HOLDEN ¨ PAXTON ¨ PRINCETON ¨ RUTLAND ¨ STERLING
Minutes
Regular Meeting
#1025, Monday, June 11, 2001
7:00 p.m.
Media Center
Wachusett Regional
High School
Committee Members Present:
John Rokicki,
Chairman David
Lowenthal
Sherry Horeanopoulos,
Vice-Chairman Peter MacDonald
Ruth Briggs Kelly
Maxwell
Mary Copeland John
Nunnari
Carol Esperti Elizabeth Pape
Jeffrey Gibbs Julie Scott
Jane James Kathleen
Singh
Sarah Jordan Rosemary
Warren
Duncan Leith Jeffrey
Wentzell
Committee Members Absent:
Kenneth Fensin Kimberly
Ferguson
Administration Present:
Alfred D. Tutela, Ph.D.,
Superintendent of Schools
Paul Soojian,
Director of Operations
Joseph Rappa,
Director of Administrative Services
Philip Campbell,
Director of Student/Information Services
Susan H. Sullivan,
Executive Assistant to the Superintendent
Others Present:
Linda Lehans, The
Landmark
Richard Halloran, Worcester
Telegram & Gazette
Timothy Ethier,
Chairman Holden Selectboard
James Scola,
Municipal Representative
Douglas Briggs,
Rutland Selectboard
Janis Pancare,
Sterling
David Gibbs, Sterling
Jeff Rielsun
Chairman Rokicki called the meeting to order at 7:14 PM.
The Superintendent introduced Joseph Rappa, Ed.D. as the new
Director of Administrative Services.
MGL 2001 books were distributed by the Superintendent as well as copies
of the Student Handbooks for all the schools (attachment 1).
A. Approval of the 1024th Regular Meeting Minutes of
the WRSD Committee held on May 16, 2001 – approved by consensus
B.
Approval of the 221st
Special Meeting Minutes of the WRSD Committee held on May 29, 2001 – approved
by consensus
Financial Statements were provided in the
previous Superintendent’s Report.
Chairman Rokicki reported that any questions for the Treasurer or the
Comptroller should be referred to the Superintendent.
Timothy Ethier, Chairman Holden
Selectboard, asked for further consideration in the use of Dawson Elementary
School for the recreation program and he read a prepared statement (attachment
2).
Chairman Rokicki indicated that he had
received correspondence from the Rutland Selectboard regarding special employee
status for Member Ruth Briggs.
Member Peter MacDonald reported that he
had received correspondence from the Town Clerk from Sterling regarding the
food costs for the ballot election.
Member Kelly Maxwell asked if the Member
Town Funding Inequities Committee could be placed on the agenda for reporting
purposes.
Member Sarah Jordan asked if the
Committee could be supplied with a copy of the complaint filed by Member John
Rokicki on behalf of the Committee.
Chairman Rokicki reported that he had provided the Superintendent with a
copy this morning for inclusion in the next Superintendent’s Report.
A. Student Advisory
Committee (L. McNally, T. Creedon, N. Leger)
No report.
B. Management
Subcommittee
1. School
Committee Self-Improvement Questionnaire
Chairman Rokicki reported
that Committee members had received multiple copies of the Self-Improvement
Questionnaire. He asked what the
pleasure of the Committee was as to how to proceed. He indicated that members could submit written comments for the
public record. Each member was assigned
an item, as follows:
Item 1 Duncan Leith
Item 1 Jane James
Item 3 Sherry Horeanopoulos
Item 4 Carol Esperti
Item 5 Jeffrey Wentzell
Item 6 David Lowenthal
Item 7 Sarah Jordan
Item 8 Kathleen Singh
Item 9 Kelly Maxwell
Item 10 Julie Scott
Item 11 Elizabeth Pape
Item 12 Rosemary Warren
Item 13 Ruth Briggs
Item 14 John Nunnari
Item 15 Jeffrey Gibbs
Item 16 Peter MacDonald
Item 17 John Rokicki
Item 18 Mary Copeland
Item 19 Sherry Horeanopoulos
These are to be forwarded to
the Superintendent for inclusion in the next Superintendent’s Report.
C. Education
Subcommittee
No report.
D. Finance/Business
Subcommittee
Member Leith reminded members of the
Subcommittee that final warrants will need to be signed before the end of the
year.
E. Ad Hoc
Subcommittee to Review the Regional Agreement
No report. The Subcommittee will not meet until Committee assignments are
made.
F. Ad-Hoc
Subcommittee to Review the School Committee By-Laws
Ad-Hoc Subcommittee Chairman Elizabeth
Pape distributed the recommendation for changes to Article 3 of the School
Committee By-Laws (attachment 3).
Chairman Rokicki reminded members that due to the requirement of
fourteen-day notice before action can be taken on the changes, the discussion
took place for information purposes only.
Ad-Hoc Subcommittee Chair Elizabeth Pape will provide the Superintendent
the final recommendations of the Ad-Hoc Subcommittee for distribution to the
School Committee.
Chairman Rokicki moved the following
agenda item forward:
VII. Recommendations and Reports of the
Superintendent
D. Motion: To enter into executive session, for the purpose of discussing
collective bargaining strategies, to return to public session.
(S.
Jordan)
(R.
Warren)
Roll call vote:
In favor:
John
Rokicki
Sherry
Horeanopoulos
Mary
Copeland
Carol
Esperti
Jeffrey
Gibbs
Jane
James
Sarah
Jordan
Duncan
Leith
David
Lowenthal
Peter
MacDonald
Kelly
Maxwell
John
Nunnari
Elizabeth
Pape
Julie
Scott
Kathleen
Singh
Rosemary
Warren
Jeffrey
Wentzell
Opposed:
None
(Motion passed
unanimously)
The Committee
entered executive session at 8:20 PM.
Member Ruth
Briggs did not participate in the executive session.
Chairman Rokicki reconvened
the regular meeting at 8:59 PM.
Chairman Rokicki
returned to the regular agenda:
Ad-Hoc Subcommittee to
Review the School Committee By- Laws
1. Motion: To Amend School Committee By-Laws, Article 2, Section 4, 1st
Paragraph, by replacing the first two sentences with the following: “The Chair
SHALL appoint standing subcommittees, such as Education, Administrative
Services, Finance, and Management. No
member of the Committee SHALL be appointed to more than two standing
subcommittees. EACH STANDING
SUBCOMMITTEE SHALL BE COMPRISED OF ONE HALF OF THE COMMITTEE’S TOTAL
MEMBERSHIP.”
(C.
Esperti)
(K.
Singh)
Motion: To Amend the motion by deleting the last sentence.
(C.
Esperti)
(S.
Horeanopoulos)
Vote on the Amendment:
In favor:
John
Rokicki
Sherry
Horeanopoulos
Ruth
Briggs
Mary
Copeland
Carol
Esperti
Jeffrey
Gibbs
Jane
James
Duncan
Leith
David
Lowenthal
Peter
MacDonald
Kelly
Maxwell
John
Nunnari
Elizabeth Pape
Julie
Scott
Kathleen
Singh
Rosemary
Warren
Jeffrey
Wentzell
Opposed:
Sarah Jordan
(Motion passed 17-1)
Roll call vote on the main motion as
amended to read:“To Amend School Committee By-Laws, Article 2, Section 4, 1st
Paragraph, by replacing the first two sentences with the following: “The Chair
SHALL appoint standing subcommittees, such as Education, Administrative
Services, Finance, and Management. No
member of the Committee SHALL be appointed to more than two standing
subcommittees”:
In favor:
John
Rokicki
Sherry
Horeanopoulos
Ruth
Briggs
Mary
Copeland
Carol
Esperti
Jeffrey
Gibbs
Jane
James
Sarah
Jordan
Duncan
Leith
David
Lowenthal
Peter
MacDonald
Kelly
Maxwell
John
Nunnari
Elizabeth
Pape
Julie
Scott
Kathleen
Singh
Rosemary
Warren
Jeffrey
Wentzell
Opposed:
None
(Motion
passed unanimously)
2. Motion: To Amend School Committee
By-Laws, Article 2, Section 4, 4th Paragraph: To insert the word
“Ad-Hoc” between “Bargaining” and “Subcommittee”
(D.
Leith)
(K.
Maxwell)
Motion to amend: by adding the
word “Ad-Hoc” before “Collective Bargaining Subcommittee”
(C.
Esperti)
(D.
Leith)
Vote
on amendment:
In favor:
John
Rokicki
Sherry
Horeanopoulos
Ruth
Briggs
Mary
Copeland
Carol
Esperti
Jeffrey
Gibbs
Jane
James
Sarah
Jordan
Duncan
Leith
David
Lowenthal
Peter
MacDonald
Kelly
Maxwell
John
Nunnari
Elizabeth
Pape
Julie
Scott
Kathleen
Singh
Rosemary
Warren
Jeffrey
Wentzell
Opposed:
None
(Motion
passed unanimously)
Roll
call vote on main motion:
In favor:
John
Rokicki
Sherry
Horeanopoulos
Ruth
Briggs
Mary
Copeland
Carol
Esperti
Jeffrey
Gibbs
Jane
James
Sarah
Jordan
Duncan
Leith
David
Lowenthal
Peter
MacDonald
Kelly
Maxwell
John
Nunnari
Elizabeth
Pape
Julie
Scott
Kathleen
Singh
Rosemary
Warren
Jeffrey
Wentzell
Opposed:
None
(Motion
passed unanimously)
G. School Building
Committees
1.
Holden – (K. Maxwell)
Member Kelly Maxwell asked if there was
still an odor problem at Dawson. The
Superintendent reported that it was still there, although only on cool days.
There is still a water problem at Mayo
and a problem with the gym floor at Davis Hill.
The WRSD Holden Building Committee
believes that the snow is not coming in at Mountview.
2. Paxton
– (C. Ely)
No
report.
3.
Rutland – (J. Rokicki)
No report.
4.
Sterling – (S. Jordan)
No report.
5.
High School Building Committee
No report.
H. School Council
Representatives: Central Tree Middle School Chocksett; Davis Hill; Dawson;
Houghton; Mayo; Mountview; Naquag; Paxton; Thomas Prince; Wachusett Regional High
School
Member Rosemary Warren reported that
there was concern expressed by some parents regarding safety and access to the
school. She requested that parents come
before the Business/Finance Subcommittee meeting concerning the School
Committee policy regarding access to the building.
This was referred to Business/Finance
Subcommittee.
Member Mary Copeland reported that Davis
Hill held a workshop on Community Culture and it was very well received.
I. Member Town Funding Inequities Committee
Member Kelly Maxwell reported that the
committee meeting could not convene for lack of quorum.
Member Sherry Horeanopoulos gave an
overview of the happenings of the Ad-Hoc Subcommittee. The Subcommittee members feel that the “Per
Capita Light” method was the favored method.
There is concern that Rutland needs to buy in to the recommendation.
The Superintendent reported that he had
had a conversation with Holden Town Manager Brian Bullock about the possibility
of having a meeting with other Districts and towns affected by the inequities
in funding. Town Manager Bullock was to
get back to the Superintendent regarding the possibility of planning such a
meeting.
A. Motion: To reappropriate FY01 District Funds as contained in the
Superintendent’s Report:
1. To reappropriate
$245,500 from Special Education Tuition and $117,317 from Salaries and
reappropriate as follows:
·
Increase Fixed Charges by
$45,500;
·
Increase District Administration
by $125,000;
·
Increase Buildings and Grounds by $182,317
2. To reappropriate all remaining balances to
the Instructional Support categories
(D. Leith)
(J. Wentzell)
Members Carol Esperti and
Jeffrey Wentzell left the meeting at 9:58 PM.
Roll call vote:
In favor:
John
Rokicki
Sherry
Horeanopoulos
Ruth
Briggs
Mary
Copeland
Jeffrey
Gibbs
Jane
James
Sarah
Jordan
Duncan
Leith
David
Lowenthal
Peter
MacDonald
Kelly
Maxwell
John
Nunnari
Elizabeth
Pape
Julie
Scott
Kathleen
Singh
Rosemary
Warren
Opposed:
None
(Motion
passed 16-0)
B. Motion: To authorize the Wachusett Regional School
District Treasurer, acting under the provisions of Massachusetts General Law,
Chapter 71, § 16(g) as amended by Chapter 134 of the Acts of 1972, and with the
approval of the Chairman of the School District Committee, to borrow money from
time to time in anticipation of revenue, for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
2001 and to issue a note or notes therefore, payable within one year, and to
renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year, in
accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 44, § 17.
(S. Jordan)
(R. Warren)
Members Esperti
and Wentzell returned to the meeting at 10:01 PM.
Roll call vote:
In favor:
John Rokicki
Sherry
Horeanopoulos
Ruth
Briggs
Mary
Copeland
Carol
Esperti
Jeffrey
Gibbs
Jane
James
Sarah
Jordan
Duncan
Leith
David
Lowenthal
Peter
MacDonald
Kelly
Maxwell
John
Nunnari
Elizabeth
Pape
Julie
Scott
Kathleen
Singh
Rosemary
Warren
Opposed:
None
Abstained
Jeffrey
Wentzell
(Motion passed 17-0-1)
C. Motion: To approve the
following School Improvement Plans:
Central Tree Middle School
Chocksett Middle School
Davis Hill Elementary School
Dawson Elementary School
Dr. Leroy E. Mayo Elementary School
Houghton Elementary School
Mountview Middle School
Naquag Elementary School
Paxton Center School
Thomas Prince School
Wachusett Regional High School
(S.
Horeanopoulos)
(S.
Jordan)
Vote:
In favor:
John
Rokicki
Sherry
Horeanopoulos
Ruth
Briggs
Mary
Copeland
Carol
Esperti
Jeffrey
Gibbs
Jane
James
Sarah
Jordan
Duncan
Leith
David
Lowenthal
Peter
MacDonald
Kelly
Maxwell
John
Nunnari
Elizabeth
Pape
Julie
Scott
Kathleen
Singh
Rosemary
Warren
Jeffrey
Wentzell
Opposed:
None
(Motion passed unanimously)
A. Motion: That in the spirit of openness and cooperation, the School
Committee directs the Chair to form an Ad-Hoc Committee to be called the
Citizens High School Advisory Group, said committee to be comprised of the
following members from each of the towns:
a. School Committee
member from each town
b. Three (3)
appointees from each town made by the Selectboard, only one may be a
Selectboard member and citizen representing stakeholders in the town.
The purpose of this committee shall be to
insure that the voices of all citizens in the District are heard. Further, this committee shall be empowered
to make recommendation to the committee regarding the sizing, siting, and plan
formulation for the high school
Motion:
To release the following executive session minutes to the public
(J.
Wentzell)
(J. James)
B.
Release of Executive Session
Minutes of the WRSD Committee held on May 8, 2001, as approved on May 16, 2001
C.
Release of Executive Session
Minutes of the WRSD Committee held on April 9, 2001, as approved on May 16,
2001
D. Release of Executive Session Minutes of the WRSD Committee
held on March 22, 2001, as approved on April 9, 2001
E.
Release of Executive Session
minutes of the WRSD Committee held on March 12, 2001, as approved on April 9,
2001
F.
Release of Executive Session Minutes of the WRSD Committee held on
February 20, 2001, as approved on March 12, 2001
E. Release of
Executive Session minutes of the WRSD Committee held on February 15, 2001, as
approved on March 12, 2001
F.
Release of Executive Session Minutes of the WRSD Committee held on
February 12, 2001, as approved on March 12, 2001
G. Release of Executive Session Minutes of the
WRSD Committee held on January 29, 2001, as approved on February 12, 2001
H. Release of
Executive Session Minutes of the WRSD Committee held on January 8, 2001, as
approved on February 12, 2001
I. Release of Executive Session Minutes of the
WRSD Committee held on August 21, 2000, as approved on September 11, 2000
J. Release of Executive Session Minutes of the
WRSD Committee held on June 12, 2000, as approved on July 10, 2000
K. Release of balance of Executive Session
Minutes of the WRSD Committee held on December 14, 1999, as approved on
December 22, 1999 and partially released on December 22, 1999
L. Release of Executive Session Minutes of the
WRSD Committee held on August 23, 1999, as approved on October 18, 1999
Vote:
In favor:
John
Rokicki
Sherry
Horeanopoulos
Mary
Copeland
Jeffrey
Gibbs
Jane
James
David
Lowenthal
Kelly
Maxwell
John
Nunnari
Elizabeth
Pape
Kathleen
Singh
Rosemary
Warren
Jeffrey
Wentzell
Opposed:
None
Abstained:
Ruth
Briggs
Carol
Esperti
Sarah
Jordan
Duncan
Leith
Peter
MacDonald
Julie
Scott
(Motion passed 12-0-6)
No member from the public wished to
speak.
Member Carol Esperti asked the
Superintendent if it was possible to address Holden Selectboard Chairman
Timothy Ethier’s request regarding Dawson School. Chairman Rokicki asked the Superintendent to respond to Chairman
Ethier.
The Superintendent
reviewed the response to the request made by Member David Lowenthal at a
previous meeting regarding addressing NEASC concerns. The Superintendent included extensive information in the
Superintendent’s Report.
Motion:
To request all five member town selectboards designate School Committee
Members as “Special Municipal Employees”
(R.
Warren)
(D.
Leith)