Minutes - Wayland School Committee
Regular Session   May 24, 2010  

A Regular Session of the Wayland School Committee was held on Monday, May 24, 2010, at 7:00 P.M. in the School Committee Room of the Wayland Town Building.

Present were:
Dr. Louis Jurist, Chair
Mr. Jeff Dieffenbach, Vice-Chair
Dr. Malcolm Astley
Mrs. Barb Fletcher
Dr. Shawn Kinney

Also:
Dr. Gary A. Burton
Superintendent of Schools

Mr. Brad J. Crozier
Assistant Superintendent

Dr. Marlene M. Dodyk
Director of Student Services

Chair Louis Jurist convened the regular meeting at 7:05 P.M. and welcomed Shawn Kinney as the new School Committee member.

1. Comments or Written Statements from the Public:
There were no comments or written statements.

2. Approval of WHS Students to Attend CADCA Conference:
The Committee asked Marlene Dodyk and Betsy Meindl questions related to the conference.

Upon a motion duly made by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Mr. Astley, the School Committee voted unanimously (5-0) to approve the WHS Youth Leadership calls to attend the National Youth Leadership Initiative Experience in Phoenix, Arizona.

3. Review of Annual Town Meeting:
The School Committee members discussed the Annual Town Meeting. Topics included more detailed transparency of ATM for technology. Members also discussed other information related to information that the FinCom may need moving forward for FY12 capital items. Dr. Burton also outlined the process for spending this
year’s capital funds.

The School Committee discussed writing a letter to the Wayland Town Crier thanking the community for support of
the budget. Mr. Astley will provide a draft to the Committee at the next meeting. The School Committee members also discussed Article 6 from Town Meeting and who the School Committee member might be on the review committee.

Upon a motion duly made by Dr. Astley, seconded by Mr. Dieffenbach, the School Committee voted (4-0) (Mr. Kinney abstained) to appoint Mrs. Fletcher to the review committee.

School Committee members commented on the budget process for FY11 and how the process may have helped in the smooth vote on the budget at the Annual Town Meeting.

The Committee also discussed the location for parking the buses during the high school construction.

(Mr. Astley left the meeting at 7:35 p.m.)

4. Approval of Accounts Payables and Payroll Warrants:
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Dieffenbach, seconded by Dr. Kinney, the School Committee voted (3-0) (Mrs. Fletcher abstained) to approve payment of the following:
• School Department Accounts Payable warrant, dated 5/24/2010, in the amount of $209,612.51

Upon a motion duly made by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Mr. Dieffenbach, the School Committee voted unanimously (4-0) to approve payment of the following:
• School Department Accounts Payable warrant, dated 5/24/2010, in the amount of $20,387 for the high school project

5. Approval of Minutes:
Upon a motion duly made by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Mr. Dieffenbach, the School Committee voted
(3-0) (Dr. Kinney abstained) to approve the following minutes as amended:
• Regular Session of March 1, 2010
• Regular Session of May 10, 2010
• Executive Session of May 10, 2010

Upon a motion duly made by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Mr. Dieffenbach, the School Committee voted (2-0)
(Mr. Dieffenbach and Dr. Kinney abstained) to approve the following minutes:
• Regular Session of May 13, 2010
• Regular Session of May 17, 2010
• Executive Session of May 17, 2010

6. Superintendent’s Report:
(a) TEC Appointee:
The School Committee would like Dr. Astley to attend the June 4 TEC meeting.

(b) Race to the Top:
Dr. Burton reported that we have all three required signatures for the state application for RTTT.

(c) Staff Recognition Ceremony:
Dr. Burton invited the School Committee members to attend the Staff Recognition Ceremony on June 2.
(d) Graduation Ceremony:
Dr. Burton reminded the School Committee members that the High School graduation is Sunday, June 6, at 3:00 p.m. at Wayland High School. Dr. Jurist will speak.

(e) Crew Team Success:
Dr. Burton informed the Committee members that both the girls’ and boys’ crew teams won the Massachusetts state championship.

(f) Fine Arts Awards:
Dr. Burton reported that the High School Honors Chamber won an award and the Middle School Jazz Band won a state award.

(g) HSBC Update:
Dr. Burton announced that the HSBC will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on June 22 at 9:00 a.m. He would like the Committee members to attend if they are available. Dr. Burton and Dr. Jurist reviewed several design renderings of the new high school that were on display.

(h) College Applications of WHS Class of 2010:
Dr. Burton provided a list of colleges to which the Class of 2010 has applied.

(i) School Surveys:
Loker and Happy Hollow surveys were given to the School Committee members.

(j) Listening Tour:
Dr. Burton provided the School Committee with summary information from the “Listening Tour.” He highlighted the five themes gathered from the five meetings and emails, and the several “take-a-ways” from the meetings. He also answered questions from the Committee members.

(k) Full Day Kindergarten Update:
Mr. Crozier updated the School Committee on the current interest in FDK.

(l) BMI Reporting:
Dr. Dodyk described the process of providing BMI to parents because of the new Massachusetts law.

(m) State Mandated Bullying Law:
Dr. Burton described some of the implications for the schools as a result of the new state law.

7. Comments from the Public:
A parent asked why Loker could not be used as the Grades 1-5 school instead of building out the Happy Hollow library. He also encouraged Committee members to go to the schools and get a sense for how crowded the school feels.

A community member asked Committee members to attend the Technology Task Force meeting. He also reported that the several houses are for sale in his neighborhood, which could cause an increase in summer enrollment. He also commented that the buses should not be parked at the high school because of the town’s drinking water wellheads.

A parent thanked the School Committee for supporting Full Day Kindergarten.

8. Executive Session I:
Upon a motion duly made by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Mr. Dieffenbach, the Committee voted unanimously
(5-0) in a roll call vote to convene in Executive Session at 9:30 P.M. for the purpose of matters pertaining to Collective Bargaining, as set forth in Section 23B of G.L. Ch. 39.

The Chair announced that the Committee would reconvene in Open Session immediately following the adjournment of the Executive Session for adjournment purposes only.

9. Executive Session II:
Upon a motion duly made by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Dr. Kinney, the Committee voted unanimously (5-0) in a roll call vote to convene in Executive Session II at 10:14 P.M. for the purpose of matters pertaining to Personnel and Litigation, as set forth in Section 23B of G.L. Ch. 39.

10. Adjournment:
Upon a motion by Mr. Dieffenbach, seconded by Mrs. Fletcher, the Committee voted unanimously (5-0) to adjourn the Regular Session at 10:21 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Gary A. Burton, Clerk
Wayland School Committee

Observers:
Stephanie Brandaleone
Tom Sciacca, WVN