Meeting of May 06, 2008
Members
Present:
Shelley Poulsen, Chair
Sue Anderson
Ellen Williamson
Rainie Pearson (left meeting at
7:50 pm)
Beverly Madden
Clare Graham
Also
Present:
Dr. Robert E.
Couture, Interim Superintendent
Richard Mathieu, School Business Manager
Denise Lonergan, High School Headmaster
Frederick Randall, Middle School Headmaster
Zachery Sokol, Student Representative
Citizens
1. Call to Order
Ms. Poulsen called the meeting to order at
7:02 PM in the Dover Sherborn Middle School Library.
Ms. Poulsen welcomed visiting students
from
China.
Ms. Poulsen announced the appointment of
Clare Graham to the School Committee for the one year remaining on Mr.
Linehan’s term.
2. Approval of Minutes
a.
Regional
School Committee– April 1 and 14, 2008
Ms. Williamson made a motion to approve
the minutes of
April 1, 2008.
Ms. Madden seconded. There were several changes made: Section 1, second
paragraph, change Mr. Poulsen to Mrs. Poulsen; 2a, fourth sentence,
change Ms. Anderson to Ms. Madden; 3a, second sentence, add In a
letter to the Committee, to the beginning of the sentence, change DR to
directed research and changed the following sentence to The Committee
will consider a vote next month; 4a, first sentence, add an increase to
prior to the Sailing Team coach stipend.
08-25 VOTE: 5 – 0, one abstention
Ms. Williamson made a motion to approve
the executive session minutes of
April 14,
2008. Ms. Madden seconded. In the last sentence of the second paragraph as
who would be making following Regional School Committee.
08-26 VOTE: Unanimous
The Sherborn School Committee minutes of
March 13 and 25, 2008 and the Dover School Committee minutes of March 6, 18
and
April 2,
2008 were noted.
3. Reports
a.
Student
Advisory Council – Mr. Sokol took questions and comments on the Class Town
Meeting Reports that were provided to the Committee. Ms. Poulsen thanked Mr.
Sokol on behalf of the School Committee for his participation in the meetings
this year and presented him with a gift.
b.
Business
Manager’s Report –
·
Finance –
The monthly report by function code was provided. Mr. Mathieu expects an
overrun in the custodial account due to the number of snow storms during the
winter. Additionally, he is projecting a sizable deficit for substitute
teachers which will be partially offset from the regular teacher accounts. He
will provide more accurate number next month.
·
FY09
Budget – The FY09 budget was approved at both town meetings.
·
Building
Project – The Building Committee has provided a list of non-prioritized items
that were removed from the building project due to funding concerns. The
Administration suggested forming a sub-committee to prioritize the list.
·
Cafeteria
– The participation rate has leveled off (54%) and will continue to be
monitored.
c.
Dover-Sherborn High School Report – Ms. Lonergan made a request to accept a
grant of $14,000 from the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation.
Ms.
Pearson made a motion to accept the $14,000 from MassBioEd. Ms. Anderson
seconded.
08-27
VOTE: Unanimous
Ms.
Lonergan then updated the Committee on recent and upcoming events at the High
School. There was discussion about the Senior Privilege and requests made by
the seniors to change it. The changes include: unlimited opportunities, a
warning system and extending the privilege to the first semester.
Ms.
Williamson made a motion to extend the number of Senior Privilege
opportunities from 15 to unlimited for the remainder of the school year with
the impact to be reviewed by the School Committee in June. Ms. Madden
seconded.
08-28
VOTE: Unanimous (5 – 0)
d.
Dover-Sherborn Middle School Report – Mr. Randall presented the proposed
changes to the Middle School Academic Handbook. The Committee will vote on the
changes in June. Mr. Randall also updated the Committee on recent and upcoming
events at the Middle School.
e.
Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Couture reviewed enclosures provided to the
Committee including:
·
NCLB
Report Card
·
Parking –
Will be pursued as part of the Building Project (section 3b)
·
Increase
in Early Release Days – Dr. Couture recommended an additional two professional
development days for 2008-09. A vote on the recommendation will be taken in
June.
·
Cell Tower
– The Administration has been contacted regarding a lease of ground space for
a cell tower (approximately 100’ in height) that could be made to look like a
pine tree, flagpole or ball field light post. The contract is estimated to be
worth a minimum of $24,000/year with yearly escalations. The Committee
directed the Administration to pursue the proposal.
4. Special Items
a.
Reverse
911 – Mr. Corning is working with the Dover Police Department to make sure the
program is running for the start of school in September.
b.
Town
Meetings Update – Both towns approved the school budget for FY09.
c.
Athletic
Program Survey – The survey has been sent to students and will close for
submissions this Friday. The survey for parents and coaches has also been
sent.
d.
School
Committee Goal Review
e.
Equipment
Disposal – Mr. Corning has residual equipment that needs to be disposed. He is
looking for approval to pursue recycling programs, donation ideas or other
avenues after removing the data with Department of Defense approved
techniques.
Ms. Madden
made a motion to approve the disposal list as presented. Ms. Anderson
seconded.
08-29
VOTE: Unanimous
5. Community Comments
Dr.
Couture thanked Ms. Poulsen and Ms. Anderson for their service to the
Committee over the years. Ms. Williamson also thanked them on the behalf of
the Committee and presented them with gifts.
6. Future Business
a.
June
Regional School Committee Agenda Items –
Building
Project subcommittee, Senior Privilege, Middle School Academic Handbook, Early
release days, Athletic Program Survey results, School Improvement Plans, High
School Handbook, Reorganization of Committee
7. New Business
None
8. Routine
Business
a.
Enrollments as of May 1, 2008
b.
Treasurer’s Report
9. Adjournment to Executive Session not
to return to open session for matters pertaining to Administrator Salaries,
Secretaries contracts and Custodian contracts.
Ms. Madden
made a motion that the Committee adjourn at 9:10 PM. Ms. Anderson seconded.
Ms. Madden – yes, Ms. Williamson – yes, Ms. Graham – yes, Ms. Anderson – yes,
Ms. Poulsen – yes
Respectfully Submitted,
Amy Davis
