Mt. Everett Regional School

Sheffield, MA

June 8, 2006

School Committee Meeting #1,343

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

Administrators : Ms. Spriggs, Ms. Regan

Press : CTSB; Derek Gentile, Berkshire Eagle

Student Representatives : Arielle VanDeusen

Others : Ms. Julie Hannum; Ms. Julie Barros; Mr. Neil Barbieri, Ms. Catherine Rueger, Mr. C. William Dunsay, Mr. Thomas Vreeland, Ms. Linda Higgins

1. Chairman Pollitt called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

2. Mr. Abelow moved, seconded by Mr. Tillett, to approve the minutes of the School Committee Meeting #1,342, regular and executive sessions. It was so voted.

3. Communications from the Audience:

A. Superintendent Spriggs provided a bi-weekly update. She thanked all those involved with the Mt. Everett graduation ceremonies, with special recognition to Ms. Miller, who presented diplomas to the graduates, in the absence of Chairman Pollitt. She also thanked Ms. Thomson and Ms. Storti, Graduation Advisors; Ms. Barros, soloist and the Mt. Everett Golden Eagles Band.

Ms. Spriggs updated the Committee regarding work that is planned over the summer on the enrollment study.

She also noted upcoming end of year events and invited Members to attend a press conference announcing the Miniature Theater of Chester’s summer venue at Mt. Everett.

B. There was no student representative report.

C. Mr. Thomas Vreeland, Executive Director of Open VES, announced that that organization had chosen Mr. C. William Dunsay, Grade 2 Teacher at New Marlborough Central School, as their choice for Teacher of the Year in 2006. He explained that the mission of Open VES is to find ways to use technology to enhance learning, one classroom at a time. Each year, they seek to reward a teacher who exemplifies how technology can provide a transformation in the classroom. Mr. Vreeland also presented the District with the Innovation Award in honor of promoting such practice.

4. Presentations:

A. Ms. Julie Hannum, Berkshire Tech Prep Coordinator, explained a pilot program introduced at Mt. Everett this past year, which provided college placement testing for junior and senior students. Ms. Hannum stated that overall, Mt. Everett students had done very well on the tests, but for those who did not do well, it had shown them areas which they could work to improve before they entered college.

(Mr. Ronan arrived at 7:40 p.m.)

Mt. Everett Math Teachers Catherine Rueger and Neil Barbieri explained that the testing had opened up

discussion with students who had not planned to take a fourth year of math. The teachers were able to encourage those students to take additional math while it was still free, as opposed to taking extra courses when they get into college. Following a question and answer session, School Committee Members thanked Ms. Hannum for her presentation and for her work with the students.

5. Business

Mr. Pollitt moved to Agenda Item 5C.

C. Ms. Julie Barros explained a request for approval of a trip to Costa Rica in February of 2007. She said that the students will begin with a study of Costa Rica, to begin with a research paper, the political situation, the language, culture, etc. She said the students would also come back and write a paper comparing their expectations with what they actually find while they are there. Ms. Barros said that the trip will be geared to being a reward for those students who have maintained grades of 80 or above and have “great attitudes” in their Spanish classes. Fund-raising will be necessary, and the possibility of receiving grant monies will be looked into.

Following a brief discussion, Mr. Ronan moved to approve the trip so that Fund-raising can begin. Ms. Miller seconded the motion. It was so voted.

Mr. Pollitt reminded Ms. Barros to be sure to set up a student activities account.

A. Supt. Spriggs recalled a School Committee discussion which took place in the fall regarding the possibility of meeting less frequently. Although it was not deemed possible at that time, it had been agreed to discuss the idea again as negotiations began to wind down. The Superintendent then brought forth a recommendation to hold School Committee meetings on a monthly basis, with subcommittees meeting and doing background work and reporting at each meeting.

A lengthy discussion then took place. Although no vote was taken, it was generally agreed to try meeting once a month, setting special meetings, as necessary. It was further generally agreed that each subcommittee will set the time of its own meetings, making an effort to make those meetings as accessible to the public, as possible.

B. Superintendent Spriggs updated the Committee regarding projected enrollment at the Monterey Kindergarten for 2006-07. She reported that she and Ms. Mielke had met with the Select Board earlier in the week and had requested their help in recruiting students for the school. She also reported that in a finance subcommittee meeting earlier in the evening, it was decided to request that edm make the Monterey building a priority, given that building's poor condition rating by the School Building Authority. She reported that the Finance Subcommittee had addressed a need for alternative plans, and will ask the District's lawyer to address questions brought forth by subcommittee members, including clarifying the roles of the towns and the school district regarding buildings owned by the towns but operated by the School District.

D. Negotiations: This item was postponed until the end of the meeting, as executive session would be requested.

E. Financial Updates/Transfer Requests: Ms. Regan explained a request to set up a revolving account for the vocational program under the direction of Mr. David Brown. She stated that the account would take in receipts from fees collected for repair and maintenance of small engines and from product sales and used to cover expenses such as purchasing equipment, tools, parts, etc. Ms. Miller requested that the District's lawyer look at product liability issues. Mr. O’Brien stated that Mr. Brown will be checking the wording from vocational schools, but agreed good idea to check on the legalities.

Ms. Miller then moved, seconded by Dr. Savage, to approve the revolving fund. It was so voted.

Following an explanation by Ms. Regan, Ms. Miller moved, seconded by Mr. Ronan, to transfer the $20,000 Mentoring Expense Budget out of Program 305, School Committee, with $11,390 to be transferred to Program 128, Grade 4, for salary expense, and the remaining $8,610 to be transferred to Program 530, Professional development, for mentoring expenses. She said that the purpose of the transfers was to make better use of Title II A Grant monies. Ms. Miller moved to approve the transfers, and Mr. Ronan seconded the motion. It was so voted, unanimously.

Ms. Regan requested an official vote to pay the health insurance of school lunch program workers from the general fund. Members expressed their belief that such a vote had been taken when the issue was originally discussed. However, to be sure, Ms. Miller moved, seconded by Ms. Silvestri, to approve the payment from the general fund. It was so voted, unanimously.

6. Communications from the Public/Requests

• Mr. Ronan requested that an update on the South Berkshire Educational Collaborative be scheduled on the June 22 agenda.
• Mr. Tillett moved to discontinue the reading of the Superintendent's Updates aloud (at School Committee meetings). Dr. Savage seconded the motion. Following a brief discussion, it was so voted.
• Ms. Miller noted that the recent performance by the students of the South Egremont School was extraordinary. Supt. Spriggs agreed, and said that the same should be said of the performance put on by Ms. Turner's first grade class earlier in the week.
• Mr. Ronan reported that the Mt. Everett baseball team had won their last game and would play again on the weekend.

Mr. Abelow moved, seconded by Mr. Twing, 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

Mr. Ronan 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 8:48 p.m.

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

Mr. Twing moved, seconded by Mr. Tillett, to adjourn the meeting. It was so voted, and the meeting adjourned at 9:44 p.m.