Minutes - Wayland School Committee
Regular Session May 23, 2011
A Regular Session of the Wayland School
Committee was held on Monday, May 23, 2011 at 7:00 P.M. in the School
Committee Room of the Wayland Town Building.
Present were:
Mrs. Barb Fletcher, Chair
Ms. Beth Butler, Vice Chair
Dr. Malcolm Astley (left from 7:22 to 7:53 p.m.)
Dr. Shawn Kinney (arrived at 7:10 p.m.)
Also:
Dr. Gary A. Burton
Superintendent of Schools
Mr. Brad J. Crozier
Assistant Superintendent
Mr. Geoffrey S. MacDonald
Business Administrator
Dr. Marlene M. Dodyk
Director of Student Services
Chair Barb Fletcher convened the regular
meeting at 7:02 P.M. Mrs. Fletcher announced that the Committee would
return to Open Session following the Executive Session.
1. Technology Prep Session for June 6th Discussion:
Mary Barber, technology teacher at Wayland High School, walked the
School Committee through logging into “It’s Learning” for an
informational course prepared for the Committee for the 1:1 Learning
Initiative.
2. HSBC Change Orders:
Lea Anderson, Chair of the HSBC, presented the School Committee with two change orders:
Change Order #4 for Shawmut Design and Construction Company in the
amount of $56,549,000 for electrical, WayCAM, fire extinguishers,
seating fabric, water coolers, Fieldhouse canopy, and acoustical
ceiling.
Change Order #5 for Shawmut Design and
Construction Company in the amount of $34,929 for Fieldhouse locker
revisions and temporary weight room trainer’s office.
.
Upon a motion duly made by Dr. Astley, seconded by Dr. Kinney, the School Committee voted unanimously (4-0) to
approve Change Order #4 in the amount of $56,549,000 and Change
Order #5 in the amount of $34,929 and to authorize Chair Barb Fletcher
to sign the contracts on behalf of the Wayland School Committee.
3. Presentation re: Wayland’s 375th Celebration:
Mary Antes, Lynne Dunbrack and members of the Wayland 375th
Celebration Committee presented an outline of the Committee’s vision of
Wayland’s 375th anniversary celebration, including a time line, key
dates, and how the children in Wayland could participate in the
activities.
4. Presentation re: High School Cafeteria Proposal:
Members of the Green Team presented its proposal for the creation
of a healthy, green WHS kitchen, including the elimination of the
polystyrene trays currently used.
5. Comments and Written Statements from the Public:
There were no comments or written statements.
6. Annual METCO Report/Presentation:
METCO Director Mabel Reid-Wallace presented her annual METCO
Program Report. She provided a program overview, professional
development opportunities, budget challenges, and METCO activities. Ms.
Reid-Wallace answered questions from the School Committee.
7. Discussion and Award of Bus Contract:
Geoff MacDonald reviewed the bus bid summary with the School
Committee and his recommendation for the award to First Student under
the “Alternate A” bid.
Upon a motion duly made by Dr. Kinney,
seconded by Dr. Astley, the School Committee voted unanimously (4-0) to
award the three-year contract to First Student under “Alternate A” as
Mr. MacDonald recommended.
8. School Committee Policy Review and Talking Points:
The Chair recommended tabling the conversation regarding the
review of Section B of the School Committee’s Policy Manual (School
Board Governance and Operations) until the full Committee has time to
review the appropriate documents.
9. Response to Dr. Paul Stein’s Letter:
The School Committee members reviewed questions from Dr. Stein’s letter and agreed on a response.
10. Draft Letter re: the Middle School Fields:
The School Committee reviewed a draft letter to answer questions
raised regarding the two proposed Middle School fields. Several
changes were made to the draft. The Committee also discussed the
scheduled forum that Dr. Astley is planning to attend. The School
Committee would like to understand the steps in the process for the
project.
11. Review of Executive Session Minutes re: Open Meeting Law Complaint:
Mrs. Fletcher provided the members of the School Committee with
the process for reviewing regular and executive session minutes based
on the Attorney General’s recommendation from the recent OML complaint.
The Committee will finish reviewing and drafting the minutes and will
take action on the minutes at the June 6th meeting.
12. Approval of Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants:
Upon a motion duly made by Ms. Butler, seconded by Dr. Kinney,
the School Committee voted unanimously (4-0) to approve payment of the
following:
• Wayland Public Schools Payroll warrant, dated 5/19/2011, in the amount of $1,079,083.48
• Wayland Public Schools Accounts Payable warrant, dated 5/23/2011, in the amount of $225,677.46
• Wayland Public Schools Accounts Payable warrant, dated 5/23/2011, in the amount of $5,945,366.77 (High School Project)
13. Acceptance of Gifts:
Upon a motion duly made by Dr. Kinney, seconded by Dr. Astley,
the School voted unanimously (4-0) to accept the following gift with
gratitude to the Wayland Public Schools:
• A check in the amount of $2,000 received as a grant from the
National STEM Video Game Challenge, as designated by student Geoffrey
Wang, as a 2010 Youth Prize winner.
14. Approval of Minutes:
Upon a motion duly made by Ms. Butler, seconded by Dr. Astley,
the School Committee voted (4-0) to approve the following minutes as
amended:
• Regular Session of May 9, 2011
• Executive Session of May 9, 2011
15. Superintendent’s Report continued:
(a) June 5th Graduation:
Dr. Burton invited the School Committee members to the High School graduation on June 5.
(b) Unencumbered Funds Review:
Mr. Geoff MacDonald reviewed the unencumbered funds with the School Committee.
MINUTES – WAYLAND SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Regular Session – May 23, 2011
16. Follow-up and Future Agenda Items:
(a) 1:1 Technology Learning Initiative:
The proposed Maine trip has been postponed until the fall.
(b) Operations Review Committee Update:
Mrs. Fletcher provided an update from the Operations Review Committee.
(c) Nomination for School Committee Chair:
Upon a motion by Ms. Butler, seconded by Dr. Astley, the School
Committee voted (3-0) (Mrs. Fletcher abstained) to nominate Barb
Fletcher as Chair of the School Committee for 2011-2012.
(d) Nomination for School Committee Vice Chair:
Upon a motion by Dr. Astley, seconded by Dr. Kinney, the School
Committee voted (3-0) (Ms. Butler abstained) to nominate Beth Butler
as Vice Chair of the School Committee for 2011-2012.
(e) Email Packets for School Committee Meetings:
The School Committee discussed going paperless for their meeting
packets. The Committee would like to pilot going paperless for the
next two meetings.
(f) Alumni Association and Closing of High School:
The School Committee discussed planning special events for the
alumni and community to tour the old high school. Dr. Astley will
follow up with the HSBC and Dr. Burton will also speak to Principal
Tutwiler to see what is being planned.
17. Comments from the Public:
Louis Jurist expressed concern about students in the METCO Program
and their access to school events and the limits on student engagement
for high school and middle school students. He also discussed the
proposed middle school field project, weighing the benefits vs. the
impacts.
18. Executive Session:
Upon a motion duly made by Dr. Kinney, seconded by Ms. Butler,
the School Committee voted unanimously (4-0) to convene in Executive
Session at 10:30 P.M. to discuss matters pertaining to Food Service
union negotiations, as set forth in M.G.L. Ch. 39, Section 21 (a)(3).
The School Committee agreed that discussion regarding the union
negotiations would be in Executive Session, as conducting these
discussions in open session will have a
detrimental effect on the School Committee’s negotiating position.
A roll call vote was taken as follows:
Roll Call
Mrs. Barb Fletcher, Chair
Dr. Malcolm Astley
Ms. Beth Butler
Dr. Shawn Kinney
|
Yes
X
X
X
X
|
No
|
The Chair announced
that they would reconvene in Regular Session following the adjournment
of the Executive Session for adjournment purposes only.
19. Adjournment:
Upon a motion duly made by Dr. Kinney, seconded by Ms. Butler, the
School Committee voted unanimously (4-0) to adjourn the Regular
Session at 11:05 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Gary A. Burton, Clerk
Wayland School Committee
Observers:
Louis Jurist, Wayland
Lea Anderson, HSBC
Mabel Reid-Wallace, METCO
Corresponding Documentation:
1. Supporting documentation re: greening of the WHS Kitchen
2. Supporting documentation re: KVA Change Orders #4 and #5
3. Handout – “Reasons for Convening Executive Session”
4. Letter from E-Line Media re: grant to school district
5. Handout – Draft letter re: Middle School Fields Proposal
6. Handout re Wayland’s 375th Anniversary Celebration