Carver Public Schools
Carver, Massachusetts
School Committee Meeting
Monday, March 12, 2007
Minutes
Committee Members Present:
E. Kay Spencer, Chair
Mary Kaminski, Vice Chair
Barry Struski
Members Absent: Al Spicer
Randy Webster
School Administration Present:
Elizabeth Sorrell, Superintendent
Matthew Gillis, Director of Business & Finance
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ANNUAL BUDGET MEETING
For FY’08
Elizabeth Sorrell, Superintendent and Matthew Gillis, Director of Business & Finance co-presented the budget requests to the general public. Concerns over Chapter 70 money received were addressed; the district had hoped for 5% and received only 1.8%. The superintendent and school committee will send a joint letter to the legislation expressing their disappointment with the amount for Carver.
A motion to approve the FY 08 Budget for Carver Public Schools in the amount of $20,738, 968.00 was made by Barry Struski, second by Mary Kaminski. No discussion. Roll call vote: Kay Spencer – yes; Mary Kaminski – yes; Barry Struski. Budget motion passes as read.
Budget meeting concluded at 7:05 p.m.
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Kay Spencer called the regular meeting to order at 7:20 p.m.
I. Comments from General Public
None
II. Comments from EAPC
Cathy Sharon-Matthews, Vice President, addressed the committee noting teachers and administrators are involved with curriculum updating and MCAS preparation. The MTA is planning their annual Leadership Conference to be held during the third week of August. Happy Spring and St. Patrick’s Day plants were gifted to members of the committee.
III. Updates from Student Advisory Council and Captains Council
Brittany Sherwood reported the following: Seniors had a successful LOCK-IN event on March 9th and Senior Show will be March 27th. Juniors raised $625 from the Hypnotist Show, are selling metal breast cancer bracelets, will also sell bracelets with proceeds for fellow student, Kevin Robinson; March 15th will be the annual Student/Faculty Basketball, and putting finishing details on their Prom. Sophomores are working on Family Fun Day in June and Freshmen had a bake sale and made over $400, half went to their treasury and half to Kevin Robinson. Student Council: February was Science Dept appreciation month and March appreciation goes out to Math Department. On March 8th, a Crusader Pride day to support Girls basketball team was held. Spirit Week will be March 26th to March 30th, with themed events each day including Kiss a Fish for Kevin, Pep Rally, Mr. and Mrs. Crusader Pageant and Night at the Oscars Dance. Student Council reps will
attend a 3 day MASC Spring Conference in Hyannis and on April 3rd a presentation of Invisible Children from Uganda will be hosted for grades 9-12.
Tom Piepiora, President, of the Captains Council gave the winter season summary: three teams made it to tournament play, outstanding student involvement supporting the teams and the Cooperative Teams of Ice Hockey and Gymnastics with Sacred Heart have worked out well.
Spring sports registration night will be March 14th for High school with season starting 3/19/07 and March 28th for Middle School with season staring 4/9/07. Elections will take place this spring for the 2007-2008 team captains. Spring scheduled can be checked on line at www.highschoolsports.net or www.carver.org and click on athletics.
Booster club fundraisers are: Golf Tournament at Souther’s Marsh on May 6th and Annual Road Race on July 28th. Community is being contacted to advertise in sports booklets.
III. Approval of Minutes
Barry Struski made a motion to accept both regular and executive session minutes from February 12, 2007 plus Joint Meeting with Selectmen on February 27 2007. Second by Mary Kaminski. All in favor.
IV. Communications
None
IV. Reports from the Superintendent
A. Recognitions – Mary Beth Rodman was recognized for her talents and organizational efforts with the production of 5 Building Blocks of Literacy video. Dan Miot from CCAT was also recognized for his time, talent and suggestions in producing this video. It was noted we are becoming a model school for our literacy program and we have received requests to obtain copies of our video.
Sarah Buttermore (’07) and Jolene Harju (’08) were recognized for earning placement in the All State MMEA Music Festival. This program recognizes the finest young musicians in the state. Sarah Buttermore was also recognized for having received the Superintendent’s Award which will be distributed at Convocation in May. Mary Kaminski also extended congratulations to the parents of these two young women for their support.
Nancy Buttermore was thanked for all her time and efforts with the Music Boosters Club. The March Madness – Java Jive concert was a success. Also, the superintendent announced that Mrs. Buttermore has been nominated by Carver Public Schools for the Unsung Hero award.
Kudos to Jon Evans and the high school drama cast of Noises Off! A wonderful production was enjoyed by all.
Thank you to teachers Bob Baldo and David MacEachen for sponsoring the Chess Club Tournament at the Gov. John Carver Elementary.
B. Personnel: Three letters of retirement were acknowledged. Janet O’Connor, Assistant Principal of Elementary School, Cathy Sharon-Matthews, Middle School Social Studies, and Ann Gill, grade 2, Primary will retire from our district in June. Also resignation letter was accepted from Middle School, grade 6 English teacher, Dora Leandres who is leaving to join her family in Texas.
Anticipated openings throughout the district for 2007-2008 were shared with committee. These positions will be posted in the district, placed on website and advertised in Boston Globe for two weeks starting March 11, 2007.
C. Enrollment Reports - monthly data, by grade level, was distributed.
D. In the News – Article regarding Carver’s graduation rate being above average was shared.
E. Music Task Force – Christine Cabral, chair of this task force, presented an overview of the Committee’s findings including suggestions for next year’s program relative to space, staffing, etc.
F. Foreign Language Task Force – Jeanne Deane, chair of this task force, presented an overview of the Committee’s findings including how foreign language is offered through local schools of a similar size and the implications of a strong middle school program.
V. Recommendations from the Superintendent
A. School Calendar – Two options for the 2007-2008 were presented to the committee including recommendation from the administrative leadership team. The superintendent explained her reason for inserting an additional professional day in September for time to train on the Math Program across the district before the school year got underway. The committee selected calendar option “A” which will have school start for staff on 8/27/07, students returning on 8/28/07 for 3 days and then an extended Labor Day weekend for students until 9/5/07.
B. Policy Actions: -IKF, Graduation requirements and JRA, Student Records presented for first reading for revisions. These are existing policies which have been updated to reflect current information. No discussion.
C. Approval of Grants – Ron King, High School Social Studies Chair, was thanked for his efforts in writing a grant for additional monies to enhance the U.S. History curriculum in Carver. Carver Public Schools was awarded $5000 from the Teaching American Grants via Bridgewater State
College. Mary Kaminski made a motion to accept this grant. Barry Struski second. All in favor.
Deb Giokas and Deb Gesualdo, teachers at Gov. John Carver Elementary, wrote a grant to Airborne for “Music in the Mornings”. They were congratulated for their efforts to improve Music Education for the elementary school. Airborne awarded Carver Public Schools $3000 for the partnership program with the New Bedford Symphony. Barry Struski made motion to accept this gift, Mary Kaminski, second. All in favor.
D. Out of State Field Trips – Request from Grade 6 Middle School teams to travel to Roger Williams Zoo, Rhode Island on June 5 and June 6, 2007. Motion to approve by Barry Struski. Second by Mary Kaminski. All in Favor.
VI. Reports from the School Committee
Kay Spencer, committee chair, reminded members they would need to coordinate time together to work on the superintendent’s evaluation. The evaluation would need to be completed before town election.
VII. Executive Session
None
Meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
Next regular meeting: April 9, 2007
Respectfully submitted:
Annmarie G. Metrano, Recording Secretary
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