HWRSD School Committee

HAMPDEN-WILBRAHAM REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
School Committee Meeting
Tuesday, October 24, 2006 @ 7:00 p.m.
Minnechaug Regional High School – Media Center

 Present:
School Committee Members : Scott Chapman, William Bickley, Marianne Desmond, D. John McCarthy, Lisa Morace, Peter Salerno, Gilles Turcotte and Student Representative Courtney Sanders.
Administrators : Paul Gagliarducci and Donna Scanlon.
Guests: Philip Steiger, Steiger Engineering; Suzanne McLaughlin, The Republican; John Lovejoy, Mike Flynn, Chip Johnson, Linda Prystupa, Dennis Schmidt, and other members; MRHS Building Committee; Duane Mosier, Hampden Selectman; Marc Ducey, Wilbraham Finance; Robert Page, Allen Kinney, and other members; Concerned Citizens of Wilbraham; Rose Brosnan, Becky DeSmith, Mary Goodwin, Steve Hale, Marguerite Myers-Killeen, Marty O’Shea, Noel Pixley, and Deb Thompson, Building Principals; Ed Cenedella, HWRSD Director of Maintenance; Gina Kahn, HWRSD Risk Prevention Services Coordinator; and Ed Gorski, Hampden resident.
Absent : None

Chairman Chapman opened the meeting at 7:05 p.m. and expressed sympathy to the family of Linda Brannigan, a long-time district teacher, who recently passed away.

  1. General (see attached)
    1. Public Comment
       There were none.
    2. Minutes
      • Regular Meeting – October 10, 2006
        The Minutes of the October 10 th meeting were reviewed. Mr. Turcotte made a motion to accept the Minutes as written. Mrs. Desmond seconded and it was approved.
    3. Student Representatives
      Student Representative Courtney Sanders reported on some recent and upcoming events at the high school including the semi-formal dance, the very successful Class of 2008 magazine drive, the canned goods drive, Key Club’s “Kid Night” and the fall sports coming to an end with playoffs and awards night.

    2. Mr. Chapman asked for a motion to table discussion on the following agenda items to a future meeting: Food Service Report, Athletic Trainer Position, Policy Subcommittee Discussion, Superintendent’s Report, and Misc Correspondence. Mr. Bickley made the motion. Mr. Turcotte seconded and it was approved.

  2. Financial Issues (see attached)
    1. Food Service Report – Vote on Price Increase Request – Julie Dougal (discussion tabled to future meeting)
    2. Approve Warrants
      The warrants were approved.
  3. Other Business (see attached)
    1. MRHS Building Project –
      • Structural Roof Report – Philip Steiger, PE
      Dr. Gagliarducci explained how this MRHS structural roof report came about in discussions with Mr. Chapman, Mr. Lovejoy, and other members of the MRHS Building Committee. The “Structural Study of Building Roofs (Design Calculations)” for the Minnechaug Regional High School, by Philip Steiger, was previously distributed to the Committee. Mr. Steiger was introduced and he then gave a little of his background, the scope of the project and some history of the building. He then proceeded to summarize the findings in his report, mainly that the general structural condition of the high school roof joists, beams, trusses, and decking are considered to be good overall, except for the roof structure over the school pool. He estimates that due to the severe rusting problem something will need to be done to the pool roof within the next five years. Mr. Steiger then went on to talk about the issue of building codes. The building is very strong and was built according to the codes in place at the time, but he explained that according to Chapter 34 once a building project plus certain repairs done during the previous two years add up to more than 50% of the assessed value of the building, then the modern building codes come into play. In his opinion, the high school would not be able to conform to those new codes because it was not originally structurally designed to do so. This building could not withstand the new lateral load or seismic load codes because there’s no rebar or lateral bracing in the masonry walls. So once any major work is begun, it could lead to having to meet the current building codes; and although the building will not fall down, it will not pass modern codes either. There was much discussion regarding the issue current more stringent building codes, reaching the dollar threshold that would trigger them and working with the local building inspector.
    2. Class Rank Discussion
      Mr. Chapman asked that Dr. Gagliarducci and Mr. O’Shea present their recommendation regarding the class rank issue at the February 13, 2007, meeting.
    3. Athletic Trainer Position (discussion tabled to future meeting)
    4. Policy Subcommittee Discussion (discussion tabled to future meeting)
  4. Correspondence/Written Reports Received (see attached)
    1. Superintendent’s Report (discussion tabled to future meeting)
    2. Misc. Correspondence (green folders) (discussion tabled to future meeting)
  5. Personnel
    The School Committee noted the following appointments, resignations, leaves of absence, and retirements:
    1. a) Appointments (replacements unless noted otherwise*)
      • Margaret Cyr, LT Sub K Teacher @ MT, eff 11-8-06
    2. Resignations
      • None
    3. Leaves of Absence
      • Valerie Fritz, PT Teacher @ GM, eff 8-28-06 (childbear/rear)
    4. Retirements
      • None
  6. 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)

Mr. Chapman noted that there was need for Executive Session to discuss school safety and security. Mr. Salerno made the motion. Mr. Turcotte seconded. Mr. Chapman took a roll call vote with Mr. Bickley, Ms. Desmond, Ms. Morace, Mr. McCarthy, Mr. Salerno, Mr. Turcotte and Mr. Chapman voting in favor of convening Executive Session. The Committee returned to the regular meeting and immediately adjourned at 9:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen W. Belsky
Recording Secretary

Next Meeting Scheduled For:
* Tuesday, November 14, 2006, at Thornton W. Burgess Middle School *

HAMPDEN-WILBRAHAM REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
School Committee Meeting
Tuesday, October 24, 2006 @ 7:00 p.m.
Minnechaug Regional High School – Media Center  

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: Rose Brosnan, Becky DeSmith, Mary Goodwin, Steve Hale, Marguerite Myers-Killeen, Marty O’Shea, Noel Pixley, and Deb Thompson, Building Principals; Ed Cenedella, HWRSD Director of Maintenance; and Gina Kahn, HWRSD Risk Prevention Coordinator.
Absent : None

Executive Session convened at 7:59 p.m. The Committee discussed school safety and security issues, including security cameras, building access, district protocols, communications, mag locks, signage, deliveries, key issues, improving exit doors, and use of facilities after hours. There were no votes taken.

The Committee returned to open session at 9:40 p.m. to immediately adjourn.

Respectfully submitted,

Gilles Turcotte
School Committee Secretary