Agawam Public Schools - S.C. Meeting Minutes March 13, 2007

Site visit by School Counseling Program evaluation team took place on March 7^th and 8^th. A final summary will be forwarded to the district in early Spring 2007.

Selection of James Clark School to participate in a study of mathematics education for elementary school students with disabilities. A 2-day site visit will take place in the near future.

Winners of the 2007 Excellence in Teaching Awards are Nora Bruno, Gail Dion, Shelley Russell, Amber Waters, and first year teacher, Laura Lukas. Committee members wishing to attend the awards banquet at the Log Cabin in Holyoke on April 26, 2007, should notify Mrs. Ferioli so she may reserve a ticket for them.

Welcome to Boy Scout Evan Pirney, who is observing the evening’s meeting as a requirement for a merit badge.

Under Highlights on Education, there were none scheduled.

Under Unfinished Business, there was none on the agenda.

Under Business Meeting, on a motion made by R. Doering, 2^nd by D. Juzba, the Committee voted to approve the February 27, 2007, regular meeting and executive session minutes.

Vote: 6 – 0 – 1 abstention (L. Galarneau)

During discussion, P. Cavallo noted that his name had been omitted from attendance at the March 6, 2007, FY’08 Proposed School Budget Workshop minutes.

Then, on a motion made by R. Sandlin, 2^nd by D. Juzba, the Committee voted to approve the March 6, 2007, FY’08 Proposed School Budget Workshop minutes as amended.

Vote: 7 - 0

Under Calendar/Correspondence, R. Doering said she had nothing to report.

Next, on a motion made by A. Bonavita & P. Cavallo, 2^nd by D. Juzba, the Committee approved the following warrants as read: SW-07-45 in the amount of $33,541.05, and SW-07-46 in the amount of $588,429.11.

Vote: 7 - 0

Under Reports, the first report of the evening was a Graduation/Drop Out Rate Update as presented by Dr. Czajkowski and IT Specialist for Data Management, Kathleen Baker. Dr. Czajkowski began by discussing the packet of materials, which she asked Committee members to review in preparation for a workshop on May 8, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. in the middle school auditorium. She explained that the information included in the packet is so extensive that a workshop would be needed in order to cover it adequately. Next, K. Baker shared what Governor Devall Patrick discussed at the March 5, 2007, Graduation/Drop-Out Rate Conference that was held at the DCU Center in Worcester. She also explained the error which was reported in the district’s Cohort 2006 Graduation Rate.

The second report was a Coordinated Program Review Update as presented by Special Services Director, John Provost, and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum/Instruction, William Sapelli. Mr. Sapelli began the presentation by giving an overview of the evaluation team’s site visit to the district in November 2006. Mr. Provost then explained each area of the Coordinated Program Review that focused on special education, noting that the state report was very favorable. He then read each standard and explained the evaluation team’s finding, noting that the two areas cited for corrective action concerned the Agawam Parent Advisory Council (APAC) and non-adequate space for special education students. Mr. Provost said that the new modular classrooms will resolve the latter concern, and he will discuss the team’s finding with the APAC in order to resolve the former concern. Mr. Sapelli then reviewed the standards for the Civil Rights and ELE sections of the Coordinated Program Review, noting areas that were partially implemented. A lengthy question and answer session then ensued.

Under Subcommittee Updates, D. Juzba said that the joint meeting with the City Council’s School Budget Subcommittee and the school committee’s Budget/Finance Subcommittee on March 12, 2007, went very well. L. Galarneau announced that the next Policy Subcommittee meeting would take place at 6:00 p.m. on April 24, 2007, in the middle school auditorium prior to the Committee’s regularly scheduled meeting.

Next, under Student Representative's Comments, there were none as Caitlyn was absent.

Under New Business, R. Sandlin made a motion to suspend the rules and to place the new Network Analyst job description on the agenda as New Business.

Vote: 7 - 0

Then, on a motion made by R. Sandlin, 2^nd by P. Cavallo, the Committee voted to approve the Network Analyst job description as written and to place it on the March 27, 2007, meeting agenda under Unfinished Business.

Vote: 7 - 0

Items discussed, P. Cavallo said that he would be forwarding an evaluation tool, which he received from East Longmeadow Public Schools, for Dr. Czajkowski to review. He also asked who would be marching in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Holyoke on March 18^th. R. Cohen said that he would be marching in the parade and asked any member who wanted to march to notify him. D. Juzba reminded her colleagues that the Rosie Robotics team would be competing in their first competition in Hartford on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of this week. A. Bonavita asked R. Sandlin if she could obtain a copy of the proposed legislation, which would raise the drop-out age for students from 16 to 18 years old, so that he could review it. R. Doering congratulated Linda Weissman and her staff at the Agawam Early Childhood Center for maintaining their accreditation. She also asked if the parking problem at Granger School had been resolved. R. Cohen said the town’s engineering department and the MASS. Highway Department are looking into the problem. She then asked about the Nature Trail at the AHS. Dr. Czajkowski said she would be speaking with Science Specialist, Mary Wolochowicz, to determine when the trail would be ready for use by students and residents. L. Galarneau shared that a recent article she had read concerning the drop-out rate of students suggested that a person who is trained to work with the various social services should be part of the school staff. She also mentioned a new concept of hiring “walking guards”, similar to school crossing guards, who follow the route children travel walking to school each day, thereby allowing the children to benefit from the exercise of walking while safeguarding them from strangers and harm. R. Sandlin inquired whether any further investigation into additional parking spaces at the high school had been conducted. R. Cohen explained that DPW Superintendent, Jack Stone, approximates that $200,000 would be needed to obtain 80 additional parking spaces. He also said that student parking at the neighboring church parking lot would require a zone change for transient parking and is an ordinance issue. R. Sandlin asked that the parent committee researching the problem to find a possible solution be kept informed as to what is happening to date.

There being no further business, on a motion made by P. Cavallo, 2^nd by D. Juzba, the Committee voted to adjourn.

Vote: 7 - 0

Time: 8:28 p.m.

____________________________________

Alexis Ferioli, Committee Stenographer Roberta G. Doering, Committee Secretary