HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Comm Minutes 4/12/2011MANSFIELD SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Michael Trowbridge, Chairman ,r? -Cf7 ;V, 0
FrankDelVecchio, Vice Ch OFFICE
Lisa Losiewicz
Jean Miller 2 ,1l2 1,1AR I Q P 2= 2l
An Perry 11A
7:00 PM Open Session
Adjourn to
EXECUTIVE SESSION - 7:01 PM - Superintendent's Office
Adjourn to
OPEN SESSION - 7:30 PM - Room 3 A & B
7:01 PM EXECUTIVE SESSION
AGENDA
1.) Collective Bargaining Strategy / Update
Food Service, Little Hornet Daycare, MEA, Para Prof.,
SPED Drivers
7:30 PM OPEN SESSION
AGENDA
7:30 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
7:35 CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
7:40 SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
1.) Personnel - High School Principal Joe Maruszczak
2.) Dawn Langtry — School Nutrition Specialist
8:00 APPROVAL OF WARRANTS Enc.
8:05 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1.) School Committee Minutes of January 25, 2011
2.) School Committee Minutes of February 15, 2001
8:10 OLD BUSINESS
1.) 2012 Calendar / Calendar Survey Results Enc.
2.) FY'12 Update (if any)
8:30 NEW BUSINESS
1.) Request for Reverse 1 /2day Enc.
for Biology MCAS Testing Enc.
2.) Commemorative Flagpole / Funding Enc.
3.) Service Animals / Policy Enc.
4.) Field Trip Approvals (if any)
CITIZENS COMMENTS
9:00 SCHOOL COMMITTEE NEW BUSINESS
OTHER
Mansfield School Committee Meeting
Minutes for Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Town Hall, Room 311 & C
An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held at the Town Hall on Tuesday,
April 12, 2011. A motion to open the Open Meeting was made by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, 2 "d by, Mr.
DelVecchio 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 7:40 PM.
Motion U.C. 5 - 0
Members Present — roll call vote to open meeting;
Mr. Michael Trowbridge, Chairman;
yes
Mr. Frank DelVecchio, Vice Chairman;
yes
Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz,
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
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT:
Mrs. Hodges announced that MHS Principal, Dr. Joe Maruszczak, has been appointed as the new
Superintendent of Schools at the Mendon -Upton School District. Dr. Maruszczak will officially begin on
July 1, 2011. The Superintendent and School Committee wished him good luck and best wishes.
Congratulations Joe.
Mrs. Hodges recognized Mrs. Dawn Langtry, Mansfield Food Service Director, for earning, through the
School Nutrition Association, the credentials of SNS, School Nutrition Specialist, the highest national
credentials in her profession. There are over 55, 000 members nationally that make up the Association,
and only 1,050 that have earned the distinction. Dawn is one out of forty -nine directors in the state of
Massachusetts that hold this certification. Congratulations Dawn.
APPROVAL OF WARRANTS
The following warrants were presented and accepted by the School Committee on April 12, 2011,_ Salary
& Wages. #2011 -16 dated 2/04/2011, in the amount of $1,318,919.92; Goods & Services #2011 -1025
dated 2/08/2011 in the amount of $232,132.68; Salary & Wages, # 2011- 17 dated
2 /18/2011, in the amount of $1,351,061.88 ; Good & Services # 2011 -1027 dated 2 /22 /11, in the
amount of $468,866.94.
Motioned by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, 2 "d by Mr. Frank Del Vecchio.
Motion U.C. 5 — 0
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APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The Executive Minutes for January 25, 2011 were approved.
Motioned by Mr. Frank DelVecchio, 2 by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz.
Motion U.C. 5 — 0
The School Committee Minutes of February 15, 2011 were approved as amended.
Motioned by Mrs. Jean Miller, 2nd by Mr. Jim Perry.
Motion U.C. 5 — 0
OLD BUSINESS
2012 Calendar / Calendar Survey and Teacher results:
The School Committee went over the results of the surveys. Mrs. Miller found them fascinating.
Chairman, Michael Trowbridge asked that the results of the surveys be put on the web site.
The 2011 —12 School Calendar was discussed. The question arose regarding the graduation date, to
which Mrs. Miller replied that this would be based on the Com Cast Center and what date they would be
able to accommodate us.
The School Committee voted to approve the 2011 — 2012 School Calendar.
Motioned to approve the School Calendar by Mr. Frank DelVecchio, 2 "d by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz.
Motion U.C. 5 - 0
FY '12 Update:
The School Committee went over the present revised budget by school. There was discussion among the
Committee members focusing on QMS and MHS. The Principals' from the J/J and Joanne Jordan of the
Robinson increased staffing and spoke to the questions regarding the importance of the Reading
Specialists. The Robinson Elementary presently has five (5) specialists and is requesting an additional one
along with the Jordan Jackson that has one (1) Reading Specialist and is requesting at least one more.
Mr. Perry felt that it was critical to have a least one reading Specialist for each grade level at the Jordan
Jackson. Committee Chairman, Mr. Michael Trowbridge, noted that he, along with the Superintendent,
Finance Director and Committee member Mr. Frank DelVecchio, will be meeting again with the Town
Manager and Finance Committee Chairman, Mr. Andy Gazzolo, to go over the final numbers of the
budget. The School Committee may potentially have another meeting on April 26th to finalize the budget
before the Town Meeting on Thursday, May 26, 2011.
NEW BUSINESS
Request for Reverse Half Day
The high school has requested to have a reverse half day to make allowances for the MCAS Biology
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testing in May. Mr. Michael Connelly, MHS Assistant Principal, addressed the School Committee
regarding the reverse half day. Mr. Connolly noted that the buses would run on the same schedule
and that by having this reverse half day it would provide a setting for small groups of SPED students
who were taking the MCAS testing and allow for an optimum setting to achieve and do well.
Mrs. Losiewicz remarked at what a great idea this was and how well thought out it was.
The School Committee voted to approve the reverse half day.
Motioned to approve the Reverse Half Day by Mr. Frank DelVecchio, 2nd by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz.
Motion U.C. 5 — 0
Commemorative Flagpole / Funding:
A request has been made by John Hogan, Mansfield Veteran's Agent, to include the Mansfield Public
Schools and our students in a fun raising effort to erect a commemorative flagpole in honor of Corey
Shea. Corey was a Mansfield graduate and served his country honorably. The students will be asked to
bring in $1.00 each on a designated day, to support this fundraising effort. The elementary schools would
designate April 29 "' and the secondary schools would designate May 6th for this effort. This is strictly a
voluntary event and children who do participate should not bring more than $1, and those that do not want
to participate should not feel they have to.
Motioned to ap�rove the district wide fundraising for the Commemorative Flagpole by Mr. Frank
DelVecchio, 2" by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz.
Motion U.C. 5 — 0
Service Animals / Policy:
The School Committee reviewed a policy provided by MASC regarding the use of service animals in
public schools. As of March 15, 2011, all public schools are now required by Massachusetts and Federal
Regulations under the American with Disabilities Act: 28CFR Part 35, to establish a written policy
outlining procedures and guidelines for the use of service animals in the public schools.
The Superintendent recommended that the School Committee adopt this policy. This policy does require
two readings. The School Committee decided that it wanted more time to check out the policy and chose
to table this topic until another meeting.
Citizens Comments:
Mr. Wayne Smith was asking for the projected enrollments for next year as well as the Line item
breakdown for the budget. Mr. Smith was informed that all that information could be found on the
district website.
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Ms. Nancy Madonna commented on what we should be looking for in a new MHS Principal. Some of the
attributes should include leadership and innovation along with the capability to work with greater
partnerships, such as parents and have a strong knowledge in technology. Another topic brought up was
that of the Strategic Plan. Mr. Trowbridge stated that it had already gone out to bid and that he was
pretty sure that no one had been selected yet, due to everyone on both the town and schools departments
concentrating on the budget and the Town Meeting. Mrs. Hodges assured the parents that they will be
included in the Strategic Plan and that there will be a broad community participation. Mr. DelVecchio
updated the Committee regarding the Audit Committee. The 2009 books have been done but the 2010
books need to be reconciled, possibly due to the search for a new accountant.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE NEW BUSINESS
OTHER
Mrs. Hodges wanted to thank Mr. Michael Trowbridge and Mr. Frank DelVecchio for working together
with the Town Manager, Fin Com and Selectmen, by moving the budget process forward in a professional
and congenial way. Thank you so much.
Motion to adjourn
Motion was made to adjourn the School Committee Meeting of April 12, 2011 at 9:05 PM for the sole
purpose of adjourning. Motion to close by Mr. Frank DelVecchio, 2 "d by Mr. Jim Perry. Roll call vote
to close: Michael Trowbridge, yes: Mrs. Jean Miller, yes; Jim Perry, yes; Frank DelVecchio, yes: Mrs.
Lisa Losiewicz, yes.
Motion U.C. 5 - 0
Respectfully submitted,
Mmy O. Jackson
Secretary to the Superintendent
& School Committee