2005-09-14
BEVERLY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS
September 14, 2005
A regular meeting of the Beverly School Committee was held on Wednesday, September 14, 2005,
at the City Council Chambers, Beverly City Hall, Beverly, MA.
Members Present: Ms. Brusil, Ms. Cesa, Ms. Cronin, Ms. Gordon, Ms. Saxton, Mayor
Scanlon, Mr. Tallo
Also in Attendance: Dr. James Hayes, Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Marie Galinski, Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Heidi Zimmerman, Administrator of Finance & Operations
Emily O’Toole, Student Representative
President Cronin called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Ms. Cesa led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Recognitions of Students, Employees and Community Members
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Dr. Hayes thanked contractors, electricians, movers, the locker company, etc.
for their part in the transition process of the middle school. Dr. Hayes and Ms.
Cronin then recognized those employees who made significant contributions to
the middle school transition process:
Marie Galinski, Assistant Superintendent
Heidi Zimmerman, Director of Finance & Operations
Chris Rand, Director of Buildings & Grounds
Debbie O’Connor, Director of Pupil Personnel Services
Bill Burke, Director of Transportation
Martha Jo Fritz, Director of Food Services
Judy Miller, Director of Technology
Paul Cohen, Technology Operations Manager
Mike Collins, Director of Public Works for the City of Beverly
Thatcher Kezer, Director of Purchasing for the City of Beverly
Karen Aucone, Director of Personnel
Pam Turner, President, Beverly Teachers Association
Debbie Tina, Payroll Clerk
Rhonda Gauthier, Principal, Briscoe Middle School
Donna Jenko, Principal, Memorial MS & Associate Principal, Briscoe MS
Jorge Goncalves, Assistant Principal, Briscoe Middle Schools
Marilyn Osburn, Adjustment Counselor, Briscoe Middle School
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The following custodians were recognized for their work in preparing all our
schools for the opening day: Wayne Auld, Charles Amerio, Bill Anderson, Paul
Anderson, Jeff Barry, Bill Bourque, Linda Bourque, Peter Cagney, Dan Carratu,
Robert Chapman, Russell Emery, Rick Forest, Michael Gendron, Christopher
Gendron, Robert Holland, Dave Macaro, Doug Matney, Patrick Murtaugh,
Norman Nyland, Alan Parsons, John Remon, Kevin Shea, Brian Soucy,
Regular Meeting
September 14, 2005
Page 2
Open Forum for Citizen Input into Non-Agenda-Related Items
Ms. Cohen, spoke on behalf of Ms. Brewster, both are teachers at Beverly High School. Ms.
Brewster would like to get approval to donate surplus textbooks for Katrina Relief. Ms.
Brewster is going to look into UPS or FEDEX to cover cost of shipping. Questions were
asked around the process, if exhausted the possibility of the books being used anywhere else
and whether this was done before. Ms. Cronin suggested Dr. Hayes look to see what the
process is and if in fact it has to come back to the Committee. What is the possibility of
getting it approved in time for Tobin & Sons to transport? Dr. Hayes will be in contact Ms.
Brewster.
Opportunity for Citizen Input into Agenda-Related Items
None
RECORDS OF MEETINGS
A motion was made by Mr. Tallo and seconded by Ms. Saxton to approve the minutes of the
So voted.
regular meeting held on August 24, 2005 as presented.
REPORT FROM STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE
Emily O’Toole reported the Student Senate had their first meeting today and voted on two-
year elections for senators, they would have to run their freshman & junior year. They would
remain on the senate for two years unless they resigned or are impeached. The auditions
started for the fall play, the Matchmaker, no dates for performance as of yet. Also the
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donations for Hurricane Katrina relief are being accepted at BHS till September 17 in the
high school parking lot.
COMMUNICATIONS
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Ms. Brusil had another call around peer mediation.
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Positive phone calls to many members around the opening day, smooth start, glowing
reports with regards to Briscoe, kids knowing where they need to go, lockers all
working, no issues around pickup.
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Question about fire drill at Briscoe during the winter months. If snow where do
students go, are they going to plow the field? Mr. Goncalves, Assist. Principal said if
the student quad gets paved as had been discussed this area would be adequate for
students.
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Call from a Cove parent regarding recess.
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Question about status of athletic trainer.
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Mayor Scanlon reported that the offices slated to move into Memorial will be doing
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so as of tomorrow and will be open for business on Monday the 19.
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Ms. Cronin spoke of the 4 annual golf outing fundraiser taking place on Thursday,
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September 22 at noon. This is being run by the PTSO at Beverly High School and
there will be a dinner/auction at the finish.
Ms. Cronin spoke of the visit, from Ms. Pamela Gray-Bennett along with another
member of the NEASC, Mr. Daigle who accompanied her. After Ms. Gray-Bennett and
Regular Meeting
September 14, 2005
Page 3
Mr. Daigle met with Dr. Hayes & Dr. Scuzzarella they were joined by Mayor Scanlon
and Ms. Cronin to tour the high school. Although the NEASC members didn’t “tip their
hand”, our members took note of some positive feed back. The building was polished,
the cafeteria with its painted ceiling and United Nation flags hanging looked like new.
Ms. Gray-Bennett was stunned by the music technology lab and what the students are
able to do in there.
Ms. Gray-Bennett was quick to point out that since 2000 the students have been in a
building for a decade that is in need of improvements. Three areas of concern were the
electrical, heating, ventilation, and water infiltration. Ms. Cronin pointed out that they
were able to show the work had been done in those three areas.
Ms. Cronin said that they hope to have a response within the next ten days.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Middle School Technology Grant & Donation
Dr. Hayes brought to the microphone Mr. Bill Foley, Principal of Centerville
Elementary School, Judy Miller, Director of Technology, and Ms. Rhonda
Gauthier, Principal Briscoe Middle School. Mr. Foley discussed the history of
the Pascucci family, their generosity in the past to the Centerville Elementary
school and the donation that led to what is now known as the Phillip H. Pascucci
Technology Center (dedicated in May 1999). Mr. Foley received a call in the
fall of this year from Michael Pascucci, with an offer to make another generous
donation, possibly to the middle school. Mr. Foley visited the Briscoe Middle
School and, in speaking with Ms. Miller and Ms. Gauthier, a meeting was set up
and a plan was put together to develop a technology lab, library/media center.
Mr. Foley spoke again to Mr. Pascucci and told him of the plan and he agreed to
donate $50,000 to the Briscoe Middle School. Mr. Pascucci said that a
stipulation was that Beverly Public Schools had to match the donation. Ms.
Miller described how they were able to attain the matching funds through the
Briscoe PTO donating $10,000 and $40,000 in various grant donations. Ms.
Gauthier spoke of how thrilled she was to be receiving this very generous
donation and what impact it would have on the Briscoe Middle School
technology lab and library / media center. Ms. Gauthier said their goal is to have
the open lab up and running by the end of October.
Memorial Middle School Name Change
Dr. Hayes spoke of the Memorial Middle School now housing Beverly Public
Schools Administration and soon some city functions. A proposal was made to
change the name to the Memorial Administrative Building. In accordance with
policy, there is a 45 day period between initial announcement of a name change
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and a vote on that request. This could be considered at the November 9 School
Committee Meeting.
Planning for HS Design
Regular Meeting
September 14, 2005
Page 4
Dr. Hayes summarized his “Planning for HS Design” hand out, after having done
more research, and broke it up into two stages. The first stage is research,
information gathering, and securing an Architect - September thru December.
The second being the use of VES an educational tool used for online
discussions/forums. Dr. Hayes saw this as a way to bring the School Committee
members in at the beginning stages of the discussions.
A discussion followed with the Mayor expressing that the timeline for securing
an architect would likely be in January. There were some recommendations,
concerns, and questions from members that were discussed and answered.
MASC/MASS Annual Joint Conference
Dr. Hayes spoke of the upcoming conference explaining the need to have a
member there to vote on the resolutions on the committee’s behalf and is looking
for a member who would like to participate/volunteer.
New Beverly Teachers for 2005-2006
A listing of new teachers in Beverly for the 2005-2006 school year was included
in this packet along with their assignments, academic credentials, where they
were previously employed (if applicable), and their starting salaries.
It was noted by Ms. Cesa that their were eight new teachers hired at Briscoe
when at one point in the combining of the two middle schools there was talk that
there might be teachers who would lose their jobs.
One other informational item attached is “Hurricane Katrina Relief” information sheet
detailing what our schools are doing.
Dr. Hayes told the committee that he is working on his goals for 05-06 and hopes to have
them completed for the next meeting.
Committee Reports
Standing Committee on Finance & Facilities: Mike Tallo, Chairperson
Will be meeting on Wednesday, September 21, 2005.
Standing Committee on Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Life: Annemarie Cesa,
Chairperson
Ms. Cesa explained the Mass General Laws Chapter 69 was amended and the approval of the
School Improvement Plan is now the responsibility of the Superintendent. The improvement
plans will continue to be presented to the Standing Committee on Curriculum, Instruction,
and Student Life but there will be no action from the committee. The Superintendent will
approve or disapprove the plan and speak with principal(s). A copy of the law was included
in the packet.
There were four School Improvement Plans presented at the Superintendent’s meeting:
North Beverly, Centerville, Ayers and Beverly High School.
Regular Meeting
September 14, 2005
Page 5
The elementary plans all echoed fostering a strong sense of school community, teaching
children how to behave in different settings and rewarding a child for good behavior.
In the spring the high school Social Studies department had requested additional credits in
history, later new information was received and history requirements will remain as is. They
feel very strongly that there will be a science MCAS graduation requirement by the year
2011.
Ms. Brusil wanted clarification around the additional credits for history, whether this needed
to be reversed. Dr. Hayes said it had been tabled and if need be would be brought back to
Committee for approval.
Ms. Cesa talked about the Second Steps Violence Prevention Program, which is in all the
elementary schools and will be moving into middle school with training in November.
Ms. Cronin clarified the middle school special courses (Art, Technology, Drama) they are
quarter courses, not semester.
Negotiations: Karen Saxton, Chairperson
Dr. Hayes highlighted points of contracts for Unit C - ESP’s (classroom aide) and the
.
Cafeteria ContractA discussion took place with regards to the cafeteria contract around the
clarification of self-sustaining entity, and revenue.
Consideration of Unit C Contracts 2003-05 and 2005-08 a motion was made by Ms. Saxton
So voted
and seconded by Ms. Gordon. .
Consideration of AFSCME - Cafeteria Contracts 2003-05 and 2005-08 with the provision
that Dr. Hayes will show the Committee where the funds are coming from at Wednesdays
Standing Committee on Finance and Facilities meeting. A motion was made by Ms. Gordon
So voted.
and seconded by Mr. Tallo.
Questions from the Press
Bob Gates asked for copies Dr. Hayes handouts.
Dates to Remember
October 10 & 13, 2005 - no school
Next Meeting October 19, 2005.
Meeting adjourned 8: 20 p.m.
Annemarie Cesa
Secretary
Regular Meeting
September 14, 2005
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