Town of Carver, MA - SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES

Carver Public Schools

Carver, Massachusetts

School Committee Meeting

Monday, June 9, 2008

Committee Members Present:

E. Kay Spencer, Chair

Mary Kaminski, Vice Chair

Paula Kibbe, Secretary

Barry Struski, Member

School Administration Present:

Elizabeth Sorrell, Superintendent

Matthew Gillis, Chief Operations & Financial Officer

Laura Tilton, Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Technology

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Kay Spencer called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

Re-Organization: Motion to Elect Sub-Committee assignments. Mary Kaminski made a motion to accept the list as written (attached) and Al Spicer second the motion. All in favor.

I. Comments from General Public – None

II. Comments from EAPC – Mike Riordan offered congratulations to the graduating class of 2008. At the next EAPC meeting, a vote will be taken to decide how to proceed on the income tax initiative. Connie Koffman indicated there would be much advertisement from groups who want to push this initiative through. Superintends are writing a white paper on this topic via MASS and MASC. Liz Sorrell indicated her willingness to work with EAPC to draft a press release highlighting educators view on this initiative

III. Update by Student Advisory & Captains Council –No student council rep for this meeting. Lacey Olson reported for the Captains Council. Kayla Littig was named to All-State for discuss; HS Girls softball team made it to tournament play; MS track team placed 1^st in girls and 3^rd in boys at All Cape meet. The annual banquet was held thanks to the Booster Club. Fall Sport sign-up are taking place and the Parent/Coach information night will be August 7^th. The MIAA South Sectional singles tennis tournament was hosted at Carver High School and the district received praise on the new tennis courts.

IV. Approval of Minutes

Barry Struski made a motion to accept both the regular and executive meeting minutes as written from May 12, 2008. Mary Kaminski second. Approved, all in favor.

V. Communications

A. Thank you note was received from Ruth Alexander, one of the retirees from the Middle School who was honored at the annual district-wide retirement reception at the end of the year.

B. Ben Ellis School – Dick Ward, retired educator and current selectmen, is heading up a committee to find a suitable use for the Ben Ellis School. He will be invited the public to attend a meeting at the school in July. He will keep the School Committee informed of the progress.

C. Old Colony Reg. Voc-Tech District Rep. – At a May joint meeting of the Carver Board of Selectmen, School Committee and the Town Moderator, Thomas Emord of 24 Jowett Street, Carver was appointed to a term of three years to represent the Town of Carver at the Old Colony Regional Vocational/Technical High School District.

VI. Reports from the Superintendent

A. Personnel: The following resignations were accepted: Clyde Hix, Transportation; Matthew MacCurtain, Elementary Asst. Principal; Erin Smith, HS Math Teacher; Carole Caldarone, HS Language Teacher; Sasha Buck, Bus Driver; Susan Towne, Paraparofessional.

The following are new personnel: Andre Arsenault, MS Music Teacher; Judith Dryenforth, Speech & Language Pathologist; Katherine Earle, MS French/Spanish Teacher; Kenneth Gable, HS Music Teacher, Marcy Keller, HS Guidance Counselor, Jill Liddy, Behavioral Specialist; Russell Mazzilli, Groundskeeper; Jennifer Percel, HS Art Teacher, Donna Reed, HS Math Teacher and Karen Showan, MS Nurse. Also, Maureen Dickson has changed from Acting Director to Director of Transportation.

B. Enrollment Reports – The monthly enrollment report indicated a loss of 73 students from June 2007 to June 2008. The June 08 enrollment is 1970 students.

C. Migration Report – The monthly enrollment report was presented indicating 5 students either moved in or out of Carver Public Schools during the month of May.

D. Report- Class of 2008

The Class of 2008 graduated 117 students on June 1, 2008.

The Class valedictorian was Alyce Buchenan

The Class salutatorian was Juliet Macchi

· 52 males and 65 females

· Of the 117 students 18 were National Honor Society Members.

· Of the 117 students 20 were Spanish or French National Honor Society Members.

· One student, Alyce Buchenan, was a National Merit Scholar Commended Student.

· One student, Megan Gorman, had a perfect score on the ELA portion of the MCAS.

· 98 scholarships, totaling $61,750.00, were awarded to 53 students at Convocation Ceremony on May 28, 2008.

21 scholarships were from the community

27 scholarships were memorial scholarships

9 scholarships were part of the Carver Public School system

· 78 Students will be attending 4 year colleges

· 21 Students will be attending 2 year colleges

· 2 Students will be attending technical schools

· 1 Students will be entering the military

· 15 Students will be joining the work force

Two students have been accepted to Harvard University: Juliet Macchi and Erica Kierstead.

Three students received National Music Awards.

The John Philip Sousa Award went to Jolene Harju

The Louis Armstrong Jazz Award to Nicholas DiCarlo

And the National Choral Award to Daniel Confar.

Also, Jolene Harju was recognized receiving the highest score of all performers and won a chair at the 53^rd All State Music Festival in Boston during her junior year.

Matt Myette, along with three underclassmen, won second place in the Pro-Start Culinary Competition held at Johnson and Whales University. He was awarded a total of $12,750 in scholarship from different culinary college.

The class of 2008 dedicated their yearbook to Mrs. Patricia McCarthy who is retiring this June and Mrs. Wendy Matheson because this is the last year that she will be teaching seniors.

E. End of Year – District Improvement Plan (DIP) – Laura Tilton, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology highlighted the goals and action steps completed in the District Improvement Plan.

Primary/Elementary Highlights:

· Curriculum – 3 years of literacy/1 year math/second step social skills

· Professional Development (LETRS, Everyday Math, RTI

· Home to School Relationship

Middle School Highlights:

· “Problem of the Week” for Math/open response

· 16 Intra-mural athletic programs

· Tiger Woods – Start Something program

· Camp Bournedale – approximately $11,000 raised

· Professional Development in differentiated instruction

High School Highlights:

· New mission statement

· Common assessments & scoring rubrics for each academic area

· School wide rubric for reading

· Special Education programs developed for grades 11-12

· Strategies for improving SAT scores implemented

· Advisory program expanded to grade 9 and 10

· Internship program expanded to 35 students.

District Wide Highlights:

· Bi-monthly custodial leadership meetings

· Workshops for Director of Facilities

· Cost estimation for HS/MS roof repair

· Tennis and basketball projects completed

· Continued use of state contracts

· Selected by MSBA to move forward with building project

· $439,000 in competitive grants

Curriculum Highlights:

· Published finalized benchmarks

F. Updates on Task Forces: - Task forces are used for decision making and improvements with school and community involvement.

Music: Jeremy Teunis, Middle School Music Teacher, presented the report for

Christine Cabral, MS Asst Principal and Task Force chair who is on maternity leave.

Music Highlights: At Primary/Elementary School on additional classroom space will be provided for general music. A $3000 grant was awarded to bring “Music in the Morning” to the students from the Airborne Teacher Trust Fund. At the Middle School – a full time music teacher has been hired which allows all students to have access to the music program and allows the addition of a 6^th grade chorus class. The Task force recommended additional space needed for general music instruction. At the High School – the Task Force recommended additional space for music electives. Also it was recommended, the deletion of Color Guard Drill Instructor and Marching Girls Director from the stipend positions in the contract because they have not been placed in the past 9 years. A request for made to develop a schedule that allows honors students the opportunity to participate in band and/or chorus.

Counseling: Kimberly Duane, HS Adjustment Counselor presented for this committee. Highlights of their work/recommendations included: the hiring of a full time MS Guidance Secretary; K-12 counselors, psychologists and adjustment counselors have met consistently throughout the year; professional development was offered that was pertinent to Guidance and Adjustment counseling; through Bridgewater State College members attended a training on Anti-Bullying and Anti-Harassment; and job descriptions were written.

Foreign Language: Jeanne Deane, HS Foreign Language Department Chair presented for this committee. Short and long term goals were established. In the short term, the impact of the loss of French in the Middle school and the hope for a choice to continue was discussed. High school students went to the Middle School to “advertise” French as an option. For Fall 2008, French has 20 students. With the hiring of a MS Language teacher, the program should begin to rebuild.

At the Middle School, Intro to Language & Culture classes will be offered for Fall 2008. The return of Latin as an offering is a goal but to date not action has been taken.

G. Teaching/Learning/Leading Survey – This survey was designed by the Governor’s office in order to “take the pulse” on education in Massachusetts. This information can be used to assist in the implementation of our District Improvement Plan for 2009.

VII. Recommendations from the Superintendent

A. Student Activity Agency Account – In order to insure cash flow for various student activities, a policy revision to #DG Student Activity Agency Account was brought before the committee at the recommendation of Matthew Gillis for a second reading. There was no discussion. Mary Kaminski made a motion to approve as revised, Paula Kibbe second the motion. Approved unanimously.

B. 2008-2009 School Committee Schedule –The School Committee meeting calendar was presented for committee approval. Barry Struski made a motion to accept the meeting dates as presented. Paula Kibbe second. Approved, all in favor.

C. School Improvement Plans –

High School – Scott Knief, Principal started his presentation by noting the Mission Statement for the School has been revised. The revision includes suggestions and terminology directly from the student body. There has been the inclusion of safe schools and respect for diversity.

Highlights to the Improvement Plan include: Rubrics and common assessments; SAT’s – improving the scores; MCAS changes – beginning with the graduating class of 2010, all students must be proficient in math and English. The high school will need to develop a locally designed proficiency exam or both ELA and Math.

Also, the high school will redesign the current 9^th and 10^th grade advisory program building a positive relationship with adults in the building. Also, student behaviors will be tracked to see how they interfere with a respectful environment.

Mary Kaminski, Committee vice chair suggested the benefits of building up positive behavior recognition.

Mary Kaminski made a motion to approve the High School Improvement Plan, Al Spicer second. All in favor.

Middle School – Lynn Bastoni, Principal, presented the major goals for the 2008-2009 school year. The goals are: To close the performance gap in math MCAS scores by developing a more comprehensive math program for all student at CMS; To meet the adequate yearly progress (AYP) expectations as determined by the state of Massachusetts and the 2007-2008 CMS School Improvement Plan; To review the current practices within our special needs inclusion classes and compare our pedagogy to more recently developed co-teaching models; To further develop the Literacy Intervention program that was implemented as a pilot program in the 2007-2008 school year and to add a Foreign Language program to the 7^th grade curriculum.

Mary Kaminski made a motion to approve the Middle School Improvement Plan, Barry Struski second. All in favor.

Primary/Elementary School – Candy Weiler, Principal, presented the major goals for the 2008-2009 school year along with Assistant Principals, Mary Beth Rodman and Matthew MacCurtain. Goal I: To improve student achievement and instructional practice in all aspects of literacy. Highlights include: Over 15 districts have come to visit our school to view our Literacy Program. A grant is being written for Carver to be a demonstration site. Scott Foresman program has Carver given our district free products because of our successes. Goal II: To improve student achievement and instructional practices in all aspects of mathematics. This will b e accomplished through the Every Day Math curriculum for all K-5 classrooms. Instruction will be improved by the implementation of research-based mathematics program materials and the utilization of assessment data for instructional decision-making. Goal III: Restructure the Gov. John Carver Elementary and the E. K. Washburn Primary by creating a unified pre-school through grade 5 educational model – implementing a one school concept.

Paula Kibbe made a motion to approve the Primary/Elementary Improvement Plan, Barry Struski second. All in favor.

D. Accept gift of E. Tilson Pratt – Mary Kaminski made a motion to accept the gift of $571.72 from E. Tilson Pratt Trust Fund. Al Spicer second the motion. Approved unanimously. The Administrative Team recommended the money be used to purchase biology equipment for the high school students as we expand our science department offerings to introduce Biology Advanced Placement.

E. Out of State Field Trips – A request from Sonya Evancho and Jessee Clements, the new Senior Class advisors, was presented for permission to start promoting a Senior Class trip to Disney’s Grade Nite on April 16-19 of 2009. Mary Kaminski made a motion to approve the field trip request and Al Spicer second the motion. All in favor.

VIII. Reports from the School Committee

Kay Spencer congratulated the high school administration on excellent Senior week activities.

Al Spicer encouraged participation in a Friends of the Fraccalossi’s Walkathon to be held on Saturday, June 21^st at the High School track. This is to provide financial support to the Make-a-Wish Foundation and to support Ashley Fraccalossi as she battles Eosinophilia and chronic pancreatitis. Ashley is a senior at Plymouth North High School. Mike Fraccalossi has been a Carver High School teacher for over 20 years and has also been our football and track coach.

Chairperson asked for motion by roll call to move to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing contract negotiations, not to return to Open Session. Mary Kaminski made the motion, Paula Kibbe second. All in favor.

Meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.

Next regular meeting: August 18, 2008

Respectfully submitted:

Annmarie G. Metrano, Recording Secretary