Agawam Public Schools - S.C. Meeting Minutes March 27, 2007

During Citizen’s Speak Time, the following six members of the Agawam Parent Advisory Council (APAC) spoke on behalf of the volunteer organization and denounced the findings that the group was noncompliant as reported by the Mass. Department of Education’s Coordinated Program Review:

Kirsten Pittenger – 215 Clover Hill Drive, FH

Ann Marie Smith – 10 Kirkland St.

R. Cohen interrupted Mrs. Smith to announce that the 15 minutes allotted to Citizen’s Speak Time had elapsed. He then asked whether the Committee wanted to extend Citizen’s Speak Time so that the remaining four parents could speak.

Then, on a motion made by R. Sandlin, 2^nd by D. Juzba, the Committee voted to suspend the rules and to extend Citizen’s Speak Time.

Vote: 7 - 0

Mary Young – 184 Coyote Circle, FH

Faith Footit – 67 Barbara Lane, FH

Vanessa Ghidoni – 2B Castle Hill Road

John Bonavita – 109 Liberty St., FH

Under Superintendent’s Notes, Dr. Czajkowski reported on the following items:

IT Specialist, Kathleen Baker, will conduct a training session for all building-based web site facilitators on April 11, 2007, from 9:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. in preparation for the district’s new web site.

An information workshop for parents concerning the popular teen web site, “myspace.com” will be conducted on April 12, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. at the high school.

Meeting with Conservation Commission president, Henry Kozloski, Mr. Lemanski, Mr. Albro, & M. Wolochowicz to discuss where the handicap accessible walkway from the high school to the Nature Trail’s entrance should be placed, especially as that area has been discussed as a possible site for additional parking. Dr. Czajkowski urged the Committee to view the area.

Letter from J. Burns highlighting the accomplishments of AHS Class of 2006 graduate Neil Cameron.

Update from W. Sapelli regarding the junior high school principal search. Mr. Sapelli explained that six candidates had applied and after interviewing a finalist, the search committee decided that candidate was not of the level needed for the post. Consequently, a third posting will be conducted. Dr. Czajkowski provided the Committee with a salary breakdown for local junior high school principals.

Under Highlights on Education, there were none scheduled.

Under Unfinished Business, R. Doering made a motion to approve SCR-07-03, Approval of Network Analyst Job Description, 2^nd by A. Bonavita. During discussion, many questions were unresolved.

Consequently, on a motion made by R. Sandlin, 2^nd by P. Cavallo & D. Juzba, the Committee, via roll call, voted to table SCR-07-03 until June 2007.

Vote: 7 - 0

Under Business Meeting, on a motion made by D. Juzba, 2^nd by P. Cavallo, the Committee voted to approve the March 6, 2007, amended workshop minutes, the March 8, 2007, workshop minutes, and the March 13, 2007,regular meeting minutes.

Vote: 7 - 0

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

Next, on a motion made by D. Juzba, 2^nd by A. Bonavita, the Committee approved the following warrants as read: SW-07-47 in the amount of $42,595.66, SW-07-48 in the amount of $49,072.48, and SW-07-49 in the amount of $742,862.62. Also approved were payroll warrants PW-07-03 in the amount of $2,010,791.85 and PW-07-04 in the amount of $2,034,287.94.

Vote: 7 - 0

Under Reports, the first report of the evening was an FY’08 Proposed Budget Presentation. Joining Dr. Czajkowski were J. Kane, W. Sapelli, and R. Jury in an in-depth review of the proposed FY’08 School Budget in the amount of $32,679,261.00 which represents an increase of 5.56% over the FY’07 Budget. Included in the presentation were fixed costs in the amount of $1,720,375.00 in the following areas:

Contractual salary step increases

Negotiated contractual increases; tutors & substitutes increases

Vocational education tuition

Special education increases

Transportation

Building-based increases

Instructional technology

District wide professional development

Central office and school committee legal & postage

New personnel requests

Dr. Czajkowski then reviewed the following two reduction scenarios, which were recommended by the administrative team following a directive by the Committee at the March 8, 2007, FY’08 Budget Workshop to reduce the FY’08 School Budget by $200,000.00 to $400,000.00.

Scenario I (Offset School Lunch Program) $ 60,000.00

(Offset Before & After School Program) $140,000.00

Total= $200,000.00

Scenario II (IT/DP Cost Center)

Eliminate new Student Information System $185,930.00

Elementary Hardware $ 4,000.00

Middle School Hardware $ 3,000.00

Junior High Hardware $ 3,000.00

Senior High Hardware $ 4,000.00

Total= $199,930.00

Total amount of FY’08 Budget with Scenario I Reductions would equal $32,479,261.00 for a 5.20% net increase.

Total amount of FY’08 Budget with Scenario II Reductions would equal $32,279,331.00 for a 4.56% net increase.

Dr. Czajkowski then reviewed the following FY’08 School Budget Highlights:

Maintain all existing staff of 380 teachers and 110 teacher assistants

Replace 16 retiring teachers, 1 AJHS principal, 1 AJHS assistant principal, 1 middle school secretary, & 1 AHS teacher assistant

Add 1 inclusion teacher at AJHS

Add 2 intensive math teachers at AMS

Add 1 PC desktop repair technician to the IT department

Add 1 10-month guidance secretary to the AMS

Add 1 elementary special education teacher assistant

Add 1 chess club advisor to the AJHS

Increase position of Athletic Director’s secretary from .8 FTE to 1.0 FTE

Dr. Czajkowski then reviewed the 2007-2008 District Action Plan, which included the following:

Complete middle school classrooms for student and staff occupancy

Implement new district-wide web site

Purchase new Student Information System and provide staff training

Establish “Professional Learning Communities”

Develop Corrective Action Plan for school safety audit, guidance assessment, speech/language services, and SPED testing

Expand new IEP data tracking system

Develop a plan for a new AHS track and field facility via the Capital Improvement Budget

Refurbish AMS autism classroom

Establish wireless laptop carts in each media center

Develop a plan to implement “Positive Behavior Interventions”

Pilot a drop-out prevention program at AHS

Reduce class sizes for students failing MCAS

Hire a PC Repair Technician to support expanding technology & curriculum integration needs

Revise course offering in Social Studies at secondary level to respond to MCAS requirements for the Class of 2010

A lengthy question and answer session then ensued during which it was suggested that a workshop regarding the new Student Information System be scheduled as well as a site visit to a district that presently uses the system. Athletic Director, Louis Conte, also explained his basis for requesting a new track and field facility at the AHS athletic field.

After lengthy discussion, it was the consensus of the Committee to look for community assistance such as fundraisers to help defray the cost of a new track and field facility.

Dr. Czajkowski then asked for direction as to which scenario she should follow in order to prepare the FY’08 Budget for the Public Hearing scheduled for April 10, 2007.

On a motion made by P. Cavallo, 2^nd by A. Bonavita & R. Sandlin, the Committee voted to eliminate the Network Analyst position at $47,500.00 from the FY’08 Budget and to add an additional $25,000.00 to the PC Technician line item in order to hire another PC Technician.

Vote: 6 – 0 – 1 present (R. Cohen)

Then, on a motion made by A. Bonavita, 2^nd by D. Juzba & R. Sandlin, the Committee approved the Scenario I offset, which would reduce the FY’08 Budget by $200,000.00.

Vote: 7 - 0

Next, on a motion made by R. Doering, 2^nd by R. Sandlin, the Committee, via roll call, voted to tentatively approve the FY’08 Budget in the amount of $32,656,761.00 (after taking $22,500.00 from the eliminated Network Analyst position) for an overall increase of 5.48 % over the FY’07 Budget.

Vote: 6 – 0 – 1 present (R. Cohen)

The second report was a Financial/Personnel Update as presented by Assistant Superintendent for Business/HR, John Kane. In his Personnel report, Mr. Kane explained that two (2) new maternity leave requests had been submitted, two (2) new medical leave requests were submitted, and one (1) new teacher had notified him of their intent to retire in June 2008. In his Financial report, Mr. Kane estimated an FY’07 surplus, to date, in the amount of $375,357.00.

Next, Mr. Kane requested that any FY’07 salary surpluses that were to be used for sick leave buyback and early retirement incentives to be returned to the School Choice revolving account.

On a motion made by R. Sandlin, 2^nd by R. Doering, D. Juzba, & P. Cavallo, the Committee voted to approve any FY’07 unexpended surpluses in the salary account only for FY’07 payments that were to be made for sick leave buyback and early retirement incentives to be returned to the School Choice revolving fund

Vote: 7 - 0

Under Subcommittee Updates, P. Cavallo reported that the District Goals Committee had met on March 16, 2007, and would be ready to present to the entire Committee in late April.

Next, under Student Representative's Comments, Caitlyn announced that the AHS Performing Arts Club would be presenting the play, “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” on March 29, 30, & 31, 2007, in the AHS auditorium. She also noted that April 25, 2007, has been designated as a “Day of Silence” in support of non-discrimination of homosexuals. In addition, Caitlyn announced that Mrs. Egan’s ALP students would be collecting items for the Women’s Shelter and National Honor Society members would be collecting items for our troops overseas.

Under New Business, SCR-07-04, Approval of Robert Bellame, Jr. Memorial Scholarship, was moved to the April 10, 2007, meeting where it will appear under Unfinished Business. During discussion, R. Sandlin suggested listing all available scholarships on the district’s new web site.

Items discussed, R. Sandlin said she had the pleasure of watching the Rosie Robotics team practice before their competition at BU. She then said that she would like to see the proposed sites for additional parking at the high school. L. Galarneau distributed materials that she had received from a symposium she recently attended at Worchester Technical High School in Worcester, MA. She also shared some highlights of the workshop with her colleagues. R. Doering reminded everyone to review our students’ artwork, which is on display at the Agawam Public Library. She also asked where the next Modular Construction meeting would take place. Mrs. Palazzi said the meeting would take place at 9:30 a.m. at Robinson Park School. A. Bonavita volunteered to serve on the committee to help the APAC address the DOE’s noncompliance finding. D. Juzba proudly reported that the Rosie Robotics team had won the Entrepreneurship Award in Boston for the 4^th year in a row and that Governor Devall Patrick spoke with team members about their project. P. Cavallo noted how AHS senior Christopher Alvanos has been invited to attend the National Wrestling Competition in Virginia Beach. He also said how lucky residents were to live in Agawam where we don’t have user fees, high taxes, and limited city services unlike the eastern part of the state where his children reside. He praised Mayor Cohen for all his efforts.

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

Vote: 7 - 0

Time: 9:46 p.m.

____________________________________

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