3A. Communications:

There were no communications from the audience.

4A. Superintendent Spriggs provided information regarding the recent announcement that the District has been placed on a federal "watch" list due to the failure of a subgroup to meet their required AYP (Annual Yearly Progress). Although the MADOE had not made specific information available to the District prior to publication in the newspapers, Ms. Spriggs said that she had been able to speak with a representative who informed her that the District's special needs subgroup had not met their Annual Yearly Progress in the areas of both language arts and math, as required by the federal No Child Left Behind Law, and this has caused the "needs improvement" designation by the federal Education Department.

Ms. Spriggs said that she had learned that one reason for the designation was that the special needs subgroup had failed by .5% to meet an attendance objective. She noted that this piece can be appealed, and she is investigating to see whether there were extenuating circumstances. Should the appeal be filed and granted, Ms. Spriggs said that the District's special needs subgroup would be deemed to have met the AYP for language arts, but would still be kept on the "watch" list due to the results on the MCAS math tests for this subgroup. Ms. Spriggs reported that in her conversation with the MADOE representative, she had explained that the District's special needs children run the full gamut, from those who have a mild learning disability to those who are non-verbal. She said that the DOE representative informed her that 98% of the districts cited for a subgroup not meeting the AYP were due to the special needs subgroup.

Mr. Tillett suggested the Board of Education should investigate why there is such high rate of failure of one subgroup. He also noted that he felt that the District may be being held to an non-achievable standard because of severely handicapped students.

Ms. Spriggs noted that according to the DOE, any child that is 3 years below grade level should have a waiver filed on his/her behalf. She said that the District has not done this in the past, as a child with a waiver could not receive a diploma. However, the DOE has apparently begun to offer an acceptable alternative, and the process will be looked into, where appropriate.

Ms. Spriggs noted that the general population MCAS scores look quite good, and she said she looked forward to presenting those to the School Committee.

Mr. Witdorchic suggested that the MA Association of School Superintendents lead an effort to change the process. Ms. Spriggs concurred, and she reported that the Berkshire County Superintendents' Association has already begun to lobby for such changes.

Mr. Witdorchic noted that he particularly did not want parents to feel that their children were enrolled in an underperforming district, and also that he did not want parents of regular education children to feel that special needs children have a negative effect in the schools.

Ms. Maggio stated that she felt it was a good idea to appeal, and she said that it needs to be clarified that the District has been doing extremely well, and that the negative designation is due to the federal No Child Left Behind law.

Ms. Spriggs also informed the Committee that in a twist of irony, the District was honored to be invited to be a presenter at a DOE conference in October. However, the District also received a second, separate invitation to send extra staff members to the conference, due to the status of failing to meet the AYP.

Superintendent Spriggs will keep the School Committee informed of any progress in this area.

4C. Mr. Pollitt and Mr. Abelow requested that financial reports and transfer requests be included in the School Committee packets ahead of the meeting. Ms. Brown voiced a preference to hand out transfer requests at the meeting for discussion. She expressed a reluctance to discuss her reasoning, but invited members to call her if they had interest. Following additional discussion, Ms. Brown agreed to provide the transfer requests in the packets, per their request.

4D. Buildings & Grounds Subcommittee: Ms. Tomich reported on the Buildings & Grounds Subcommittee meeting held on September 16. A primary topic of discussion had been making sure that building maintenance needs are a part of the budget each year. The Subcommittee also agreed to take time to tour the facilities. The Subcommittee hopes to move toward a 5 year plan for overall maintenance of facilities.

Discussion followed. Ms. Brown explained that the stabilization fund should be used to put aside an amount of money each year in order to meet large needs (specifically, a roof) when needed. She reported that thus far, there was only the initial $34,000 in the stabilization fund, as the line item had been cut every other year. Mr. Mielke agreed, noting that the stabilization fund is generally the first thing that gets cut when reductions are necessary.

Ms. Francine Groener, New Marlborough Teacher Leader, then led the Committee on a tour of the New Marlborough Central School.

Following the tour, Mr. Mielke thanked Ms. Groener, on behalf of the Committee. He also thanked the custodian of New Marlborough Central, noting that Mr. Ohman takes excellent care of the building and the grounds there.

4B. Superintendent Spriggs reviewed School Committee Goal #1, and she presented a listing of fourteen items undertaken to address the goal.

Mr. Pollitt stated that many people have asked that the dress code be looked at, and he asked whether there was any movement in that regard. Ms. Spriggs responded that several changes had been made this school year, including the total banning of headphones, which used to be allowed in the cafeteria and hallways. Ms. Tomich stated that the feedback from students is that the dress code is being enforced. Ms. Maggio agreed, and she said that she had witnessed the dress code enforcement.

4D. Negotiations: As executive session would be requested, this item was postponed to the end of the meeting.

4E. Litigation Update: As executive session would be requested, this item was also postponed to the end of the meeting.

6A. Communications:

• Superintendent Spriggs reviewed the "Blue Notes" (copy on file with these minutes).

• Mr. Pollitt expressed concern regarding the character education program. He said that he believed it was a good idea, but he was very leery of the school crossing the line into parenting. Ms. Spriggs explained that the elementary units have chosen to purchase a total package to be used for the teaching of character education. However, she said, the high school has chosen to move slower, as they wish to develop their own program, due to the nature of individual children. Ms. Spriggs assured the Members that the teachers will be very careful and respectful of parents as they develop the character education curriculum.



• Ms. Spriggs noted that the cross country team had finished second in a meet the previous day. She explained that all of the runners had finished the race, a feat which she felt was extraordinary, given that the team was very young, and that some of the runners may have had difficulty even walking that far before the season opened. Mr. Mielke agreed, adding that for many, just to finish the race showed a real building of character. He complimented all of the fall coaches for being models of good character.

4D/4E. Ms. Maggio moved to enter into executive session to 1) discuss collective bargaining, and 2) receive an update regarding pending litigation. Mr. Ronan seconded the motion. The vote:

Mr. Witdorchic yes Ms. LeGeyt yes

Mr. Mielke yes Ms. Tomich yes

Mr. Pollitt yes Mr. Abelow yes

Mr. Tillett yes Ms. Maggio yes

Mr. Ronan yes

The committee entered into executive session at 8:48 p.m.

The Committee came out of executive session at 9:08 p.m.

The meeting adjourned at 9:09 p.m.