Somerset Public Schools Somerset, Massachusetts

Somerset Public Schools
Somerset, Massachusetts
Somerset School Committee Meeting Minutes
Open Session #1 – June 21, 2007
School Committee Room - North Elementary School
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chairperson Ann Correira.
Members present were:
Mrs. Ann Correira, Chair
Mr. Donald Rebello, Vice-Chair (arrived 6:44 p.m.)
Mr. Richard Fenstermaker
Mr. Victor Machado, Jr.
Ms. Elizabeth White
Mr. Richard Medeiros, Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Bradford Smith, Director of Curriculum
Mr. James Kiely, Director of Business & Finance
Ms. Rochelle Desmarais, Recording Secretary
™ The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
♦ The next regularly scheduled School Committee Meeting will be held on
Thursday, July 26, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. in the School Committee Room located in
the North Elementary School, 580 Whetstone Hill Road, Somerset, MA 02726.
♦ Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, Mr. Fenstermaker made a motion
to accept the Secretary’s Open Session Report of June 7, 2007 as amended. Ms.
White seconded. The Committee voted in favor of the motion 4-0.
♦ Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, Mr. Fenstermaker made a motion
to accept the Secretary’s Executive Session Report of June 7, 2007. Ms. White
seconded. The Committee voted in favor of the motion 4-0.
COMMUNICATIONS
2. United Way Award: Mr. Michael McDonald read a United Way Achievement
Award which he presented to Mrs. Correira on behalf of the entire School
Department.
3. High School Standards Committee Presentation: High School Principal Mr.
Robert Pineault and Assistant-Principals Mrs. Pauline Camara and Mr. Kyle
Alves, presented an “Update to the High School Standards” to the Committee.
Subjects included: Program of Studies, Protocol for Changing Courses, and the
Retention Policy. (The presentation was interrupted for the following presentation.)
Somerset School Committee Meeting – Open Session #1
June 21, 2007
page 2
1. Mr. Medeiros had special gifts to present to the Top 10 Students of the Class of
2007. Seven of the students were able to attend and he and the Committee, as well
as the entire audience, congratulated and applauded them. The students are:
Clark Andrews
Kaitlyn Billington
Michael DeMoranville
Katelyn Domingue
Ellis Ludwig-Leone
Michael Ostroski
Katelyn Shively
Maxwell Silva
Andrew Tremblay
Giselle Youssef
COMMUNICATIONS # 2 (continued): Mr. Pineault, Mrs. Camara and Mr.
Alves completed their presentation. During the presentation, and at the end, the
Committee asked many questions and the High School Administration answered
all and offered several clarifications. Mr. Medeiros thanked them and asked if
they could have a list of Standards Committee members for the School
Committee at the next meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Capital Plan Update: Mr. Kiely reviewed the North Elementary Roofing
Project. He is very pleased with the progress and the work being performed by the
Project Designers, Russo-Barr Associates and the actual roofing contractors,
Wayne Roofing. He thanked the School Committee and the public for their
support and stated that it will be great to not have buckets in the classrooms.
Mr. Kiely also spoke about the High School Statement of Interest. It has been
supported by the Board of Selectmen and they will be forwarding a certified copy
of their meeting minutes to add to our packet.
2. Home Schooling Policy: Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, Mr.
Rebello made a motion to accept the policy as written and presented. Ms. White
seconded. The Committee voted in favor of the motion 5-0.
3. School Committee Goals: Discussion will be continued at next meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Renewal of Transportation Routes 17, 19, 20, 22, 23, 26 and 27: Upon
recommendation of the Director of Business & Finance, Mr. Fenstermaker
made a motion to renew the contract as presented. Mr. Rebello seconded. The
Committee voted in favor of the motion 5-0.
2. School Committee Representatives to Sub Committees:
♦ Supt. Evaluation Sub-Committee: Richard Fenstermaker
♦ Sick Bank Sub-Committee: Ann Correira
♦ Evening School Sub-Committee: Elizabeth White
♦ Supt. Contract Negotiation Committee: Donald Rebello & Victor
Machado, Jr.
Somerset School Committee Meeting – Open Session #1
June 21, 2007
3.
page 3
♦ Collective Bargaining Representatives: (when needed)
¾ Teachers: Richard Fenstermaker
¾ Administrators: Victor Machado, Jr.
¾ Asst. Principals: Elizabeth White
¾ Clerical: Ann Correira
¾ Cafeteria: Ann Correira
¾ Custodial: Victor Machado, Jr.
¾ Paraprofessional: Donald Rebello
Budget Tranfer: Upon recommendation of the Director of Business and
Finance, Mr. Rebello made a motion to transfer the sum of $310,000 from
Personal Services to Expenses. Mr. Machado seconded. The Committee voted
in favor of the motion 5-0.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
♦
Professional Development Activities: Dr. Smith reviewed Professional
Development Activities for the month of May. Mr. Rebello wanted to
publicly acknowledge and give kudos to Dr. Smith for funding so many of the
Professional Development activities through grants, thereby saving money for
the District.
♦ Mrs. Correira recognized the Somerset High School Students of the Month
for the month of May.
Grade 9: Taylor Thielman
Grade 10: Bryan Mongeon; Brittany Viveiros; Devin Sadlers; Jessica
Ferreira
Grade 11: Courtney Berube; Kevin Dube; Paul Stanley; Evan Perry;
Jacob Swauger
OTHER MATTERS/PUBLIC INPUT
♦
♦
♦
Mr. Medeiros introduced the “Annual Dropout Rates Report.” He was very
proud to announce that our current dropout rate is only 1.8%. He thanked the
many people who were instrumental in achieving this result.
Mr. Fenstermaker stated that the Night School Graduation was great. Mr.
Aguiar and his staff did a wonderful job and he also congratulated Ms. White
for her work on the Night School Committee.
Staffing: Mr. Medeiros reviewed current postings.
Mr. Rebello made a motion to adjourn (open session and go into Executive Session
in accordance with Chapter 39, Section 23B, for the purpose of discussing contract
matters, with no open session to follow.) Ms. White seconded.
‘ Mr. Fenstermaker requested an Open Session follow the Executive
Session and made a motion to that effect. Mr. Rebello seconded.
Somerset School Committee Meeting – Open Session #1
June 21, 2007
page 4
On a roll call, the Committee voted 5-0 in favor of the motion. Mrs. Correira: aye;
Mr. Rebello: aye; Mr. Fenstermaker: aye; Ms. White: aye; Mr. Machado: aye. Open
session adjourned at 7:59 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Rochelle Desmarais
Recording Secretary
Accepted by:
_________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Richard W. Medeiros, Superintendent of Schools
Date
Somerset Public Schools
Somerset, Massachusetts
Somerset School Committee Meeting Minutes
Open Session #2 - June 21, 2007
School Committee Room - North Elementary School
The meeting was called to order at 10:33 p.m. by Chairperson Ann Correira.
Members present were:
Mrs. Ann Correira, Chair
Mr. Donald Rebello, Vice-Chair
Mr. Richard Fenstermaker
Mr. Victor Machado, Jr.
Ms. Elizabeth White
♦
No further discussion was held.
Ms. White made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Rebello seconded. On a roll call, the
Committee voted 5-0 in favor of the motion. Mrs. Correira: aye; Mr. Rebello: aye;
Mr. Fenstermaker: aye; Ms. White: aye; Mr. Machado: aye. Open session
adjourned at 10:34 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann M. Correira, Chair
Somerset School Committee
Accepted by:
_________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Richard W. Medeiros, Superintendent of Schools
Date