Minutes - Wayland School Committee
Regular Session September 21, 2009
A Regular Session of the Wayland School
Committee was held on Monday, September 21, 2009, at 7:00 P.M. in the
School Committee Room of the Wayland Town Building.
Present were:
Dr. Louis Jurist, Chair
Mr. Jeff R. Dieffenbach, Vice Chair
Mr. Malcolm Astley
Ms. Deb Cohen, Esq.
Mrs. Barb Fletcher
Also:
Dr. Gary A. Burton
Superintendent of Schools
Mr. Brad J. Crozier
Assistant Superintendent
Dr. Marlene M. Dodyk
Director of Student Services
Also from the HSBC:
Lea Anderson, Chair; Dianne Bladon; Eric Sheffels; Fred Knight
Fred Turkington (Town Administrator)
BOS Members:
Michael Tichnor, Chair; Steven Correia; Sue Pope; Joe Nolan, Tom Fay
FinCom Members:
Sam Peper, Chair; Cherry Karlson, Bob Lentz, John Bladon, David Gutschenritter, Paul Grasso, Richard Stack
Chair Louis Jurist convened the regular meeting at 7:11 p.m.
1. Comments and Written Statements from the Public:
There were no comments or written statements.
2. Approval of Revision to Policy JJICA re: Home Education Students’ Participation in WHS Athletics:
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Astley, seconded by Mrs. Fletcher,
the School Committee voted (5-0) unanimously to approve the revision to
Policy JJICA re: Home Education Students’ Participation in WHS
Athletics.
3. Review of the 2009 Annual Town Report:
The Committee discussed the major topics with the Chair for inclusion into the 2009 Annual Town Report.
4. Approval of Minutes:
Upon a motion duly made by Mrs. Fletcher, and seconded by Mrs.
Cohen, the School Committee voted unanimously (5-0) to approve the
following minutes as amended:
• Regular Session of August 31, 2009
5. Approval of Accounts Payable & Payroll Warrants
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Dieffenbach, seconded by Mr.
Astley, the Committee voted unanimously (5-0) to approve the following
accounts payable and payroll warrants.
• School Department Payroll warrant, dated 9/2/2009, in the amount of $13,011.50 (manual paycheck)
• School Department Payroll warrant, dated 9/10/2009, in the amount of $1,072,995.87
• School Department Accounts Payable warrant, dated 9/14/2009, in the amount of $717,226.45
8. Report on School Opening and Enrollment:
Dr. Burton updated the Committee on the current enrollment of
students in the district. He also discussed the start of the new school
year; specifically, the implementation of fee-based busing and other
transportation and logistical concerns.
9. Special Matter – HSBC Update:
Mrs. Lea Anderson, Chair of the High School Building Committee,
presented the progress to date by the HSBC (presentation slides
attached). Mrs. Anderson and other members of the HSBC answered
questions from the School Committee, FinCom and Selectmen. The HSBC
recommended the School Committee submit a ballot question to the
Selectmen for the next Town Election.
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Astley, seconded by Mrs.
Fletcher, the School Committee voted unanimously (5-0) to submit the
HSBC’s warrant language as written.
Upon a motion by Mr. Dieffenbach, seconded by Mr. Astley, the
School Committee voted unanimously (5-0) to request that the Board of
Selectmen place the question on the ballot.
10. Discussion re: Sale of School Property:
Dr. Burton recommended that the School Committee pursue
researching the possible sale of school-owned property. The School
Committee authorized Dr. Burton to continue to gather information.
11. Draft of Superintendent’s Goals:
Dr. Burton discussed a draft of his FY10 goals. The three main
topics centered on Differentiated Instruction -- meeting the needs of
all learners, teacher evaluations, and technology. Several members of
the School Committee gave Dr. Burton some feedback on the draft, and he
will present a final draft at the first meeting in October.
12. H1N1 Flu Update:
The school administration is working with the town Board of Health
on addressing prevention and contingency plans in the event of an H1N1
flu outbreak. All information has been updated on the school’s
websites.
13. Project Blueprint Update:
Mr. Crozier updated the School Committee on Project Blueprint.
14. Negotiations Working Group:
Dr. Jurist and a member of the School Committee will attend the negotiations working group meetings.
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Dieffenbach, seconded by Mr.
Astley, the School Committee voted unanimously (5-0) to appoint Dr.
Jurist and Mrs. Fletcher be appointed to the town’s negotiations working
group.
15. School Committee’s Listserv:
Mr. Dieffenbach discussed with the School Committee several ways
to invite new members to join the School Committee’s listserv. He will
take the necessary steps to be discussed.
16. Suburban Coalition:
As the School Committee representative, Mr. Astley asked the
School Committee to direct him regarding issues of the Suburban
Coalition.
17. Comments from the Public:
A parent requested that friends be allowed to ride a bus home on
limited occasions. She also suggested diverting some of the profits
from the fee-based busing to support ELNA.
A parent asked the School Committee to look into the cost and
programming of Wayland’s After School programs. She discussed some
comparison costs from area schools.
18. Executive Session:
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Dieffenbach, seconded by Mrs.
Fletcher, the Committee voted unanimously (5-0) in a roll call vote to
convene in Executive Session at 10:15 P.M. for the purpose of matters
pertaining to Personnel and Collective Bargaining, as set forth in
Section 23B of G.L. Ch. 39.
Roll Call Yes No
Dr. Louis Jurist X
Mr. Jeff Dieffenbach X
Mr. Malcolm Astley X
Mrs. Deb Cohen X
Mrs. Barb Fletcher X
The Chair announced that the Committee would reconvene in Open
Session immediately following the adjournment of the Executive Session
for adjournment purposes only.
19. Adjournment:
Upon a motion by Mr. Dieffenbach, seconded by Mrs. Fletcher, the
Committee voted unanimously (5-0) to adjourn the Regular Session at
10:40 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Gary A. Burton, Clerk
Wayland School Committee