School Committee Summary - February 12

School Committee Meeting Highlights – February 12, 2007

**School Committee Meeting Minutes are posted on the Scituate Public School website http://www.scituate.k12.ma.us/

Committee Members in Attendance: Maura Curran, Libby Michaud, Ed Tibbets, and Michael Hayes

Administrators Present: Mark Mason (Superintendent), James Kelleher (Ass’t Superintendent Curriculum), Judy Norton (Special Education), and Paul Donlan (Business & Finance)

Moment of Silence was held for past School Committee member Terry Gorman who passed away last week.

Special Matters:
Denis Kennedy, Director of Public Information, Office of Campaign and Public Finance spoke regarding the things individual can and can’t do regarding the upcoming override.

No legal restrictions regarding elected officials speaking in support of the override
Appointed officials such as the police chief and superintendent can speak in support of the override
Distributing of material is prohibited at the town’s expense such as a town wide mailing in support or against the override, but people can be reminded to vote
The town can not use resources such as copiers, paper, and time of personnel to distribute flyers in support of the override
There are no restrictions in groups using public buildings to discuss the override as long as it is approved by the appropriate town individual
The town website can be used to post a document that is supportive of the override, but it can not be sent out in a blast email to the town
Before Town Meeting officials can advocate and send out information
Things that can be sent home in student’s backpacks – reminders to attend town meeting, reminders to vote and information about child care available during town meeting
Video tape can be produced discussing the override and can be shown on the town cable channel
Principal’s newsletters can discuss an override and advocate for the budget before Town Meeting, but not after Town Meeting
The period between Town Meeting and the Election it is critical for full disclosure and non-use of public resources, except public buildings can be used for handing out flyers as long as equal access is provided and permission is requested
Public officials can always respond to questions and send out materials if requested
No one can solicit funds in a public buildings
Email can be used to remind people to vote, but not advocate a certain vote
The CSI: Scituate Newsletter was fully approved and did not break any laws

Wampatuck 6th grade teacher, Camille Wells presented a new initiative that involved Parents and Students in the report card process. Together the students evaluated their own strengths and weaknesses and set goals for themselves and then weekly reflected on their goals. The students are learning to take ownership for their own grades and not blaming them on others!!

Music Fee Discussion – As reported in the Patriot Ledger, Marshfield is looking into charging fees for their music programs. It was discussed that Scituate may have to do the same if the override fails. They want to enlighten people not threaten regarding the ramifications of a $553,000 cut in the school budget if the override fails. Scituate has an outstanding music program and we do not want to jeopardize it.

Elementary School Student Activity Account – tabled until March because the elementary principals did not have sufficient time to review

1.0 Special Education Teacher at the High School – Teacher requested to meet the needs of students with emotional disabilities, this teacher would allow the district to keep students at the high school and bring back others who have had to be placed out-of-district. There is no increase in funding because grant monies could be used. This position would save money in the future by keeping students in district and not having to pay for outplacement. Passed 4-0

“My Space” Policy – tabled because materials not sent to the School Committee for review

Scituate School District Website Policy – tabled because materials not sent to School Committee for review

Use of Building Rate – The rate was lowered from $40 to $30 per hour for all elections as requested by Town Hall. Passed 4-0

Superintendent’s Reports:

Congratulations to Kendall DiTommaso, Kaitlin Rivero and Mike Kaskiewicz for being invited to participate in the MMEA Allstate Music Festival in March

Recognition of awards received by students in the Art Department

Recognition of Tracy Johnston and Marynell Henry for all their hard work and success with C.O.R.S.E., a wonderful job.

$15,000 has been given to the district from the State to consider and draft a model for a full day Kindergarten program

The Communication Sub-Committee is working on a survey regarding the schools that will be designed and maintained on-line.

Congratulations to Lindsey Whelan winner of the Gates Spelling Bee and thank you to Cathy Hall, Beth Neice, Teresa Conroy and Mike Wankum for all their efforts to make it possible.

Requested a review of a letter that will be sent to the Scituate Mariner from Mark Mason regarding the Lock-down at the High School. The School Committee and Mark Mason acknowledged that the situation had been handled well and that the need to keep drugs and alcohol out of the High School is paramount, but they also learned from some mistakes that had been made. Mark Mason appreciated the feedback from the students.

Energy Conservation Measures

Scituate Public Schools
Recent Energy Conservation Measures

At the last Advisory Board meeting on January 25th, Mr. Bob Murray, Facilities Manager
Scituate Public Schools, presented a comprehensive summary of the steps that the district has been taking to decrease energy cost and consumption. The full report is available at the Scituate Public Schools website, http://www.scituate.k12.ma.us/. It is very interesting.

The following are some of the highlights:

Savings resulting from most of the items not quantified to date, but of the few that are quantified, the savings is at least $17, 946 district-wide.

Oil consumption reduced by turning off certain boilers.

Repairs to heating systems at Gates school to reduce oil consumption.

Using National Grid incentives, replaced light fixtures at the gyms at the High School and Gates School (installation 2/20/07) with low wattage, high lumen, flourescent lights along with motion sensors to turn off lights when gyms are not occupied.

Using National Grid incentives, replaced dilapidated lights in 12 classrooms at the High School, that had been bypassed by the renovation due to budget constraints, with more energy efficient lights.

Improved automated controls for heating and ventilation systems to increase efficiency.

Replaced simple thermostats in the modular buildings with programable digital thermostats to run heat and A/C on school schedules.

Began pilot program involving installation of fuel catalysts on several heating boilers that will reputedly reduce oil consumption.

Negotiated 3rd Party energy contracts for heating oil, natural gas, and electricity.

Utilizing the Bay State Gas Partners in Energy Program to reduce natural gas consumption.

Investigating electric company’s Demand Response program to receive a rebate on electicity fees.

Installed Vending Misers on drink vendiing machines to minimize compressor operation when building is unoccupied..

Prop 2 1/2 Override

As it is a hot topic - here is a posting for open comments on the Mariner articles etc. related to a proposed Prop 2 1/2 Override.

Channell 22 Schedule - Must See TV!

For the week of 3/26 the following programs will be running -

- "The 5 Questions: An Information Session for Scituate Voters" (sponsored by Yes for Scituate) - the Candidate's Forum featuring the candidates for selectman and all town boards and,
- the 3/20 Joint PTO/School Council meeting

Facts and Comps from Mark Mason

Memo Sent to Board of Selectmen
January 29, 2007
From: Mark Mason

At the last Board of Selectmen’s meeting, it was requested that the school department present several factoids and comps to help frame the school department’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2008.

Please consider the following:

…from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education (doe.mass.edu)

99.3% of SPS teachers are licensed in their teaching assignment, (State Avg: 93.8%)
90% of SPS students go on to post-secondary education, (State Avg: 80%)
4.1% of SPS students per modern computer, (State Avg: 4.9%)

…from Boston Magazine (boston.com)

12.8% of SPS students receive Special Education services (Rank: 256 out of 328 districts)
14.7 to 1 is the SPS student-teacher ratio (Rank: 246 out of 328 districts)

…from the Patriot Ledger (ledger.southofboston.com)

Scituate ranks 44 out of 55 South Shore school districts in average salary for teachers.

…Standard & Poor’s Evaluation Services (schoolmatter.com)

Scituate is the only South Shore Community to “out perform” academic expectations for four consecutive years.
80.8% of SPS students are proficient in Reading/English Language Arts (State Avg. 60.8%)
69.0% of SPS students are proficient in Mathematics (State Avg. 46.8%)

…from internal reporting

1,200 meals served daily;
1800 students transported daily;
$2.95m in outside resources (grants, awards, PTO contributions, etc.) augments the SPS budget;
217 additional students are assigned to study halls at SHS this current year;
In 1995, SPS received a monetary increase of $820,553 to their operating budget. In 2007, the increase was $679,700.
In 2003, SPS funded staff development with $29,500. In 2007, we funded at $25,500.
In 2003, SPS received $221,700 in Title One support. In 2007, zero.
In 2003, SPS received $19,553 in Academic Support Services. In 2007, we received $3,700.