1997-11-10BEVERLY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS
November 1 O, 1997
A regular meeting of the Beverly School Committee was held on Monday,
November 10, 1997 in the Beverly High School Library, Beverly, MA.
Members Present:
Mr. Bjork, Mrs. Frutiger, Mrs. Gillespie, Mrs. Krueger,
Ms. Levin, Mr. McHugh, Mayor ScanIon, Mrs. Seamans
and Mrs. Goodenough.
Members Absent:
None
Also in Attendance:
William Lupini, Superintendent of Schools,
Keith Manville, Assistant Superintendent of Schools,
Judy Mulligan, School Business Manager,
and Heather Scialdone, Student Representative.
Mrs. Goodenough called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mrs. Seamans.
RECOGNITION
Superintendent Lupini and Mrs. Goodenough presented the Massachusetts
Association of School Superintendents Academic Excellence Awards to Kristen
Harring and William Soares, Class of 1998.
Other recognition noted by members included: successful Hurd Stadium
benefit dance, great appearance of BHS band in new uniforms, accolades to
girls' soccer team playing in Division I North championship, and congratulations
to Matthew Haynes on being selected for "Sound of America", students
performing and touring Europe during the summer.
A presentation was heard from Massachusetts Electric on the issue of electric
industry restructuring.
Citizen Input Into Agenda-Related Items
Citizens were each recognized for statements regarding Item #11, to consider
request to name the new school after James L. McKeown. Thomas Manzi
spoke relative to naming the school after his father, James Manzi. Philip
Dunklebarger spoke regarding naming the school, and Neil Desmond spoke
regarding naming the school after his grandfather, Dr. Frederick J. Desmond.
Regular Meeting
November 10, 1997
Page 2
· It was moved by Ms. Levin and seconded to name the new school the
James L. McKeown Elementary School.
Discussion and comments from members was held.
· It was moved by Mrs. Gillespie and seconded to table the motion before the
Committee until the next regular meeting.
A roll call vote was requested, which resulted in the following:
YES:
Mrs. Frutiger, Mrs. Gillespie, and Mrs. Seamans.
NO:
Mr. Bjork, Mrs. Krueger, Ms. Levin, Mr. McHugh, Mayor ScanIon,
and Mrs. Goodenough.
Motion defeated.
· It was moved by Mrs. Gillespie and seconded that the motion on the table be
amended to state that the naming of the new school after Mr. McKeown is
conditional upon Cummings Properties donating $300,000 annually, for a
minimum of five years, to the school building maintenance account, the first
payment being due no later than June 30, 1998.
Amendment defeated, with Mrs. Gillespie and Mrs. Frutiger voting in favor of
the motion.
A roll call vote was requested on the motion, which resulted in the following:
YES:
Mrs. Krueger, Ms. Levin, Mr. McHugh, Mayor ScanIon,
Mr. Bjork and Mrs. Goodenough.
NO:
Mrs. Frutiger, Mrs. Gillespie, and Mrs. Seamans.
Motion passed.
Mrs. Goodenough declared a brief recess at 8:57 PM.
The Committee reconvened at 9:05 PM.
° It was moved by Ms. Levin and seconded to approve the policy on budget
transfers, Business Administrator Advance Approval of Expenditures and
Encumbrances, as presented for a Second Reading. Unanimously voted.
· It was moved by Ms. Levin and seconded to approve the policy on Long-Term
Substitute Pay, as presented for a Second Reading. Unanimously voted.
Regular Meeting
November 10, 1997
Page 3
Superintendent Lupini presented a policy on Open Enrollment for a First
Reading. The proposal was reviewed by the Standing Committee on Student
Life and Activities. Principals reviewed the proposal and requested slight
modifications in the language. The Superintendent will include modifications
and revisions to the policy for further consideration at the November meeting of
the Standing Committee on Student Life and Activities, prior to a Second
Reading at the December 8, 1997 regular School Committee meeting.
APPROVAL OF RECORDS
· It was moved by Ms. Levin and seconded to approve the records of the regular
meeting held October 14, 1997, as presented. Unanimously voted.
· It was moved by Ms. Levin and seconded to approve the records of the joint
meeting held October 27, 1997, as presented. Unanimously voted.
APPROVAL OF EXPENDITURE
° It was moved by Ms. Levin and seconded to approve the expenditure of
$125.00 for an ad in the Class of '98 BHS Yearbook.
MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS
Mrs. Seamans highlighted events at the MASC/MASS Joint Conference last
week at Hyannis.
SOLAR SOLUTIONS will be held at 2:30 PM on November 21 at the High
School Auditorium.
Members received inquiries and feedback on the policing at Beverly High
School.
Transportation concerns included requests for late buses at schools other than
Ayers, and Briscoe Grade 6 crowded buses, and whether buses are provided
for students at exam time in January. This will be referred to the Advisory
Committee for discussion at a future meeting.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
· It was moved by Ms. Levin and seconded to approve the Superintendent's
request to create two special education aide positions, identified through the
IEP process. Unanimously voted.
Superintendent Lupini announced that Mary Ellen Galley has been offered the
position of Patten Learning Center Principal, pending a written contract,
effective December 1, 1997.
The Superintendent accepted the resignation of Dr. Thomas Durkin, Principal of
McKay Elementary School, effective August 31, 1997.
Regular Meeting
November 10, 1997
Page 4
The Superintendent will meet with the Ayers Site Council subcommittees on
November 17, and with the McKay Site Council on December 2. Mr. Lupini
emphasized that the student relocation plan approved at the last meeting is
merely the first step in a long series of meeting and plans that will need to be
implemented during the building construction projects.
A progress report on the Superintendent's Performance Goals was included in
meeting materials.
The 98-99 school calendar proposal, with one winter vacation in place of two
vacations in February and April, as well as the start date of school, are in the
process of discussion with the Beverly Teachers Association and legal counsel.
Mr. Lupin will prepare information on a start date of school for consideration at
the December meeting.
· It was moved by Ms. Levin and seconded to grant permission for the
Superintendent to organize a retreat fort the School Committee during the
weekend following the Reorganization meeting (January 9-10, 1998).
So voted.
Superintendent Lupini received proposals from firms interested in providing
legal services to the Committee, and requested establishment of a process to
be used. Consensus was to have brief individual interviews at a special
meeting, involve the City Solicitor, and get input from MASC and MASS.
A meeting date and interview schedule will be established.
The Alternative Education program is being finalized on the site of the Beverly
School for the Deaf, pending approval from the Department of Education. The
program will begin November 17 with three students.
Brief updates on building issues were presented.
° It was moved by Ms. Levin and seconded that Briscoe Middle School and
Memorial Middle School be considered as elementary schools for the 1997-
1998 school year, for purposes of time and learning requirements. So voted.
Superintendent Lupini acknowledged citizen donations including donations
to produce the High School newsletter, and receipt of computers, overhead
projectors, and $2000 from Electric Insurance to the Hannah Elementary
School.
The School Committee visitations to schools will be held in January to tour the
facilities and later in the Spring to view curriculum and programs.
Regular Meeting
November 10, 1997
Page 5
Subcommittee chairs were requested to submit year-end reports to Mrs.
Goodenough, for preparation of the Annual Report, to be presented in
December.
SUBCOMMITTEE AND STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS
Hurd Stadium Advisory meetings will be held Wednesday, November 12, 1997
and Wednesday, December 10, 1997 at 7:00 PM in the School Committee Room.
The Standing Committee on Finance and Facilities will meet Monday,
November 24, 1997 at 7:00 PM in the School Committee Room.
The Standing Committee on Instruction will meet Monday, December 1, 1997 at
7:30 PM in the School Committee Room.
The Student Advisory meeting will be rescheduled for Monday, December 1,1997
at 6:30 PM in the School Committee Room.
The Standing Committee on Student Life and Activities will meet Monday,
November 17, 1997 at 7:30 PM in the School Committee Room. Minutes of
the October 20, 1997 meeting are included in meeting materials.
· It was moved by Ms. Levin and seconded to go into executive session to
consider approval of records of executive sessions and not return to Open
Session.
A roll call vote was requested, which resulted in the following:
YES:
Mrs. Gillespie, Mrs. Krueger, Ms. Levin, Mr. McHugh,
Mayor ScanIon, Mrs. Seamans, Mr. Bjork, Mrs. Frutiger,
and Mrs. Goodenough.
NO: None
Unanimously voted.
The Committee recessed at 9:55 PM.
The Committee went into Executive Session at 10:00 PM.
Stella Mae Seamans
Secretary