Salem School Committee
Regular Meeting Minutes
Monday, April 5, 2010
A regular meeting of the Salem School Committee was held on Monday, April 5, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. in the School Committee Chambers at Collins Middle School, 29 Highland Avenue, Salem, Massachusetts.
Members Present: Mayor Kimberley Driscoll, Dr. Janet Crane, Nate Bryant, Mrs. Kerry Martin, and Mr. Kevin Carr,
Members Absent: Mr. James Fleming, Dr. Brendan Walsh
Others Present: Dr. William Cameron, Superintendent, Alyce Davis, Assistant Superintendent. Business Administrator Timothy Sheehan and Eileen Sacco, Secretary
Dr. Crane called the Regular Meeting of the Salem School Committee to order at 7:30 p.m.
Approval of the Agenda
Mr. Carr moved to approve the agenda, seconded by Mr. Bryant. The motion carried.
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Salem School Committee meeting held on Monday, March 22, 2010 were presented for approval.
Mr. Carr moved approval of the minutes of the March 22, 2010 School Committee meeting as presented. Mr. Bryant seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Public Hearing on School Choice for 2010-2011 School Year
Dr. Crane called the Public Hearing on School Choice to order.
Dr. Cameron explained that the School District is required annually to determine if they will make slots available to students who live outside of the Salem Public Schools District. He noted that Salem does not currently participate in school choice.
Dr. Cameron recommended that the School Committee vote to NOT be a School Choice Community for the 2010-2011 school year.
There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Mr. Carr moved to close the public hearing. Mr. Bryant seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Mr. Carr moved that the School Committee approve the recommendation of the Superintendent that Salem NOT be a school choice community for the 2010-2011 school year. Mr. Bryant seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Questions and Comments from the Audience
Alexa Ogno of 182 Federal Street addressed the School Committee and asked if the Horace Mann school would be open next year.
Dr. Cameron explained that he hopes to have an answer by April 13, 2010 when there is a meeting scheduled with the Horace Mann PTO. He also noted that he understands the hardship of parents not knowing if the school will be open. He noted that the school budget has not been completed yet because there are still too many unknowns regarding state aid. He further noted that Mayor Driscoll has been watching the status of local aid closely.
Ms. Ogno stated that she has heard from parents and teachers at Horace Mann that the chances are slim that the HMLS will close and expressed concern that the parents are being used to help get the meals tax passed by the City Council. She referred to a letter from Mayor Driscoll to Councillor Ronan.
Student Representative Report
Salem High School Student Representative Zach Broughton addressed the School Committee and reported on the following events and activities at Salem High School:
First off, myself and fellow Senior Manny Cruz will be attending the Massachusetts Student Government Day in Boston on Friday. We will be working with Salem Representative Keenan to ensure that we represent our peers accurately and appropriately as possible.
Student Government day for the rest of Salem High School will take place next week on April 13th. This will provide many Seniors and several underclassmen the chance of better understanding the different elements of our city's municipality by shadowing its members.
Salem High School's Day of Silence will take place on April 16th. This is a day in which students may choose to refrain from all means and methods of communication in order to represent the silence that our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender peers are forced into everyday by society. This event is sponsored by Salem High School's very own Embrace Group.
Also next week, Seniors Ashlee Talbot and Jessica Tower are collecting donations for the Salvation Army flea market which is going to take place in May.
Finally, the arena scheduling for Sophomores and Juniors for their classes next year will take place next week in the high school library.
Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Cameron reported that he and Mayor Driscoll attended a meeting of the MSBA last week to discuss the possibility of getting some relief for the water problems that occurred at the Collins Middle School and the Saltonstall School during the recent rainstorms. He explained that the MSBA has voted to establish a fund to repair buildings that have issues of water infiltration and he is hopeful that the Saltonstall School will be in line for funding. He also reported that MSBA has determined that Salem is eligible for 78% reimbursement under the new guidelines.
Dr. Cameron reported that the district is moving forward to implement a phonics program next. Year explained that this program was recommended by the Michelman Packard study and noted that Dr. Davis has spent a great deal of time researching programs and will be reporting more on this to the School Committee at a future meeting.
Mayor Driscoll reported to the School Committee and those present that she is anticipating a $900,000 cut in local aid from the state and explained what that means in terms of the city budget. She noted that health insurance will be increasing and the Quinn bill is not being funded by the State so the city will have to pick up the cost of that as well. She also noted that new growth in revenue is not anticipated to be robust and noted that the addition of the local option meals tax is estimated to bring in an additional $900,000 to the city if the council would pass it.
Curriculum Report
Dr. Davis reported that as Dr. Cameron mentioned in his report the Salem Public Schools will be implementing the phonics program “Super Kids” across the district in grades K – 1- 3 She noted that it has been piloted this year at the Witchcraft Heights Elementary School and it has been successful. She also noted that a more detailed presentation on the program will be given at the April 26, 2010 School Committee meeting.
Dr. Davis also reported that Salem High School Dean Andrew Wulf will make a presentation at the April 26, 2010 School Committee meeting on the 9th Grade Transition program at Salem High School.
Finance Report
Budget Transfer
Amount $200,000 Business Office
From: $200,000 13530121-5211 Electricity
To: $80,000 13640181-5320 Contract services
$65,000 13640181-5332 SPED transportation
$20,000 13252030-5277 Photocopier lease
$22,000 13252030-5303 Legal services
$10,000 13482021-5306 Advertising
$3,000 13570141-5333 Pupil transportation
Dr. Crane moved to approve the transfer as requested. Mr. Carr seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Amount $2,000 Horace Mann Elementary School
From: $2,000 13570620-5150 Fringe/stipend
To: $2,000 13990621-5317 Educator training
Dr. Crane moved to approve the transfer as requested. Mr. Carr seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Amount $400 Carlton Elementary School
From: $400 13570421-5511 Textbooks
To: $400 13570421-5514 Instructional supplies
Dr. Crane moved to approve the transfer as requested. Mr. Carr seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Deliberation on the School Department Warrant:
April 1, 2010 in the amount of $218,975.08
Dr. Crane moved to approve the warrant as presented. Mr. Carr seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Finance Presentation
Mr. Sheehan made a presentation on DESE Function Code formats and a proposed budget format for the FY11 budget.
Action Items
a. Deliberation on the third and final reading of the revised policy on
Transportation.
Dr. Crane moved to approve the transfer as requested. Mr. Carr seconded the motion. The motion carried.
b. Deliberation on the third and final reading of the policy on Student
Records
Dr. Crane moved approval. Mr. Carr seconded the motion. The motion carried.
c. Deliberation on the approval of the out of state field trip for the SHS
Culinary Arts Students to Johnson and Wales on May 3, 2010
Dr. Crane moved approval. Mr. Carr seconded the motion. The motion carried.
d. Deliberation on the approval of the Salem High School After Prom
Party on May 14, 2010 at the Lynch Van Otterloo YMCA, Marblehead,
MA, from Midnight to 6:00 a.m.
Mr. Carr moved approval. Mrs. Martin seconded the motion. The motion carried.
e. Deliberation on the approval of a full time SPED paraprofessional at
the Bates School – 6 hours per day/5 days per week at a rate of
$13.11
Mr. Carr moved approval. Mrs. Martin seconded the motion. The motion carried.
f. Deliberation on the approval of the Addendum to the Salem Teachers
Contract Appendix B relative to stipends for the 2009-2010 school year
Mrs. Martin moved approval. Mr. Carr seconded the motion. The motion carried.
g. Deliberation on the approval of the Superintendent’s recommendation
to revise the Saltonstall School calendar to accommodate July 5, 2010
being a legal holiday
Dr. Crane moved approval. Mr. Carr seconded the motion. The motion carried.
h. Deliberation on the second reading of the proposal to allow a plaque to be placed in an automotive classroom at the Salerno Automotive Center in honor of Robert Byrd, recognizing his 29 years of service in the Salem Public Schools.
Mr. Bryant moved approval. Mr. Carr seconded the motion. The motion carried.
School Committee Reports
Finance Subcommittee
Mr. Carr reported that the Finance Subcommittee met with School Business Administrator Timothy Sheehan and reviewed the proposed budget format for the 2011 budget. He explained the format that Mr. Sheehan would like to use and noted that it would be presented at the next meeting.
Mr. Carr also reported that the Finance Subcommittee reviewed Student Activity Accounts with Mr. Sheehan and he is recommending that more accounts be used for the schools. He explains that we should be consistent with the city.
Dr. Crane moved to refer the matter of line item transfers to the Policy Subcommittee, seconded by Mr. Fleming. The motion carried.
Buildings and Grounds Subcommittee
Mr. Bryant reported that the Buildings and Grounds Subcommittee met this evening to consider the request to name the outdoor basketball court at Salem High School in memory of James Hubisz, a veteran of the Vietnam War who was killed in the line of duty in1966. He explained that this request was made at the request of the Councillor Michael Sosnowski on behalf of the Salem Veterans Community and the SHS JROTC program. He reported that the Buildings and Grounds Subcommittee recommends approval of the request and he is recommending that the first of three readings to approve this be approved this evening.
Mr. Bryant moved to approve the recommendation of the Buildings and Grounds Subcommittee to name the outdoor basketball court at Salem High School in memory of James Hubisz. Mr. Bryant seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Curriculum
Mrs. Martin reported that she would like to schedule a Curriculum Subcommittee meeting to review the comments that have been received regarding the new report cards. She also thanked Dr. Davis for the FAQ sheet that she prepared on the report cards and distributed to parents.
Dr. Crane suggested that the FAQ sheet be posted on the Salem Public Schools website.
Mrs. Davis noted that he FAQ’s were sent home to parents and distributed at parent teacher conferences.
School Committee Concerns and Resolutions
Student Advisory Board
Mrs. Martin reported that she and Dr. Crane and Mr. Bryant met earlier this evening with members of the Salem High School Student Advisory Board. She reported that the students would like to see the Black Cat open after school for students who are waiting for after school activities to start.
Mrs. Martin also reported that the Service Learning Unity Celebration will be held on May 6, 2010 at Salem High School.
Questions and Comments from the Audience Regarding the March 22, 2010 Agenda
There were no questions or comments from the audience this evening.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the School Committee this evening, Dr. Walsh moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Carr. The motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by:
_________________________
Eileen M. Sacco, Secretary
Salem School Committee
Approved by the Salem School Committee – April 26, 2010
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