Agawam Public Schools - S.C. Meeting Minutes February 12, 2008

During Citizen’s Speak Time, Jay Berger of 10G Castle Hills Road, announced that the Agawam Democratic Committee, through a grant from the Agawam Cultural Council, was sponsoring two free showings of the movie, “Paper Clips,” at the Agawam Family Cinemas on March 10, 2008. The movie recounts the story of a rural Tennessee community whose students collected one paper clip for each person killed by the Nazis in the Holocaust. Movie times are 3:45 p.m. for students and senior citizens and 5:45 p.m. for all interested viewers.

Then, on a motion made by R. Doering, 2^nd by J. Burns, the Committee voted to suspend the rules and to take agenda item #8, Highlights on Education, out of order and to place it before item #7, Superintendent’s Notes, so that students and parents who were present for the presentation of the “Agawam Academic A” award would not have to wait.

Vote: 6 – 0 – 1 absent

Under Highlights on Education, Dr. Czajkowski was joined by the Committee, Agawam High School administrators, and City Councilors Cecelia Calabrese and Paul Cavallo in the presentation of the “Agawam Academic A” to 117 students who have maintained a grade point average of 3.0 for their freshman, sophomore, and junior years, as well as the first semester of their senior year. Guest speakers included Attorney Calabrese, Mr. Cavallo, S. Reed, and A. Bonavita.

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

· The annual “Scholarship Fair” will take place in the high school cafeteria on March 5, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.

· AHS students Emily Baker, Andrew Michalak, and Cara Mittler have been selected to participate in the Mass. All-State Music Festival at Symphony Hall in Boston on March 27^th, 28^th, & 29, 2008.

· Congratulations to Agawam Middle School teacher Jeanne Forgette who has been selected to receive the “Pioneer Valley Reading Council’s Annual Literacy Award for 2008” and the “2008 Mass. Reading Association’s Celebrate Literacy Award.”

· Announcement that Mr. Sapelli will chair the Phelps School principal’s search committee on which Mrs. Doering will serve, and Dr. Provost will chair the ECC director’s search committee on which Mrs. Juzba will serve.

· Update regarding the construction of the middle school’s autism classroom noting a target completion date of March 24, 2008.

· Update regarding the new high school autism classroom and improved parking lot traffic flow pattern.

· Announcement that approximately 50 students will be inducted into the Social Studies National Honor Society on March 6^th at 7:00 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.

· Reminder that the next PAC meeting will take place on March 19^th at 7:00 p.m. in the public library.

· Announcement that the HS Student Advisory Committee Report, which is on the evening’s agenda, will be moved to the February 26, 2008, meeting due to the absence of student representative, Kaitlyn Weyant, who is home ill.

· Announcement that FY’09 Proposed Budget Books will be delivered to Committee members on Friday, February 29^th, in preparation for the FY’09 Budget Workshop, which will take place on March 4, 2008, at 6:00 p. m. in the public library. If necessary, another FY’09 Budget Workshop will take place on March 6^th at 6:00 p.m. in the Agawam Junior High School library.

Under Unfinished Business, there was none on the agenda.

Under Business Meeting, on a motion made by D. Juzba, 2^nd by J. Burns & R. Doering, the Committee voted to approve the January 22, 2008, regular meeting minutes.

Vote: 6 – 0 – 1 absent

Agawam School Committee

Minutes – February 12, 2008

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Then, on a motion made by D. Juzba, 2^nd by R. Doering, the Committee voted to approve the January 22, 2008, workshop minutes.

Vote: 6 – 0 – 1 absent

Under Calendar/Correspondence, R. Doering read a thank you note from the family of Katherine P. Radewick in acknowledgment of the flowers the Committee sent as an expression of condolence.

Next, on a motion made by D. Juzba, 2^nd by R. Doering, the Committee, via roll call, voted to approve payroll warrant PW-08-02 in the amount of $2,059,278.74.

Vote: 6 – 0 – 1 absent

Then, on a motion made by R. Doering, 2^nd by D. Juzba, the Committee, via roll call, voted to approve the following warrants as read: SW-08-36 in the amount of $91,034.63, SW-08-37 in the amount of $66,555.45,, and SW-08-38 in the amount of $1,043,604.13.

Vote: 6 – 0 – 1 absent

Due to the absence of student representative, Kaitlyn Weyant, the first report of the evening, HS Student Advisory Committee Report was moved to the February 26, 2008, meeting.

The second report of the evening was a School Counseling Update, as presented by Susan Schoenberger, Director of School Counseling, and members of the district’s counseling staff. During her PowerPoint presentation, Mrs. Schoenberger reviewed the following:

History of the Program
Implementation Goals
MA Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs
Delivery of Services (elementary, middle, junior, & high school counseling curricula)
High School Alternative Learning Program
Program Components
Individual Planning (elementary, middle, junior, & high school levels)
Responsive Services
System Support
Data Use

At the conclusion of her presentation, each school counselor explained the benefits of implementing the new model at their particular level. A lengthy question and answer session then ensued.

Next, under Subcommittee Updates, D. Juzba reported that the Budget/Finance Subcommittee had met with central office administration on February 7^th to review the FY’08 Budget and the FY’09 Proposed Budget Cost Centers. L. Galarneau announced that the Policy Subcommittee will meet prior to the March 11, 2008, school committee meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the middle school auditorium.

Next, under Student Representative's Comments, there were none.

Under New Business, SCR-08-02, Approval of Brenton Schivley Memorial Scholarship, SCR-08-03, Adoption of the 2008-2009 School Calendar, SCR-08-04, Approval of the Donald J. Charest Memorial Scholarship, & SCR-08-05, Approval of Use of AJHS Auditorium by Dare to Dream for Dance Recital on June 14, 2008, were moved to the February 26, 2008, meeting where they will appear under Unfinished Business.

Under Items, J. Burns invited the public to attend the next Rosie Robotics competition, which will take place on February 16, 2008, at Suffield High School. D. Juzba said that she will attend. S. Reed said that she had attended the junior high school’s recent “Career Day” and thanked AHS Career Center Supervisor, Debra Hunter, and the Agawam Chamber of Commerce for providing such an excellent program for students. L. Galarneau asked when the next DWST meeting would be taking place. Dr. Czajkowski said it would be held on Friday, March 14, 2008, at

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Minutes – February 12, 2008

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7:30 a.m. at the Agawam Middle School library. R. Doering also attended the recent “Career Day” program and saidit was excellent. In addition, she praised the recent “Not My Kid” drug awareness program for parents of junior high school students and thanked Health coordinator, Kathleen Doody, for organizing the presentation. A. Bonavita reported that lights going down the driveway to the junior high school may be faulty, as the front parking lot area, as well as the area at the rear the school are very dark. Dr. Czajkowski directed Mr. Kane to contact building maintenance director, Anthony Albro, about the situation. Mr. Bonavita also noted that the presentation of “Agawam Academic A’s” to qualifying students is one of the highlights of the year for Committee members and always a great event.

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

Vote: 6 – 0 -1 absent

Time: 8:35 p.m.

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