Minutes 10-10-2006

HWRSD School Committee

HAMPDEN-WILBRAHAM REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
School Committee Meeting
Tuesday, October 10, 2006 @ 7:00 p.m.
Thornton W. Burgess Middle School

Present:
School Committee Members : Scott Chapman, William Bickley, Marianne Desmond, D. John McCarthy, Lisa Morace, Peter Salerno, Gilles Turcotte and Student Representatives Doug Moore and Nicole Sawyer.
Administrators : Paul Gagliarducci and Donna Scanlon.
Guests: Martin O’Shea, Principal of MRHS; Robert Page and Allen Kinney, Concerned Citizens of Wilbraham; Suzanne McLaughlin, The Republican; Doug Farmer, Wilbraham-Hampden Times; Donna Easton-Vicalvi, HWRSD Treasurer; Maureen Pacella, Eastern Bank; John D. Flynn, Hampden Selectman; Marc Ducey, Wilbraham Finance Committee; Ed Cenedella, HWRSD Director of Maintenance; Gina Kahn, HWRSD Risk Prevention Coordinator; Tom Chapman, MRHS Head Custodian; and Ed Gorski, Hampden resident.
Absent : None

After a brief reception honoring Ray Syriac upon his retirement from over 10 years of service to Wilbraham Public Access filming the School Committee meetings, Mr. Chapman called the School Committee meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.

General (see attached)
1. Public Comment
  There were none.
2. Minutes
  - Regular Meeting – September 26, 2006
    The Minutes of the September 26 th meeting were reviewed. Mr. Salerno made a motion to accept the Minutes as written. Mr. Turcotte seconded and it was approved.
3. Student Representatives
  Student Representatives Doug Moore and Nicole Sawyer reported on some recent and upcoming events at the high school including the successful flag football game, the semi-formal to be held on October 28 th, the school spirit rally and the Class of 2007 scarecrow fundraiser.
Financial Issues (see attached)
1. Vote to Correct Date on Motions of 9-26-06
  Dr. Gagliarducci explained that the date quoted on all the motions at the last meeting was incorrect. It should have stated that the original motions were made on June 27, 2006, not June 16. Mr. Salerno made a motion to correct the motions made on September 26, 2006, to indicate the original date of the motions was June 27, 2006. Mr. Turcotte seconded and it was unanimously approved.
2. Vote to Accept Bond Amount of Green Meadows
  Mr. Scortino had previously distributed a memo explaining the need for the School Committee to approve the amount of the school bond to be paid over the amortization period. Dr. Gagliarducci noted that he understood the bond was at a very good rate of 3.98%. Maureen Pacella from Eastern Bank and Donna Easton-Vicalvi, HWRSD Treasurer, were present to answer any questions the Committee had regarding this issue. As Secretary of the Committee, Mr. Turcotte made the following motion: That the sale of the $2,738,000 School Bonds of the district dated October 1, 2006, to UBS Securities LLC at the price of $2,738,176.86 and accrued interest is hereby confirmed. The bonds shall be payable on October 1 of the years and in the principal amounts and bear interest at the respective rates, as follows, subject to earlier redemption at the option of the district as provide in the Preliminary Official Statement dated September 22, 2006. Mr. Bickley seconded and it was unanimously approved.
3. Food Service Report – Vote on Price Increase Request
  Mr. Scortino had previously distributed the Food Services Report from Julie Dougal, HWRSD Food Service Director, and a memo regarding the need for a lunch price increase throughout the district. After a brief discussion this agenda item was tabled and it was determined that Ms. Dougal will be invited to the next meeting to further explain the price increase request and answer questions from the Committee.
4. Treasurer’s Report – September 06
  The “Treasurer’s Report - September 2006” was distributed at the meeting for the Committee’s review. There was no discussion.
5. New Motion to Transfer Funds into FY07 Revolving Operating Reserve
  A memo from Mr. Scortino was distributed to the Committee at the meeting, explaining the recommendation to transfer funds from the FY06 operating surplus to the FY07 revolving operation reserve to cover higher than anticipated expenses in the areas of health insurance for retirees, school security enhancements, SPED therapeutic contracted services, and technology. Ms. Desmond made the motion to transfer $210,000 from the FY06 operating surplus to the FY07 revolving operating reserve established on September 26, 2006, to supplement the four above mentioned contingency expenses. Mr. Turcotte seconded and it was unanimously approved.
6. Approve Warrants
  The warrants were approved.
Other Business (see attached)
1. Class Rank Discussion – Marty O’Shea
  Mr. Chapman explained that the Committee wants to make an informed decision regarding whether or not to drop class ranking. Mr. O’Shea, Principal of Minnechaug had previously distributed information regarding class rank. Dr. Gagliarducci also provided the Committee with several internet articles regarding the pros and cons. They both briefly discussed the information they provided. There was much discussion about this topic, with some members wanting a comprehensive analysis, including other factors impacting class ranking (A/P classes, weighted grades, GPA, etc.) which may take over a year to complete, while others would like to see the decision made sooner because they don’t believe eliminating it would cause any harm to a student’s record. It was decided that for the October 24 th meeting, members will further review the information already provided, consider tonight’s discussion, and then be prepared to discuss their preference as to the methodology and timing of this study. In addition, Mr. O’Shea will provide members with the information just received from Norwell and Hingham. It was noted that both Longmeadow and Amherst have dropped class rank for their high school students.
Correspondence/Written Reports Received (see attached)
1. Superintendent’s Report
  No further discussion.
2. Misc. Correspondence (green folders)
  Dr. Gagliarducci noted some of the miscellaneous correspondence, including the upcoming School Committees Conference in November and an invitation to the Committee to attend the MRHS National Honor Society’s induction ceremony on November 15 th. He also explained that the district’s music departments are planning a district-wide choral presentation in the spring, to be held at Symphony Hall. The Wilbraham-Hampden Academic Trust (WHAT) is sponsoring the event as a fundraiser.
Personnel
The School Committee noted the following appointments, resignations, leaves of absence, and retirements:
1. Appointments (replacements unless noted otherwise*)
  - Edward Lennon, Attendance Officer, eff SY 06-07
  - Judith Shannon, LT Substitute @ MRHS, eff 08-28-06 to 01-19-07
  - Mary Silva, Van Driver, eff 10-2-06
  - Elaine Weaver, Custodian @ MRHS, eff 9-26-06
2. Resignations
  - Deb Carter, Food Service, eff 8-28-06
3. Leaves of Absence
  - None
4. Retirements
  - Virginia Dubord, Food Service, eff 10-13-06
New Agenda Items (for upcoming meetings)
Future agenda items were reviewed:
1. District Improvement Plan (September)
2. Capital Projects Review
3. Review Home Education Plans (October)
4. Budget Subcommittee Convene (October)
5. Budget Review Process Begins (October)
6. Policy Manual Review Committee (TBD)

Mr. Chapman asked that the Policy Manual Review Subcommittee be placed on the agenda for the next meeting to be discussed. This subcommittee consists of Mr. Salerno, Mr. McCarthy and Ms. Desmond. Mr. Salerno briefly discussed the possibility of getting teacher, student and community representatives involved in this process.

Mr. Chapman noted that there was need for Executive Session to discuss school safety and security. He read from his letter that will be sent to parents noting the recent school violence across the nation, the fact that the district has been making improvements in the area of school safety for the past several years in part due to federal grant monies, and finally the fact that the School Committee takes their duty and responsibility for school safety very seriously. Mr. Chapman then asked for a motion to convene Executive Session to discuss school safety and security. Mr. Salerno made the motion. Mr. Turcotte seconded. Mr. Chapman took a roll call vote and Mr. Bickley, Ms. Desmond, Ms. Morace, Mr. McCarthy, Mr. Salerno, Mr. Turcotte and Mr. Chapman voting in favor of convening Executive Session. Dr. Gagliarducci asked that the Committee invite Mr. Cendella, Mr. Chapman, Ms. Kahn, and Mr. O’Shea to this meeting.

The next School Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, October 24, 2006, at Minnechaug Regional High School (not Stony Hill School as originally scheduled). There will also be a special School Committee Executive Session meeting on Monday, October 23, 2006, with the building principals to discuss school safety and security. The meeting adjourned at 9:17 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen W. Belsky
Recording Secretary

Next Meeting Scheduled For:
* Tuesday, October 24, 2006, at Minnechaug Regional High School *
* (not Stony Hill School as previously scheduled) *

HAMPDEN-WILBRAHAM REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
School Committee Meeting
Tuesday, October 10, 2006 @ 7:00 p.m.
Thornton W. Burgess Middle School

Present:
School Committee Members : Scott Chapman, William Bickley, Marianne Desmond, D. John McCarthy, Lisa Morace, Peter Salerno, and Gilles Turcotte.
Administrators : Paul Gagliarducci and Donna Scanlon
Guests: Martin O’Shea, Principal of MRHS; Ed Cenedella, HWRSD Director of Maintenance; Gina Kahn, HWRSD Risk Prevention Coordinator; and Tom Chapman, MRHS Head Custodian.
Absent : None

Executive Session convened at 8:08 p.m. The Committee discussed safety issues, increasing security, changing locks, and installing security gates to restrict access to the buildings. There were no votes taken.

The Committee returned to open session at 9:16 p.m. and immediately adjourned at 9:17 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Gilles Turcotte
School Committee Secretary