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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Comm Minutes 5/17/2011MANSFIELD SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING MichaelTrowbridre TO � !F_, �rcFICE Lisa Losiewicz Jean Miller Kiera O'Neil Jim Perry LOZ E ?t,2 f Li 2: 21 Vii.. 7:00 PM Open Session Adiourn to EXECUTIVE SESSION - 7:01 PM - Superintendent's Office 7:01 PM 7:30 PM Adiourn to OPEN SESSION - 7:30 PM - Room 3 A & B AGENDA 1.) Collective Bargaining Strategy / Update / Grievances Food Service, Little Hornet Daycare, MEA, Para Prof., SPED Drivers negotiations & review of any existing grievances AGENDA 7:30 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 7:40 CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED 7:45 SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT 1.) Personnel 2.) Commissioner Chester to visit Mansfield • Monday, May 23, 2011 8:00 APPROVAL OF WARRANTS Enc. 8:05 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1.) Executive Session Minutes of March 22, 2011 Enc. 2.) School Committee Minutes of March 22, 2011 Enc. 8:10 OLD BUSINESS 8:30 1.) FY'12 Budget update 1.) 2.) 3.) 4.) 5.) 6.) Enc. District Security Expansion Canine Sweep — • Request from Chief O'Neill Student Handbooks Enc. School Choice Women's Ice Hockey Enc. Field Trip Approvals (if any) CITIZENS COMMENTS 9:00 SCHOOL COMMITTEE NEW BUSINESS OTHER Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, May 17, 2011 Town Hall, Room 3B & C An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held at the Town Hall on Tuesday, May 17, 2011. A motion to open the Open Meeting was made by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, 2°d by, Mrs. Jean Miller with a roll call vote and called to order at 7:00 PM by Chairman, Mr. Michael Trowbridge. After returning from Executive Session the Open Session meeting was reopened and called to order by Chairman, Mr. Michael Trowbridge at 7:35 PM. Motion U.C. 5 - 0 Members Present — roll call vote to open meeting; Mr. Michael Trowbridge, Chairman; yes Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, Vice Chair; yes Mrs. Kiera O'Neil yes Mrs. Jean Miller, yes Mr. Jim Perry yes Also Present: Mrs. Brenda Hodges, Superintendent of Schools Mr. Edward Vozzella, Director of Finance CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED NONE The Superintendent announced that Mr. John Nieratko will be the new Assistant Principal at Robinson Elementary Schools. The Superintendent informed the School Committee that they have advertised for a new High School Principal using School Spring and an internal posting. Mr. Perry asked how many applications we have received so far. Mrs. Hodges responded with approximately 50 applicants. Mr. Mike Trowbridge and Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz volunteered to sit on the committee for the hiring of the new principal; the advertisement will close May 27, 2011. Mr. Perry asked how the Superintendent planned on communicating to the parents to ask for volunteers to be on the committee, Mi. Michael Trowbridge as if she can send out an email, Mrs. Hodges said she can do that and will post a notice on the website. • The Superintendent informed the School Committee that Commissioner Chester will be visiting Mansfield Public Schools on Monday May 23, 2011 and invited the committee to join her for his visit and to a reception in the MHS library at 10:30. SCM Page 2 APPROVAL OF WARRANTS Mrs. Jean Miller motioned to approve the warrants second by Mrs. Losiewicz Motion U.C. 5 -0 APPROVAL OF MINUTES The Executive Minutes for March 22, 2011 were approved. Motioned by Mrs. Jean Miller, 2 "d by Mr. Jim Perry. Motion U.C. 3-0 Due to reorganization of the board only 3 members could vote. The School Committee Minutes of March 22, 2011 were approved. Motioned by, Mrs. Jean Miller, 2 "d by Mr. Jim Perry Motion U.C. 3 — 0 Due to reorganization of the board only 3 members could vote. OLD BUSINESS Superintendent Hodges went over Budget pages handed out at meeting, she explained the list of items she is recommending that the School Committee take action to balance the FY12 Budget. This included reducing the funding for the Library Media Assistant at Jordan Jackson. There was a discussion with the School Committee regarding this issue, Mr. Perry and Mrs. Miller did not agree. They both felt that the library at Jordan Jackson is not being used enough. Cutting the Library Media Assistant would result in the library being used even less. Mrs. Miller asked why they continue to spend money on library materials and use the Library less. Mrs. Podesky and Mrs. Murphy explained that the children do go to the library on a regular basis, just not as frequently as before. They indicated that Jordan Jackson needs a reading specialist over a Librarian at this time. The School Committee voted to reduce the funding for the Curriculum Director/Data Specialist; Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz would still like to see a Curriculum Specialist hired. Fund 2 Reading Teachers at Jordan Jackson. Reduce funding for the Reading Teacher at Robinson Reduce one section of Grade 1, resulting in a class size of 23.5 compared to 23.4 for this year. Authorize the Superintendent to make reductions in various line items and / or utilize revolvers in the amount of $21,924. By taking these actions, the FY' 12 Mansfield School Budget will be in line with the Town Appropriation of $ 38,382,132. Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz Motioned to keep the budget recommendation as is, Mr. Michael Trowbridge 2 "d Motion 4 -1: Mr. Jim Perry did not approve the motion. SCM Page 3 Canine Sweep • The Superintendent told the School Committee that a request has been made by Chief O'Neil to have a canine sweep at Mansfield High School. The committee decided to Table this item and have a meeting with the Chief of Police to ask him to explain the procedure of a Canine Sweep. District Security Expansion • Tabled by School Committee Student Handbooks Each school presented changes or updates to their student handbooks. Motion to approve Mansfield High School handbook by Lisa Losiewicz, 2 "d by Jean Miller Motion U.C. 5 -0 Motion to approve Qualters Middle School handbook by Jim Perry, 2 "d by Jean Miller Motion U.C. 5 -0 Motion to approve Jordan Jackson and Robinson Elementary School handbook by Jim Perry, 2nd by Lisa Losiewicz Motion U.C. 4 -1 with Jean Miller voting against the section on Birthdays /Celebrations & Health Policies School Choice • The Superintendent explained to the School Committee that in accordance with State Department regulations, the School committee is required to vote on the acceptance or rejection of School Choice each year. The superintendent recommended the School Committee vote NOT to allow School Choice in Mansfield for the 2011 -2012 school year. Motioned to not allow school choice by Lisa Losiewicz 2 "d by Kiera O'Neil. Motion U.C. 5 -0 Women's Ice Hockey Mr. Joseph Russo explained to the School Committee that he has had a request from students and parents to have a women's ice hockey team, Mansfield High School has had girls playing on the boy's team and although they do get ice time, girl's hockey is different than boy's hockey. Mr. Russo explained that MHS and Oliver Ames school, in Easton, would join their girls together and make one team. There would be no cost to the school for the first 5 years. All costs would be picked up by parents. After the 5th yea, the school then would have the choice to fund the program or not. Mr. Russo had a meeting with the students to see how many would be interested. About 20 girls from MHS and about 15 from OA expressed interest in the program. SCM Paee 4 Motion passed unanimously to approve a women's ice hockey team totally funded by the students for the first 5 years. It would then be brought back to the board for possible consideration of funding by the school. Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz made the motion 2 "d by Mr. Jim Perry. Motion U.C. 5 -0 Field Trips Mr. Jim Cat ver-Brown has asked the board to approve an over -night field trip for the Robotics Team to Worcester Polytechnic Institute to attend an event called Battle Cry. The event will be held on May 20 and May 21". The six students and two adults will stay in the dorms at no cost. Motion to allow the field trip to Worcester Polytechnic Institute by Lisa Losiewicz 2nd by Kiera O'neil Motion U.C. 4 - 1 Mrs. Jean Miller stepped out of the meeting CITIZENS COMMENTS Jess Aptowitz thanked the Superintendent and the School Committee for supporting the Corey Shea memorial flag pole and invited the board to attend the dedication June 26th at 1:00 in the South Commons Pam Coyle asked if we could provide handouts of the materials that are being discussed so that the people in the audience can follow along. Handouts were distributed regarding the budget. The Superintendent told Mrs. Coyle that we could do that. Mrs. Huffman brought forward a complaint regarding a permission slip that was sent home at Qualters Middle School. It was a reverse permission slip, meaning if you were not in favor of your child participating in a survey then you were to sign it and return it to the school. Mrs. Huffman was very upset with this procedure and said it was illegal and pointed out that a school in Taunton did the same thing and had to redo the permission slip before they could do the survey because it was illegal. The school committee agreed with Mrs. Huffman that the reverse permission slip is not a good idea. Mrs. Anne Baldwin asked the School Committee why they are not trying to put forward a sustainable budget for FY12. She said that hoping the economy will get better is not a good answer. We are using stimulus money to hire new teachers possibly for only one year. She asked if the School Committee is setting themselves up for a possible over -ride next year. Mr. Michael Trowbridge said they do not know what next year will bring and are doing what is best for this year. Tracy Freedman asked if the library at the elementary schools could use volunteer parents so that the students can visit the library more often. That question was already answered by Mrs. Teresa Murphy earlier, Mrs. Murphy said they already have patent volunteers that stack the shelves but cannot check books out. SCM Page 5 Bob Ritchie would like to speak to a high school assembly on Drug and Alcohol abuse by teens. He is a recovering Alcoholic and Substance Abuse user and would like very much to come and talk to the students about using alcohol and drugs. Mrs. Anne Baldwin spoke a second time to Lisa stating that she found Lisa very unprofessional in her responses to Mrs. Baldwin's questions. Mrs. Losiewiez stated that she was unaware of that and apologized if that was the way it was perceived. SCHOOL COMMITTEE NEW BUSINESS NONE OTHER NONE Motion to adiourn Motion was made to adjourn the School Committee Meeting of May 17, 2010 at 9:40 PM for the sole purpose of adjourning. Motion to close by Mr. Jim Perry 2 "d Mrs. Jean. Roll call vote Mt. Michael Trowbridgc:yes, Mrs Lisa Losiewicz:yes, Mrs.Jean Miller;yes, Mr. James Perry;yes, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil:yes. Motion U.C. 5 — 0 Respeetfrdly submitted, Janet Quinn