THE ARLINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2004
Present: Paul Schlichtman, Chair Joani LaMachia
Jeff Thielman, Vice Chair Suzanne Owayda
Martin Thrope, Secretary Sue Sheffler
Barbara Goodman
Supt: Kay Donovan
CFO: Rob Addelson
Asst. Supt.: Joanne Gurry
Sp. Ed. Director: Marilyn Bisbicos
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm.
BUDGET WORKING SESSION
Mr. Thielman facilitated the working session of the meeting. He explained that the impetus for the workshop was the challenge from the Finance Committee to the School Committee to develop a multi-faceted budget for a three-year period.
The result is a document encompassing The Arlington Public Schools, 6 District Goals and 27 performance objectives. Mr. Thielman explained the format of the session and the timetable.
1) Supt. Donovan, Asst Supt. Gurry and CFO Addelson spoke on the “Estimated Budgetary Impact of Implementation of Arlington Public Schools Goals and Objectives: FY06-FY08”. Supt. Donovan reviewed the goals and stated that it represents hundreds of hours by staff and that it is a document of do-ables. Joani LaMachia and Joanne Gurry reviewed the chronology of the initiation of the goals and the process to formalize, vote, and adopt the district goals. Gerry Carmody described how the district goals committee took the strategic plan and created the performance objectives. Rob Addelson explained the format and the financial impact of the objectives.
2) Questions and answers from School Committee and Staff.
3) What to do with the information and where do we go from here? The consensus was that the document has to be sold in a totally comprehensive way. Supt. Donovan stated that if approved the document will be integrated into the budget document, presented and defended at Town Meeting; and then the Town will need to decide if it is willing to pay to support the document. Mr. Schlichtman pointed out that it must be integrated with other district priorities to restore service levels at the FY03 budget.
Break
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
None
REPORT ON ATHLETIC BUDGET
Mr. Schlichtman read the article and the editorial in the Arlington Advocate in which the paper supports the AHS athletic program.
Athletic Director Rob DiLoreto addressed the Committee expressing his alarm at the alleged inequities in the AHS athletic program and assured the Committee that he and his staff work very hard to ensure equal opportunities to both the boys’ and girls’ teams. Mr. DiLoreto reviewed supporting data revelant to the issue:
¨ Addressed the issues concerning uniforms- there is a rotating plan for the purchase of uniforms for each team.
¨ Analyzed and scrutinized the athletic opportunities for girls vs. boys and made note that with 489 boys and 480 girls participating in high school sports programs, AHS is one of the few schools in the GBL that has a 50% student participation.
¨ Will form a committee that would report annually to the School Committee (tentatively in May) on any issues pertaining to Title IX.
Specialized Student Services
Ms. Owayda reported on the Specialized Student Services Subcommittee meeting that discussed the alleged inequity issue. The subcommittee discussed policy JJ Co-Curricular and Extracurricular Activities and stated that the policy & procedures subcommittee would also look at the policy and consider the suggestion of adding a Title IX report. Mr. DiLoreto reported on the issues (i.e. lighting and team inequity) and explained how each was resolved or in the process of being resolved. The issue of cost effectiveness of the lights, off-season use, and the availability for other Town users was also discussed.
Ms. Owayda stated that the next steps include the set up of a Title IX committee and a review of how the athletic budget is reported in the budget book. The specialized student services subcommittee meeting will address private funding between girls’ and boys’ athletics and the impact of using lights for night games to the operating budget.
Ms. Goodman voiced concern over misinformation presented before the committee, administration, and the public without verification or communication with the appropriate school personnel. Ms. Goodman suggested that the policy & procedure subcommittee look at the process part of the public participation policy and consider if the policy should define and encourage the public to speak to the appropriate staff person on a particular issue.
Ms. Goodman acknowledged that the public is encouraged to address the School Committee at anytime on any issue. Mr. Schlichtman pointed out the impossibility of enforcing such a policy change due to the fact that it would violate the First Amendment.
COMMITTEE VOTES
¨ Warrant Approval On a motion by Ms. LaMachia seconded by Mr. Thielman it was
Voted to approved warrant # 05056 in the amount of $430,365.51.
Voted 6-1-0 (Abstention by Mr. Schlichtman due to a conflict of interest).
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
¨ Policy & Procedures
Mr. Thrope brought forth the following policies for a second reading and approval
Policy BEDB Agenda Format/Preparation and Dissemination
On a motion by Mr. Thrope seconded by Mr. Thielman it was unanimously
Voted to approve the amendment of the policy for the addition of the Consent Agenda to the agenda
¨ Policy BDH School Committee Staff Assistants
On a motion by Mr. Thrope seconded by Ms. Owayda it was unanimously
Voted to approve the proposed changes, the last sentence in the 1st paragraph and the addition of paragraphs two and three.
¨ Policy BDH-E School Committee Staff Assistant Evaluation Tool
On a motion by Mr. Thrope, seconded by Ms. LaMachia it was unanimously
Voted to approve the adoption of Policy BDH-E School Committee Staff Assistant Evaluation Tool.
¨ Policy CL/CM – Administrative Reports/School District Annual Report
On a motion by Mr. Thrope seconded by Mr. Thielman it was unanimously
Voted to amend policy CL/CM by deleting the last sentence of the first paragraph as well as items numbered 1 & 2 and to add a 2nd and 3rd paragraph.
The following policies were presented as a 1st reading
¨ Policy KHBA – referred back to the policy & procedure subcommittee for further review
¨ Policy CBI Evaluation Of The Superintendent policy
¨ Policy CBI-E – Evaluation of the Superintendent Evaluation Tool
¨ Policy ECB – Buildings & Grounds Maintenance
¨ Policy EEAA – Safe Travel Policy-Walkers and Riders
¨ Policy EF – Food Services Management
¨ Policy FA/FB/FBB – Facilities Planning Enrollment Projections
Mr. Thrope stated that the subcommittee has completed its targeted sections of the policy manual (A-F) and will continue on to the next. Mr. Schlichtman pointed out that the subcommittee completed its allotted section and noted that the full School Committee has spent a considerable amount of time on the policy manual. Mr. Schlichtman continued that he does not see the need to continue the review at the same pace and stated that the workload of the full Committee will increase with its focus on the budget and the Superintendent search.
Mr. Thrope stated that the next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 9th at 7:00 pm and acknowledged that the full committee can at any time indicate their desire to slow down the review schedule.
¨ Superintendent Search
Ms. Owayda reported that the superintendent selection committee will meet on November 10th to discuss and review the ground rules and process for narrowing down the candidate pool. There are 34 applicants and resumes will be reviewed through November 22nd. The selection committee will meet on December 2nd and interviews for the semi-finalists will take place the week of December 6th and 13th. The list of finalists will be submitted to the full School Committee the week of December 20th .
SECRETARY’S REPORT
Mr. Thrope reviewed correspondence
¨ Approval of Minutes: Regular Meeting of October 12, 2004
On a motion by Mr. Thrope seconded by Ms. LaMachia it was unanimously
Voted to approve the regular meeting minutes of October 12, 2004.
NEW BUSINESS
None
On a motion by Ms. Goodman seconded by Ms. Owayda it was
Voted to enter executive Session for the purpose of negotiations and a legal with no further business to be conducted upon return to open session except to adjourn. Roll Call: Unanimous
Executive session from: 10:10 pm to 10:40 pm.
On a motion by Mr. Thielman seconded by Ms. Sheffler it was unanimously
Voted to adjourn at 10:40 pm
Submitted by
Karen Tassone
Committee Secretary
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