City of Somerville, Massachusetts School Committee
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CITY OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL COMMITTEE JANUARY 5, 2009 ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER During the recess of the Board of Aldermen’s Organizational Meeting, the first meeting of the 2009 School Committee was called to order at 6:35 p.m., in the Board of Aldermen Chambers at City Hall by the presiding member, Ms. M. Teresa Cardoso. A moment of silence was observed and a salute to the flag was recited prior to this meeting. II. ROLL CALL Present were Mayor Joseph Curtatone, Aldermanic President Pero, Ms. Bastardi, Ms. Cardoso, Mr. Sweeting, Mr. Norton, Mr. Niedergang, Mr. Bockelman, and Ms. Rossetti. III. READING OF CREDENTIALS Presiding officer, Ms. Cardoso, read the credentials of the President of the Board of Aldermen for 2009, Mr. Walter F. Pero. The communication was received and placed on file. IV. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN Presiding officer Cardoso announced that the next order of business would be the election of the Chairman of the 2009 School Committee. Ms. Rossetti called for Suspension of the Rules and Ms. Rossetti nominated Ward I School Committee member Ms. Maureen Bastardi Chairman of the 2009 School Committee, seconded by Mr. Norton. There being no other nominations, nominations were closed. Ms. Bastardi was elected Chairman of the 2009 Somerville School Committee by a unanimous roll call vote of Yes–- 9. City Clerk, John J. Long, administered the Oath of Office for newly elected Chairman, Ms. Maureen Bastardi. V. ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN With Chairman Bastardi presiding, the committee proceeded with the election of the Vice Chairman of the 2009 School Committee. Mr. Sweeting nominated Ward V School Committee member Mr. Mark Niedergang Vice Chairman of the 2009 School Committee, seconded by Mr. Norton. There being no other nominations, nominations were closed. Mr. Niedergang was elected Vice Chairman of the 2009 Somerville School Committee by a unanimous roll call vote of Yes–-9. City Clerk, John J. Long, administered the Oath of Office for newly elected Vice Chairman, Mr. Niedergang IV. SOMERVILLE SCHOOL COMMITTEE’S OATH OF OFFICE City Clerk, John J. Long, administered the Oaths of Office for the Somerville School Committee. VI. ANNOUNCEMENT OF SUBCOMMITTEES Chairman Bastardi announced the 2009 School Committee subcommittee assignments. The assignments are as follows: Finance and Facilities Chair, Mark Niedergang Mary Jo Rossetti, Paul Bockelman Personnel Chair, James Norton Adam Sweeting, Teresa Cardoso Rules Chair, Paul Bockelman Teresa Cardoso, Mary Jo Rossetti Ed Programs Chair, Adam Sweeting Mark Niedergang, James Norton 1 Monday, January 5, 2009 VII. SEATING LOTTERY The School Committee then conducted the 2009-seating lottery. Chairman Bastardi requested that Mr. Sweeting and Mr. Norton assist in the seating organization and the results are as follows: Ms. Mary Jo Rossetti was assigned seat #1, Alderman Walter Pero seat #2, Mr. Adam Sweeting seat #3, Mr. James Norton seat #4, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone #5, Ms. M. Teresa Cardoso seat #6, Mr. Paul Bockelman seat #7. Mr. Mark Niedergang was assigned seat #8 as Vice Chairman for easy accessibility to the podium. VIII. ORDER RE GOVERNMENT OF COMMITTEE MOTION: Ms. Rossetti made a motion, seconded by Mr. Sweeting, that all unfinished business before the 2008 School Committee be referred to the School Committee of 2009. The motion was approved by voice vote. IX. NEW BUSINESS The following policy was brought forth for first reading, for adoption. File: ECA Use of Security Cameras on School Property X. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Rossetti and Ms. Cardoso moved for adjournment at 6:55 p.m., which carried by voice vote. Mr. Anthony Pierantozzi Secretary 2 CITY OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL COMMITTEE Monday, January 12, 2009 – Regular Meeting 7:00 p.m. - Aldermanic Chambers - City Hall Members present: Ms. Bastardi, Ms. Cardoso, Mr. Sweeting, Mr. Norton, Ms. Rossetti, Mr. Pero and Mr. Bockelman. Absent: Mayor Curtatone, Mr. Niedergang, Ms. Tyler I. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Maureen Bastardi called a Regular Meeting of the School Committee to order in the aldermanic chambers at 7:00 p.m., with a moment of silence and a salute to the flag of the United States of America. II. AWARDS & CITATIONS Ms. Bastardi read the resolution presented to the late Brenda McDonnell’s family at the memorial service held for her on January 6, 2009. (copy at end of these minutes) III. STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL There was not report given this evening, as Ms. Tyler was absent. IV. REPORT OF SUBCOMMITTEES A. Educational Programs and Instruction: Mr. Sweeting (December 17) Mr. Sweeting reported on the Ed. Programs meeting of December 17, in the absence of Mr. Niedergang. Mr. Sweeting is the new chair of the Ed. Programs Subcommittee for 2009. The topics discussed included: 1. SHS Program of Studies: presentation of changes. Mr. Burke made a presentation at the meeting and reviewed the proposed changes to courses, etc. 2. SHS Vocational Program presentation – Mr. Bassett gave an overview of the vocational program to the committee and shared examples of student work, etc. 3. Volunteer Coordinator update – Ms. Jen Capuano gave an update on our volunteer program. She informed the committee that the District has 52 new volunteers who have given approximately 500 hours. She also reported on outreach, protocol, and needs. 4. Student Retention data – Dr. McKay made a brief presentation to the committee on retention data 5. In-Service Course approvals MOTION: Mr. Sweeting made a motion, seconded by Ms. Cardoso to approve revisions to the Somerville High School Program of Studies. The motion was approved by a voice vote. MOTION: Mr. Sweeting made a motion, seconded by Mr. Norton to approve the following 14 inservice courses. 1. Curriculum Development: Understanding by Design 2. Using GRADE reading comprehension results in classroom instruction 3. Creating the MCAS - Alt Portfolio 4. Integrating Art into the Curriculum 5. Using Second Step Social-Emotional Curriculum 6. Using Functional Behavioral Assessments 7. The Reading Teacher book club 8. Using Reciprocal Teaching to Foster Reading Comprehension 3-6 9. Using Reciprocal Teaching to Foster Reading Comprehension K-2 10. Intervention Activities for Fluency and Vocabulary 3 11. Intervention Activities for Phonemic Awareness and Phonics 12. Teacher Leaders and Leadership 13. WHCS – Critical Issues in our School 14. A Survey of Writing in Grades 3-6 The motion was passed by voice vote. B. Long Range Planning: Mr. Bockelman (December 22) Mr. GBA – Equal Employment Opportunity Bockelman GBA-E – Americans with Disabilities Act/MGL 151B reported GCCC – Professional Staff Family and Medical Leave on the Long GCCC-E – Family and Medical Leave Range GDCC – Support Staff Family and Medical Leave Planning meeting where topics included: A. Long Range Action Plan - setting priorities B. Long Range Action Plan – updates C. Review of Security Camera policy – The Somerville Public Schools has developed a new Security Camera Policy (File: ECA). This policy was presented for first reading to the School Committee at this meeting and then for second reading at the meeting of January 5, 2009. C. Executive Session: Mr. Bockelman (December 22) Mr. Bockelman also reported that at the December 22, 2008 meeting for Executive Session, the School Committee voted, unanimously, to extend Mr. Pierantozzi’s contract by one year, which will extend through June 30, 2012. Based upon Mr. Pierantozzi’s commendable performance and the extremely positive evaluations given by the various administrators across the city, the Superintendent, along with the contract extension, received a 3% pay increase. Congratulations and thanks were offered to Mr. Pierantozzi on a job well done. D. Finance and Facilities: Ms. Rossetti (January 7) Ms. Rossetti reported on the Finance and Facilities meeting of January 7, in the absence of Mr. Niedergang, who is the new Finance chair for 2009. The report included: 1. Grant Update – Ms. Kinder gave a report of the recent grant activity in the District 2. Review of Community Policing Grant – Chief Holloway attended the meeting at the request of Ms. Bastardi and discussed the Community Policing grant. The Chief informed the committee that funding from this grant has been cut by 23.8% and told the group that the original 9 community officers has been cut to 7. He also let the members know that there will always be daily coverage at Somerville High School and that he will do his absolute best to cover all school buildings in times of need. 3. Update of State Fiscal situation – discussion took place regarding the $2.4Billion gap in the State budget. We have already taken steps in the School Department to prepare for cuts. Ms. Rossetti informed the members that Mayor Curtatone has promised to inform us as soon as the governor makes decisions regarding budget cuts. 4. FY2009 Expenditure Report 5. FY2009 Bill Roll 6. Facilities update – Mr. Pierantozzi provided a facilities update, including air quality issues, flooring at SHS and WHCS, the boiler room at SHS, the ESCS fire, and the AFA punch list. MOTION: Ms. Rossetti made a motion, seconded by Mr. Bockelman to accept the FY09 bill rolls. The motion was approved by a voice vote. Ms. Cardoso made a request that a report detailing all association dues be prepared and presented at the February 4 Finance meeting. E. Rules Management: Mr. Bockelman (January 8) Mr. Bockelman reported on the Rules Management meeting of January 8, 2009. The topic of this meeting was the continuation of the review of policy manual. After