Mt. Everett Regional School

                                                                                                            Sheffield, MA

                                                                                                            December 1, 2005

                                                                                                            School Committee Meeting #1,331

 

School Committee Members: Mr. Pollitt, Ms. Miller, Mr. Abelow, Dr. Savage, Ms. Mielke, Mr. Twing, Mr. Tillett, Ms. Silvestri

 

Administrators: Ms. Spriggs, Ms. Brown, Ms. Edwards

 

Press: CTSB

 

Student Representatives: Cody Kern, Arielle VanDeusen, Pam Crawford

 

Others: Ms. Cathy Rueger, Ms. Joan Powers, Mr. Scott Farrell, Ms. Connie Broggi, Ms. Martha Thomson, Ms. Colleen Reardon, Ms. Abigail Reardon, Ms. Heather Swanson, Dr. Edwards, Ms. Linda Higgins

 

 

Chairman Pollitt called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.

 

Ms. Miller moved, seconded by Dr. Savage, to approve the minutes of Meeting #1,330, regular and executive sessions.  It was so voted.

 

3.      Communications: 

        

A.       Superintendent Spriggs presented the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents’ (MASS) Award to Senior Abbie Reardon.  She noted that in addition to Abbie’s vast academic talents, she had graced the TAC-PAC stage in theatrical presentations and had received state recognition through the choral festival.  Ms. Spriggs said that she took great pride in presenting the award to Abbie.  School Committee members congratulated Abbie, and at 7:08 p.m., they held a brief recess to enjoy a cake in her honor.

 

The meeting resumed at 7:20 p.m.

 

B.       Superintendent Spriggs reviewed the first edition of Superintendent’s Update (copy on file with these minutes.  She also presented School Committee members with a listing of meetings and special happenings in the schools during the month of December, and she voiced appreciation to the members of SADD for their work in the recent eagle fund phone-a-thon.

 

C.       Grade 9 Advisor Martha Thomson introduced newly elected student representative Pam Crawford.  The Committee welcomed Pam, along with fellow representatives Cody Kern  and Arielle VanDeusen.

 

Cody reported on the bowling league for high school students.  He said that his team had won their first match, 29-4.  He explained that there are three segments per match, each worth a total of 11 points, and his group had won each of the segments, 9-2, 9-2, and 11-0.   The Committee congratulated Cody and the team and requested copies of the schedule.                     

 

3D.     Ms. Silvestri, in her role of Liaison to the Board of the Southern Berkshire Child Care Program (SBCCP), explained that at their last meeting, the parents expressed such great appreciation to Director Heather Swanson, that she felt compelled to ask Heather come to a School Committee meeting.  She then introduced Ms. Swanson, who thanked the Committee for their support of the Child Care Program.  She invited all to come to the Cookie Walk on Saturday in support of the SBCCP and the elementary schools.  Ms. Silvestri also displayed a raffle prize, which had been

class=Section2>

purchased with funds donated anonymously.  Ms. Swanson also explained other fund raisers held by the Program, and she presented the School Committee members with Child Care Program t-shirts.

 

4.     Presentation:  MCAS Test Results Ms. Mary Edwards, Assistant Elementary Principal, began the MCAS presentation with an explanation of AYP (adequate yearly progress), per NCLB (No Child Left Behind) regulations.  She explained the terminology, and she pointed out areas in which District students scored well and those in which they did not. She noted that the state does not put out results for any school or group under 40 students.

 

A question and answer session followed.  Ms. Edwards described steps being taken to improve the scores, particularly in math.  To that end, the District now has a grades 6-8 math specialist teaching in a special needs resource room.  The District has also instituted the math assessment program for all students, Grades 3-9, and teachers continue to work on curriculum alignment. 

 

Ms. Edwards presented a comparison of the District’s results vs. the state average.  She noted that at the District level, each percentage point equals less than one child. 

 

Ms. Edwards also presented a chart depicting how the class of 2007 has scored from year to year.   Of particular note is that none of the class of 2007 failed the English Language Arts (ELA) test in either the 7^th or 10^th grades. 

 

Ms. Edwards stated that for the first time this year, all students, grades 5-10, will take MCAS tests in ELA and MATH this year.

 

In response to a question by Dr. Savage, Ms. Edwards stated that she believes that the MCAS tests hold teachers accountable and provide  good goals; however, she said that the government’s belief that every child in the country is going to score with proficiency seems unrealistic.

 

On behalf of the School Committee, Chairman Pollitt thanked Ms. Edwards for her presentation. Mr. Pollitt also requested that members of the Math Department be invited to give a presentation to the School Committee in the near future.

 

 

5.     Business             

 

A.       Draft of Examination Report from Office for Educational Quality and Accountability (EQA):  Mr. Pollitt reported that he had had a conversation with Dr. Joseph Rappa, Executive Director of EQA , earlier in the week.  Dr. Rappa had offered to come out to the District to do a presentation, if the Committee so desired.  It was the consensus of the Committee members to accept Dr. Rappa’s offer.

 

Committee members voiced the hope that the document would become something that the District could put to good use, following recommendations in order that if another audit were to be done in five years, the District would score “High” on all counts.  Ms. Spriggs agreed that the document pointed up areas that could be improved; however, she and Ms. Brown also recognized that there were areas in which the documentation provided by the District was disregarded and anecdotal comments accepted instead.  Ms. Spriggs also voiced concern that the standards seem to once again be shifting, and they would likely be quite different by the time a second audit is done.

 

B.       Request for Extended Maternity Leave of Absence: Dr. Savage moved to grant an extended maternity leave of absence, effective January 3, 2006 through the remainder of the 2005-06 school year, as requested by Ms. Julie Steuernagle.  Mr. Abelow seconded the motion.  Following a brief discussion, the request was approved, unanimously.

C.       School Committee Agenda Format: Chairman Pollitt noted that this item pertained to Policy BDDB, and thus, should be reviewed by the Policy Subcommittee. 

 

D.       Ms. Brown distributed financial reports for September and October.  She explained that she was using a different and simpler format in order to present the information in a more timely way.  Committee members generally agreed that the new format was acceptable.  Members will review the reports and bring back any questions at the next meeting.

 

E.       Subcommittee/Representative Reports:

 

1.   In Mr. Ronan’s absence, the report regarding the South Berkshire Educational Collaborative was postponed until the next meeting.

 

2.   Negotiations: Mr. Abelow updated the committee regarding negotiations progress.  He reported that it has been agreed that Ms. Martin and Mr. Abelow will try to facilitate the meetings; however, if such does not work, a facilitator will be hired.  He also reported that a meeting schedule has been set.  No executive session was requested.

 

6.     Communications:

 

C                 It was the consensus of the Committee to retain the “Superintendent’s Update” format of the notes.

C                 Mr. Pollitt reported that the town of Sheffield has received a grant on behalf of the school to look at the storage of chemicals.

C                 Mr. Twing reminded Members that the next meeting would be held at the New Marlborough Central School.

C                 Ms. Miller suggested that it may be helpful to ask a department head to come to the School Committee, not with a formal report, but rather just to simply provide members with a good sense of what is happening in the schools.  She suggested that this could be done at every other meeting.  Superintendent Spriggs offered to put together a calendar of such presentations for the School Committee, if they so desired.

C                 Members were reminded to attend the Cookie Walk and Book Fair at Undermountain Elementary School, and the Holiday Fair at New Marlborough Central School on December 3.

C                 Ms. Joan Powers distributed invitations to School Committee Members to attend the Southern Berkshire Regional Education Association’s Holiday Party on December 16.

C                 Dr. Savage relayed that Mrs. Cross had wished to thank the School District for all of their help following her daughter’s recent accident.

 

       

On a motion by Mr. Abelow, seconded by Mr. Twing, the meeting adjourned at 8:53 p.m.