Dover-Sherborn Regional School Committee

Meeting of November 6, 2007 

Members Present:                Shelley Poulsen, Chair
                                                Mark Linehan, Vice Chair
                                                Ellen Williamson 
                                                Sue Anderson
                                                Rainie Pearson
                                                Beverly Madden

Also Present:                                       Perry P. Davis, Superintendent

                                                Richard Mathieu, School Business Manager

            Denise Lonergan, High School Headmaster

                                                Frederick Randall, Middle School Headmaster

                                                Robert Couture, incoming Interim Superintendent

                                                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. 

There was a moment of silence for George Sturgis. 

2.             Approval of Minutes

a.        Regional School Committee– October 2, 2007

Ms. Williamson made a motion to approve the minutes of October 2, 2007. Ms. Pearson seconded. Add Zachery Sokol as Student Representative and Jonathan Rich as Alternate Student Representative under “Also Present”. Under reports, section A, last paragraph change the following: second sentence starting “A packet was provided by”, change to be “A packet was provided by Dr. Ahn, a member of the community, which she reviewed”.  Third sentence starting After her statement, strike that sentence, replace with “Dr. Ahn did not allow the School Committee or Administration to keep the packets she distributed, therefore the packet is not available to the public through the School Committee or Administration.”

07-62 VOTE (as amended): Unanimous

Ms. Anderson made a motion to approve the executive session minutes of October 2, 2007. Ms. Pearson seconded.

07-63 VOTE: Unanimous

The Sherborn School Committee minutes of September 11, 2007 and the Dover School Committee minutes of September 18, 2007 were noted.

3.             Reports

a.        Student Advisory Council – Mr. Sokol gave an update of Student Council activities.

b.       Middle School Curriculum – Mr. Randall reviewed his recommendation made last month which was posted on the DSMS website and sent to all DSMS parents by email. He only received one email in response. The members of the Committee discussed the issue.

Mr. Linehan made a motion to accept the recommendation of the English faculty and the headmaster to continue the Survival Unit for Grade 6 with “True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle” in the Spring of 2008. Ms. Anderson seconded.

07-64 VOTE: Unanimous

c.        Business Manager’s Report –

·         Finance – The monthly report by function code was provided.

·         Facilities and Maintenance – Mr. Mathieu is continuing to work with NStar to maximize the efficiency of electricity usage on the campus.

·         Cafeteria – The participation rate is 58% (vs 55% last year and 42% before the implementation of the Point of Sale system.)

d.       Dover-Sherborn High School Report – Ms. Lonergan provided the MCAS results for Science. Last year was the first year the test was required. In Biology, 97% of the students were in the Advanced or Proficient categories (3% Need Improvement and 1% failed). In Chemistry, 57% of the students scored in the Advanced or Proficient categories (31% Need Improvement and 12% failed).

There are 3 additional courses being proposed for the 2008-09 school year: 1) AP Comparative Government and Politics, 2) Guitar 1 and 3) College Prep Calculus.  Each of these courses would only be offered if there is adequate interest. There was discussion around the additional funds required to run the courses.  

Ms. Anderson made a motion to approve the curriculum recommendations as presented by Ms. Lonergan. Ms. Pearson seconded.

07-65 VOTE: 5-1

Ms. Lonergan made a request for the Mountain Classroom overnight field trip.

Ms. Madden made a motion to approve the Appalachian Club Field trip as presented. Ms. Anderson seconded.

07-66 VOTE: Unanimous  

Ms. Lonergan updated the Committee on recent and upcoming events at the High School.

e.        Dover-Sherborn Middle School Report – Mr. Randall updated the Committee on recent and upcoming events at the Middle School.

f.         Building Project – A copy of the settlement agreement with J.E. Case was provided. Dr. Davis also provided correspondence from the Sherborn Board of Selectmen regarding the allocation of MSBA monies between Dover and Sherborn. Dr. Davis recommended sending the information on to legal counsel and request a response to the Sherborn Selectmen. After discussion the Committee agreed to hire legal counsel to review the material.

Mr. Linehan made a motion to allocate up to $5,000 for legal counsel. Ms. Poulsen seconded.

07-67 VOTE: 5-1

The Committee directed Dr. Davis to send a letter to the Sherborn Selectmen acknowledging receipt of their correspondence and the Committee’s plan of action.

g.       Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Davis reviewed enclosures provided to the Committee including:

·         Grant – School Nurse: DS has received a grant for the 2007-08 school year to fund a part-time nurse (< .5 FTE with no benefits). The position has been posted and the appointment will be presented to the Committee for approval at the December meeting.

        Ms. Pearson made a motion to accept the grant for a 19 hour per week school nurse. Ms. Williamson seconded.

        07-68 VOTE: 6 – 0

·         Update on School Safety including information on an emergency notification system (Reverse 911) that has been adopted by the Town of Dover.

·         Acceptance of Computer Equipment – Mr. Corning has received a donation of computer equipment from the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. The equipment includes 18 servers, 1 rack, 2 UPS system and 1 tape unit valued at $10,520.

        Mr. Linehan made a motion to accept the donation from Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. for computer equipment valued at $10,520 and to have Mr. Corning send a letter thanking them. Ms. Madden seconded.

        07-69 VOTE: 6 – 0

·         Class of 2008 Scholarship – 41 students in the Class of 2008 (capped at 25% of the class at any one school) are eligible for the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship based on their performance on the 2006 MCAS tests. 

4.             Special Items

a.        2007-08 School Committee Goals 

5.             Community Comments

Parent representative of the Sailing Team had a few questions regarding the compensation of the sailing coach.  

6.             Future Business

a.        December Regional School Committee Agenda Items

FY09 Budget follow up discussion (full presentation and discussion at December 17^th meeting), MCAS reports, audit report, Sherborn Selectmen letter response, additional parking spaces

b.       Town Reports – Ms. Pearson will write the report 

7.          New Business

a.        FY09 Budget Development

Major budget increases:

Teacher contract steps only                          $175,016 (doesn’t include contract increase)

Health Insurance                                             218,000

Retirement                                                        27,000 (Norfolk County assessment)

Utilities                                                              50,000

Insurance                                                          20,000 (principally worker’s comp)

Technology                                                       80,000

MS expenses                                                    20,000

Athletics                                                            38,000 ($26,000 for girl’s hockey)

Facilities                                                            15,000

Student Success Program                                   26,000 (currently funding with DSEF grant)

New Staffing*                                                  159,153

TOTAL:                                                         $828,669 4.59%

*New staffing includes: Data Management (1.0 FTE), Health Aide (1.0 FTE), Chinese teacher (.2 FTE), P.E. (.2 FTE), History (.2 FTE), HS SPED teacher (1.0 FTE).

c.        DCTV – Archived video tapes

DCTV can no longer store the video tapes of school committee meetings from 1990-2004. Dr. Davis suggested storing the tapes on campus until he verifies that there is no legal reason to keep them.

Ms. Madden made a motion to accept the tapes from DCTV for the years 1990 through 2004 for storage pending advice from legal counsel. Mr. Linehan seconded.

07-70 VOTE: Unanimous

d.       Ratify the Cafeteria Association Contract

Contract changes – 1) salary increase of 3% per year for 2007-08 and 2008-09 and 2) additional fifty dollars added to each increment of five years of completed service.

Ms. Anderson made a motion to ratify the contract for the Cafeteria Association. Ms. Williamson seconded.

07-71 VOTE: Unanimous 

8.             Routine Business

a.        Enrollments as of November 1, 2007

b.       Treasurer’s Statement 

9.     Adjournment

Ms. Pearson made a motion that the Committee adjourn at 10:05 PM.  Ms. Anderson seconded.  

Respectfully Submitted,

Amy Davis