2000-04-10BEVERLY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS
April 10, 2000
A regular meeting of the Beverly School Committee was held on Monday, April 10,2000,
at Edwards Elementary School, Beverly, MA.
Members Present:
Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Brusil, Mrs. Coburn, Mr. McHugh,
Mrs. Norris, Mayor ScanIon and Mr. Cahill.
Members Absent: None
Also in Attendance:
William Lupini, Superintendent of Schools,
Dr. James Hayes, Assistant Superintendent, and
Mrs. Judy Mulligan, School Business Manager.
President Cahill called the meeting to order at 7:20 PM.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by President Cahill and Destination Imagination
team members.
RECOGNITIONS
President Cahill and Superintendent Lupini introduced members of Destination Imagination
(formerly Odyssey of the Mind) teams and their coaches, acknowledging their
accomplishments at recent regional competition.
The team of Alison Levin-Rector, Laura Macomber, Sara O'Hare, Rachel Decruz and Eva
Gougian (Coaches: Nancy Levin and Pamela Gougian) won first place and will be going
to Ames, Iowa to participate in the national competition.
Other teams recognized for winning first place at the recent regional competition were:
Shannon Walker, Jane Cooper, Emily Craighead, Allison Hartman, Katie Donahue,
Olivia Jones and Rachel Kalman (Coaches: Sue Kelly and Andy Cooper)
Wes Harrison, Ali Theriault, Taylor Marton, Matt Macomber and Ben Kemmer
(Coaches: Parker Harrison, Tim Marton and Ann Marton)
Taylor Harrison, J. P. Krueger, Drew Marquart, Kyle Theriault, Jenn Ames, CaseyThomas
and Andrew Walker (Coach: Doug Walker)
Special recognition was accorded to Bridget Palardy and Kristjan Justesen, BHS students
who obtained the highest possible score on the 1999 administration of MCAS. Two other
BHS students will be recognized at the May School Committee meeting.
Ap~ m, 2ooo
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Kristen Ballentine, Grade 5 student, Hannah Elementary School, was recently selected to
have her poster, "How My Family Keeps Healthy", entered in state competition. Bill Burke,
Department of Public Health, presented Kristen with a Certificate of Achievement.
A brief recess was declared at 7:32 PM.
The Committee reconvened at 7:40 PM.
OTHER RECOGNITION/COMMUNICATIONS
· Mr. Cahill participated in the Memorial Middle School Nature' s Classroom trip and
applauded the staff and the content of the program.
· The McKeown Science Fair was a great success.
· Congratulations to the BHS Jazz Combo on receipt of a Silver Medal at recent competition.
REPORT FROM STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE
There was no student in attendance to present a report.
RECORDS OF MEETINGS :
· It was moved by Mrs. Brusil and seconded to approve the records of the regular meeting held
March 13, 2000, as presented. Unanimously voted.
· It was moved by Mrs. Brusil and seconded to approve the records of the joint meeting with the
Beverly City Council held March 29, 2000, as amended, page three to clarify the major changes
in the FY01 budget. Unanimously voted.
COMMUNICATIONS
Members received communications on the following topics:
· Ayers School - successful work day with school community to develop the playground
· Graduation requirements
· Redistricting and grade configuration
· Building "glitches" at the Ayers School
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Job Descriptions
Superintendent Lupini presented drafts of job descriptions for the following positions:
Director of Athletics, Health and Physical Education (K-12)
Administrator of Pupil Personnel Services
Out-of-District Coordinator for Special Education
Director of Personnel
Department Chairpersons (High School)
Members consensually agreed to consider the job descriptions at a later time after the budget
has been finalized and approved.
Rggtfiar Meeting
April 10, 2O00
Page 3
Anticipated Job Openings
Superintendent Lupini requested permission to hire individuals for fifteen (15) positions,
part of the FY2001 budget process, advertised as anticipated openings:
Media Specialist, Hannah Elementary School
Language Based Special Education Teacher, District Program, Middle Level
Life Skills Special Education Teacher, District Program, Middle Level
Life Skills Special Education Teacher, District Program, Elementary Level
Reading Teacher, Briscoe Middle School
Foreign Language Teacher, Briscoe Middle School
Foreign Language Teacher, Memorial Middle School
Elementary Music Teacher
Elementary An Teacher
Elementary Instrumental Music Teacher
Director of Athletics, Health and Physical Education (K-12)
Director of Athletics, Health and Physical Education (K- 12)
Out-of-District Coordinator for Special Education
Special Education Team Leader:
Director of Personnel
It was moved by Mrs. Brusil and seconded to grant the Administration permission to
hire a Life Skills Special Education Teacher (Middle School), and a Language Based
Special Education Teacher (Middle School). Motion defeated, with Mrs. Brusil and
Mrs. Coburn voting in favor of the motion.
Modular Classrooms
· Upon the recommendation of the Administration and the Standing Committee on
Finance and Facilities, it was moved by Mrs. Brusil and seconded to request that the
City Council declare two (2) modular classrooms, presently located at Cove
Elementary School, as surplus so they may be moved off-site. Motion defeated, with
Mrs. Brusil voting in favor of the motion.
School Choice
· Upon the recommendation of the Administration and the Standing Committee on
Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Life, it was moved by Mrs. Coburn and seconded
to set the following as maximum numbers allowable for school choice during the
2000-2001 school year:
Grades K-5
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
Grade 9
Grade 10
Grade 11
Grade 12
No school choice
No school choice
Memorial - 6; Briscoe - 0
Memorial - 10; Briscoe 1 (continuing student)
4 (continuing students)
10 (continuing students)
14 (continuing students)
10 ( continuing students )
Regular Meeting
April 10, 2000
Page 4
Note: Continuing student slots cannot be filled by new students, that is, should the
continuing student opt to return to their home district, the designated slot would not
be filled by a new applicant.
Unanimously voted.
Presentation on "BLAST" (Beverly Lobbying Against Sounding of Trainhorns)
Joan Johnson presented information on the BLAST program and encouraged the School
Committee to write letters to federal officials in opposition to the effort. Mrs. Johnson
stated the blowing of horns so many times during each day would have a negative impact
on the community, and use of the DARE officer and teachers in schools to reinforce safety
at and around train tracks and crossings would be a much more positive approach. The
Committee deferred any discussion or action on this request until the next meeting.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Elementary Redistricting Transition Advisory Committee
Mr. Lupini stated a meeting will be held Tuesday, April 12, 2000 at 7:00 PM.
Career and College Advisory Committee:
Mr. Cahill reported the committee is in the process of gathering information.
The next meeting will held April 13, 2000 at 6:30 PM at the High School Library.
Grade Configuration Committee
Superintendent Lupini will meet with middle school principals this week to discuss
expansion of the committee, and establish a meeting schedule.
Hurd Stadium Advisory Committee
Mr. McHugh reported a meeting was held and the bid process for new stand has begun.
Financing will be discussed further at the next meeting.
Standing Committee on Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Life
Mrs. Bell reported on the meeting held April 3, 2000. The next meeting will be held
Monday, May 1, 2000 at 7:00 PM in the School Committee Conference Room.
Standing Committee on Finance and Facilities
Mrs. Brusil announced a meeting will be held Tuesday, April 11 at 6:00 PM in
the School Committee Room, Briscoe Middle School. A Public Hearing on the
proposed School Department Budget will be held on Monday, April 24, 2000 at
7:00 PM in the Beverly High School Auditorium.
Subcommittee on Negotiations
Mrs. Coburn reported an organizational meeting with Unit A members was held
April 5, 2000, and future meetings have been scheduled for May 10 and May 24
at 6:00 PM in the School Committee Room, Briscoe Middle School.
Regular Meeting
April 10, 2000
Page 5
Executive Session
· It was moved by Mrs. Brusil and seconded to go into Executive Session to consider
strategies for negotiations with union personnel, take whatever action necessary, and
not return to Open Session.
A roll call vote resulted in the following:
YES: Mrs. Norris, Mayor Scanlon, Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Brusil,
Mrs. Coburn, Mr. McHugh and Mr. Cahill.
NO: None
Unanimously voted
· It was moved by Mrs. Brusil and seconded to go into Executive Session to
consider a grievance from AFSCME represematives, take whatever action
necessary, and not return to Open Session.
A roll call vote resulted in the following::
YES: Mayor Scanlon, Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Brusil, Mrs. Coburn,
Mr. McHugh, Mrs. Norris and Mr. Cahill.
NO: None
Unanimously voted.
The Committee recessed at 8:45 PM.
The Committee went into Executive Session at 8:55 PM.
Janet Norris
Secretary