Regular Meeting
February 8, 2010
City Council Chambers
95 Pleasant Street, Gardner, Massachusetts
Members present: Mayor Mark Hawke, Chairman; James S. Boone, Vice Chairman; John LaFreniere, Secretary; Carol J. Bailey, Paul G. Tassone, Matthew Vance, and Christine Wilson
Others present: Dr. Carol L. Daring, Superintendent; Stephanie Ellis, Student Representative; Terri Hillman, Recording Secretary; Michael A. Hurd, Assistant Superintendent; Karen Scanlon, Director of Technology; John Salovardos, Special Education Director; Susan Hui, Grants Administrator; Andrew S. Haas, Principal GHS; Christopher Casavant, Principal GMS; Joyce Swedberg, Principal ESS; Cherie McComb, Principal HMS; F. Daniel Hill, Principal Waterford Street School; Howard Klash, G.E.A. President; Ms. Anne Hurst, President of SPED-PAC; Stephen Landry, Gardner News; and other interested persons
Call to Order
Mayor Hawke, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. The meeting opened with a roll call and the pledge of allegiance. The meeting was broadcast live on cable television.
Open Time for General Public
Ms. Anne Hurst, President of the SPED Parent Advisory Council, presented an invitation to an open forum discussion with the SPED-PAC leaders of Ashburnham/Westminster. The forum is scheduled for Wednesday, February 24th at 7 p.m. in the Gardner Middle School Library.
Subcommittee Appointments by the Vice Chair
Mr. Boone, Vice Chair, has made the following Subcommittee appointments for the ensuing year:
Finance (as voted 1/5/10) Policy
Chair: Christine Wilson Chair: James Boone
Member: Paul Tassone Member: Matt Vance
Member: James Boone Member: Christine Wilson
Facilities Technology
Chair: John LaFreniere Chair: Paul Tassone
Member: Matt Vance Member: John LaFreniere
Member: Carol Bailey Member: Carol Bailey
Transportation Athletic Council
Chair: Carol Bailey Chair: James Boone
Member: Matt Vance Member: John LaFreniere
Member: Paul Tassone Member: Paul Tassone
Superintendent Evaluation
Member: James Boone
Member: Carol Bailey
Presentation of Warrants
Ms. Wilson moved to ratify as recommended by the Finance Subcommittee and the Superintendent Warrant #10-27, dated December 31, 2009 in the amount of $130,070.07.
Seconded by Mr. Tassone. Vote – so voted.
Ms. Wilson moved to ratify as recommended by the Finance Subcommittee and the Superintendent Warrant #10-28, dated January 7, 2010 in the amount of $286,311.28.
Seconded by Mr. Boone. Vote – so voted.
Ms. Wilson moved to ratify as recommended by the Finance Subcommittee and the Superintendent Warrant #10-29, dated January 14, 2010 in the amount of $314,482.11.
Seconded by Mr. Tassone. Vote – so voted.
Ms. Wilson moved to ratify as recommended by the Finance Subcommittee and the Superintendent Warrant #10-30, dated January 21, 2010 in the amount of $72,394.17.
Seconded by Mr. Boone. Vote – so voted.
Approval of Minutes
Regular Meeting – January 5, 2010
Mrs. Bailey moved to approve the minutes of the regular School Committee meeting of January 5, 2010 as presented.
Seconded by Mr. LaFreniere. Vote – so voted.
Ms. Wilson moved to approve the minutes of the School Committee Working Session of January 25, 2010 as presented.
Seconded by Mr. Tassone Vote – so voted.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORTS
Policy Subcommittee Report
Mr. Boone, Chairperson, said that the Policy Subcommittee met on January 20. Minutes of the meeting were presented. The Subcommittee approved and referred to the full Committee for a first reading Policy EEAJ, Motor Vehicle Idling on School Grounds. Policies GCBA, Professional Staff Salary Schedules, and GCBAA, Merit Incentives, were discussed and will be brought back to the next meeting. The Superintendent’s evaluation instrument will be reviewed at the next meeting.
Facilities Subcommittee Report
Mr. LaFreniere, Chairperson, said that the Facilities Subcommittee met at Prospect Street School on February 1. Minutes of the meeting were presented. Chartwells presented an update of the district’s food service program. Mr. O’Brien gave an update on the replacement of the Elm Street School chimney. The project is almost complete.
The Subcommittee reviewed the district’s five year Capital Improvement Plan and will receive an updated plan from Mrs. Goguen at the March meeting. The Subcommittee toured the Prospect Street School and Mr. Salovardos guided members through the areas renovated for the GHS Alternative Program.
Finance Subcommittee Report
Ms. Wilson, Chairperson, said that the Finance Subcommittee met on January 12 and February 2. Minutes of both meetings were presented. The following items were recommended to the full Committee:
- An allocation to “District Other Repairs” which will be voted on under Item 1941.
- The Custodial Services bid which will be voted on under Item 1942.
- A donation which will be voted on under Item 1940.
- Settlement with DB Environmental Services which will be voted on under Item 1943.
Technology Subcommittee Report
Mr. Tassone, Chairperson, said that the Technology Subcommittee met on January 26. Minutes of the meeting were presented. Mrs. Scanlon discussed the Title IID ARRA Technology Grant – Priority 2 which the State awarded to the Winchendon, Gardner and Ashburnham/Westminster Public Schools. The purpose of this ARRA grant is for projects that create effective technology rich environments that support existing tiered instruction in English language arts and mathematics.
The Subcommittee also discussed the FY11 proposed technology budget.
Transportation Subcommittee Report
Mrs. Bailey, Chairperson, said that the Transportation Subcommittee met on January 19. Minutes of the meeting were presented. Mrs. Goguen gave an update regarding the transportation contract bid process. Winchendon will enter into a transportation bid with Gardner for years two and three of the contract.
Athletic Council
Mr. Boone, Chairperson, said that the Athletic Council did not meet in January.
Report of Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Daring reported on the National Institute for School Leadership (NISL). The NISL program is an executive development program for school administrators and draws upon researched based techniques in the fields of education, law, medicine, business, and the military. Her report expanded on this nationally recognized program.
Dr. Daring and Mr. Hurd participated in a two-day overview of this program designed to acquaint central office administrators with the actual 18-month long program. Mrs. Hui and Mr. Haas are part of the current cohort of administrators from districts across the Commonwealth participating in the program. They are scheduled to complete the program in June. The plan is to have several more Gardner administrators take part in the next cohort in the fall.
G.E.A. President
Mr. Howard Klash, President of the G.E.A., said that the Executive Board of the G.E.A. voted unanimously that they are willing to work cooperatively with School Administration. He also said that the members of the G.E.A. prefer Version 2 of the 2010-2011 School Calendar. However, the GEA would like to have their own version with staff returning for two days of professional development on August 30-31 and the students returning on September 1. The members also like the idea of having a half day on December 23.
Student Representative to the School Committee
Stephanie Ellis, Student Representative to the School Committee, reported on the many activities happening throughout the Gardner schools. The most notable and astounding are the fundraisers and projects directed at offering aid to the people of Haiti. Every school has organized an event or events to help raise money or supplies to donate to Dr. Mulqueen, Forward in Health, and other relief organizations. To date, approximately $7,000 has been raised through the students’ efforts and other fundraisers are taking place.
Stephanie has traveled to Haiti and seen the impoverishment and hardships the people were facing before the earthquake. She thanked everyone for their generous contributions and support.
OLD BUSINESS
Item 1905E – Oral Reports from Administration
Cherie McComb, Principal of Helen Mae Sauter School, presented highlights of the Lexia Reading and Cognitive Development Program as well as highlights from her monthly report. The aim at HMS is to educate the whole child in a safe environment and the curriculum is designed for all student levels.
Lexia is a computer reading program that focuses on the five essential reading skills of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency vocabulary, and comprehension. The Lexia reading program also supports the Fundations program, which is being taught in all three grade levels at HMS. The feature that has been most helpful is the ability to monitor each student with detailed reports use real-time data on usage skills and progress. Ms. McComb showed a sample Student Combined Report of a fictitious student and explained how teachers and paras use this information to structure their lessons.
Item 1906E– K-12 Technology Update
The Technology Update was e-mailed to School Committee members on February 5. Mrs. Scanlon was present to answer questions.
Item 1907E– Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Update
The Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Update was e-mailed to School Committee members on February 5. Mr. Hurd was present to answer questions.
Item 1908BE- Special Education Update
The Special Education update was e-mailed to School Committee members on
February 5. Mr. Salovardos was present to answer questions.
Item 1909E– Business Administrator’s Update
The Business Administrator’s report was e-mailed to School Committee members on
February 5.
Item 1910E – Grants Administrator’s Update
The Grants Administrator’s update was e-mailed to School Committee members on
February 5. Mrs. Hui was present to answer questions.
Item 1939A – 2010-2011 School Calendar
Mr. Boone moved to accept the recommendation of the Superintendent to approve Version 2 of the 2010-2011 School Calendar. Faculty and staff will return for two days of professional development on August 25 and 26 and students will begin school on Monday, August 30.
Seconded by Mr. LaFreniere. Vote – so voted.
Dr. Daring said that the website parent survey showed that they prefer Version 2 by a margin of approximately 2-1. Presidents of the three bargaining units polled their membership and they also chose Version 2.
NEW BUSINESS
Item 1940 – Acceptance of Donation – BJ’s Whole Sale Club
Ms. Wilson moved to accept the recommendation of the Finance Subcommittee and the Superintendent to accept a donation of $500 to the Helen Mae Sauter School from BJ’s Warehouse.
Seconded by Mr. Tassone. Vote – so voted.
Item 1941 – Allocation of FY2009 Carryover Funds
Ms. Wilson moved to accept the recommendation of the Finance Subcommittee to approve the allocation of $24,206.90 from FY2009 carryover to Other District Repairs.
Seconded by Mr. Tassone. Vote – so voted.
Item 1942 – Term for Custodial Service Contract
Ms. Wilson moved to accept the recommendation of the Finance Subcommittee to approve a two year term with the option to extend for one or two additional years for the Custodial Services bid. This new contract will take effect on July 1, 2010.
Seconded by Mrs. Bailey. Vote – so voted.
Item 1943 – Settlement with DB Environmental Services, Inc.
Ms. Wilson moved to accept the recommendation of the Finance Subcommittee, the Facilities Subcommittee and the Superintendent to approve a $5,000 settlement with DB Environmental Services, Inc. for disputed charges regarding the oil tank replacement project.
Seconded by Mr. Tassone. Vote – so voted.
Item 1944 – GHS Program of Studies
Mr. Boone moved to accept the recommendation of the Superintendent and the GHS Principal to approve the GHS Program of Studies for the 2010-2011 School Year as presented.
Seconded by Ms. Wilson. Vote – so voted.
Item 1945 – Approval of Overnight Activity
Ms. Wilson moved to accept the recommendation of the Superintendent to approve a Lock-In at GHS’s Landry Auditorium on Friday, February 26, 2010 from
8:30 p.m. until 6:30 a.m. the following morning. The purpose is to promote unity among the members of the GHS Student Council and to provide time to organize upcoming class and school activities.
Seconded by Mr. LaFreniere. Vote – so voted.
Comments
Ms. Wilson commented on the very successful program at Waterford Street School where an older student becomes a Kindergarten Buddy to a younger student.
Mr. Tassone said the Little League sign-ups have started. He thanked Ms. McComb for the overview she presented of HMS. His daughters have had a well-rounded experience at HMS and made many friends.
Mr. Boone thanked his fellow School Committee members for attending the School Committee Working Session on January 25. The Committee’s goals for the next twelve months were discussed and a new list will be developed.
Mayor Hawke said he met with the Student Council members at Elm Street School. He commended all the students of the Gardner Schools for the outstanding fund raising efforts they have to done to aid the people of Haiti. He commended the members for their 3-hour Working Session and thanked them for all the work they do as School Committee members.
ADJOURNMENT
Mrs. Bailey moved to adjourn. Seconded by Mr. LaFreniere.
Vote – so voted.
The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
John LaFreniere, Secretary
T. Hillman, Recording Secretary
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