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Agawam School Committee
Minutes – June 12, 2007
Chair, R. Cohen, called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. in the Agawam Middle School auditorium.
Present: A. Bonavita, P. Cavallo, R. Doering, D. Juzba, L. Galarneau, & R. Sandlin, Dr. Czajkowski, J. Kane, W. Sapelli, & Student Representatives C. Tierney & K. Weyant
During Citizen’s Speak Time, no one from the public came forward.
Under Superintendent’s Notes, Dr. Czajkowski reported on the following items:
Reminder that June 19th is the last day of school and wish for a safe and enjoyable summer vacation to students and staff.
Executive Session for the purpose of discussing contract negotiations will be scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on June 19th after Goals & Objectives workshop in the Superintendent’s Conference Room.
Announcement that new Emergency Preparedness Procedures Handbooks will be disseminated to each classroom beginning September 2007 and discussed at monthly staff meetings.
Junior High School principal position finalist, Norman Robbins, will be meeting with the Superintendent, Mr. Littlefield, and the junior high staff on June 18th
Letter received from the Martha’s Vineyard Regional School District praising AHS teacher, Elizabeth Marble.
Thank you to Mr. Lemanski, Mr. Costanzi, and the high school’s support staff for all their efforts that made the dedication ceremony for the John T. Burns Technology Ed. Wing such a huge success on June 7, 2007.
Thank you to Mrs. Betty Grimaldi for donating a sign to the Robinson Park School.
Thank you to Mrs. Howard and the Clark School Student Council for including Mr. Sapelli and her on their tour of the MSPCA center on June 12th.
Thank you to Ann Drinkwine’s second grade students who at lunch with the Superintendent on June 7th. First grade students at Clark and Granger Schools will be having lunch with the Superintendent on June 13th and 15th, respectively.
Thank you to Walt Steinmetz for the individual school committee and central office photographs
Next, under Highlights on Education, Dr. Czajkowski was joined by Mr. Sapelli, Mr. Kane, Mayor Cohen, and the Committee in a presentation of citations from the Town of Agawam, Mass. State Senate, and Mass. House of Representatives to the 17 teachers, 3 administrators, 1 secretary, & 1 teacher assistant who are retiring and collectively have given 612 years of service to the children of Agawam.
Under Unfinished Business, there was none on the agenda.
Under Business Meeting, on a motion made by D. Juzba, 2nd by P. Cavallo, the Committee voted to approve the May 22, 2007, regular meeting minutes.
Vote: 7 – 0
Then, on a motion made by P. Cavallo, 2nd by R. Doering, the Committee voted to approve the May 15, 2007, Executive Session minutes as amended.
Vote: 7 – 0
Under Calendar/Correspondence, R. Doering said she had nothing to report.
Next, on a motion made by R. Doering, 2nd by A. Bonavita, the Committee approved the following warrants as read: SW-07-62 in the amount of $5,500.00, SW-07-63 in the amount of $10,368.18, SW-07-64 in the amount of $119,430.45, and SW-07-65 in the amount of $349,940.13. Also approved were payroll warrants PW-07-06 in the amount of $2,028,432.11 and PW-07-07 in the amount of $3,009,622.08.
Vote: 7 - 0
Under Reports, the first report of the evening was a Guidance Program Assessment Update as presented by Dr. Tim Poynton and evaluation team members Dr. Diane Boettcher, Katie Gray, and Dr. Helen O’Donnell. During the team’s PowerPoint presentation, the following were highlighted:
Overview of the evaluation process
Key recommendations on existing programs and services
Overview of the MA Guidance Model
Recommendations to build a foundation for the MA Model
Delivery system recommendations
Management system recommendations
Accountability system recommendations
Advocacy in the MA Model
Collaboration in the MA Model
Systemic change in the MA Model
Leadership in the MA Model
Survey results from the high school, junior high, middle, and elementary schools
A lengthy question and answer session then ensued.
The second report of the evening was a financial update as presented by J. Kane, Assistant Superintendent for Business/HR. In his report, Mr. Kane estimated that as of June 12, 2007, there is a FY’07 Budget surplus in the amount of $496,932.00. He then asked the Committee to approve the transfer of unexpended FY’07 funds back into the School Choice revolving account to the extent of the amount paid out for Sick Leave Buyback and the Early Retirement Incentive for the 2006 – 2007 school year. He also asked that any FY’07 unexpended funds, if any, be applied to prepay the FY’08 Special Education tuition.
Then, on a motion made by P. Cavallo, 2nd by D. Juzba, the Committee, via roll call, voted to apply any unexpended funds back into the Sick Leave Buyback and Early Retirement accounts and to prepay the FY’08 Special Education tuition.
Vote: 7 - 0
Next, under Subcommittee Updates, D. Juzba announced that the Budget/Finance Subcommittee had met earlier that evening and she would provide a complete report about their meeting at the June 26th regular committee meeting.
Next, under Student Representative's Comments, Caitlyn Tierney began by thanking the Committee and administration for her wonderful experience serving as the student representative to the school committee during her senior year. She then introduced her replacement, junior Kaitlyn Weyant, who congratulated all the AHS spring sport teams for a wonderful season, especially the boy’s volleyball team for winning the WMASS title. She also announced that a 5K Jay’s Run would be taking place through Robinson State Park on August 12th.
Under New Business, SCR-07-11, Approval of the Father Robert Wagner Memorial Scholarship, and SCR-07-12, Approval of Donation of a CNC Milling Machine to AHS Technology Department from G & L Tool, were moved to the June 26, 2007, meeting where they will appear under Unfinished Business.
Next, Under Policy Review, on a motion made by R. Doering, 2nd by P. Cavallo, the Committee voted to approve the 2nd & 3rd readings of Policy IKE, Promotion Guidelines.
Vote: 7 – 0
Then, on a motion made by D. Juzba, 2nd by P. Cavallo, the Committee voted to approve the 2nd & 3rd readings of Policy JIE, Medical Conditions.
Vote: 7 – 0
Next, R. Doering made a motion, 2nd by D. Juzba, to approve the 2nd & 3rd readings of Policy JICHA, Breath Alcohol Testing Policy. During discussion, A. Bonavita questioned the legality of whether a student’s refusal to take a Breathalyzer or PAS test could be used with other evidence to determine that a student was under the influence of alcohol. Dr. Czajkowski said that although the policy’s language was taken from the Barnstable and Gardner Public Schools policies, she would ask our attorney for his legal opinion.
Consequently, on a motion made by A. Bonavita, 2nd by R. Sandlin, the Committee voted to table Policy JICHA to the June 26, 2007, committee meeting.
Vote: 7 – 0
Then, on a motion made by A. Bonavita, 2nd by R. Sandlin, the Committee voted to table Policy JICHA-R to the June 26, 2007, committee meeting.
Vote: 7 - 0
Next, on a motion made by D. Juzba, 2nd by P. Cavallo, the Committee voted to approve the 2nd & 3rd readings of Policy LBC-R, Relations with Home Schools.
Vote: 7 - 0
On a motion made by P. Cavallo, 2nd by R. Doering, the Committee voted to approve the 1st reading of Policy KHA, Public Solicitations in the Schools.
Vote: 7 – 0
Then, on a motion made by L. Galarneau, 2nd by A. Bonavita, the Committee voted to approve the 1st reading of Policy BHE, Use of Electronic Messaging by School Committee Members.
Vote: 7 - 0
Under Items, P. Cavallo congratulated the Class of 2007 for their excellent graduation program. D. Juzba asked if job posting could be e-mailed to teachers as some postings are taken down from bulletin boards and not seen by all staff. Dr. Czajkowski said she would not support that recommendation as it places a burden on her secretary and building principals should address that problem with their staff. D. Juzba also wished good luck to the Rosie Robotics team at their WPI competition. A. Bonavita congratulated the AHS spring sport teams for their excellent season. R. Doering suggested that the Special Education Ad Hoc Subcommittee move their 6:30 p.m. meeting with the PAC on June 18th to the middle school so it would be easier for committee members to attend the City Council’s public hearing on the FY’08 Budget, which begins at 7:30 p.m. in the middle school auditorium. L. Galarneau questioned whether the May 8, 2007, regular meeting minutes, which were amended, needed to be approved. R. Cohen explained that the May 8th minutes had already been approved at the time they were amended. She also asked if Food Service Director, Joseph Lecuyer, could compile the results from the student lunch survey and provide them to the committee. R. Sandlin said she was proud to host the celebration honoring the FIRST Corporation and that Rosie Robotics was the only team from Western Mass. to be invited to the event. She also praised the grade 1 play production by students in room 4 at James Clark School. R. Cohen said that he also attended an excellent play performed by students at Clifford Granger School. He then declared the Phelps School Science Fair phenomenal and congratulated all students who participated in the event.
There being no further business, on a motion made by A. Bonavita, 2nd by D. Juzba, the Committee voted to adjourn.
Vote: 7 - 0
Time: 9:03 p.m.
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Alexis Ferioli, Committee Stenographer Roberta G. Doering, Committee Secretary
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