated December 4th and 8th, 2008. Dawn Poitras seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

B.     Board Orders – On the recommendation of Scott Rathke, Susan Flynn moved to confirm the Board orders dated December 2, 2008 in the amount of $321.75 and December 9, 2008 in the amount of $337,872.71. Sherry Ziemke seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Reverse people.

 

C.     Staff Recommendations – Susan Flynn moved to approve the staffing recommendations in the written report: CBMS - accepting a resignation effective 12-23-08 from Deb Sweeney, Special Educator, and confirming the phone poll conducted by Mr. Hamilton to offer a non-renewable contract to Meg Ritter, Special Educator, starting 1/5/09; TBPS -  accepting the resignation of Andy Lamdin, IA effective 12-23-08, and confirming a contract for Mark Swahn, IA, at TBPS to finish out the school year.  Sherry Ziemke seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

Susan Flynn moved to adjourn the meeting 9:35 p.m.  Sherry Ziemke seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

These minutes are unofficial until approved by the Board of School Directors.  They are, in my opinion, substantively correct.  Minutes completed by:  Georgeanne Baker