Mt. Everett Regional School

Sheffield, MA

April 27, 2006

School Committee Meeting #1,340

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

Administrators: Ms. Spriggs, Ms. Regan, Mr. Devoti, Mr. Nadolny

Press: CTSB; Ms. Shawnee Barnes, Berkshire Eagle

Student Representatives:

Others: Mr. Lewis Randall, Ms. Linda Higgins

1. Chairman Pollitt called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.

2. Mr. Tillett moved, seconded by Mr. Twing, to approve the minutes of the School Committee Meeting #1,339, Regular and Executive Sessions. It was so voted (Ms. Miller abstained).

3. Communications from the Audience:

A. Superintendent Spriggs reviewed the Superintendent’s Update (copy on file with these minutes). The evening’s “Eagle Feather” was awarded to the District’s secretaries, in honor of Administrative Assistant Week.

B. Three was no student representative report.

C. Mr. Pollitt stated that he had received a request to ask Mr. Law to give a presentation to the School Committee regarding the Drama Department. Superintendent Spriggs agreed to request such for the May 25 meeting.

Mr. Pollitt also announced that Mr. Tillett asked to set up a Finance Subcommittee Meeting in the near future.

Ms. Miller and Dr. Savage updated the Committee regarding the annual evaluation procedure for the superintendent. They noted that they had incorporated some of the “360" process into the procedure, as requested by Ms. Spriggs.

Superintendent Spriggs asked if the School Committee might want to wait until January to implement the 360 piece, in order to allow time for preparation. She noted that it may be a good idea to bring in a consultant in the fall to work with the School Committee to develop goals and in designing and implementing the survey piece to be circulated to a large number of constituents.

Ms. Miller responded that she and Dr. Savage had intended to distribute the evaluation form as the survey. They said that they had not developed the form as a School Committee document; rather they had intended it to also go out to other administrators, teachers, support staff, and community members.

After discussion, Committee members were generally in agreement that the form should be sent out as a survey, along with a cover letter explaining the process and a return envelope. Ms. Miller will e-mail the cover letter to other members for input prior to sending out.

4. PRESENTATION / UPDATE: 2005-06 District Improvement Plans / School Improvement Plans

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Superintendent Spriggs presented and explained a draft of the proposed District Improvement Plan. She noted that it was important for the School Committee members to realize that the plan was but one small part of the body of work that has been accomplished this year. She said that the Educational Quality and Accountability audit findings and responses were a pattern to guide the District.

Mr. Devoti presented and explained the proposed 2005-06 School Improvement Plan for Mt. Everett, and Mr. Nadolny presented and explained the proposed School Improvement Plan for PK-6. A brief discussion followed.

Superintendent Spriggs requested that the Committee members review all three plans at their convenience over the next two weeks. A vote to confirm will be requested at the May 11 meeting.

A. Request for Approval of Trip to Tour de Sol, May 11 - 13, Saratoga Spa State Park, NY

Ms. Miller moved, seconded by Ms. Silvestri, to approve the request. It was so voted, unanimously.

B. Update Re: Coordinated Program Review: This item was covered earlier in the meeting as part of the “Superintendent’s Update”.

C. Dual Enrollment with Berkshire Community College: Superintendent Spriggs reported that she had met with the President of Berkshire Community College and some of the College’s staff members to discuss possibilities which may become available with upcoming legislation re: dual enrollment. She noted that a pilot program will take place in Lee, and the same may be possible in Southern Berkshire. It is hoped that the program(s) can be implemented in time for the fall semester.

D. Strategic Planning Focused Discussion on Goal 2 (a.k.a. “The Farmer Report”), which was presented to staff members on April 16, 2006: The Committee members received a copy of the presentation for review. Superintendent Spriggs reported that Mr. Farmer and his students are looking for another date to give an encore presentation for those who were unable to attend on April 16.

E. Subcommittee/Representative Reports

1. Negotiations: Mr. Abelow requested executive session at the end of the meeting.

F. Vote to Approve 2006-07 School Calendar: At the request of Superintendent Spriggs, this item was postponed until the May 11 meeting. She explained that she was investigating the possibility of hiring a first-rate consultant to come in on the early release professional development days, and she needed additional time to determine his availability in order to be sure that the correct days were on the calendar.

Mr. Pollitt stated that it bothered him that the school is not in session on Good Friday. He noted that Good Friday is the only religious holiday that is a school holiday. Other members concurred, and it was the consensus of those members present to eliminate Good Friday as a school holiday.

G. Financial Updates/Transfer Requests: Ms. Regan presented a brief outline updating the Committee regarding projects which the Business Office has been working on. Members expressed appreciation for the information.

Ms. Silvestri noted that at last year’s town meeting, questions arose regarding how many students attend the District from Alford, how many choice out, etc. She requested that such information be readily available in time for the meeting this year, and she requested that Ms. Regan attend the meeting ton answer budgetary questions which may arise.

6. COMMUNICATION FROM THE PUBLIC/REQUESTS

A. Committee members received a letter from Glenn Koocher, Executive Director, and Maurice Hancock, President, of Massachusetts Association of School Committees inviting school committee members to offer a

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nomination for the MASC Board, propose a resolution, volunteer to serve, or run for an MASC office.

B. The Committee also received an invitation to attend the MASC Academy for School Leadership’s Charting the Course, May 5-6, 2006 in Hyannis. It was noted that the program meets the requirement of eight hours of orientation for new school committee members, per MGL Chapter 71, Section 36A. Ms. Miller suggested that members in need of such orientation session may wish to wait until September when the workshop will be presented in Berkshire County.

C. Ms. Silvestri reported that the eagle fund has requested that another member of the School Committee be elected to their board. She explained that Ms. Maggio has been nominated to serve as a member at large, which will leave a slot open for a School Committee member. Ms. Silvestri said that the board meets once each month, generally on a Wednesday at 7:45 a.m. Superintendent Spriggs noted that the eagle fund board works with tightly structured agendas, and meetings are generally over within 45 minutes to an hour. Dr. Savage said that she would be interested in serving on the board.

5 E1. Negotiations: Mr. Abelow moved, seconded by Mr. Tillett, to enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining. The vote:

Mr. Tillett yes Ms. Silvestri yes

Mr. Pollitt yes Dr. Savage yes

Mr. Abelow yes Mr. Twing yes

Ms. Mielke yes Ms. Miller yes

Chairman Pollitt announced that no further business would be conducted following executive session.

The Committee then moved into the Superintendent’s Office and entered into executive session at 8:43 p.m.

The Committee came out of executive session at 9:43 p.m.

On a motion duly made and seconded, the meeting adjourned at 9:44 p.m.