Minutes - Wayland School Committee
Regular Session   June 21, 2010  

A Regular Session of the Wayland School Committee was held on Monday, June 21, 2010, at 7:00 P.M. in the School Committee Room of the Wayland Town Building.

Present were:
Dr. Louis Jurist, Chair
Mrs. Barb Fletcher, Vice Chair
Dr. Malcolm Astley

Also:
Dr. Gary A. Burton
Superintendent of Schools

Mr. Brad J. Crozier
Assistant Superintendent

Ms. Joy E. Buhler
Business Administrator

Dr. Marlene M. Dodyk
Director of Student Services

Chair Louis Jurist convened the regular meeting at 7:01 P.M. and announced that the School Committee will convene the meeting in the School Committee Room and then move downstairs to the Selectmen’s Hearing Room. After candidate interview(s), they will reconvene in the School Committee Room.

1. Interviews for New School Committee Member with Board of Selectmen in BOS Hearing Room:
(a) Elizabeth (Beth) Butler
(b) Nancy Shridhar
(c) Heidi Pemberton

The Board of Selectmen and School Committee interviewed each of the candidates and deliberated on the candidates’ qualifications.

Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Joe Nolan, seconded by Ms. Sue Pope, the BOS and School Committee voted unanimously with a roll call vote (8-0) to appoint Ms. Beth Butler to the open School Committee position through Town Meeting of 2011.

2. Comments or Written Statements from the Public:
• Mr. Conrad Gees provided the School Committee members with a handout and read a statement advocating for a fair raise for teachers based on the number of hours teachers log above and beyond the contract hours.
• A community member asked several questions related to the high school art program. Specifically, she asked if the School Committee would accept private funds to restore the high school program to 2.0 from 1.8 as currently budgeted.

• A community member commented that professionals work outside their contract hours in private industry.
• Ms. Beth Butler thanked the School Committee and stated that she looks forward to working with the School Committee in the near future.

3. Discussion re: the First Draft of Bullying Policy:
Former School Committee member, Deb Cohen, worked with the School Committee Policy Subcommittee on a draft anti-bullying policy. She discussed the law’s requirements and answered questions from the School Committee members. Dr. Burton also described the summer work plans for the teachers and administrators to address the requirements of the new law.

Upon a motion duly made by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Mr. Astley, the School Committee voted unanimously (3-0) to place the draft policy out for public comment as amended to include a statement on parental education on bullying.

4. Approval of WHS International Trip to Italy in 2011:
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Astley, seconded by Mrs. Fletcher, the School Committee voted unanimously (3-0) to approve the trip as proposed for 2011.

5. Discussion re: Recent Open Meeting Law Complaint:
The School Committee discussed an Open Meeting Law complaint by Mr. George Harris. The Chair will discuss the concern and complaint made by Mr. Harris, and the School Committee will continue to strictly adhere to the Open Meeting Law.

6. Discussion re: Suburban Coalition:
Dr. Astley recommended that the School Committee continue to support the membership in the Suburban Coalition. The School Committee consensus was to continue to pay the $250 fee for membership.

7. Discussion re: Resolution for SPED Funding Model:
The School Committee discussed supporting the resolution for SPED funding.

Upon a motion duly made by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Dr. Astley, the School Committee voted unanimously (3-0) to support the resolution.

8. Contract Award for Relocation of Rooftop Unit at Wayland Middle School:
Ms. Joy Buhler reviewed the contract for the relocation of the rooftop unit at the Middle School

Upon a motion by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Dr. Astley, the School Committee voted unanimously (3-0) to approve the contract to (1) move the rooftop unit and (2) the alternate bid to remove the old steel in the amount of $129,300 to Automatic Temperature Control.

9. Appointment of a Vice Chair on the Committee:
The School Committee discussed the need to appoint a vice-chair.

Upon a motion duly made by Dr. Jurist, seconded by Dr. Astley, the School Committee voted unanimously (2-0) (Mrs. Fletcher abstained) to appoint Mrs. Fletcher as the vice-chair.

10. Approval and Release of the Superintendent Search RFP:
The School Committee reviewed the latest draft of the Superintendent Search RFP and made several changes to the draft. Mrs. Fletcher will call the Newton contact to determine how many “highly advantageous” candidates they received. This information may determine if a more quantitative rating rubric will be used. Mrs. Fletcher will consult with Ms. Buhler to send out the RFP.

11. Follow-up Items:
The School Committee reviewed the topics from previous meetings that require follow-up.

12. Approval of Accounts Payables and Payroll Warrants:
Upon a motion duly made by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Dr. Astley, the School Committee voted unanimously (3-0) to approve payment of the following:
• School Department Accounts Payable warrant, dated 6/21/2010, in the amount of $291,430.93
• School Department Accounts Payable warrant, dated 6/21/2010, in the amount of $250,782.00 (high school building project)
• School Department Payroll warrant, dated 6/17/2010, in the amount of $4,334,576.06 (“Balloon Payroll”)
• School Department Payroll warrant, dated 6/17/2010, in the amount of $445,079.22

13. Approval of Minutes:
Upon a motion duly made by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Dr. Astley, the School Committee voted unanimously (3-0) to approve the following minutes as written:
• Regular Session of June 7, 2010
• Executive Session of June 7, 2010

14. Superintendent’s Report:
(a) HSBC Update:
Dr. Burton provided the details for the Wayland High School Groundbreaking Ceremony.

(b) Summer Curriculum Projects:
Dr. Burton reviewed the approved Curriculum Projects.

(c) Summer Maintenance Projects:
Dr. Burton reviewed the approved maintenance projects.

(e) Literacy and Math Summer Institutes:
Mr. Crozier invited the School Committee members to the Institutes and updated them on the progress and schedule.

(f) End-of-the-Year Goals Report:
Dr. Burton provided an overview of his goals report and answered questions from the School Committee..

15. Comments from the Public:
A community member commented that the teaching of math should be placed at a much higher status at the elementary age.

16. Adjournment:
Upon a motion duly made by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Dr. Astley, the Committee voted unanimously (3-0) to adjourn the Regular Session at 10:58 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Gary A. Burton, Clerk
Wayland School Committee