Mt. Everett Regional School

Sheffield, MA

September 13, 2006

School Committee Meeting #1,347

 

 

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

 

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

 

Press: CTSB

 

Student Representatives: Cody Kern and Hannah Guidi

 

Others: Ms.  Susan Tomich, Ms.  Asha VonRuden, Ms. Theresa Licata

 

 

1.      Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 

 

2.      Mr. Twing moved to approve the minutes of School Committee Meeting #1,346.  Mr.  Abelow seconded the motion, and it was so voted.  Ms.  Silvestri moved approval of the minutes of Meeting 1,346, executive session.  Mr.  Pollitt seconded the motion, and it was so voted. 

 

3A.    Superintendent Spriggs reviewed the Superintendent’s Update of September 13, 2006 (copy on file with these minutes).

 

3B.    The Committee congratulated Hannah Guidi (grade 10), Arielle VanDeusen (grade 11), Kelly Funk (grade 12) and Cody Kern (grade 12) for their election as Student Representatives to the School Committee.  It was noted that Grade 9 will hold elections in the near future.

 

3C.    Mr.  Pollitt shared his current cell phone number.

 

         Ms.  Silvestri commented on the high quality of the student production of The Wizard of Oz.

 

4A.    Ms.  Susan Tomich, Wellness/Physical Education Teacher, presented an overview of the wellness curriculum.  A question and answer session followed.

 

4B.    Mr.  John Martin updated the Committee regarding ongoing professional development workshops and offerings for staff. 

 

   Mr.  Martin reported that the Student Handbooks would be available very soon.  He said that they had undergone a dramatic overhaul this summer, thus the lateness of distribution.   Supt.  Spriggs noted that last year it had been the directive of the School Committee for the Superintendent to review the handbooks prior to their being distributed, but if the Committee felt that they would like to see them this year, she would see to it that they received them.  Mr. Pollitt and Mr. Tillett expressed that they would like to see the handbooks prior to their being distributed to students.

 

   Additional discussion took place regarding the most timely way to gain approval of the School Committee in order to distribute the handbooks to the students as soon as possible. Following further discussion, Mr.  Tillett moved to have the draft copy mailed out to all School Committee members for review.  Members then would contact members of the Policy Subcommittee prior to that group’s meeting on September 19 with any input they may wish to give.  Taking their colleagues’ input into consideration, and assuming no major issues had arisen, the Policy Subcommittee would then have the authority of the full School Committee to approve printing and distribution of the handbooks.   Mr. Ronan seconded the motion, and it was so voted.

 

5A.    Ms. Mary Edwards, Interim Elementary Principal, reported on the opening of schools at the elementary level.  She said that they were off to a great start for 2006-07, and she shared that the theme for the year is “Courtesy, Respect & Quality”. 

 

Mr. Martin reported that Mt.  Everett is off to the smoothest start ever and is enjoying a positive, upbeat atmosphere. 

 

5B.    Ms. Asha VonRuden, Mt.  Everett Middle School Science Teacher, explained a request to take students on a hands-on science field trip to Florida in April.  She noted that the cost would be approximately $1,200 per student, and said that she is hoping that 10-15 middle school students would be able to go.  Following additional discussion, Mr. Pollitt moved to endorse the trip.  Mr. Twing seconded the motion, and it was so voted.

 

   Following brief discussion, Mr. Tillett moved, seconded by Ms. Mielke, to approve the annual 8^th grade trip to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., per the request of Mr. Carpenter.  It was so voted.

 

5C.    Committee members received notification of lateral movements on the Unit A salary schedule, effective September 1, 2006. 

 

5D.    There were no financial updates.  Ms. Regan offered to answer any questions the Committee may have under the Finance Subcommittee Report agenda item.

 

5E.    Superintendent Spriggs presented a proposed protocol to clarify the steps for policy  development and adoption.  Members of the Policy Subcommittee voiced approval of the protocol.

 

5F1.   Policy Subcommittee:  The Committee reviewed a draft of Policy CAA, Organizational Chart.  In the discussion that followed, it was agreed to take off the district’s attorney, add the nurses, and add the treasurer.  The Policy will be brought back, as amended, for a vote at the October 12 meeting.

 

   Mr. Pollitt moved, seconded by Mr. Abelow, to approve Policy JO, Student Records, as presented.  It was noted that the policy should read, “a minimum of 6 years”, rather than “a minimum of 60 years”.  The policy was then approved unanimously, with that correction.

 

5F2.   Buildings & Grounds Subcommittee: Mr.  Twing reported on the meeting of Sept. 7 and invited all members to join the Subcommittee in a "walk-through" of the Undermountain/ Mt. Everett Campus on September 21.  He said that he felt that the walk-through would provide the Committee with valuable background information and give them a better understanding of the building audit results from edm.  Mr. Pollitt stressed the importance of sending the edm building audit report to the towns when it becomes available, as well as inviting town officials to the presentation of the results. 

 

5F3.   SBEC Report:  Superintendent Spriggs shared information regarding the Marilyn Burns Math Workshops arranged through the South Berkshire Educational Collaborative, and she updated the Committee regarding the Virtual High School courses.  She reported that all four of the Collaborative Districts were pleased with the offerings.  (Ms.  Spriggs will report back on which courses SBRSD students are enrolled in.)

 

5F4.   Finance Subcommittee: Mr. Tillett reported on the meeting of August 31, 2006.  He also reported that the Finance Subcommittee will maintain a monthly meeting schedule at least until November, when they may begin to meet more frequently. 

 

5F5.   Negotiations Subcommittee:  Mr. Abelow explained a difference of opinion that had come to light in the Unit E Contract language.  He said that it has been agreed to rewrite the section regarding payment for the meal time of night shift employees.  He said that the new language will reflect that the night custodians will receive lunch as differential pay and will be working a full 8 hours.

 

5G.    School Committee Meeting with Glenn Koocher, MASC: The Committee discussed the possibility of setting up a workshop with Mr.  Glenn Koocher, Executive Director of MASC.  Possible topics for such a workshop included goals & objectives; projected 3 and 5 year plans; the Regional Agreement; and enrollment issues.  Ms. Silvestri, Dr. Savage, Mr. Abelow, Mr. Ronan, Ms. Miller, and Dr. Zorn expressed interest in serving on an ad hoc subcommittee to set an agenda.  They agreed to bring their ideas back to the full School Committee for consideration.

 

5H.    Chairman Miller explained that she was adding an item for discussion of the job description of the Community Liaison, Public Relations and Theater Department.  She said that the job description was e-mailed out to Committee members, and some of the members had requested discussion. 

 

   Mr.  Abelow charged that the Superintendent had not provided requested information regarding this item.  He said that he had asked for the previous job description for the indvidual, and had not received it. 

 

   Superintendent Spriggs acknowledged that the request had been made, and she said that Mr. Abelow and Mr. Tillett had been provided the opportunity to review the previous job description at a meeting in her office the previous week.  She apologized to Mr. Abelow for not sending the information out to him in a more timely fashion.

        

   Following further discussion, Chairman Miller stated that she would meet with the Superintendent to develop a protocol for Members to request and receive information.  That protocol will be presented at the next School Committee meeting.

 

         Copies of the former job description were handed out to School Committee members.

 

   Mr. Tillett said that his issue was that the updated job description, as written, could not “stand alone”; rather, he felt that the updated job description was written for a specific person.  He said that in the budget process, it was the right of the School Committee to not fund a position if directives are not met.  Mr. Tillett also expressed frustration, stating that he had been asking for the job description for over a year.

 

   Superintendent Spriggs responded that she had explained at the time that the Performing Arts Department had been undergoing major overhaul during the time frame referred to by Mr. Tillett.  She said that the job description had been revised following that process.

 

   Chairman Miller cautioned that it was not within the purview of the School Committee to write job descriptions.

 

   Mr. Tillett stated that he felt that the School Committee needs to have the opportunity to give input on job descriptions.  He said that such input could be very helpful in the budget process.

 

   Mr. Ronan expressed that the general lack job descriptions could cause duplication of efforts and thus be costing the District money.  He said that it had come out in the negotiations process that some employees are resentful and feel they are doing things that they are not being paid for.  He added that it may be good to look at the issue and see if the school is operating efficiently.  Mr. Ronan reviewed the history of the lack of job descriptions in the District, specifically noting that it was not the fault of Ms. Spriggs.

 

   Ms. Mielke agreed with Mr. Ronan.  She suggested that efficiency translates into money and said she felt it was important that job descriptions be looked at and updated.  She said that she felt it was part of the School Committee Members’ responsibility to know what positions entail and to have a basic knowledge of what employees do.

 

6.      Communications/Requests

• The Committee received a 2006-07 District Calendar.

• The Committee also received a listing of “Changes of Note in the 2006-2009 Unit Contracts”.

• Dr. Savage updated the Committee regarding recent meetings of the Executive Evaluation

Subcommittee.  She reported that the Subcommittee wishes to use the questionnaire that they originally sent out, but send it to a smaller group of people during the fall.  She said that the only difference would be that two questions have been removed. 

 

Superintendent Spriggs stated that she felt that further conversation is needed.  She said that her contract states that there is to be agreement between the Committee and herself as to the evaluation instrument and process to be used.  She said she felt that the process needs clarification, and she requested that it be done differently.

 

Mr. Tillett said that before the evaluation form is sent out, it should be put in front of the full School Committee. 

 

Superintendent Spriggs again requested that additional discussion take between her and the Subcommittee.

 

Dr. Savage said that when the Subcommittee met with the Superintendent, she believed that there had been agreement; however, she said that may no longer be the case after the evening’s meeting.  Thus, she said her report was “only good for tonight”.

 

Mr. Ronan moved, seconded by Mr. Twing, to adjourn the meeting.  It was so voted, and the meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.