Meeting minutes of December 11, 2007

Regular Meeting of
the AMHERST School Committee

Tuesday, December 11, 2007, 7:00 p.m.

High School Library

 

Present:            Andy Churchill, Chair                              Jere Hochman, Superintendent

                        Elaine Brighty                                          Mark
Prince, WW Principal  

                        Kathleen Anderson                                  Rob Detweiler,
Director of Finance & Operations

                        Chrystel Romero
(arrived at 7:19)            Paul Wiley,
CF Principal

                                                                                       Ann
Marshall, WW PTO

                                                                                       Kristen
Ford, WW PTO

                                                                                       Claire
Hamilton, WW School Council

                                                                                       Eric
Weinbaum, WW School Council

                                                                                       Judy
Newcomb, WW Teacher & School Council

                                                                                       Press

                                                                                       Public

                                                                                       Debbie
Westmoreland, Recorder

                         

Absent:             Sonia Correa-Pope

 

1.  Welcome                                                                                        7:10 p.m.

A. &
B.  Call to Order/Agenda Review—Mr. Churchill
called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. He then welcomed everyone to the
meeting and reviewed the agenda.

C.   Minutes—Ms. Brighty
made a motion to approve the minutes of November 13, 2007. Ms. Anderson
seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

2.  Announcements and Public Comments                                        7:12
p.m.

Dr. Hochman made comments
regarding social justice and achievement, two topics that have come to the
forefront in the past couple of weeks. 
He stated that he has tried to be clear since he came to Amherst that the goal is to
raise the bar for every one.  Dr. Hochman noted that he sees proficiency for every student as
a floor, not a ceiling, and that equity and achievement are not either/or
propositions.  He noted that he will
address the issue more in-depth at the Regional School Committee meeting next
week.  Mr. Churchill then read a letter
to the editor he wrote regarding the issue of equity and achievement that will
be included in the local newspaper this week. 

 

Joel Wolf, Fort River parent, asked the School Committee if teachers
at the Wildwood School were encouraged to wear buttons
stating “7%” and wanted to know how this squares with the equity and
achievement issue.  Mr. Prince explained
that 7% is a target to decrease the achievement gap of students who are below
the MCAS proficiency threshold by 7% this school year and every year from now
on until it no longer exists.  Laura
Quinn, CF parent, stated that she commends the school committee for their
renewed commitment to social justice and stated she feels there is a chance to
show this commitment in the treatment of district cafeteria workers.  She read a statement about the cafeteria
workers, noting that the cost of subcontracting the food service to a
multinational corporation far exceeds the savings projected.  Mr. Churchill explained that the decision
regarding food service was one that the School Committee and administration did
not make lightly, noting that they met multiple times to determine a course of
action with regard to food service.  He
noted that approximately half of the food service workers involved are eligible
for retirement, which means they can retire, draw their pension, receive the
severance package, and be rehired by the new company if they choose to.  In addition, food service is the only
employee group that has not affected by budget cuts over the past 7 years,
while every other employee group has had cuts. 
David Keenan, CF parent, noted that the cafeteria workers are service
providers who are every bit as important as the highly qualified teachers and
are an important part of the students’ day. 
Ms. Anderson noted that the food service cuts are a result of the budget
crisis and encouraged members of the community to encourage the town to provide
more financial support for the schools.

 

3.  Superintendent’s Update                                                              8:46 p.m.

Dr. Hochman distributed and
reviewed a document outlining the timeline and process for the principal
searches for Crocker Farm, Fort
River and the Middle
School. He reported that a letter and survey regarding the Middle School
principal search will be distributed to parents of students in grades five
through eight tomorrow.  A similar
process will be followed for the elementary searches.  In addition, Dr. Hochman
is meeting with the school councils and school faculties at each school
regarding the process.  Kathryn
Sanderson, parent, asked how parents will be selected for the interview
committees.  Dr. Hochman
stated that he will be talking with each of the school councils for their
recommendations of how to get a group of parents who will represent the
wholeness of the school.

 

4.  Unfinished/Continuing Business                                                  8:08 p.m.

A.  FY09 Budget—Dr. Hochman
distributed the updated version of the document “Meeting 1: Data and
Direction.”  He noted that budget
assumptions are all set based on the data in this document.  Dr. Hochman also
stated that two additional informational documents are being developed to
provide important information for the budget process.  The budget will be built on a three-year
optimum process, looking at what needs to be put in place in order to have what
we believe to be an optimum educational program by 2011.  Dr. Hochman then
reviewed the document and answered School Committee questions regarding the
data.  Mr. Detweiler
noted that it is still early in the process so budget projections may change as
more information comes in.  Dr. Hochman noted that John Musante
is projecting a $1.9 million gap between level services and available funding
for the Town of Amherst
in FY09.  Mr. Churchill asked that the
minutes of all of the Amherst Budget Coordinating Group meetings be forwarded
to all members of the School Committee. 
Debbie Westmoreland will forward the minutes via email. 

 

5.  New Business                                                                                8:47  p.m.

A.  Policies—Mr. Churchill noted that all of
the policies being considered for approval have already been reviewed and
approved by the Regional School Committee. 
He commented that policy 600.01 Instruction: Goals of Instructional Programs, addresses the equity and achievement issues that
are currently under discussion in the community.   Ms. Anderson made a motion to approve policy 600.01 Instruction: Goals of
Instructional Program. Ms. Brighty seconded and the
motion passed unanimously.  Ms. Romero
had a question regarding policy 420.06 Conduct of Students: Absences, Excuses
and Truancy.  She questioned whether the
word “emergencies” should be removed from line four since parents often have to
schedule doctor’s appointments during the school day.  After extensive discussion, it was agreed
that the word “emergency” should be changed to “urgent.”  Ms. Brighty made a
motion to approve policies 600.02 Instruction: Instructional Materials
Selection; 600.03 Instruction: Library Materials Selection; 600.04 Instruction:
Curriculum Development and Instructional Program Evaluation; 130.10 Safety and
Well-Being; and 420.06 Conduct of Students: Absences, Excuses and Truancy. Ms.
Anderson seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

6.  Reports                                                                                          7:39 p.m.

A.  Wildwood School Improvement Plan—Mark
Prince, Wildwood Principal, introduced members of the Wildwood School Council
and PTO who were in attendance, noting the outstanding efforts of the Wildwood
parents who contribute to the school everyday. 
He introduced Ann Marshall and Kristen Ford from the PTO who coordinate
the Wildwood WISH book program (With Involvement Success Happens) and Claire
Hamilton, Eve Weinbaum, and Judy Newcomb from the
School Council.  Mr. Prince then gave a Powerpoint presentation outlining the School Improvement
Plan for 2007-2009 and reviewed the goals of the plan in detail.   He
noted that the goal of the plan is to move from random acts of improvement to a
targeted plan for improvement.  Mr.
Churchill asked who is on the leadership team. Mr. Prince stated that the team
is made up of teachers from all areas of the school, noting that the group met
today regarding social justice.  Mr.
Churchill stated that the school improvement plan looks like a nice, focused
set of goals.  Ms. Anderson asked about
the social justice project the Leadership Group met about today.  Mr. Prince explained that the group had an
open, honest dialogue of “Where do we go next (after the curriculum day work).”
This was followed up with brainstorming types of differentiated study group
models around social justice. These ideas will be brought to the full
faculty/staff.  Mr. Churchill asked how
teachers deal with the quad system in the building since the state did not fund
the request for renovation funds for the upcoming year.  Mr. Prince stated that teachers have come up
with individual ways to deal with the hum of teaching and learning that takes
place in the rooms next to them.  He also
stated that he believes Wildwood is one of the best-looking buildings in the
district, noting that they have a great custodial staff and respectful students
who take pride in keeping it clean.  Ms. Brighty stated that the WISH book is wonderful and
commended the PTO on their work.  Ms. Brighty made a motion to accept the School Improvement Plan
for Wildwood.  Ms. Romero seconded and
the motion passed unanimously.  Ms.
Romero asked how much sharing of good ideas goes on between the
principals.  Mr. Wiley noted that
principals meet together on a regular basis and there is a good, healthy
exchange of ideas.

 

7.  School Committee Planning                                                          None

A.  Sub-Committee Reports

B.  Calendar Review

C.  Items for Upcoming Meetings

 

8.  Adjournment                                                                                  9:09 p.m.

Ms. Brighty made a motion to
adjourn at 9:09 p.m.  Ms. Anderson
seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

                                                                        Respectfully
submitted,

                                                                        Debbie
Westmoreland

 

 

Approved 3/4/08