Lincoln School Committee
Minutes of June 5, 2003
Hartwell Building, Lincoln MA

  1. Greetings and Call to Order
    The meeting was called to order by Sue Hollingsworth, Chair, at 7:05 p.m.
    Members present included Sue Hollingsworth, Chair; Ashton Peery, Vice Chair; Jan Nyquist, and Jurrien Timmer.
    Also present were Michael Brandmeyer, Superintendent and Dave Jack, Business Administrator.
    Members absent: Jeanne Whitten, Assistant Superintendent; Mark Smith, Ron Deak and Michelle Gardner-Ince, Hanscom Representatives; and Sherice Horton, METCO Representative.

  2. Chairperson’s and Members’ report
    Sue Hollingsworth announced that the School Committee received seven applications for the two open seats on the School Committee. Interviews will take place at the Thursday, June 19th School Committee meeting. Sue thanked the applicants for their willingness to serve and for the expertise they will bring to the Committee.

    Ms. Hollingsworth also thanked Mr. Schultz and the Lincoln School kindergarten team for providing the Kindergarten Visiting Day for parents who have incoming kindergarten students in the fall.

    Sue also thanked Pam Roberts and her students for a great job on the Grade 2/3 Concert held last week.

  3. Superintendent’s Report
    Mr. Brandmeyer thanked the K-team along with Jerry Schultz for hosting the Kindergarten Visiting day.

    He also thanked the sixth grade team at the Lincoln School for hosting the grade 5 parents at the sixth grade transition meeting.

    Mr. Brandmeyer announced the following:

    1. Dr. Paul Naso was appointed by the School Committee last Thursday, May 29th as the new Assistant Superintendent. Mr. Brandmeyer stated that Dr. Naso will be coming on board in early July and he is very excited to be joining us.

    2. Nuray Wallace, French teacher at the Lincoln School took 12 Lincoln students from grades six, seven and eight to the National French Contest. Sofia Lufkin placed 7th from an attendance of approximately 95,000 students. Lincoln School's sixth graders in attendance ranked in the top 30 and the seventh and eighth graders placed in the top 20. A ceremony to celebrate the students’ success will be held on June 10th at Bemis Hall.

    3. Mr. Brandmeyer thanked the parents who were instrumental in putting together the fundraiser at the Pierce House last week for their very successful evening raising money for the Lincoln School Instrumental Music program.

  4. Public Comments
    No Discussion

  5. Time Scheduled Appointments
    1. Report from Library Board Appointee
      Melinda Webster Loof presented a report on the activities of the Library Board from the past year. Items she highlighted:
      • Upcoming plans for building and grounds repairs on the roof and the clock and some interior painting.

      • Jerry Cirrillo, the Library Director, accepted a position in Foxboro and is being replaced by Barbara Miles who is coming from the Wilmington Public Library.

      • The Children’s Librarian, Deborah Leopold, also has left to work on Block Island and a search committee is presently looking to replace her.

      • The Town Library will continue to keep Sunday hours in the fall and the winter.

      • The summer program had over 200 children participate.

      • The Vault Project in collaboration with the Historical Society is very successful.

      • The Minuteman Library catalog online library system is being installed this June.

      You will need to have your library card with you in order to check out materials once the new system is online.

    2. School Improvement Plans for 2003-2004: Presentation and Vote
      1. Hanscom Primary School
        Randy Davis presented the 2003-2004 School Improvement Plan to the Committee. The focus for Hanscom Primary is on Math. The school will be supported by the Lincoln School Foundation grant, Math Counts! The school wide theme will be Reading Counts! This theme will integrate the school’s primary focus on teaching reading with their need to highlight mathematics curriculum and instruction. The other goals for Hanscom Primary’s School Improvement Plan are in the areas of safety, technology and building an Anti- Racist learning community.

        Ashton Peery moved to accept the Hanscom Primary School Improvement Plans for 2003-2004. Jan Nyquist seconded. Approved 4-0.

      2. Hanscom Middle School
        Barry Hopping wanted to thank Howard Worona and congratulate him and the group of students who participated in the Great East Music Festival at Reading High School. The concert choir and the select choir took 1 gold medal each and the mixed instrumental group received a silver medal at the competition. Mr. Hopping then highlighted the Hanscom Middle School Improvement Plan for 2003-2004.

        Four Broad Goals have been selected as the focus for Hanscom Middle.

        1. Student Achievement – evaluate, define and revise the expectations for student learning while continuing to examine the instruction as to quality, variety, and impact on student academic success.

        2. Wellness – Work on activities and issues of student respect for self, peers, and others.

        3. Student Life - Devise a more effective program to assist students in the transition to grade four. Devise a plan to better utilize the available space on the 4/5 playground.

        4. Middle School Model – Review all aspects of the current programs and services. Evaluate and revise the statements on the mission and philosophy of middle school education.

      Jan Nyquist moved to approve the Hanscom Middle School Improvement Plan for 2003-2004. Ashton Peery seconded. Approved 4-0.

    3. After School Music Rates for 2003 -2004
      Mr. Dave Jack reviewed a proposal from Howard Worona, Director of the LASMP, proposing a modest increase over a three year period which will result in an increase in compensation for instructors.

      Mr. Jack stated that the after-school music program has been running independently in the past but the administration now wants it under the umbrella of the school. Jan Nyquist and Ashton Peery had questions regarding comparative market rates for music instructors and how this increase compares. Jan Nyquist stated she would be more comfortable making a decision if she could see the comparative data in a report. Mr. Brandmeyer suggested that the discussion and vote for the music rate increase be rescheduled to the June 19th School Committee meeting, and Howard Worona could provide the information requested.

    4. Class Size Discussion
      Mr. Brandmeyer reviewed the budget process of arriving at the number of sections at grade 3 and grade 6 in the final FY04 budget. The classes at these grades were adjusted to come closer to the policy target of 22.

      Mr. Brandmeyer’s recommendation to the School Committee is to allow 4 sections for the anticipated 90 students entering grade 3. This plan may be looked at in August by the School Committee if the enrollment increases in grade 3 to where all sections reach 23 students.

      After a discussion the Committee agreed to accept the Superintendent’s recommendation.

      Jurrien Timmer asked Mr. Brandmeyer to address the issue of adding a teacher assistant at third grade.

      The Superintendent directed members of the Committee to turn to the budget and financial section on the agenda for the FY04 budget update. Mr. Brandmeyer stated that they could take the 30 hours of available aide time currently in the 5th kindergarten class and move those hours to third grade since there are only 4 sections of kindergarten next year.

    5. Update from METCO Forum Steering Committee
      Gina Halsted presented a report from the first meetings of the steering committee. The following excerpt is the objective of this committee:

      To facilitate a respectful dialogue on all aspects of the Lincoln METCO Program among the members of the broad Lincoln community with the goal of achieving a shared understanding on the benefits and costs associated with our commitment to the program.

      The committee plans to send out a questionnaire the week of June 9 to solicit questions that the community would like to see addressed about the Lincoln METCO program. The committee will then categorize responses to the survey over the summer. In the fall the committee will report on the themes generated through the questionnaire and plan a discussion or series of discussions or events that will take place around September or October.

      These events will culminate in a town-wide moderated forum to take place in late November or early December.

      Sue Hollingsworth commended the Lincoln METCO Forum Steering Committee for all the work they have done to date. Jurrien Timmer stated that the Task Force really wanted to set the stage for a public forum on METCO.

    6. Proposal for Book Room Fundraising Project
      Jerry Schultz, Lincoln School Principal, presented a proposal developed by Brenda Hedden, Reading Recovery Teacher, to establish a Book Room of leveled readers to support literacy instruction and differentiated instruction in grades K-3. Mr. Schultz and Ms. Hedden are proposing a direct letter fundraiser to parents to support this project.

      After some discussion by members of the School Committee around the fundraising aspect of this proposal, a decision was made to jump start the Book Room purchasing with a small amount of money left in this year’s budget, then approach the PTA for a donation in the fall with this proposal. Some suggested that this cause could also be added to the Annual Giving Campaign.

    7. Accept Gift of computers
      The Lincoln School Department received a donation of laptop and desktop Dell computers from DiCicco, Gulman and Company LLP of Boston.

      Ashton Peery moved to accept the donation of computers valued at $11,300. Jan Nyquist seconded. Approved 4-0.

  6. Curriculum
    No Discussion.

  7. Policy
    No Discussion.

  8. Budget and Financial
    1. FY04 Budget Update
      The Superintendent presented an update to the Committee on funds originally allocated for the 5th class of kindergarten. Since the actual kindergarten enrollment is currently at 61 plus 8 METCO, the kindergarten will be adjusted to four sections. The Superintendent is recommending funding the Science Enrichment Teacher for grades 1-4, a position that had been eliminated in the original budget proposal. Mr. Brandmeyer is also recommending that funding be restored for the nurse’s assistant and for an additional classroom assistant for grade 3.

      The Superintendent stated that the METCO budget had a $38,000 reduction to the FY04 Grant. Christina Horner, METCO Director, stated that Boston parents are working to raise money to offset transportation costs and the bus monitors’ salaries.

    2. Warrant Approval
      Jan Nyquist moved to approve the warrants totaling $1,197,468.65.
      This warrant consisted of two Payrolls and three Accounts Payable.
      Ashton Peery seconded. Approved 4-0.

  9. Old Business
    No discussion

  10. New Business
    1. Set Date for July Meeting
      July 24, 2003 was tentatively set as the July meeting date.

    2. Discussion of Meeting Dates for 2003-2004
      The Committee reviewed the dates set for the 2003-2004 School Committee meetings.

    3. Proposal for Parking Lot Improvements
      Anne Hutchinson and Sue Wolff proposed modifications to the Smith parking lot to improve traffic flow and safety. Mr. Brandmeyer outlined the proposal stating that it was very good. .Ashton Peery recommended that money for this project be included in the school’s capital budget. Mr. Brandmeyer stated that he would look into the costs of all aspects of this proposal and the Committee will look at the proposal again at the next meeting.

    4. Ratify Secretaries’ Contract
      Jurrien Timmer moved to ratify the agreement with the Lincoln Secretarial Association for the period of time July1, 2003-June 30, 2006. Ashton Peery seconded. Approved 4-0.

    5. Vote Compensation Increase for Non-contract Personnel
      Dave Jack, Business Administrator, gave a brief report and is asking the Committee to vote on a 3% increase for non-contract personnel.

      Jurrien Timmer moved to approve a 3% pay schedule increase for aides, tutors, assistants, Food Service Directors, cafeteria workers, substitute teacher dispatcher and substitute teachers for FY04. Jan Nyquist seconded. Approved 4-0.

  11. Approval of Minutes
    Sue Hollingsworth moved to approve the amended minutes of the School Committee meeting on May 15th. Jan Nyquist seconded. Approved 3-0. Ashton Peery abstained.

    Sue Hollingsworth moved to approve the minutes of May 27. Ashton Peery seconded. Approved 3-0. Jan Nyquist abstained.

  12. Information Enclosures
    No Discussion.

  13. Adjournment
    Sue Hollingsworth moved to adjourn the open meeting to reconvene in Executive Session for the purpose of matters pertaining to Collective Bargaining and the approval of Executive Session minutes, not to return to open session. Ashton Peery seconded. Approved on a roll call vote: Sue Hollingsworth, Yes, Ashton Peery, Yes, Jan Nyquist, Yes and Jurrien Timmer, Yes.

    The open meeting adjourned at 10:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by
Stephanie Brown