Minutes - Wayland School Committee
Regular Session January 20, 2011  

A Regular Session of the Wayland School Committee was held on Thursday, January 20, 2011 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
Ms. Beth Butler
Dr. Shawn Kinney

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

Mr. Pat Tutwiler
Principal of Wayland High School

Chair Louis Jurist convened the regular meeting at 7:03 P.M.

1. Comments and Written Statements from the Public:
• Donna Bouchard read a statement advocating for finding budget reductions to decrease class size ratios in sixth grade.
• Alexia Obar advocated for math coaches, class sizes at Happy Hollow, and future space issues at the elementary schools.
• Kim Cook spoke to create a strategic plan to provide support for this year’s 5th grade students. She would like a more strategic review of the budget because she feels the district could save $6,000,000 or more.
• Mary Barber supported the notion that class sizes at the Middle School should be reduced.

2. High School Budget Discussion:
WHS Principal Pat Tutwiler described the two new positions (RTI Coordinator and the Wellness Coordinator) that have been recommended for the high school in the FY12 budget. He answered questions from the School Committee members, which included additional world language sections, impacts of the 9th grade writing lab, and high school guidance secretarial support.

3. HSBC – Mass Collaborative for High Performance Schools (requirement of MSBA):
• Joint Use of Parks Agreement

Dr. Burton recommended that the School Committee vote to approve the Joint Use of Parks Agreement, as recommended by the MSBA.

Upon a motion duly made by Dr. Kinney, seconded by Ms. Butler, the School Committee voted (5-0) unanimously to approve the Joint Use of Parks Agreement, as recommended by the MSBA.

• Anti-idling Policy

Dr. Burton recommended that the School Committee place the Anti-idling Policy out for review by the public and referred the draft to the Policy Subcommittee, as recommended by the MSBA.

Upon a motion duly made by Dr. Kinney, seconded by Ms. Butler, the School Committee voted unanimously (5-0) to post the Anti-idling Policy on the school website for public review.

• Energy Star Equipment Resolution

Dr. Burton recommended the School Committee vote to approve the Resolution to purchase Energy Star equipment, as recommended by the WPS Greening Committee.

Upon a motion duly made by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Ms. Butler, the School Committee voted unanimously (5-0) to approve the Resolution to Purchase Energy Star Equipment, as recommended by the WPS Greening Committee.

4. Approval of Revised 2011-2012 School Calendar:
It is recommended that the School Committee approved the revised 2011-2012 school calendar. It was noticed that since New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday, the state has mandated that the holiday will be observed on Monday, January 2, 2012.

The district will also include the MCAS Testing windows and a provision for possible change in the calendar due to the High School Building Project.

Upon a motion by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Dr. Kinney, the School Committee voted unanimously (5-0) to approve the revised 2011-2012 School Calendar.

5. Approval of Wayland High School Trips:
Upon a motion duly made by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Mrs. Butler, the School Committee voted unanimously
(5-0) to approve the following WHS trips:
• WSPN Club Trip to New York
• WSPN Club Trip to California

The Committee discussed the possibilities of scholarships and the Administrative Council will discuss current practices for awarding scholarships.

6. Budget Work Session:
The School Committee discussed the revised budget sheets. The discussion included the revised personnel recommendations, budget drivers, offsets, Special Education costs and philosophy on meeting the FinCom guideline. Mr. MacDonald, Dr. Burton, Dr. Dodyk, and Mr. Crozier answered questions posed by the School Committee, as well as questions submitted by Donna Bouchard.

The School Committee will meet with the FinCom on Monday, January 24, at 7:50 P.M.

The School Committee discussed a draft of the budget presentation to the FinCom.

7. Approval of Accounts Payable & Payroll Warrants:
Upon a motion duly made by Dr. Astley, seconded by Mrs. Fletcher, the School Committee voted unanimously (5-0) to approve payment of the following:
• Wayland Public Schools Accounts Payable warrant, dated 1/18/2011, in the amount of $396,214.35
• Wayland Public Schools Accounts Payable warrant, dated 1/18/2011, in the amount of $2,301,033.86 (High School Project)
• Wayland Public Schools Payroll warrant, dated 1/13/2011, in the amount of $1,042,451.20

8. Follow-up and Future Agenda Items:
(a) Superintendent Search Update:
The School Committee will discuss their decision re: the finalist on Monday, 1/24, after the meeting with the FinCom. They discussed the process for review of reference materials, top candidates, and possible need for an Executive Session to discuss the contract.

(b) Boston Meeting:
The School Committee discussed options for their meeting in Boston with the Boston parents. Suggested

dates were March 7 or April 25. The Committee agreed to meet with the Boston parents on March 7.

9. Comments from the Public:
Kim Cook expressed her desire for the School Committee to appoint a subcommittee to review the budget for the School Committee and her disappointment that the Committee and Superintendent did not reduce the budget below the FinCom Guideline.

10. Executive Session:
Upon a motion duly made by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Dr. Kinney, the School Committee voted unanimously (5-0) to convene in Executive Session at 10:00 P.M. to discuss matters pertaining to Collective Bargaining and Personnel, as set forth in Section 23B of G.L. Ch. 39. The School Committee agreed that discussion regarding union contracts would be in Executive Session, as conducting these discussions in open session will have a detrimental
effect on the School Committee’s negotiating position.

The Chair announced that they would reconvene in Regular Session for adjournment purposes only.

11. Adjournment:
Upon a motion duly made by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Dr. Kinney, the Committee voted unanimously (5-0) to adjourn the Regular Session at 10:45 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Gary A. Burton, Clerk
Wayland School Committee

Observers:
Betsy Brigham, Wayland
Kim Cook, Wayland
Betsy Meindl, Wayland
Kari Whitesell, Wayland
Susan Steneri, Wayland
Heather Pineault, Wayland

Corresponding Documentation:
1. Resolution of the Wayland School Committee on Energy Star Equipment and Appliance Purchasing (Mass CHips)
2. Anti-Idling Policy (Mass CHips)
3. Joint Use of Parks/Fields Agreement
4. Draft of 2011-2012 School Calendar
5. Field Trip Requests (WSPN Club Trip to New York, WSPN Club Trip to California)