Mt. Everett Regional School

Sheffield, MA

August 17, 2006

School Committee Meeting #1,346

 

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

 

Administrators: Ms. Spriggs, Ms. Regan, Mr. Devoti, Ms. Sands, Mr. Martin

 

Press: CTSB

 

Student Representatives:

 

Others: Mr. Robert Law, Ms. Sarah Pottle, Mr. James Siket, Ms. Linda Higgins

 

 

1.      Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  She began with a request that Committee members refrain from “sidebar” conversations during discussions. She explained that several people had mentioned to her that it was difficult to hear the main discussions of the Committee on CTSB broadcasts, due to extraneous conversations.

 

2.      Mr. Twing moved to approve the minutes of School Committee Meeting #1,345, regular and executive sessions.  It was so voted, unanimously

 

         The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 4B, in deference to Ms. Pottle and Mr. Siket.

 

4.      Presentations:

 

4B.    Math Camp: Ms. Sarah Pottle described the Math Camp that she had held for the past three weeks of the summer.  She said that a total of 18 children had attended some portion of the camp.  She explained that she had worked with the children to show them real life uses of mathematics.  She said that the children learned to perform such calculations as finding the diameter and circumference of the pond on campus. They also used food for many learning experiences.  Ms. Pottle presented pictures of the children enjoying various activities of the camp.  She explained that she will follow-up to see whether the camp experiences have an effect on the students’ math skills throughout the year.  Following a brief question and answer session, the Committee thanked Ms. Pottle for her work.

 

3.      Communications:

 

3A.    Superintendent Spriggs reviewed the Superintendent’s Update (copy on file with these minutes).

 

Dr. Zorn arrived at 6:18 p.m.

 

4C.    Superintendent Spriggs reviewed her Vision Statement, noting that the 10 Common Principles of the Coalition of Essential Schools would be used as guidelines for her work this year.

 

5.      Business

 

5A.    Superintendent Spriggs presented agendas of the workshops scheduled for new teachers and for staff orientation days.  She invited Members to stop by and meet the new teachers, and she invited them to join in the workshops scheduled for August 29.

 

5B.    Superintendent Spriggs reviewed the District Goals and updated the Committee regarding planned work on each during the upcoming school year.

 

5C.    Mr. Tillett moved, seconded by Dr. Zorn, to approve a request from Julie Barros to establish a Student Activities Account for the Costa Rica Trip.  It was so voted.

 

5D.    Financial discussions were postponed until the Finance Subcommittee agenda item.

 

5E.    Chairman Miller noted two changes to the listing of subcommittee member assignments, i.e., the addition of Ms. Silvestri to the Policy Subcommittee and the addition of herself to the Executive Evaluation Subcommittee. 

 

   Mr. Tillett encouraged other School Committee members to join the Finance Subcommittee.  He said that as three of the four Subcommittee members are representatives of  the Town of Sheffield, they would like to be sure that at least one more town has a representative sitting on that committee.  He offered that if two additional members would like to join in, one Sheffield member would step down.  Ms. Miller added that if no other Members wish to join, it would be ok, but they wish to be sure that no one thinks that Sheffield is trying to dominate that Subcommittee.  Following discussion and consideration by other Members, it was agreed that the Finance Subcommittee would stand as is for the time being. 

 

   Mr. Twing then moved, seconded by Ms. Silvestri, to accept the Subcommittee Membership listing, as presented.  It was so voted.

 

5F.    Subcommittee/Representative Reports

 

5F1.   Mr. Twing reviewed the minutes of the August 10 Buildings & Grounds Subcommittee meeting (copy on file with these minutes).

 

5F2.   Dr. Savage reported that at the Policy Subcommittee meeting of August 1, the Subcommittee had asked Mr. Martin and Mr. Devoti to work on the issue of over the counter drugs for inclusion in Policy JFCI.  The Subcommittee had also endorsed dividing the Attendance Policy into two parts and had voted to support the updated 7-12 Attendance Policy.

 

   Dr. Savage then moved to adopt Policy File ADF, Wellness Policy.  Ms. Silvestri seconded the motion, and it was so voted.

 

   Dr. Savage moved, seconded by Dr. Zorn, to adopt Policy KBB, Non-Custodial Parents Rights, as presented.  It was so voted.

 

   Dr. Savage moved, seconded by Mr. Tillett, to adopt Policy File JO, Student Records, as amended.  It was so voted.

 

   Dr. Savage moved, seconded by Mr. Twing, to adopt Policy File IHBEA, English Language Learners, as presented.  It was so voted.

 

   Dr. Savage moved, seconded by Mr. Tillett, to approve Policy JE-1, Elementary Attendance Policy.  It was so voted.

 

   Dr. Savage moved, seconded by Mr. Pollitt, to approve Policy File JE-2, Grades 7-12 Attendance.  Following a brief discussion, it was so voted.

 

   [Later in the meeting, Mr. Pollitt stated that he believed that the Committee should have taken an official vote to split the attendance policy into separate K-6 and 7-12 policies.  Following a brief discussion regarding the necessity of such a vote, Mr. Pollitt moved to approve separating Policy File JE into an elementary policy (JE-1) and a middle/high school policy (JE-2).  Mr. Tillett seconded the motion, and it was so voted.]

 

5F3.   Finance Subcommittee: Mr. Tillett commended the clarity of Ms. Regan’s work.  He said that the Finance Subcommittee members had been greatly relieved to find that the Business Manager and Superintendent had been able to balance some of the areas that had turned out to be much costlier than anticipated.  He said that the Finance Subcommittee took full responsibility for “missing” the fact that utilities were underbudgeted.  He noted how difficult it has been to get a real bead on such things, given the constant fluctuation in the market. 

 

   Mr. Tillett further reported that the under-funding of Line 512, Transportation, had turned out to be a miscommunication, and he said that Ms. Regan was able to balance the line out.

 

   Ms. Regan offered a special word of thanks to the administrators for their work in balancing the budget.  She noted that they had held many meetings to work on that.  She acknowledged that there still could be things that come up during the year, but said the Committee could deal with them if and when that happens.

 

   FY’06 Transfer:  Dr. Savage moved to approve a transfer for $20,660 from Program 306, Contingency, to Program 512, Transportation.  Mr. Tillett seconded the motion, and it was so voted.

 

FY’07 Transfers: Ms. Regan explained requests for transfers within the FY’07 Budget, and she asked that the School Committee vote them as a whole.  Chairman Miller stated that it would be best to vote the reductions first and then the increases.  Dr. Savage moved, seconded by Mr. Tillett, to accept transfers (reductions) as presented by Ms. Regan.  It was so voted, unanimously.

 

Ms. Silvestri then moved, seconded by Dr. Savage, to approve the increases, as presented by Ms. Regan.  It was so voted, unanimously.

 

4A. Eagle fund update: Ms. Lucy Prashker, Chairman of the eagle fund Board of Directors, updated the Committee regarding the eagle fund.  She explained the background of the establishment of the fund, and gave a brief overview of how grants are awarded.  Ms. Prashker stated that the object of the fund is to provide supplemental programs for the district for a few years, with the expectation that the District will include those it wants to keep within the regular operating budget.  She reported that the eagle fund is currently ready to turn over support of the Drama Department and of the Garden Club, and she asked that full support of both be included in the District’s FY’08 budget.

 

Ms. Prashker also updated the School Committee regarding plans for the production of The Wizard of Oz through the Berkshire Theater Festival in September.  Proceeds from the production will be split among the enrichment funds of seven Berkshire County school districts.  She urged everyone to attend.

 

In closing, the Committee thanked Ms. Prashker for coming in and for her years of service on the eagle fund Board of Directors.

 

5G. Chairman Miller requested a vote regarding a request to allow an exchange student to attend Mt. Everett for the 2006-07 school year.  She noted that the request had not been received in time to be included on the agenda.  Mr. Tillett moved to accept the student and to waive tuition.  Ms. Mielke seconded the motion, and it was so voted.

 

5F4.   Chairman Miller read an overview of the 2005-06 Superintendent’s Evaluation. 

 

6.      Communications/Requests

•Chairman Miller reminded Members of the orientation workshop to be held on August 26, at 8:30 in the Mt. Everett Library.

•In response to a question from Ms. Mielke regarding the effect of losing eagle fund financial support, Mr. Law explained that the Drama Department and the administrative team had re-worked presentations for the upcoming year.  He stated that there will be some changes, but hopefully not programmatic ones.

•Mr. Tillett noted a correction for the minutes of Meeting #1,344.

•Mr. Tillett moved to adopt a rule that would limit all School Committee Meetings to no more than 3 hours.  Ms. Silvestri seconded the motion.  Following discussion, Mr. Tillett amended the motion to state that the School Committee will limit regular meetings to 3 hours, unless voted by a majority to extend.  Ms. Silvestri again seconded the motion.  Following additional debate, the motion was approved, with 5 members voting in favor, and 3 members voting in opposition.  (It was clarified that the 3 hour limit would pertain to the business portion of the meeting and did not include executive session.)

•Dr. Savage cautioned her fellow members against becoming too preoccupied with rules, warning that they could lose their personalities.

•Ms. Mielke thanked Ms. Regan for including the narrative with budget items.

•Superintendent Spriggs informed Committee Members that the Department of Education has proposed raising the passing score of MCAS tests from 220 to 240.  She noted that she is not in favor of making 240 a graduation requirement, especially given that special education students would also need to meet that score in order to graduate.  The Department of Education is currently taking public comments on the proposal.  Ms. Spriggs will provide School Committee members the address to send comments to.

 

5F5.   Ms. Miller announced the need for executive session for the purpose of contract negotiations.  She stated that no further business would be conducted following executive session.  She then asked for a roll call vote to enter into executive session.  The vote:

 

         Mr. Abelow                     Yes                              Ms. Miller                     Yes

         Ms. Mielke                      Yes                              Mr. Pollitt                     Yes

         Mr. Twing                       Yes                              Dr. Savage                   Yes

         Ms. Silvestri                     Yes                              Mr. Tillett                     Yes

         Dr. Zorn                          Yes

        

The Committee moved to the Superintendent’s Office and entered into executive session at 8:00 p.m.

 

         The Committee came out of executive session at 8:32 p.m.

 

         The meeting adjourned at 8:33 p.m.