Mt. Everett Regional School

                                                                  Sheffield, MA

                                                                                          April 14, 2005

                                                                                          School Committee Meeting #1,318

 

School Committee Members: Mr. Stevens, Mr. Mielke, Mr. Pollitt, Ms. LeGeyt, Mr. Ronan, Mr. Tillett, Mr. Abelow, Ms. Silvestri, Mr. Witdorchic

          

Administrators:  Ms. Spriggs, Ms. Brown, Mr. Devoti

 

Press: CTSB

 

Others:  Mr. Silvestri; Ms. Linda Higgins

 

Student Representatives:  Arielle VanDeusen

 

I.                    Chairman Stevens called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.   

 

II.                 Mr. Pollitt moved, seconded by Ms. LeGeyt, to approve the minutes of School Committee Meeting #1,317.  It was so voted.  (Mr. Witdorchic and Mr. Tillett abstained.)

 

III.               Communications:

 

A.                 Arielle VanDeusen stated that she had no Grade 9 student representative report.

 

IV.              Business

 

            B1.       In consideration for Mr. Devoti and Mt. Everett Class of 2005 President Tom Buchte, Mr. Stevens requested that the Committee move this item up on the agenda.  Mr. Ronan moved to accept the Senior Class Trip to Virginia Beach, May 20 through May 22, 2005.  Ms. LeGeyt seconded the motion. 

 

            (Mr. Mielke arrived at 7:08 p.m.; Ms. Silvestri came back into the room at 7:10 p.m.)

 

Mr. Mielke stated that he felt that the cost of the trip would equal the cost of a book or two in the fall; also he said he believed that the cost of health benefits and substitutes must cost the District $2,000-$2,500.  He asked how such an expense could be justified.  Mr. Devoti explained that at least two of the chaperones will not require a substitute, and noted that he, along with some of the other chaperones, was likely to work during the weekend prior or after the trip and thus, the time would be made up. 

 

Tom Buchte noted that the class has held, and will continue to hold, fundraisers, which will allow any student who so desires to fully fund the trip through their work, rather than asking their parents.  He said that some students could not attend the fundraisers, and preferred to pay their own way, and that was acceptable, as well.  He also reported that the tour agency provides funding for three of the six chaperones, and that the fundraisers will provide the monies to cover the trip for the other three. 

 

Ms. LeGeyt spoke in favor of allowing the trip, noting that many of the students have been together for 13-15 years, and this may be the last time those students have a chance to be together.  Mr. Tillett and other members concurred and commended the class as a whole.

 

The Committee then approved the trip, unanimously.  Mr. Devoti and Mr. Buchte expressed their appreciation for their support.

 

A.                 Mr. Tillett moved to approve the request for a waiver of tuition for Rotary International Exchange Student Maximilian Gaber, of Germany.   Mr. Pollitt seconded the motion.  Following a brief discussion during which the Committee voiced its appreciation of the quality of experience provided by Rotary International, the request was approved, unanimously.

 

B.                 Ms. Spriggs cancelled the request for approval of the 6^th grade field trip to New York, noting that per policy, only overnight field trips required School Committee approval.  She stated that the trip was linked to the MA social studies standards, and that she would give approval of the trip.  Mr. Abelow requested a copy of the field trip policy for review.

 

C.                 Mr. Tillett moved to approve Policy JECAA, Homeless Students: Enrollment Rights and Services.  Mr. Ronan seconded the motion. 

 

Noting the time, Mr. Ronan reminded Mr. Stevens that the Committee wished to take a break to see the Expo projects.  Mr. Tillett then withdrew his motion, and Mr. Ronal withdrew his second to the motion.  Mr. Tillett then moved, seconded by Mr. Ronan to recess for 15 minutes to attend Expo.  It was so voted, and the recess began at 7:30 p.m.

 

The meeting resumed at 7:54 p.m.  (Mr. Ronan left the meeting.)

 

Mr. Tillett moved, seconded by Ms. Silvestri, to approve Policy JECAA, Homeless Students: Enrollment Rights and Services. 

 

Mr. Pollitt moved to amend the wording by adding the words “but not limited to” to the end of the first sentence of the second paragraph.  Mr. Abelow seconded the motion to amend, and it was so voted, unanimously.

 

Discussion then took place regarding the legality of allowing homeless students to attend school without immunization records, if other students were not allowed to attend under those same circumstances.  Mr. Mielke moved to table the Policy for legal review.  Mr. Abelow seconded the motion, and it was so voted, unanimously.  Mr. Stevens instructed the Superintendent to seek a legal opinion.

 

            4C2.     Superintendent Spriggs updated the Committee regarding the progress of the Special Education Director Screening Team.  She said that although they have not met, the list of members has been formulated and is in the process of being confirmed.  She noted that 11 applications have thus far been received, and informed the Members that applications will be available for them to review.

 

            4C3.     Superintendent Spriggs updated the Committee regarding the South Berkshire Educational Collaborative.  Mr. Abelow questioned whether there is a mission statement for the Collaborative.  Other members expressed impatience with the slowness of the decision making process.  Current status was reviewed, and it was agreed to provide the Committee members with a copy of a study conducted by Glenn Koocher of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees last year as background information.

 

            4D.       Ms. Brown distributed FY’06 Chapter 70 preliminary numbers for the District. 

 

                        Ms. Brown apologized to the Committee for not having picked up on the fact that Egremont’s assessment for FY’06 is approximately $9,000 less than its net school spending amount, and she thanked Mr. Pollitt for bringing it to her attention.  She reported that she had spoken with Roger Hatch at the Department of Education, who told her that there was no need to do anything about the situation, as the District as a whole is well above the net school spending amount.  She also noted that in order to bring Egremont in line, the District would have needed to increase its budget by $77,000. 

 

                        Mr. Pollitt stated that he had brought the issue forward because he had been concerned that the District might be penalized because a town was not spending at its limit.   

 

                        Ms. Brown reported that Mr. Hatch had relayed that there are problems with net school spending vs. local agreements in other districts, as well, and that there is a lawsuit going on that may provide direction when settled. 

 

                        Mr. Stevens noted that the budget season seems compressed, and he suggested allowing more time to consider all aspects of the budget prior to moving forward.  It was noted that the finance committee has already agreed to review the entire process next year and plans to allow ample time.

 

V.                 Communications   

 

A.                 Mr. Stevens apologized to any of his fellow School Committee members whom he had failed to inform of his impending departure from the Committee.  He stated that he will not stand for reappointment due to family considerations.

 

            B.         Superintendent Spriggs then reviewed issue 3 of Eagle Feathers, which included the awarding of “feathers” to Mr. Stevens, along with Mr. Mielke and Ms. LeGeyt, who will all be ending their tenure on the School Committee this year (copy on file with these minutes).   

 

Ms. LeGeyt described her experience at the 6^th Grade’s Living Egyptian Museum earlier in the day.  Ms. Spriggs expressed appreciation to all who made the event such a success, including the entire 6^th grade team, Ms. Peters, and Mr. MacDonald and his high school students for their help.

           

                        Superintendent Spriggs asked that the School Committee come together at 6:00 p.m. on April 28 to discuss the upcoming EQA audit.  It was the consensus of those present to do so.

 

                        Mr. Mielke moved to adjourn.

 

                        Mr. Abelow brought up that the Policy recently established regarding subcommittees had limited the number on any subcommittee.  He noted that the finance committee was very large, compared with the intent of the Policy.  Mr. Mielke stated that all five communities would wish to have a representative on that committee.  Ms. Spriggs noted that according to the MASC, it was generally accepted practice of most School Committees that the finance committee was the largest of the subcommittees.  Mr. Stevens suggested that the Committee revisit that issue at either the April 28 or the May 12 meeting, and members generally concurred.

 

            Mr. Abelow then seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting, and the meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.