Salem School Committee
Minutes
Monday, February 22, 2010
7:30 p.m.
Collins Middle School
A regular meeting of the Salem School Committee was held on Monday, February 22, 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, Mr. Nate Bryant, Dr. Janet Crane, Mrs. Kerry Martin, Dr. Brendan Walsh
Members Absent: None
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 7:35 p.m.
Approval of the Agenda
Mr. Fleming 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, February 8, 2010 were presented for approval.
Mr. Fleming moved approval of the minutes of the February 8, 2010 School Committee meeting as presented. Mr. Bryant seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Questions and Comments from the Audience
Juan Espinal of 55 Butler Street, Salem, MA. addressed the School Committee and expressed his concerns about number of seats available for the dual language program at the Nathaniel Bowditch and the Saltonstall schools.
Student Representative Report – Zachary Broughton
This Thursday through Sunday, a group of students and myself will be traveling to the Boston Sheraton Hotel for a four day conference otherwise known as Harvard Model Congress. Each student has been assigned a role within the federal government and is charged with the challenge of adapting to that position. After weeks of preparation, the students will meet with over 1500 other students from across the United States and around the world, who are interested in politics, to practice and better understand the inner workings of our federal government.
Also this Thursday evening, Salem High School's own festival drama class will present their competition play “The Art of Dining” at 7 p.m. in the Auditorium. These students have worked diligently since the beginning of the year to utilize their acting abilities and compete against other student actors across the North Shore. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens.
In the next few weeks, students at Salem High are gearing up for this years Annual Volleyball Tournament. This event allows all students throughout the high school community to come together by the way of determination, competition, and excellent sportsmanship to help raise money for students who need assistance with their Athletic Fees.
March is “Music in Our Schools Month!” To celebrate, the Tri-M Music Honor Society is holding its annual contest during the month of March. During this time, SHS students and staff members can win great prizes. Each morning, beginning March 1st, Tri-M students will play a short musical selection during the morning announcements. If you know the title or composer of the piece, students and staff are encouraged to look for the Tri-M entry boxes in the cafeterias during lunch to submit their answers. The student and staff member with the most correct answers at the end of the contest, will be awarded a $25 mall gift card.
Finally for tonight, the National Honor Society is still collecting dresses for our Dress for Progress Fundraising event. So if any members of the school committee has attended a prom lately, its not too late.
Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Cameron noted the passing of former Salem Public Schools student Graham Gardner last week. He expressed the condolences of the School Department to the Gardner family.
Dr. Cameron explained that he included an article in the School Committee packet about Rett Syndrome for the School Committee to review.
Dr. Cameron reported that the position of Director of Pupil Personnel Services will be vacant at the end the school year and a screening committee has been appointed. He noted that there should be a member of the School Committee on the Search Committee. He also noted that the appointment of the Director of Pupil Personnel Services is the appointment of the School Committee and all members will be involved in the process.
Dr. Cameron requested that the School Committee refer the mater of approving the new report cards for the elementary schools to the curriculum subcommittee. He noted that the second marking period ends on March 12, 2010.
Mr. Fleming moved to refer the new report cards to the Curriculum Subcommittee. Dr. Crane seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Dr. Cameron requested that the Finance Subcommittee meet to take up the matters that were referred to them at the last School Committee meeting.
Dr. Cameron reported that Mr. Sheehan has received his professional license from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Dr. Cameron reported that he has received a request to dedicate a portion of the Salerno Automotive Building in memory of Robert Byrd. He requested that he matter be referred to the Buildings and Grounds Subcommittee for review.
Mr. Fleming moved that the request be referred to the Buildings and Grounds Subcommittee. Dr. Walsh seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Dr. Walsh congratulated Dr. Cameron on the letter he sent to Senator Scott Brown.
Curriculum Report
Seton Wood and Teeghan von Burn made a presentation on the Read Facilitators, highlighting programs offered to students and families, in the Salem Public Schools through the generosity of the Read Foundation.
Mayor Driscoll noted that we are fortunate to have the support of the Read Foundation and noted the new Hydroponics Lab at Salem High School. She encouraged the science teachers to try and coordinate with the high school teachers to expose the elementary and middle school students to the lab at the high school.
Finance Report
Mr. Sheehan reported on Special Education Tuition and Photocopying Equipment leases.
Mr. Carr moved to refer the matter of the photocopy equipment contract to the finance subcommittee. Dr. Walsh seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Budget Transfer
The following budget transfer was requested:
Amount: $7,000.00 Pupil Personnel Services
Amount: $35,005 Central Office
$21,348 13701331-5320 Bilingual Ed – Cont Services
$13,567 13252030-5320 General Ops –Cont. Services
To: $35,005 13990161-5324 Prof Develop Tuition
Reason: In December, the administration faced a contractual obligation to pay course reimbursements to teachers, as required by the collective bargaining Agreement. The original plan for FY10 was to pay the course reimbursement from the Title II-A Teacher Quality grant. However, after review it was determined that the administration could not use FT10 grant funds to pay for courses completed in FY09. This expense had not been included in the operating budget and therefore the reimbursement was charged to two contracted service accounts that were funded. The budget and subsequent expense transfer will place these expenditures in the professional development account where they belong.
Mr. Fleming moved approval of the budget transfer. Dr. Walsh seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Deliberation on the School Department Warrant:
The following warrants were presented for approval.
February 11, 2010 in the amount of $560,673.67
Mr. Fleming moved approval of the warrants in the amounts listed. Mr. Carr seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Action Items
a. Deliberation on the first reading of the revised policy on the Use of Cellular Telephones.
Dr. Crane moved approval, seconded by Mr. Carr. The motion carried.
Mr. Carr recommended that the language be amended for the second reading to replace the word “communication” with the word “electronic”.
b. Deliberation on the approval of the recommendation of the Superintendent to hire a full time 1-1 paraprofessional at the Early Childhood Center 5 hours per day / 5 days per week at the rate of $13.11 per hour
Mr. Fleming moved approval, seconded by Mr. Carr. The motion carried.
c. Deliberation on the approval of the recommendation of the Superintendent to hire a full time 1-1 paraprofessional at the Horace Mann Lab School 6 hours per day / 5 days per week at the rate of $13.11 per hour
Mr. Fleming moved approval, seconded by Mr. Carr. The motion carried.
School Committee Reports
Mr. Fleming moved to adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing contract negotiations and the School Committee will be returning to open session this evening. Dr. Walsh seconded the motion. Mayor Driscoll called for a roll call vote as follows:
Mrs. Martin Yes
Dr. Walsh Yes
Mr. Fleming Yes
Dr. Crane Yes
Mr. Carr Yes
Mr. Bryant Yes
Mayor Driscoll Yes
The motion carried (7-0).
The School Committee reconvened the meeting at 8:55 p.m.
Personnel
Mr. Fleming addressed the School Committee and thanked the members of the Personnel Subcommittee for their work on negotiating a contract with Superintendent Cameron. Mr. Fleming reported that the Personnel Subcommittee is recommending that the Superintendents contract be renewed for a term of three years at a salary of $150,000 for 10/11 and a 2% increase each of the following two years. Mr. Fleming also noted that negotiations with the Superintendent were a pleasure.
Mr. Fleming moved that the School Committee approve the recommendation of the Personnel Subcommittee for a three year contract with Dr. William Cameron as Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Crane seconded the motion. Mayor Driscoll called for a roll call vote as follows:
Mrs. Martin Yes
Dr. Walsh Yes
Mr. Fleming Yes
Dr. Crane Yes
Mr. Carr Yes
Mr. Bryant Yes
Mayor Driscoll Yes
The motion carried (7-0).
School Committee Concerns and Resolutions
Mr. Carr congratulated Mr. Sheehan on getting his certification as a School Business Administrator.
Questions and Comments from the Audience Regarding the January 25, 2010 Agenda
Collins Middle School Principal Mary Manning addressed the School Committee and noted that the play this year is Bye Bye Birdie and she will be performing as usual. Ms. Manning also reported that the Hearts for Haiti night at Collins Middle School raised about $5,400 and after the bills are paid they hope to donate $5,000.
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 9:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by:
_________________________
Eileen M. Sacco, Secretary
Salem School Committee
Approved by the Salem School Committee March 8, 2010
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