Regular Meeting
March 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, Christine Wilson, Stephanie Ellis, Student Representative
Others present: Dr. Carol L. Daring, Superintendent; Michael Hurd, Assistant Superintendent; Catherine Goguen, Business Administrator; John Salovardos, Director of Special Education; Susan Hui, Grants Administrator; Karen Scanlon, Director of Technology; Andrew Haas, Principal, Gardner High School; Christopher Casavant, Principal, Gardner Middle School; Joyce Swedberg, Principal, Elm Street School; Cherie McComb, Principal, Helen Mae Sauter School; F. Daniel Hill, Principal, Waterford Street School; Howard Klash, GEA President, and other interested parties
Call to Order
Mayor Hawke, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Recognition of Girls’ Swim Team
A Certificate of Recognition was presented to Coach Donald Lemieux and the Gardner High School Girls’ Swim Team in recognition of their 16th State Championship.
Recognition of Gardner Middle School Students/Reading of Essays
Gardner Middle School students Taylor Orwig, Grade 8, 1st Place; Jade Smith, Grade 8, 2nd Place; and Paige Palen, Grade 8, 3rd Place read their winning essays from the Fitchburg Community Connections annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Essay Contest.
Open Time for General Public
Howard Klash, Athletic Director, congratulated Mr. Lemieux and the Girls’ Swim Team on behalf of the Athletic Department for an outstanding year. Their win is a tribute to their hard work and dedication. Gardner High School and the Athletic Department are very proud of their accomplishment.
Presentation of Warrants
Ms. Wilson moved to ratify as recommended by the Finance Subcommittee and the Superintendent Warrant #10-31, dated January 28, 2010 in the amount of $155,975.51.
Seconded by Mr. Tassone Vote – so voted
Ms. Wilson moved to ratify as recommended by the Finance Subcommittee and the Superintendent Warrant #10-32, dated February 4, 2010 in the amount of $136,253.50.
Seconded by Mr. Boone Vote – so voted
Ms. Wilson moved to ratify as recommended by the Finance Subcommittee and the Superintendent Warrant #10-33, dated February 11, 2010 in the amount of $433,675.16.
Seconded by Mr. Tassone Vote – so voted
Ms. Wilson moved to ratify as recommended by the Finance Subcommittee and the Superintendent Warrant #10-34, dated February 18, 2010 in the amount of $54,448.71.
Seconded by Mr. Boone Vote – so voted
Ms. Wilson moved to ratify as recommended by the Finance Subcommittee and the Superintendent Warrant #10-35, dated February 25, 2010 in the amount of $286,896.52.
Seconded by Mr. Tassone Vote – so voted
Approval of Minutes
Regular Meeting – February 8, 2010
Mr. Boone moved to approve the minutes of the regular School Committee meeting of February 8, 2010 as presented.
Seconded by Mr. LaFreniere Vote – so voted
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORTS
Policy Subcommittee Report
Mr. Boone, Chair, said the Policy Subcommittee met on March 2, 2010. Policy GCBA, Professional Staff Salary Schedules was discussed and tabled until the next meeting. The Superintendent’s Evaluation Instrument was also discussed and will be discussed at the next School Committee working meeting.
Facilities Subcommittee Report
Mr. LaFreniere, Chair, said that the Facilities Subcommittee met on March 1, 2010 at Waterford Street School. The district has received a grant to replace the boiler at Helen Mae Sauter School. Other items discussed were the Elm Street School chimney, capital improvement plan, proper procedure for cleaning air ducts, and air quality tests at schools.
Finance Subcommittee Report
Ms. Wilson, Chair, said that the Finance Subcommittee met on March 2, 2010. Chartwells representatives presented the Subcommittee with a financial update of the district’s food service program. They will compile a list of district equipment in need of repair or replacement at the May meeting.
The Subcommittee also discussed:
- FY2010 Expense Budget,
- FY2009 Carryover Allocation,
- Budget Review Dates
- March 23, 30, 2010
- April 6, 13, 2010,
- S. J. Cleaning contract extension,
Technology Subcommittee Report
Mr. Tassone, Chair, said that the Technology Subcommittee met on February 23, 2010. Lexia login information has been sent home to parents for all elementary schools. Study Island login information has been sent home for Helen Mae Sauter and Elm Street School students. Data from the Technology Plan has been submitted to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education regarding the status of our goals. Edline activation percentages for the high school and middle school were also presented.
Transportation Subcommittee Report
The Transportation Subcommittee did not meet in February.
Athletic Council
The Athletic Council did not meet in February.
Report of Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Daring updated the Committee on the status of the Race to the Top initiative. Massachusetts was selected as one of 16 finalists; the next step in the process is for a Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education team to participate in a personal interview with federal officials in Washington. Race to the Top initiative includes an emphasis on using data to improve instruction, improving teacher and principal effectiveness, ensuring equitable distribution of teachers and principals, and increasing the number of effective teachers in the areas of hard-to-staff subjects and specialty subjects.
G.E.A. President
The G.E.A. President did not address the School Committee.
Student Representative to the School Committee
Stephanie Ellis, Student Representative to the School Committee, reported on the following events at Gardner High School:
- Progress Reports were issued for the third quarter;
- Eighth Grade students from Gardner Middle School, Sacred Heart School, and Holy Rosary School will take a tour of Gardner High School on March 9th;
- MCAS ELA testing will be conducted March 23-25;
- “Urinetown” the musical will be presented March 25-27;
- Spring sports practices have begun;
- Change in graduation time from 6:00 PM to 10:00 AM;
- The many advantages of the new Edline system.
OLD BUSINESS
Item 1905F – Oral Reports from Administration
Dan Hill, Principal, Waterford Street School, provided some background information on himself to the Committee and discussed on-going professional development.
Item 1906F– K-12 Technology Update
The Technology Update was presented to School Committee members at the meeting. Mrs. Scanlon was present to answer questions.
Item 1907F– Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Update
The Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Update was e-mailed to School Committee members on March 5, 2010. Mr. Hurd was present to answer questions.
Item 1908F- Special Education Update
The Special Education update was e-mailed to School Committee members on
March 5, 2010. Mr. Salovardos was present to answer questions.
Item 1909F– Business Administrator’s Update
The Business Administrator’s report was e-mailed to School Committee members on
March 5, 2010. Mrs. Goguen was present to answer questions.
Item 1910F – Grants Administrator’s Update
The Grants Administrator’s update was e-mailed to School Committee members on
March 5, 2010. Mrs. Hui was present to answer questions.
NEW BUSINESS
Item 1946 – Second Reading of Policies
Motion by Mr. Boone to approve Policy EEAJ, Policy Regarding Motor Vehicle Idling on School Grounds for a second reading
Seconded by Mrs. Wilson Vote – so voted
Item 1947 – One Year Extension of S. J. Services Cleaning Contract
Motion by Mrs. Wilson to approve a one-year extension of the S. J. Services Cleaning Contract
Seconded by Mr. Boone Vote – so voted
Item 1948 – Approval of Overnight Field Trip
Motion by Ms. Wilson to approve an overnight field trip to Eagle Hill by the Gardner High School Football Team
Seconded by Mr. Vance Vote – so voted
Final Comments
Mrs. Wilson commended Gardner Middle School and Helen Mae Sauter School on the work regarding bullying.
Ms. Bailey congratulated Waterford Street School on a successful Penny Drive for the Heart Association and Forward in Health Mission in Haiti. The students raised $1,200.00. Waterford Street School also ran a successful kindergarten registration during March. Other events at Waterford include a Father/Daughter Dance, Mother/Son DJ Party, and attendance at Mulan Jr.
Mr. Tassone attended a ceremony at Greenwood Pool in which a plaque was presented to the Gardner High School Swim Team. He also attended the Helen Mae Sauter Father/Daughter Dance held at Gardner Middle School. It was a great evening. Mr. Tassone said that there was a Gardner News article on retiring Gardner High School Coach Jim Abare.
Mr. Vance congratulated the Gardner High School Girls’ Swim Team and the Gardner Middle School essay winners.
Mr. LaFreniere congratulated the essay winners and the swim team.
Mr. Boone questioned power standards at all grade levels, asking if they were published somewhere on our website or through other districts. Mr. Hurd explained power standards and benchmarks. Mr. Boone also spoke regarding the grant-funded Princeton Review after school tutoring, the Chemical Health Study Survey at Gardner High School, congratulated the swim team, and congratulated Mr. Abare on his retirement.
Mayor Hawke is looking forward to the Gardner High School musical “Urinetown.” The Mayor read to Mandy Blackbird’s class at Helen Mae Sauter School on Dr. Seuss’s birthday. He informed the Committee that on May 8th from 9:00 AM-1:00 PM a medication take-back event will be held at Waterford Street School. Residents are encouraged to bring in expired prescription medication for proper disposal.
ADJOURNMENT
Mrs. Bailey moved to adjourn. Seconded by Mr. LaFreniere.
Vote – so voted.
The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
John LaFreniere, Secretary
Donna M. Tuite, Recording Secretary
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