Minutes for the Elementary Reorganization Committee Meeting of August 31, 2009

Present:
Kathryn Mazur
Maria Geryk
Irv Rhodes
Steve Rivkin
Doug Slaughter
Alberto Rodriguez

1. Meeting Norms/Expectations – Agreed as follows:

   • Agenda provided by K Mazur in advance of each meeting
   • Minutes of meetings
   • One speaker at a time
   • Respectful dialogue 

2. Discussion regarding conducting “Open” or “Closed” sessions – Agreed as follows:
   The Committee determined that meetings will be posted and open to the public. Public comments will be accepted for a 10 minute period at each meeting, however, such comments will not be responded to during the meeting period.

3. Timeline for Redistricting Decision and schedule of forums/activities – It was agreed that the proposed calendar below may be adjusted/postponed if needed.

   • School Committee & Public Presentation of Recommendation Proposed October 8
   • Simultaneous web posting w/comment opportunity Public Forum Proposed October 14
   • School Committee Vote Scheduled October 27
   • Open Houses at Fort River, Wildwood, and Crocker Farm To be Determined
   • Follow up Open House Spring 2010

      

4. Criteria review for decision-making on October 27, 2009 – Agreed as follows:

   • Building Capacity
   • Equity
   • Class Size
   • Efficiency
   • Maximizing Crocker Farm capacity, understanding that it is possible Grade 6 will move to Middle School by FY12.
   • Maintaining physical neighborhoods
   • Transportation – length of time on bus, route safety
   • School boundaries should be logical; that is, geographically regular

      

5. District plan for English Language Learners/FY11 Dr. Guevara joined the meeting to reiterate the district’s position from last spring; that is, the current practice of cultural clustering and clustering of English Language Learner students will be discontinued, effective 7/1/2010. Further, she informed those present that it may be possible to access “critical language” grant funds to expand the World Language instruction program at Wildwood to include Fort River and Crocker Farm. The committee agreed that all students should have the same access to World Language, regardless of the school they attend.

6. Policy proposal regarding Open Enrollment – Discussion on this matter was brief, but consensus was that no future applications for Open Enrollment will be considered and that children currently holding Open Enrollment slots will be required to attend the school within their new attendance zone. Exceptions will be made only for special education students whose Individual Education Plan places them in an in-district specialized special education program.

7. Status of Modulars – More discussion on this matter will be conducted after the redistricting plan has been presented, but preliminary consensus is that the modulars be sold.

8. Committee meeting schedule – The next meeting was scheduled for Monday, September 14 from 10 am to 11:30 a.m. 

Respectfully submitted,
Kathryn Mazur