Lincoln School Committee
Minutes of October 17, 2002
Franklin Park Golf Course, 1 Circuit Drive, Dorchester

  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, Mark Masterson and Michelle Gardner-Ince, Hanscom Representative.
    Also present were Michael Brandmeyer, Superintendent, Jeanne Whitten, Assistant Superintendent, and Dave Jack, School Business Administrator.
    Members absent: Anne Doyle, and Mark Smith, Hanscom Representative.

  2. Chairpersons and Members report
    Jan Nyquist reported that she had attended the Capital Planning meeting and that she would continue to keep us informed about the Town’s capital plan.

  3. Superintendent’s Report
    Mickey Brandmeyer commented on the following:

    Complimented the pre-school staff on a successful open house.

    Thanks to all the teachers that presented workshops on Institute Day.

    The Diversity Leadership Team met and brainstormed goals.

    Mentioned the date of Wednesday January 22, 2003 as diversity day, after the end of the regularly scheduled school day.

    Announced the date of a Native American Pow Wow, set up by Claudia Fox Tree at the Brooks Field House on November 17, 2002.

  4. Public Comments
    Several parents raised concern over the METCO Director’s part-time position and requested that the School Committee work to make this a permanent full time position next school year.

  5. Time Scheduled Appointments
    1. METCO Reports
      1. METCO Director’s Report
        Christina Horner, METCO Director, reported on the following goals for the 2002 school year:
        • To improve the academic achievement of Boston resident students
        • To facilitate the process of strengthening communication between the parents/guardians of Lincoln and Boston
        • To work collaboratively with various community and school organizations to increase support for the Lincoln-METCO program.

        Christina Horner also addressed student placement, academics, transportation issues, the Diversity Discussion Group that meets in the school, and EMI.

      2. Gina Halsted, Chair of the METCO Coordinating Committee, reported that the monthly visiting bus remains the most important program focus of the committee. The focus this year will be on increasing the number of children who are invited on play dates.

        A new program this year is the monthly METCO girls’ party where each visiting day the METCO girls in a pre-determined grade will invite a Lincoln friend to join them for a sewing party at Ellen Morgan’s home.

        Michelle Gardner-Ince, Hanscom Representative, asked if the Coordinating Committee had ever considered that Hanscom families could have an interest in becoming a Host family.

      3. Brad Howard, President of the METCO Parent Group, reported that all offices are filled. The goal of the parents this year is to strengthen their group by having more parent involvement on committees. The group would like to see parents have more of a role in organizing fundraising events, sponsor events for adults too, not just for the kids. The METCO Parent Group wishes to improve communication with the School Committee.

        Sue Hollingsworth, Chair, asked Mr. Howard if the METCO Parent Group had a parent representative from the group to sit on the School Committee. Mr. Howard said that he knew of two parents who would be willing to attend.

    2. Discussion of District Goals: Final Discussion and Vote
      Mickey Brandmeyer, Jeanne Whitten, and Dave Jack reviewed the revised draft of the District Goals. School Committee member Jan Nyquist requested that her name be added as a liaison to the Student Support Programs and Services goal and to the Facilities and Financial Management goal. Some discussion ensued for change of language and consolidation of action steps on Diversity, District Goal VI. Superintendent Mickey Brandmeyer agreed to draft language to revise this goal.

      Sue Hollingsworth, Chair, asked for audience comments on the goals presented.

      A member of the audience asked about the EMI training and if the skills learned are actually being connected to the curriculum. Jeanne Whitten, Assistant Superintendent, responded that the Administration at each school site should ask for specificity and look for sources of evidence in the curriculum to ensure that this is happening.

      Amy Hood, METCO Social Worker, gave an overview of the history of the EMI collaborative. EMI began as a resource for the towns with the METCO program that expanded into the course they now offer.

      Michelle Gardner–Ince, Hanscom Representative, motioned to address the issue of security along with safety under the Facilities and Financial Management District Goal.

      Ashton Peery moved to accept the District Goals as discussed and amended.
      Seconded by Jan Nyquist.
      Approved 4-0. Hanscom Representative concurred.

    3. Task Force Update
      Jerry Green, Task Force Chair, and members of the Task Force Committee presented their preliminary findings to the METCO parent community. This same report was presented to the School Committee on September 19th.

      Members of the audience asked about the questions on the survey mailed out by the Task Force, what we learned from the responses, and what proposals they have for the METCO program.

      The Task Force committee responded that the focus of the survey was on class size, instruction minutes, personnel experience and education level, school administration salaries and for systems that have the METCO program, information about cost, number of children admitted, and policy on admissions along with number of support personnel.

    4. Instrumental Music Proposal
      Jerry Schultz, Principal of Lincoln School, presented a proposal to pilot a program for Instrumental Music Instruction for fifth graders for the 2002-2003 school year. School Committee members asked questions regarding future costs of the instrumental music program and are concerned about granting their permission to implement the program and then have to pull it next year due to budget cuts. Sue Hollingsworth, Chair, suggested that there be a second hearing and vote on this proposal at the next scheduled School Committee meeting November 7th.

    5. October 1st Enrollment Report
      This report was deferred until the next scheduled School Committee meeting on November 7th.

  6. Curriculum
    1. MCAS 2002 Results: A Preliminary Discussion
      Jeanne Whitten, Assistant Superintendent, presented a brief overview of the 2002 MCAS results. A more detailed analysis will be presented at the November 7, 2002 School Committee meeting.

  7. Policy
    Public Participation: First Reading

    This report was deferred until the next scheduled School Committee meeting on November 7th.

  8. Budget and Financial
    1. Warrant Approval
      Ashton Peery moved to approve the warrants totaling $679,147.83
      Mark Masterson seconded.
      Approved 4-0. Hanscom Representative concurred.

    2. FY ’03 Budget Quarterly Report
      This report was deferred until the next scheduled School Committee meeting on November 7th.

  9. Old Business
    1. Ratify Agreement with Custodial Union
      The Superintendent recommended the School Committee vote on the negotiated Agreement with A.F.S.C.M.E. Council 93 Local 19 for the period from July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2005.
      Ashton Peery moved to accept the Custodian’s Union Agreement.
      Mark Masterson seconded. Approved 4-0. Hanscom Representative concurred.

  10. New Business
    No new business at this time.

  11. Approval of Minutes
    Sue Hollingsworth, Chair, motioned to approve the minutes of the School Committee meetings on September19, September 23, September 30th and October 3rd.
    Jan Nyquist seconded. Approved 4-0. Hanscom Representative concurred.

  12. Information Enclosures
    No discussion.

  13. Adjournment
    Mark Masterson motioned to adjourn the meeting.
    Seconded by Ashton Peery.
    Approved 5-0. Hanscom Representative concurred.
    The meeting adjourned at 9:52 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by
Stephanie Brown