Meeting Minutes of April 10, 2007

Regular Meeting of the AMHERSTSchool Committee

Tuesday, April 10, 2007, 7:00 p.m.

High School Library

 

Present:            Andy Churchill, Chair                              Jere Hochman, Superintendent

                        Elaine
Brighty                                          Rob Detweiler, Dir. of
Finance & Operations

Kathleen Anderson                                  Russ Vernon-Jones, FR Principal

Sonia Correa Pope                                  Susan Kennedy Marx, CF Assistant Principal

Nick Yaffe, Marks Meadow Principal

Mark Prince, Wildwood Principal

Public

Press

Debbie Westmoreland, Recorder

 

1.  Welcome                                                                                        7:07 p.m.

A. & B.  Call to Order/Agenda Review—Dr. Hochman
called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m.  He welcomed Kathleen
Anderson, who was elected to the School Committee on March 27^th,
and noted that the Committee must elect officers following an
election.  Dr. Hochman then asked for nominations for School Committee
Chair. Ms. Brighty nominated Andy Churchill as Chair.  Ms. Correa Pope
seconded the nomination and Mr. Churchill was elected unanimously.  Dr.
Hochman then turned the meeting over to Mr. Churchill who asked for
nominations for School Committee Vice-Chair.  Mr. Churchill nominated
Elaine Brighty for the position of Vice-Chair. Ms. Correa Pope seconded
and Ms. Brighty was elected to the position unanimously.  Mr. Churchill
requested nominations for School Committee secretary.  Ms. Brighty
nominated Sonia Correa Pope to the position of secretary. Mr. Churchill
seconded and Ms. Correa Pope was elected unanimously.  Mr. Churchill
then welcomed everyone to the meeting and reviewed the agenda.

C.   Minutes—None

 

2.  Announcements and Public Comments                                        None

Renata Shepard, parent of three children, expressed concern that
her son will not be able to begin learning an instrument in third grade
next year due to budget cuts in music.  She asked if all options, such
as grants and fee-based lessons, have been explored in order to avoid
changing the first year of music lessons.  Dr. Hochman stated that now
that the schedule has been reconciled, there appears to be some
possibility of maintaining beginning music in third and fourth grade
instead of moving it to fourth and fifth grade.  While it cannot be
guaranteed yet, he said the door is being held open to this
possibility.  He noted that the possibility of offering fee-based
lessons is also being explored. Mr. Churchill noted that music is an
area that was discussed in great detail and making cuts was painful. 
He said he is hopeful that we will be able to maintain the music
program without cuts.  Mr. Churchill then stated that a School
Committee vacancy will be announced soon due to Ms. Brewer’s election
to the Select Board and subsequent resignation from the School
Committee.  He noted that the seat will be filled through a roll-call
vote of the Amherst School Committee and the Select Board. He
encouraged anyone who is interested in serving in this position to
submit a letter of interest to the Town Clerk or to a member of the
School Committee who will forward it to the Town Clerk.

 

3.  Superintendent’s Update                                                              7:15 p.m.

Dr. Hochman reported on the Gaining Traction conference
he attended yesterday, which was sponsored by the Office of Educational
Quality and Accountability.  He noted that once the conference
materials are posted online next week, he will provide School Committee
members with copies.  Dr. Hochman also noted that he saw a wonderful
student performance at FortRiver today on Irish Immigration in America.

 

4.  Unfinished/Continuing Business                                                  9:21 p.m.

A.  FY08 Budget—Mr. Detweiler briefly reviewed the 3%
increase Amherst budget that is being recommended for School Committee
approval.  Dr. Hochman then reviewed the summary of adds/cuts needed to
reach a 1% increase budget and the “bring backs” that will be
made—incrementally up to the 3% budget—if additional funds are received
through the Amherst override.  He noted that, based on the Chapter 70
funding figures released by the joint House and Senate committee last
week, funding was reduced by $92,000 for Amherst.  Dr. Hochman noted
that the bring back list was developed with the three year financial
plan in mind.  Ms. Brighty made a motion to approve the Amherst budget
in the amount of $19,841,997.00 for FY08. Ms. Correa Pope seconded and
the motion passed with Ms. Anderson abstaining.  Ms. Anderson noted
that she abstained only because she just came into the process as a
newly elected School Committee member.  Dr. Hochman thanked the
Principals, Mr. Detweiler, and the Central Office staff for their
efforts on budget development over the past several months. 

 

5.  New Business                                                                                None

 

6.  Reports                                                                                          7:20 p.m.

Dr. Hochman reported that the New England School Development
Council has completed their demographic study of the Amherst Public
Schools. He introduced John Kennedy, who will present the preliminary
report of NESDEC’s findings.  Mr. Kennedy then introduced Marge Clark
who conducted the capacity study portion of the NESDEC report.  He also
expressed appreciation to members of the school department, town
officials, and community realtors for their cooperation and assistance
as NESDEC completed the study.  Mr. Kennedy then made a Powerpoint
presentation of the demographic findings in the NESDEC study. Ms. Clark
followed with a presentation of her capacity study results.   Mr.
Kennedy concluded the report with a “statement of the problem,”
including near-term and long-term needs for the schools and Amherst
choice points.  They then opened the floor for questions and
discussion.  Mr. Prince asked if the Wildwood POC (preferred occupant
capacity)/COC (current occupant capacity) calculations were made based
on the square footage of the building in 1970 or in 2000. Ms. Clark
explained that NESDEC does not use the square footage in calculating
POC/COC.  Dr. Hochman asked what NESDEC needs in order to prepare the
final written report.  Mr. Kennedy said it is helpful for the School
Committee and School Department to have time to review the data and
provide feedback to NESDEC. They would then work with the
Superintendent to finalize the timeline. He noted that NESDEC will make
recommendations for options of educationally sound changes in the
district.  Ms. Clark noted that the final report will include a profile
page for each school, which will include a summary page of what is
counted in the COC and which classrooms should be taken off-line for
the POC.  Ms. Anderson asked how it was that NESDEC came to do the
study. Dr. Hochman explained that the only “photograph” we have of the
district is our own and that the cohort survival method has been used
to make enrollment projections in the past.  It is helpful to have an
outside review from time-to-time.  He noted that funds were budgeted
for a demographic study through JCPC last year. Ms. Anderson asked if
the Comprehensive Planning Committee is aware of this study.  Dr.
Hochman stated that the committee is aware that the study is being done
and will be using the results for the schools’ portion of the
comprehensive plan. Ms. Correa Pope asked how these findings compare to
any site visits from the Department of Education with regard to
adequate services for special programs.  Dr. Hochman said we have not
yet had an opportunity to match the NESDEC report with our own
enrollment projections or facilities reports at the district level. 
Mr. Prince stated that the NESDEC findings are consistent with what he
has found at Wildwood. Ms. Brighty asked if whether it is the POC or
the COC that is used in determining the options that will be
recommended to the district.  Mr. Kennedy said that ways of dealing
with the students displaced by using the POC are addressed in the
options that are provided.   Mr. Churchill requested that the NESDEC
final report include recommendations regarding what issues the
FortRiver and Wildwood building committees need to address.  Dr.
Hochman stated that it is always good to get an external lens and this
is an essential study that has been needed.  He noted that there are
currently facilities studies underway for FortRiver and Wildwood, and a
letter of intent will be brought to the School Committee for their
review at their May meeting.  Mr. Churchill stated it will be important
to articulate for the community what it means to do 21^st century education so they will understand some of the reasons for overcrowding in the schools. 

 

7.  School Committee Planning                                                          9:44 p.m.

A.  Sub-Committee Reports—Ms. Brighty reported briefly on
the last BCG meeting.  She noted that Ms. Anderson attended for the
first time as the new School Committee representative on the committee.

B.  Calendar Review—Mr. Churchill noted that a meeting
must be scheduled with the Select Board to appoint the new School
Committee member.  After discussion, it was decided to schedule the
meeting for 5:45 p.m. on Friday, April 27^th.  Mr. Churchill
will submit a letter to Anne Awad, Chair of the Select Board, regarding
the time and date of the meeting. Ms. Correa Pope asked how the school
committee vacancy and the process for applying will be advertised. 
After brief discussion, it was decided that Mr. Churchill’s letter will
be distributed to the Parent Councils and included in a Learning@arps
newsletter.

C.  Items for Upcoming Meetings—district improvement
plan, school improvement plans, possibility of moving school committee
meeting to a different day of the week next year

 

8.  Adjournment                                                                                  9:54 p.m.

Ms. Brighty made a motion to adjourn at 9:54 p.m.  Ms. Anderson seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Debbie Westmoreland

 

Approved 5-15-07