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Home My WebLink AboutSchool Comm Minutes 2/23/2010MANSFIELD SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING Jean Miller, Chairman Lisa Losimicz, Vice Chairman Frank DelVecchio Jim Perry Michael Trowbrirlre TUESDAY, February 23, 2010 7:30 PM Open Session Adjourn to EXECUTIVE SESSION - 7:00 PM - MBC Room — Town Hall Adjourn to OPEN SESSION - 7:30 PM - Roonz 3 A & B 7:00 PM EXECUTIVE SESSION AGENDA 1.) Personnel 7:30 PM OPEN SESSION AGENDA 7:30 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 7:35 CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED 7:35 SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT 1.) Spotlight on Students 2.) Representatives Betty Poirier & Jay Barrows 7:45 -7:55 CITIZENS COMMENTS 8:00 APPROVAL OF WARRANTS 8:05 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1.) Executive Session Minutes for Oct. 20, 2009- as amended 2.) School Committee Minutes for Oct.20, 2009- as amended 3.) Executive Session Minutes for Dec. 15, 2009- as amended 4.) School Committee Minutes for Dec.15, 2009- as amended 5.) Executive Session Minutes for Jan. 12, 2010 - Budget Meeting 6.) School Committee Minutes for Jan. 12, 2010 - Budget Meeting 7.) Executive Session Minutes for Jan. 26, 2010 8.) School Committee Minutes for Jan. 26, 2010 8:10 NEW BUSINESS 1.) 9:00 OTHER Enc. Enc. FY' 11 Budget • Identify plan to close the budget gap Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, February 23, 2010 Town Hall, Room 3B & C An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held at the Town Hall on Tuesday, February 23, 2010. The meeting was called to order and opened by Mr. DelVecchio 2 "d by Mr. Trowbridge A motion was made by Mrs. Miller, 2 "d Mrs. Losiewicz; A Roll Call vote was taken and the Open Session meeting was called to order by Chairman, Mrs. Jean Miller at 7:40 PM. Members Present — roll call vote to oven meeting: Mrs. Jean Miller, Chairman - yes Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, Vice Chairman - yes Mr. Frank DelVecchio yes Mr. Michael Trowbridge yes Mr. Jim Perry yes Also Present: Mrs. Brenda Hodges, Superintendent of Schools Mr. Edward Vozzella, Director of Finance Correspondence: Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz read a letter to the School Committee from Massachusetts Agricultural & Science, naming Jordan / Jackson teacher, Mr. Robert Cote as the 2009 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. Superintendent's Report: Spotlight on Students: Several students at Qualter's Middle School and Mansfield High School were recognized for their outstanding achievement in the Visual Ails. These QMS students were: Alyson Bailey and Elizabeth Boyer. The MHS students were: Alexandra Hastings, Tahreem Karim, Kathryn Wirth, Alex Gemme and Ashley Traphagen. Kevin Driscoll, Jonathan Walker and Emma Dion were recognized in the Boston Herald's Winter Insert for their poetic writings. Molly Trowbridge and Madison Letendre were applauded for their winning essays for the Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest. Congratulations to each of these students for their tremendous achievements. Representatives Betty Poirier & Jay Barrows: State Representatives, Jay Barrows and Betty Poirier, were invited to attend the School Committee meeting to provide information regarding the FY' 11 Budget projections from the state, information regarding the Expanded SIMS reporting and the state health insurance. They shared the process by which the Governor, House of Representatives and the Senate utilize to determine the final budget that is released in late May or early June. The predictions leaned towards the final budget being reduced from that of the present budget proposed by the Governor. Mrs. Poirier and Mr. Barrows committed to providing any assistance possible with the cost of purchasing a new software system for the district that is needed to comply with DESE regulations to expand the SIMS reporting fields by June 30, 2011. The estimated cost of the software is $80,000. They also provided an update on the state health insurance changes. S. C. Minutes Pnee 2 Approval of Warrants The following warrants were presented and accepted by the School Committee on February 23, 20101 Salary & Wages, # 2010 -15 dated 01 -08 -2010, in the amount of $1,265,653.99; Good & Services, #2010 -1031 dated 01 -12 -2010 in the amount of $459,732.72; Salary & Wages, #2010 -16 dated 01 -22- 2010, in the amount of $1,293,814.30; Good & Services, #2010 -1035 dated 01 -26 -2010 in the amount of $116,649.04. Motion to accept by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, 2nd by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz. Motion U.C. 5 - 0 Approval of Minutes: The Executive Minutes of October 20, 2009 were approved as amended Motioned by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, 2 "d by Mr. Jim Perry. Motion U.C. 3 — 0 — I.( not present for that meeting) The School Committee Minutes of October 20, 2009 were approved as amended. Motioned by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, 2 "d by Mr. Jim Perry. Motion U.C. 3 — 0 - 2 ( not present for that meeting) The Executive Minutes of December 15, 2009 were approved as amended Motioned by Mr. DelVecchio 2nd by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz. Motion U.C. 5 — 0 The School Committee Minutes of December 15, 2009 were approved as amended. Motioned by Mr. DelVecchio 2"d by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz. Motion U.C. 5 — 0 The Executive Minutes of January 12, 2010 — Budget Meeting - were approved. Motioned by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, 2 "d by Mr. DelVecchio. Motion U.C. 5 — 0 The School Committee Minutes January 12, 2010 - Budget Meeting of were approved. Motioned by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz 2nd by Mr. Jim Perry. Motion U.C. 5 — 0 The Executive Minutes of January 26, 2010 were approved. Motioned by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, 2 "d by Mr. DelVecchio. Motion U.C. 5 — 0 The School Committee Minutes of January 26, 2010 were approved as amended. Motioned by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, 2 nd by Mr. DelVecchio. Motion U.C. 5 — 0 S. C. Minutes Pare 3 NEW BUSINESS Field Trip to New York: QMS Principal Marry Ellen Mega, has requested permission for a field trip to New York with the 7th grade class to attend the Miracle Worker at the Circle in the Square Theater in New York City. The cost for the show and transportation would be $110.00 per person. The number of students anticipated to go on this day trip will be between 50 and 100 students. It was requested by the School Committee that there be a 10 — I chaperone to student ratio along with making provisions for students that cannot afford to go but would like to. Motion was made to accept by Mr. Michael Trowbridge and 2 "d by Mr. Frank DelVecchio. (Subject to 1 -10 chaperone to student ratio.) Motion U.C. 5 - 0 FY I II Budget: Mrs. Hodges provided the School Committee with an outline of the reductions in staffing and programs that would be required to close the $53M budget gap for FY' 11. This list is posted on the district website. The School Committee voted to accept the proposed reductions that are contained in Tier 1 of the document posted online. You will see that items contained in Tiers 2 -4 are not recommended by the Superintendent, but rather outlined to identify the steps that would be required to close the budget gap. You should also note that if the School Committee voted to exercise all of the options contained in Tiers 2 -4, the remaining gap would still be $938,500. This would require reducing the staff by an additional 21 to close the remaining gap. During the discussion by the School Committee, Mr. Frank DelVecchio spoke regarding the possible need for an override. He noted that, if an override is needed, only the Selectmen can put an override question on the ballot. With two seats up in the May election, and the candidate filing deadline approaching, he urged those in the audience and watching on television to speak to candidates to be sure they were at least open to an idea of an override. If candidates were not willing to consider an override, the deadline for filing nomination papers is March 23. The School Committee had a lengthy discussion regarding the implementation of activity and athletic fees. Upon the close of this discussion, the School Committee voted to implement these fees with the details to be determined. The Superintendent has stated throughout this year the challenges of the FY' 1 I Budget. It is clearly evident from the list of options available that closing the budget gap through reductions will do more than decimate the Mansfield School District. It is the hope of the Superintendent and the School Committee that all factions of the school and town will be able to work together to resolve these issues. The students and the town are at grave risk. Mrs. Hodges as well as the School Committee remain optimistic that, together, the outcome will resolve these issues in a positive manner. Motion to accept made by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, 2"d by Mr. Frank DelVecchio. Motion U.C. 5 - 0 Other: S. C. Minutes Page 4 Motion to adiourn Motion was made to adjourn the School Committee Meeting of February 23, 2010 at 10:00 PM for the sole purpose of adjourning. Motion by Mr. Frank DelVecchio, 2nd by Michael Trowbridge. Roll call to close: Jean Miller, yes: Michael Trowbridge, yes: Frank DelVecchio, yes: Lisa Losiewicz, yes; Mr. Jim Perry, yes. Motion U.C. 5 - 0 Respectfully submitted, Mary O. Jackson Secretary to the Superintendent