School Committee Meeting
May 18, 1998
School Committee Room
MINUTES
Approved as presented
May 4, 1998
CALL TO ORDER
At 7:35 p.m., Mr. Richard Tariff, Chair, called the meeting to order. Present were: Mr. Tariff, Mr. Thomas Jefferson, Vice-Chair; Ms. Louise Croll, Clerk; Mr. Gene Cassidy, Ms. Lauren Elliott, Mr. Arthur Leavens, Mrs. Jennifer Shapiro, and Larry Mortensen, Student Representative. Also present were Dr. Thomas P. McGarry, Superintendent, Joseph Flahive, Assistant Superintendent-Business, and Sharon Cullinan, Administrative Assistant. There were two members of the press, 14 visitors in the audience.
REPORT AND TOUR OF CAREER AND COLLEGE RESOURCE CENTER
Vesta Browne reported to the Committee on the great successes of the Career and College Resource Center and then guided the Committee on the tour of the Resource Center.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Leavens moved, seconded by Mrs. Shapiro, that the School Committee approve the minutes of the April 6, 1998, School Committee meeting, as corrected. The motion carried 5-0-2 with Mr. Cassidy and Ms. Elliott abstaining.
CORRESPONDENCE
The School Committee received a letter from Liz Kittredge supporting Dr. McGarry's decision not to renew Dr. Murphy's contract; a list of questions from Mr. Richard Graveline, which were delivered to Mr. Tariff on the evening of April 30, 1998; and an invitation to participate in the Long Meddowe Days parade.
VISITOR'S COMMENTS
Mr. Drew Starr, a senior at Longmeadow High School, told the Committee that the Longmeadow High School As Schools Match Wits Team recently received several awards at the State competition including 1st place in the small school section, 2nd place overall, and 1st place in the social science and fine arts section.
Mr. John Friedson, 9 Greenwillow Drive; Heather Hamp, 1990 graduate of LHS; Carol Khtikian, 107 Eton Road; and Nancy Urbschat, 266 Pinewood Drive; all urged the Superintendent to change his mind regarding the non-renewal of Dr. Murphy's contract. Mr. Harry Weinmann, 172 Franklin Road spoke to the Committee urging them to reflect on the decision relative to the high school principal, asked the Committee to support the special article request at the Annual Town Meeting for $27,000 for high school bussing. Mr. Weinmann also expressed his concern over the weight of the book bags that students are required to carry each day to and from school.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE COMMENTS
Mr. Jefferson had an opportunity to review the new state testing program and was impressed with the caliber of the tests, but warned that the first round of testing may prove to be a disaster with the area of math being a challenge. Mr. Jefferson acknowledged Mr. Weinmann's concern over the weight of the book bags, and thanked Mr. Weinmann for working very diligently on the bussing issue over the past year.
Mr. Cassidy indicated that he appreciated Mr. Weinmann's concern over the bussing issue and thanked him for the creative procedure to address this issue.
Mr. Cassidy asked if the Committee could start a dialogue regarding the entrance age for kindergarten children. This will be brought back at a future meeting.
Mr. Cassidy expressed that he was gravely offended by Mr. Friedson's remarks regarding the non-renewal of Dr. Murphy's contract.
Ms. Croll asked if the Committee could review the six-day schedule at Williams Middle School. This will be brought back at a future meeting.
Mr. Tariff asked if there would be any effect on the proposed fee-based bussing by the L.P.V.E.C. if the special article at the Town Meeting is passed.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
The School Committee reviewed a copy of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents Newsletter.
CONSENT AGENDA
Mrs. Shapiro moved, seconded by Ms. Croll, on the recommendation of the Superintendent, that the School Committee approve the Consent Agenda for the May 4, 1998, School Committee meeting, as presented. The motion carried unanimously.
DISCUSSION OF THE LAW ON NON-RENEWAL OF PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTS
Attorney Robert Fraser spoke to the Committee regarding the law for non-renewal of professional contracts.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. Cassidy moved, seconded by Ms. Croll, on the recommendation of the Superintendent, that the School Committee adjourn into executive session for the purposes of discussing pending litigation, to reconvene into open session. At 8:54 p.m., a roll call vote was taken. Ayes: Mr. Jefferson, Ms. Elliott, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Leavens, Mrs. Shapiro, Ms. Croll, and Mr. Tariff. Nays: None
No action was taken in executive session.
At 10:04 p.m. Ms. Croll moved, seconded by Mrs. Shapiro, to re-convene into open session. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes: Mr. Jefferson, Ms. Elliott, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Leavens, Mrs. Shapiro, Ms. Croll, and Mr. Tariff. Nays: None
FY99 BUDGET ASSIGNMENTS
The Committee briefly reviewed the budget. It was the consensus of the Committee not to take a position on the special warrant article requesting $27,000 for high school bussing. The following Budget Assignments were made: 1000-Rich Tariff, 2000-Art Leavens, 3000-Tom Jefferson, 4000-Gene Cassidy, 5000-Jennifer Shapiro, 6000-Jennifer Shapiro, 7000-Lauren Elliott, 9000-Tom Jefferson.
PHASE II OF TASK FORCE III
Mrs. Moore, Dr. Ciesluk, and Dr. Mengel were present to discuss the strategy regarding the Annual Town Meeting on May 12, 1998. The Committee reviewed the most frequently asked questions with answers prepared by Ms. Croll.
PROPOSAL FOR CENTRAL OFFICE ADMINISTRATIVE REORGANIZATION
Ms. Croll moved, seconded by Mrs. Shapiro, on the recommendation of the Superintendent, that the School Committee eliminate the position of Teacher Assistant to the Superintendent, effective June 30, 1998. The motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Jefferson moved, seconded by Mr. Cassidy, on the recommendation of the Superintendent, that the School Committee approve the position of Administrator for Instructional Services as proposed, effective July 1, 1998. The motion carried unanimously.
The Committee was informed that the Superintendent would begin discussions with cabinet members, school staff, and the Longmeadow Education Association, on the best way to employ classroom teachers to provide curriculum coordination in English/language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, foreign language, and health/physical education, also reviewing the current coordination in art, music and libraries.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
The following School Committee Assignments were made: Channel 8-Lauren Elliott; Consultation Committee-Rich Tariff, Art Leavens, Gene Cassidy; Legislative Liaison-Art Leavens; L.P.V.E.C.-Jennifer Shapiro, Alternate-Tom Jefferson; D.L.T.-Louise Croll, Jennifer Shapiro; Capital Planning-Gene Cassidy, Alternate-Lauren Elliott; Technology Plan-Louise Croll, Alternate-Tom Jefferson; Insurance-Rich Tariff; Health Insurance-Rich Tariff. School Representatives: Blueberry Hill-Gene Cassidy; Center School-Lauren Elliott; Wolf Swamp Road School-Art Leavens; Glenbrook-Jennifer Shapiro; Williams-Louise Croll; High School-Tom Jefferson; Special Education-Rich Tariff
EXECUTIVE SESSION
There was no executive session at this time.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Leavens moved, seconded by Mrs. Shapiro that the meeting
adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 11:01 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Louise Croll, Clerk
