Meeting Minutes of November 20, 2007

Regular Meeting of
the Regional School Committee

Tuesday, November 20, 2007, 7:00 p.m.

High School Library

 

Present:            Elaine
Brighty, Chair                 Jere
Hochman, Superintendent

Kathleen
Anderson                   Wendy Kohler,
Exec. Dir. of  Prog. Dev.

Andy Churchill              Rob Detweiler, Director of Business
& Facilities

Sonia Correa-Pope                  Mark Jackson, HS Principal

Maureen Ecclestone                 Jim Fownes, HS Science Teacher

   (left at 8:45 p.m.)                   Aaron Kropf, HS Physics Teacher

Michael Katz                            Nick
Shaw, HS Science Teacher                     

Marianne Jorgensen                  Tom Davidson, HS Science
Teacher

                                                Sharon
Gross, Recorder

                                                Press

Absent: Michael Hussin

Chrystel Romero

 

1. Welcome                                                                                                                 7:10
p.m.

A. & B.  Call to Order / Agenda Review – Ms. Brighty
called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. 
She then reviewed the agenda and announced that she would call for an
Executive Session at the end of the meeting.   

 

C.  Minutes    Mr. Churchill made a motion to approve the
minutes of November 6, 2007.  Ms.
Anderson seconded the motion and passed with 5 yeas and one abstention.

 

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

Ms. Anderson commented that she appreciates that the packets
the School Committee members receive are 3-hole punched.

 

3.  Superintendent’s Update                                                                                      7:13
p.m.

Superintendent Hochman apologized for being a few minutes
late.  He was attending another meeting
that ran late.  No update.

 

4.  Unfinished / Continuing Business                                                                        8:05
p.m.

Mr. Detweiler distributed the FY07 End of Year Budget
Report.  He explained that the district
did not expend all budgeted funds and explained the reasons.  A change in the law required that Medicaid
funds be expended all in one year and that the funds can no longer be held and
spent in other years as was allowed in the past.   The district will come close to the 3.5% cap
on E & D this year.  At the next
meeting he will have an update on the FY08 budget. Mr. Churchill asked how the
district ended up with lower special education costs than the amount than
originally budgeted.   Mr. Detweiler
answered that it is difficult to predict how many students will need services
and how many will require out of district placements.  Ms. Brighty commented that some years the
district goes over budget on the special education costs.  She then expressed the School Committee’s
appreciation for the budget reconciliation.

 

5.  New Business                                                                    A.  7:13 p.m.           B. 
8:15 p.m.

A.  FY09 Budget Process and Timeline (8:15 p.m.)

Dr. Hochman reviewed the budget process outline noting that
it will be similar to last year.  He
noted that key decisions will include issues such as class sizes and number of
school choice students the district will accept.  He stated that budget is driven by needs as
well as by financial realities.  Dr.
Hochman noted that the School Committee must decide what the priorities should
be for the next three years and that this will be the focus at the next
meeting.  Mr. Churchill commented that he
believes the current format of the budget wastes paper and is not particularly
useful.  Changing to a different format
was discussed last year.  Mr. Churchill
then asked if a report has been received from the Trimester Study Group and
whether it will have budget implications. 
Dr. Hochman said he will be meeting with Mark Jackson on November 22^nd
to discuss this subject. Dr. Hochman noted that the Four Town Meeting is
scheduled for January 19, 2008. He also reported that he plans to have a
Legislative Action Committee again this year, noting that scheduling meetings
has been an issue.   Dr. Hochman will put
together three meeting dates.  Senator
Rosenberg is scheduled to attend the first meeting on December 14^th.

 

B.  High School Course Proposals for 2008/2009
(7:13 p.m.)

Dr. Hochman explained the process
to be followed for new course proposals and then introduced Wendy Kohler and Mark
Jackson.  Dr. Kohler explained that there
would be two discussions.  They would
first review changes in the physics realignment proposal which is just for
information purposes and then make a presentation about the ninth grade
Environmental Science proposal, which has substantial changes and will require
a school committee vote.  Principal Mark
Jackson and science teacher Aaron Kropf reviewed the recommendations for the
physics.  Mr. Kropf pointed out that the
changes will make students’ choices clear and will allow the department to
consolidate texts and materials.  Ms. Anderson
asked if the academic expectations will be similar to the current ones.  Mr. Kropf explained that the new physics
class will cover a broad range of topics. 
He noted that the new course will be appropriate for students not
intending to major in physics.

 

Mr. Jackson then reviewed the
proposal for a new ninth grade Ecology/Environmental Science course.  He noted that the new course will supply
information supported by the scientific community and provide a solid
scientific framework for students to move on to other levels of science.  It will also prepare ninth grade students for
the tenth grade MCAS biology test. Mr. Jackson introduced the science teachers in
attendance, noting that Mary McCarthy also served on the panel that developed
the new course proposal but could not attend the meeting tonight.  

 

Ms. Brighty explained that she
would like the organize questions regarding the course proposal, starting with
the change in the required ninth grade course. 
Ms. Jorgensen noted that the ninth grade Earth Science course had been
changed to a different course the previous year.  She asked how that change had gone since
implementation. Mr. Shaw responded that it did not go as well as hoped, stating
that he felt the faculty was not prepared for the changes.  Ms. Jorgensen asked if they are well prepared
for the currently proposed change.  Mr.
Shaw stated that they are far more prepared because most of the science
teachers are primarily certified in Biology. 
Mark Jackson noted that the faculty is qualified to teach the new course.  Ms. Brighty commented that she hoped that
some parts of Earth Science will not be completely lost in the new life
sciences course. 

 

Ms. Anderson had questions on
Sections II, IV-C and V of the course outline. She asked what is being covered
in Section III – Communities and Populations (specifically Biodiversity). She questioned
whether this information could be an attempt to form a scientific basis to depopulate
the human race.  Ms. Brighty stated that
this question was getting deeper into the curriculum than was appropriate for
this meeting.  Mr. Shaw explained that
DNA and such theories are covered in the AP class as well as the curriculum of
this course.  The overall goal is not to
promote any certain views.  Ms. Jorgensen
cautioned that it is imperative that the ecology information in the curriculum be
scientifically, not politically, based. 
Ms. Correa-Pope asked if required MCAS tests were the main reason behind
this course change. Mr. Jackson said all students will have to pass a science
MCAS test to graduate, but that the importance of the subject was the reason
for the proposed change.

 

Mr. Churchill asked what will happen to Earth Science and if
it will be incorporated into the new course. Mr. Shaw explained that the pieces
of Earth Science that are pertinent and relevant will be included and others,
such as meteorology and astronomy, will be removed to make room in the new
curriculum.  Mr. Churchill said that he
feels this is an attractive course to offer and will be a good introduction to
science.   Ms. Anderson asked what
biodiversity refers to in humans. She asked how it addresses race and how
students will understand the misconception of race.  Mr. Jackson explained that genetics addresses
this subject. It is part of the tenth grade course, not ninth grade. Ms.
Anderson asked additional questions about this topic, at which time Ms. Brighty
asked her not continue this subject for too long.  Ms. Anderson stated that she believed she is
being treated unfairly by Ms. Brighty’s request.

 

Ms. Brighty stated that she is concerned about the AP level
being offered in ninth grade because it is a heavy lab course and many colleges
don’t count AP courses until a student is in grade 11 or 12.  She also expressed concern that because there
is only one section of the AP course being offered there may not be sufficient
space.  Mr. Jackson explained that the
district began offering the AP course to tenth graders three years ago.  The goal now is for all students to have a
common experience. He said that some students are capable of doing the work.  Ms. Brighty suggests that Section I not be
called soils, but have descriptions of the specific topics.  Mr. Churchill feels that there has been some
confusion for students regarding the connection between science and math. He
asked if the Middle School science department was consulted in planning this
course.  Mr. Shaw said that Norman Price,
MS Science Coordinator, was consulted and supports this new course. 

 

Ms. Brighty stated that if any member of the committee has
more questions that they can refer them to Mr. Jackson.  She then apologized to Ms. Anderson if she
felt cut-off earlier in the meeting.  Ms.
Anderson questioned why Mr. Churchill was not interrupted when asking multiple
questions.  Dr. Hochman acknowledged Ms.
Anderson’s question and suggested that the committee schedule time to meet and
review procedures for meetings and how to handle it when things feel unfair or
discussions go on too long.  Ms. Anderson
invited people viewing the meeting on ACTV to come and voice their opinion on
how Ms. Brighty handled the meeting.

 

C.  Policies (8:28 p.m.)

600.1 – Instruction:  Goals of Instructional Program  

After extensive discussion the School Committee agreed this
policy needs extensive re-writing before a vote can be taken.  It will be brought before the committee again
at a future meeting.

600.2 – Instruction:
Instructional Materials Selections  

After discussion and questions the School Committee agreed
this policy needs further re-writing before a vote can be taken. It will be
brought before the committee again at a future meeting.

600.3 – Instruction:
Library Materials Selection   

After a short discussion Mr. Churchill made a motion to
approve this policy as is.  The motion
was seconded by Mr. Katz.  The policy was
approved unanimously.

600.4 –
Instruction:  Curriculum Development and
Instructional Program Evaluations

After discussion and questions the School Committee agreed
this policy needs further re-writing before a vote can be taken. It will be
brought before the committee again at a future meeting.

130.10 – Safety and
Well Being    

Ms. Jorgensen made a motion to approve the policy as
is.   Mr. Katz seconded the motion and
the policy was approved unanimously.

 

The following policies are being submitted for deletion:

600.05 –
Instruction:  Curriculum Adjustment and
Modification

 After a short discussion it was decided
not to delete this policy until after policy 600.4 is approved.

600.06 – Instruction
Evaluation of Instructional Programs 

After a short discussion it was decided not to delete this
policy until after policy 600.4 is approved.

600.7 – Instruction:
Grouping Students for Instruction

After a short discussion Mr. Katz made a motion to delete
this policy.  The motion was seconded by
Ms. Jorgensen.  The policy was deleted by
a unanimous vote.

600.09 –
Instruction:  Education of Gifted and
Talented Students

After an extensive discussion it was decided not to delete
this policy until other policies are reviewed for content.

600.15 –
Instruction:  Final Examinations

After a short discussion Ms. Jorgensen made a motion to
delete this policy.  Ms. Anderson
seconded the motion.  The policy was
deleted by a unanimous vote (with Mr. Katz out of the room).

600.16 –
Instruction:  Interscholastic Athletics

Ms. Jorgensen made a motion to delete this policy.  Ms. Correa-Pope seconded the motion.  The policy was deleted by a unanimous vote
(with Mr. Katz out of the room).          

600.17 – Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Activities

After a short discussion it was decided that this policy
should not be deleted until the new Activities Policy is reviewed for
content.  This will be voted on at a
future School Committee meeting.

600.19 –
Instruction:  Course Expectations

After a short discussion it was decided not to delete this
policy at this time.

600.20 –
Instruction:  Use of Film and Other Media
in the Classroom

Ms. Jorgensen made a motion to delete this policy.  Mr. Churchill seconded the motion.  The policy was deleted by a unanimous vote.

 

D.  Accept Gifts:                                                                                                           9:20 p.m.

Mr. Katz made a motion to accept the gifts of $30 & $25
for the Ronald Shepard Memorial Scholarship. 
Ms. Anderson seconded the motion. 
The gifts were accepted by a unanimous vote.

 

6.  Reports                                                                                                                      9:21 p.m.

Ms. Brighty requested that Mr. Katz postpone his report on
the MASC conference.

 

7. 
Sub-Committee Reports                                                                                            9:22 p.m.

A.  Food Service Committee

Ms. Brighty read a list of committee members. 

 

Regional Agreement
Sub Committee

Ms. Brighty stated that the committee is making good
progress and will have a report at an upcoming meeting.

 

Ms. Anderson announced that she is on the ACTV board and
that ACTV will begin broadcasting Amherst
Regional High
School sports events soon.

 

8.  School Committee Planning                                                                                          None

 

9.  Adjournment                                                                                                                  9:25 p.m.

Ms. Brighty called for the School Committee to go into
Executive Session for the purpose of contract negotiations.  She announced that the School Committee would
not return to open session.  By unanimous
roll call (Ms. Eccelstone had left at 8:45 p.m.) the Committee moved into
executive session at 9:25 p.m.

 

                                                                        Respectfully
submitted,

                                                                        Sharon
Gross

 

Approved 12/18/07