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2004-09-08BEVERLY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS September 8, 2004 A regular meeting of the Beverly School Committee was held on Wednesday, September 8, 2004, at the City Council Chambers, Beverly City Hall, Beverly, MA. Members Present: Ms. Brusil, Ms. Cesa, Ms. Cronin, Ms. Gordon, Ms. Saxton, Mayor Scanlon, and Mr. Tallo Also in Attendance: Dr. James Hayes, Acting Superintendent of Schools Heidi Zimmerman, Administrator of Finance & Operations President Cronin called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Ms. Saxton led the Pledge of Allegiance. RECOGNITION - SUCH OTHER MATTERS (KUDOS, CONGRATULATIONS) Dr. Hayes and Ms. Cronin recognized the following employees: · Betty Taylor and Claire Marie Hart, who served the district in 2003-2004 as Consultant Teachers for Mentoring Beginning Teachers while also teaching English at the High School as half-time teachers, were recognized for their selection by the Massachusetts Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (MASCD) as recipients of the 2004 MASCD Mentor Award. Helping recognize this accomplishment was Heather Hurley, board ember of MASCD. · Coach Bob Gilligan and members of the Beverly High School hockey team were recognized for their community service project to improve the appearance of the High School grounds for the opening of school. Open Forum for Citizen Input into Non-Agenda-Related Items No comments at this meeting. Opportunity for Citizen Input into Agenda-Related Items No comments at this meeting. RECORDS OF MEETINGS A motion was made by Mr. Tallo and seconded by Ms. Saxton to approve the minutes of the regular meeting on August 18, 2004. Following discussion, it was agreed to amend the th minutes to reflect the August 18 meeting was a regular meeting, and to indicated the executive session was called to discuss negotiations with non-union personnel. Approved as amended. COMMUNICATIONS · Parent suggesting a family cap on athletic fees · Complaint about the current backpack policy at the high school · Complaint about bus fees · McKeown parent concerned about scheduling of PTO meetings Regular Meeting September 8, 2004 Page 2 · Comments about the unemployment claim of the former Superintendent · Class sizes at Ayers and Cove elementary schools · Staff and parents in support of the agreement with Dr. Hayes · Bus at Memorial · Lockers at Memorial in disrepair · Parking permit at BHS · Centerville parent regarding placement of crossing guards SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT Overnight Field Trip Approval Upon the recommendation of the administration, a motion was made by Ms. Saxon and seconded by Mr. Tallo to approve the Beverly High School Music Department Music Tour to Niagra Falls and Toronto, Canada, scheduled April 27 – May 1, 2004 as presented. Ray So voted. Novack and Carolyn Pilanen attended the meeting to answer questions. Upon the recommendation of the administration, a motion was made by Ms. Gordon and seconded by Ms. Cesa to approve the Briscoe Middle School trip to Nature’s Classroom in Freedom, NH, scheduled on November 8-12. Principal Rhonda Gauthier, Assistant Principal Jorge Goncalves and teacher Amanda Tweardy attended the meeting to answer questions. Ms. Cronin requested they report back to the committee with an update regarding the success th So voted. of taking all 6 grade students at the school on one trip. Appointment to Curriculum, Instruction, & Student Life Subcommittee Upon the recommendation of the administration a motion was made by Ms. Gordon and seconded by Ms. Saxton to appoint Dr. Marie Galinski as a voting member of the So voted. Curriculum, Instruction, & Student Life Subcommittee. School Calendar Change - Elementary Early Release Day Upon the recommendation of the administration, a motion was made by Ms. Saxton and seconded by Ms. Gordon to approve changing the April 6, 2004 early release day for the th elementary schools to Friday, April 15 since MCAS testing (ELA Composition) for grade 6 th So voted. students has been scheduled for April 6 by the Department of Education. Membership in Suburban Coalition Upon the recommendation of the administration, a motion was made by Ms. Cesa and seconded by Ms. Saxton to discontinue membership in the Suburban Coalition, an advocacy So voted group for local communities in education, safety, and basic municipal services. . Individual Contracts An updated spreadsheet with details of the agreements with all individually contracted employees was distributed to committee members for their review. New Beverly Teachers for 2004-2005 A listing of new teachers in Beverly for the 2004-2005 school year, including their assignments, academic credentials, where they were previously employed (if applicable), and their starting salaries were distributed to committee members. Regular Meeting September 8, 2004 Page 3 SCHOOL COMMITTEE PRESIDENT’S REPORT Superintendent’s Contract Dr. Hayes’s contract for 2004-05 is $126,000, compared to the former Superintendent’s salary of $128,778 for the same period. In addition, the former Superintendent’s contract included an annuity of $3,000 and 5 days of vacation buy-back, which amounted to $2,467. Dr. Hayes will not receive an annuity nor vacation buyback. As a result, Dr. Hayes’ total compensation of $126,000 is $8,245 less than his predecessor’s contract of $134,245 for the same period. Additionally, Dr. Hayes’ contract is for a period of 2 years in length. This th contract was unanimously approved at the August 18 meeting. During the close of the fiscal year, the school committee worked with the city to put in reserve FY04 funds as a placeholder in order to be able to consider at a future date compensation for Dr. Hayes for his role as acting Superintendent. The school committee must now decide whether to spend against this reserve. The resulting expenditure will be recorded as an FY04 expense and will not impact the FY05 budget. Based on Dr. Hayes’ performance as Acting Superintendent, it is the recommendation of the Negotiations subcommittee to compensate Dr. Hayes with a one-time stipend of $3,000 for thth 6.5 weeks from May 17 through June 30. Upon the recommendation of the Negotiations subcommittee, a motion was made by Ms. Saxton and seconded by Mr. Tallo to approve the So $3,000 payment to Dr. Hayes as compensation for his role as acting Superintendent. voted. Unemployment Compensation John Dunn, the city’s Finance Director, informed Ms. Cronin that during June 2004, former Superintendent William Lupini received $2,332 in unemployment compensation from the city of Beverly. This FY04 expenditure was accrued to the school department. The committee needs more information regarding this expenditure. Ms. Cronin has asked the school committee’s attorney, Ms. Naomi Stonberg, to research this matter further to determine if payments were allowed under state law, and report back to the committee. Additionally, Ms. Cronin has asked Dr. Hayes to report back to the committee regarding the process by which this expenditure happened without the knowledge of the school committee. The committee has not received either report at this time, but does expect research to be done in the near future. Further, Ms. Cronin has asked the city’s attorney, Mr. Roy Gelineau, to look into this issue as it related to the mutual release drafted by Mr. Gelineau and signed by the former Superintendent and the school committee. Mr. Gelineau has agreed to advise and counsel the school committee as it proceeds with its inquiry. The school committee will gather all of the facts and will then decide on a course of action. Heads Up Program Led by Mr. Tom Grant, this program matches sponsors in the community with community service by student athletes. Dr. Hayes will work with Principal Dr.Scuzzarella and athletic director, Mr. Hutt to determine if other teams would be willing to participate in this worthwhile endeavor. Dr. Hayes will report back to the committee in October. Regular Meeting September 8, 2004 Page 4 REPORT BY MAYOR SCANLON Mayor Scanlon has met with City Council to inform them of the discussion at our last meeting in regard to the high school facility. They spoke about the effort to go directly to the major project and to break ground in 2006. He also spoke to the Council about SBAB reimbursement and that long term funding made more sense because of the reimbursement that would not be available if a short-term solution was pursued. The Cummings TIF project could be a major source of funding for this project. Additionally, Mayor Scanlon informed the Council that the Superintendent and high school Principal are exploring the possibility of emptying the high school during construction, and that the McKay school building could possibly be used to house students during that period. Mayor Scanlon also mentioned that the Superintendent and school committee would welcome discussion about the city’s long term needs for the schools. Superintendent Goals Ms. Cronin and Dr. Hayes have spoken about meeting to discuss the Superintendent’s goals as well as those of the School Committee. That meeting will be held in the near future. Dr. Hayes distributed a draft of his goals, which consisted of the following: · Long-Range Facilities Plan: The Superintendent will analyze future space needs for district programs and develop a long-range facilities plan · Renegotiation of All Contracts: The Superintendent will facilitate, in conjunction with the Subcommittee on Negotiations, the successful completion of all district contracts, including all bargaining units as well as contracts for other individuals and groups of individuals. · Improved Communications: The Superintendent will facilitate the creation of a communications and marketing plan for the Beverly Public Schools · New Sources of Revenue: The Superintendent will facilitate the development of a three-year plan to develop new sources of revenue for the school district through a sustained program of annual and major gift giving. · Consolidation of School and City Functions: The Superintendent will work with City officials to develop a three-year plan for consolidating certain school and city functions (e.g., employee benefits, maintenance of buildings and grounds). Ms. Cronin stated that she felt these goals were all encompassing, and that she feels the committee should also review their goals and how they could assist the superintendent in accomplishing these goals. Ad Hoc Facilities Study Committee Mrs. Cronin has met with City Council President Paul Guanci, and they have chosen a committee and agreed to meet on October 5, 2004. A subgroup of this committee will be formed to study city and school facilities. Dr. Hayes mentioned that this subgroup would assist in developing ideas and working with those ideas to develop a plan. Regular Meeting September 8, 2004 Page 5 COMMITTEE REPORTS Standing Committee on Curriculum, Instruction and Student Life: Annemarie Cesa, Chairperson This committee will next meet on September 22, 2004 at Briscoe Middle School. Standing Committee on Finance & Facilities: Mike Tallo, Chairperson At their last meeting, the agenda included a report from Chris Rand, the Director of Buildings and Grounds, about the maintenance and repairs to the school buildings during the summer. The field house roof project has been delayed, with completion expected at the end of September. Also discussed was the reconciliation of the FY04 budget and the expenses necessary to close that out. The Standing Committee on Finance & Facilities recommends the approval of four new positions for FY05. · A fourth grade teacher at Centerville School for $43,326 · .5 Library Media Specialist at North Beverly School for $21,551 · .5 Kindergarten teacher at Cove School $23,531 · Mail Courier $4,400 Following considerable discussion about the tight FY05 budget, and members’ concern about meeting that budget, a motion was made by Mr. Tallo and seconded by Ms. Saxton to So approve an additional fourth grade teacher at Centerville School at a salary of $43,326. voted , with Mr. Tallo voting in opposition. Upon the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Finance & Facilities, a motion was made by Mr. Tallo and seconded by Ms. Brusil to approve the addition of a .5 library media So voted specialist at the North Beverly School at a salary of $21,551. , with Ms. Gordon and Mr. Tallo voting in opposition. Upon the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Finance & Facilities, a motion was made by Mr. Tallo and seconded by Ms. Brusil to approve the addition of a .5 kindergarten So voted teacher at Cove School at a salary of $23,531. , with Mr. Tallo voting in opposition. Upon the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Finance & Facilities, a motion was made by Mr. Tallo and seconded by Ms. Cesa to approve the addition of a mail courier So voted position at a salary of $4,400. , with Ms. Gordon and Mr. Tallo voting in opposition. Upon the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Finance & Facilities, a motion was made by Mr. Tallo and seconded by Ms. Saxton to request that City Council approve So payment of FY02 and FY04 bills in the amount of $8,071.76 from the FY05 budget. voted. Upon the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Finance & Facilities, a motion was made by Mr. Tallo and seconded by Ms. Gordon to approve the gift to the Cove Elementary School of the installation of an irrigation system, donated to the school by Mr. Dan Spencer. So voted. Mr. Spencer will be invited to the October meeting for recognition. Regular Meeting September 8, 2004 Page 6 The next meeting of this committee is scheduled for September 29, 2004 at Briscoe Middle School. Negotiations: Karen Saxton, Chairperson This subcommittee last met in August to discuss the Superintendent’s contract and union negotiations. Additional meetings will be scheduled in the near future. Policy Review: Nancy Brusil, Chairperson The next meeting is scheduled for October 7, 2004 at Briscoe Middle School Opportunity for Questions from the Press A copy of the mission statement for the Override Study Committee was requested. Ms. Cronin will provide that information. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm. Annemarie Cesa Secretary