Special Meeting #216 Thursday, February 15, 2001

7:00 PM

Media Center

Wachusett Regional High School

Duncan Leith, Chairman Paul James (8:23 PM)

John Rokicki, Vice-chairman Sarah Jordan

Paul Anderson David Lowenthal

Mary Copeland (7:10 PM) Peter MacDonald

Kenneth Fensin Kelly Maxwell

Kimberly Ferguson Lorraine Neilan

Jeffrey Gibbs John Nunnari

Sherry Horeanopoulos Kathleen Singh

Jane James Rosemary Warren

Jeffrey Wentzell

Elizabeth Pape

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

Paul Soojian, Director of Operations

Mary Scott, Director of Administrative Services

Philip Campbell, Director of Student/Information Services

Rebecca Petersen, Administrative Assistant

Thomas Pandiscio, Principal, Wachusett Regional High School

Ryan Brennan, Student Representative

Linda Lehans, The Landmark

Mary Anne Magiera, Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Melanie Mangin, Clinton Item

David W. Gibbs, Sterling

John Schneeweis, Sterling

Wachusett Regional School Committee Special Meeting Minutes February 15, 2001

Page 2

Jon Fitch, Princeton

David Utter, Princeton

Bob Rauh, Rutland

Rosann Silver, Holden

Sue Reynolds, Holden

Ron Johnson, Paxton

Melinda Johnson, Paxton

Maureen Floryan, Holden

Donna Dominguez, Sterling

Bonnie Shayler, Sterling

Debbie Croucher, Sterling

I. Call to Order

Chairman Duncan Leith called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

Note was made that the special meeting that had been scheduled for 6:00 PM was not held due to lack of quorum.

Motion: To enter into Executive Session to discuss January 23, 2001 minutes.

(K. Singh)

(L. Neilan)

Chairman Leith ruled that the motion was out of order. Chairman Leith made comment that he would entertain a motion to enter into executive session at the conclusion of the special meeting. Chairman Leith advised that the Committee requires a majority vote to override his decision.

Motion: To override decision by Chairman.

(S. Jordan)

(P. MacDonald)

Following discussion

Motion: To move the question.

(J. Gibbs)

(P. Anderson)

Vote:

In favor:

Paul Anderson

Kenneth Fensin

Jeffrey Gibbs

Wachusett Regional School Committee Special Meeting Minutes February 15, 2001

Page 3

Sherry Horeanopoulos

Jane James

Duncan Leith

John Nunnari

John Rokicki

Rosemary Warren

Jeffrey Wentzell

Opposed:

Kimberly Ferguson

Sarah Jordan

David Lowenthal

Peter MacDonald

Kelly Maxwell

Lorraine Neilan

Kathleen Singh

(Motion failed 10-7 (2/3 required))

Further discussion on the motion.

In favor:

Kimberly Ferguson

Sarah Jordan

David Lowenthal

Peter MacDonald

Kelly Maxell

Kathleen Singh

Opposed:

Paul Anderson

Mary Copeland

Kenneth Fensin

Jeffrey Gibbs

Jane James

Sherry Horeanopoulos

Duncan Leith

John Nunnari

Rosemary Warren

Jeffrey Wentzell

Wachusett Regional School Committee Special Meeting Minutes February 15, 2001

Page 4

Abstained:

Lorraine Neilan

John Rokicki

(Motion failed 6-10-2)

Chairman Leith made available R. Drayton Fair and Jeffrey Davis of Tappe Associates, Inc. to respond to any member questions

Superintendent Tutela distributed copies of Draft Warrant Articles as prepared by Attorney McCabe for Option 1 (Purchase of Land and Renovations and Addition to Existing High School Building, Including Any Necessary Demolition), Option 1-A (Renovation and Addition of Existing High School Building – No Purchase of Land) and Option 2 (Purchase of Land and Construction of New High School Facility – Demolition of Existing High School) (attachment 1).

Chairman Leith then explained that he would allow each Committee member three minutes to voice their choice (Option 1, Option 1-A, Option 2). The order of speaking would be drawn "from a hat." Following the completion of the cycle, members would then be given an opportunity to speak again.

Chairman Duncan Leith: Option 2

At this time, he would not want to cut cost. He does not think renovation would be wise for students and/or staff.

Member Jeffrey Wentzell: Option 2

It is the option the students deserve.

Member David Lowenthal: Against all options.

He feels the proposed school is too large and the Committee is being rushed to make a decision. He feels it is unwise to build a 2,000 student school. He feels only Superintendent Tutela and

Principal Pandiscio wish to build a school this size. He noted that not all parents want a large school.

Member John Nunnari: Option 2

He is in agreement with Chairman Leith and Member Wentzell. From a personal point of view, he would like to keep a portion of the current school building for historical reasons, but does realize that building new is the way to go. He is hopeful that decision will be made at Town Meetings.

 

 

Wachusett Regional School Committee Special Meeting Minutes February 15, 2001

Page 5

Member Paul Anderson: Option 2

He does not feel the Committee has been rushed. He is concerned about the cost. He had planned on backing the renovation/construction option, but after listening to the residents of the District, he feels Option 2 is the way to go.

Student Representative Brennan: Option 2

Member Jeffrey Gibbs: Option 2

Strongly supports this option; there should be no interruption in education of students, the length of project (28 months), the public supports it.

Member Paul James: Option 2

This project has been discussed for three years. It is time to move forward.

Member Rosemary Warren: Option 2

Does not feel project was rushed. Paxton population seems to be for building new. She witnessed the interruption during the construction of Paxton Center School and does not wish to see that again.

Member Jane James: Option 2

She is a 1975 Wachusett Regional High School graduate, when the school population was over 2,000. She knows first hand that construction/renovation during educational time is disruptive.

Member Mary Copeland: Option 2

She has parents/teachers/students in mind when thinking of renovation and does not want to put them through that.

Member Kathleen Singh: Does not support any of the options.

Too Big/Too Far. The proposed options go against literature about size.

Member Sherry Horeanopoulos: Option 2

Vote is going to be a tough task. Feels the budget should

be trimmed.

Member Kenneth Fensin: Option 2

The possibility of injury during renovation is unthinkable.

Wachusett Regional School Committee Special Meeting Minutes February 15, 2001

Page 6

Member Kelly Maxwell: No option given.

Wants to move forward; change Regional Agreement if Sterling and Princeton want to leave.

Member Sarah Jordan: Must vote yes for Option 1 or 2

Cannot support options that did not incorporate land parcel

Member John Rokicki: Option 2

Option 2 is the best, but would like to work with the architects to hone costs.

Member Kimberly Ferguson: Option 2

She has been listening to Committee members and townspeople and feels Option 2 is what is wanted. She still has concerns about a school that could potentially house 2,400 students. Member Ferguson wanted it kept in mind that a school with more students will need more guidance staff and more support staff.

Member Lorraine Neilan: Option 2

Current middle school students deserve Option 2. Member Neilan is still concerned about the size of the proposed school. She also noted that by not keeping a piece of Wachusett as part of the project, townspeople may not vote in favor.

Member Peter MacDonald: He is not in favor of Option 1.

Student safety is his main concern. Cost, size and the land issue are also concerns. Member MacDonald noted that people/the public want to do something.

At 8:50 PM Chairman Leith called for a 10 minute recess.

Chairman Leith called the meeting back to order at 9:02 PM.

Motion: To see if the voters of the member towns of the Wachusett Regional School District will approve borrowing of $81,695,000 by the Wachusett Regional School District for the purpose of acquiring land and constructing and equipping a new high school facility, and for architectural, engineering and other costs related to the project, and for the demolition of the existing high school facility, said land purchase being a portion of the premises owned by Weyman Lundquist, consisting of approximately twenty-two and sixteen one-hundredths (22.16) acres of undeveloped land and being a portion of the premises shown on Holden Assessors Map 129, Parcel 3 and Parcel 13, which premises are contiguous to the present location of the Wachusett Regional High School,

Wachusett Regional School Committee Special Meeting Minutes February 15, 2001

Vote on amendment:

In favor:

Paul Anderson

Mary Copeland

Kimberly Ferguson

Jeffrey Gibbs

Sherry Horeanopoulos

Jane James

Paul James

Sarah Jordan

Duncan Leith

Peter MacDonald

Kelly Maxwell

John Nunnari

Lorraine Neilan

John Rokicki

Kathleen Singh

Rosemary Warren

Jeffrey Wentzell

Opposed:

Kenneth Fensin

David Lowenthal

(Motion passed 17-2)

Wachusett Regional School Committee Special Meeting Minutes February 15, 2001

(S. Horeanopoulos)

(K. Singh)

Roll call vote:

In favor:

Kimberly Ferguson

Sherry Horeanopoulos

Peter MacDonald

Kelly Maxwell

Lorraine Neilan

John Rokicki

Kathleen Singh

Opposed:

Paul Anderson

Mary Copeland

Kenneth Fensin

Jeffrey Gibbs

Jane James

Paul James

Sarah Jordan

Duncan Leith

David Lowenthal

John Nunnari

Rosemary Warren

Jeffrey Wentzell

(Motion failed 7-12)

Motion; To go into executive session to discuss minutes of 1/23/01. (D. Lowenthal)

(S. Horeanopoulos)

Chairman Leith ruled motion out of order.

Roll call vote on main motion as amended:

In favor:

Paul Anderson

Mary Copeland

Kenneth Fensin

Kimberly Ferguson

Jeffrey Gibbs

Wachusett Regional School Committee Special Meeting Minutes February 15, 2001

Page 9

Chairman Leith noted that the next meeting of the School Committee will be Tuesday, February 20, 2001, 7:00 p.m. in the Media Center at Wachusett Regional High School. The agenda will be to decide if vote should be a ballot vote or a town meeting vote.

Motion: To go into executive session to discuss matters of real estate, not to return to public session.

(J. Rokicki)

(P. Anderson)

Roll call vote:

In favor:

Paul Anderson

Kimberly Ferguson

Sherry Horeanopoulos

Sarah Jordan

Duncan Leith

Peter MacDonald

Kelly Maxwell

Lorraine Neilan

John Rokicki

Kathleen Singh

Opposed:

Mary Copeland

Jeffrey Gibbs

Wachusett Regional School Committee Special Meeting Minutes February 15, 2001

Page 10

Abstained:

Kenneth Fensin

(Motion passed 10-7-1)

The School Committee went into executive session at 9:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Alfred D. Tutela, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools

ADT:rlp