Special Meeting #213 Monday, February 5, 2001

Tuesday, February 6, 2001

7:00 PM

Media Center

Wachusett Regional High School

Members present:

Duncan Leith, Chairman Peter MacDonald

John Rokicki, Vice-chairman Kelly Maxwell

Paul Anderson Lorraine Neilan

Kimberly Ferguson John Nunnari (8:20 PM)

Jeffrey Gibbs (7:22 PM) Elizabeth Pape

Sherry Horeanopoulos (7:17 PM) Kathleen Singh

Jane James Rosemary Warren

Sarah Jordan Jeffrey Wentzell

Members absent:

Mary Copeland Paul James

Kenneth Fensin

Administration present:

Alfred D. Tutela, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools

Paul Soojian, Director of Operations

Philip Campbell, Director of Student/Information Services

Susan Sullivan, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent

Others present:

Thomas Pandiscio, Principal WRHS

James Keogh, The Landmark

Mark Ellis, Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Susan Staudaher, Sterling Meetinghouse News

Mark Ferguson, Chairman Holden Selectboard

Joseph Sullivan, Holden Selectboard

Donna Dominguez, Sterling

Debbie Croucher, Sterling

Leo Bachant, Holden

Sheila Bachant, Holden

Bonnie Shayler, Sterling

John Schneeseis, Sterling

Susan Duval, Sterling

Beth Cote, Sterling

Kathy Roemer, Sterling

Melinda Johnson, Paxton

David Gibbs, Sterling

Sheila Despres, Sterling

1. Call to Order

Chairman Duncan Leith called the meeting to order at 7:11 PM. An updated Agenda was distributed (attachment 1).

2. Presentation by Tappe Associates, Inc.

Chairman Leith introduced Drayton Fair and Jeffrey Davis from Tappe Associates, Inc. who presented two options. They reviewed site plans, cost estimates, and pros and cons of both proposals. They then distributed copies of the updated proposals (attachment 2).

III. Tabled Motion: To build a high school for a population of 2,000 students.

Motion: To place the motion back on the table.

(J. Rokicki)

(S. Jordan)

Vote:

In favor:

Duncan Leith

John Rokicki

Paul Anderson

Kimberly Ferguson

Jeffrey Gibbs

Sherry Horeanopoulos

Jane James

Sarah Jordan

David Lowenthal

Peter MacDonald

Kelly Maxwell

Lorraine Neilan

John Nunnari

Elizabeth Pape

Kathleen Singh

Rosemary Warren

Opposed:

Jeffrey Wentzell

(Motion passed 16-1)

Motion: To move the question.

(J. Wentzell)

(J. James)

Roll call vote:

In favor:

Duncan Leith

John Rokicki

Paul Anderson

Kimberly Ferguson

Jeffrey Gibbs

Jane James

Sarah Jordan

Lorraine Neilan

Elizabeth Pape

Rosemary Warren

Jeffrey Wentzell

Opposed:

Sherry Horeanopoulos

David Lowenthal

Peter MacDonald

Kelly Maxwell

John Nunnari

Kathleen Singh

(Motion failed 11-6 as two thirds is required for passage)

Roll call vote on main motion: To build a high school for a population of 2,000 students.

In favor:

Duncan Leith

John Rokicki

Paul Anderson

Jeffrey Gibbs

Jane James

Lorraine Neilan

Elizabeth Pape

Rosemary Warren

Jeffrey Wentzell

Opposed:

Kimberly Ferguson

Sherry Horeanopoulos

Sarah Jordan

David Lowenthal

Peter MacDonald

Kelly Maxwell

John Nunnari

Kathleen Singh

(Motion passed 9-8)

Superintendent of Schools Alfred D. Tutela, Ph.D., Director Paul Soojian, and Director Philip Campbell left the meeting at 9:30 PM. The Superintendent noted that Principal Thomas Pandiscio would represent the administration at the Public Hearing in Sterling on February 7, 2001 as the executive staff members would be at a negotiations session with the WREA.

4. Motion: To authorize the Chairman of the Wachusett Regional School Committee to file a complaint with the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission regarding alleged improper disclosures of Executive Session matters of the Management Subcommittee and the School Committee meetings by members Sarah Jordan, which was published in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette on January 30, 2001; and to further, to authorize the Chairman to take any additional action within his authority as he deems necessary; and that the Committee withhold any further disciplinary action until a final determination is made by the State Ethics Commission on the complaint.

(J. Rokicki)

(J. Wentzell)

Amendment: To add John Nunnari from Rutland and Duncan Leith from Holden.

(K. Maxwell)

(K. Ferguson)

Chairman Leith distributed a copy of correspondence from him to Ms. Mary Anne Magiera from the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, dated January 31, 2001 (attachment 3).

Attorney McCabe read Massachusetts General Law Chapter 39; section 33B (the portion of the Open Meeting Law relating to real estate matters).

Member David Lowenthal stated that there was no violation of executive session confidentiality as the Committee entered Executive Session improperly and that the Superintendent was proposing an illegal and immoral proposal to the Committee.

Vote on the amendment:

In favor:

John Rokicki

Paul Anderson

Kimberly Ferguson

Peter MacDonald

Kelly Maxwell

Lorraine Neilan

Elizabeth Pape

Rosemary Warren

Opposed:

Jeffrey Gibbs

Sherry Horeanopoulos

Jane James

Sarah Jordan

David Lowenthal

Kathleen Singh

Jeffrey Wentzell

Abstained:

Duncan Leith

John Nunnari

(Motion passed 8-7-2)

Chairman Leith turned over the gavel to Vice-Chairman John Rokicki for the remainder of the meeting.

Acting Chairman John Rokicki asked for and received consensus from the body to change the Motion to read "Vice-Chairman" instead of "Chairman."

Amendment: To add Sherry Horeanopoulos to the motion.

(S. Horeanopoulos)

(K. Maxwell)

Vote:

In favor:

Sherry Horeanopoulos

Opposed:

Duncan Leith

John Rokicki

Paul Anderson

Kimberly Ferguson

Jeffrey Gibbs

Jane James

Sarah Jordan

David Lowenthal

Peter MacDonald

Kelly Maxwell

Lorraine Neilan

John Nunnari

Elizabeth Pape

Kathleen Singh

Rosemary Warren

Jeffrey Wentzell

(Motion failed 16-1)

Vote on the amended motion, which reads: To authorize the Vice-Chairman of the Wachusett Regional School District Committee to file a complaint with the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission regarding alleged improper disclosures of Executive Session matters of the Management Subcommittee and the School Committee meetings by members Sarah Jordan, Duncan Leith, and John Nunnari which were published in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette on January 30, 2001; and to further, to authorize the Vice-Chairman to take any additional action within his authority as he deems necessary; and that the Committee withhold any further disciplinary action until a final determination is made by the State Ethics Commission on the complaint.

In favor:

Duncan Leith

John Rokicki

Paul Anderson

Kimberly Ferguson

Jeffrey Gibbs

Sherry Horeanopoulos

Jane James

Peter MacDonald

Kelly Maxwell

Lorraine Neilan

John Nunnari

Elizabeth Pape

Rosemary Warren

Opposed:

David Lowenthal

Kathleen Singh

Jeffrey Wentzell

Abstained:

Sarah Jordan

(Motion passed 13-3-1)

5. Adjournment

Motion: To adjourn.

(P. MacDonald)

(P. Anderson)

Vote:

In favor:

Duncan Leith

John Rokicki

Paul Anderson

Kimberly Ferguson

Jeffrey Gibbs

Sherry Horeanopoulos

Jane James

Sarah Jordan

David Lowenthal

Peter MacDonald

Kelly Maxwell

Lorraine Neilan

John Nunnari

Elizabeth Pape

Kathleen Singh

Rosemary Warren

Jeffrey Wentzell

(Motion passed unanimously.)

The meeting was adjourned at 10:44 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Alfred D. Tutela, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools

ADT:ss School Committee/Minutes