1. Greetings and Call to Order
   The meeting was called to order by Sue Hollingsworth, Chair, at 7:04 p.m.
   Members present included: Sue Hollingsworth, Chair, Ashton Peery, Vice Chair, Jan Nyquist, Anne Doyle, and Mark Masterson.
   Also present were Michael Brandmeyer, Superintendent, Jeanne Whitten, Assistant Superintendent, and Dave Jack, School Business Administrator.
   Members absent: Mark Smith, and Michelle Gardner-Ince, Hanscom Representatives, and Sherice Horton, METCO Representative.

2. Public Comments
   No discussion.

3. Chairpersons and Members report
   Jan Nyquist made two announcements from the Capital Planning Committee meeting on December 4, 2002.
   1. A reserve fund transfer was approved for this year in the amount of $25,000 to repair the chimney in the Smith Building.

   2. The Recreation Department would like the public to access the toilet facilities located on the west side of the Smith Building. The School Committee is responsible for maintaining and cleaning these facilities, so the cost will be passed on to the Recreation Department.

      Discussion over security concerns on how to keep the facilities locked brought up some alternative ideas such as having a push button code lock placed on the bathroom doors.

   Jan also reported on the suggestions and questions the PTA board had for the School Committee. The PTA asked how the public is getting information from the School Committee, suggesting that perhaps the answers to the most frequently asked questions of the School Committee should be posted on the web along with the School Committee members’ responses. The PTA is also asking for a clearly defined roll for the Hospitality and Communication liaisons.

4. Superintendent’s Report
   Mr. Brandmeyer reported that the teachers union reached a settlement and voted to ratify the contract offered to them by the School Committee. The contract will be voted on by the School Committee at the December 19th meeting. The Superintendent stated that the School Committee web page is being connected to the Administrative page and School Committee agendas and minutes will be posted.

   Sue Hollingsworth asked why the School Committee meeting agendas haven’t also been posted in the Mini-Link, and Jan Nyquist will follow up on this to make sure they get into the Mini-Link.

5. Time Scheduled Appointments
   1. Response to Grade 1 Request for Classroom Assistants Anne Hulecki and KiKi Shilling reviewed the request to fundraise in order to increase classroom assistants’ time by 3 hours per week in every class in grade 1. There is no School Committee policy currently in place governing targeted giving. The Superintendent made a recommendation to the School Committee that they support this request and also develop a policy to provide guidance for future fundraising efforts. After some discussion regarding targeted fundraising, Sue Hollingsworth motioned to accept the proposal to support the effort to raise funds to increase the time for grade 1 classroom assistants. Jan Nyquist seconded. Approved 4-0.

   2. FY2004 Budget Discussion
      Mr. Brandmeyer updated the School Committee on the Hanscom Budget. The budget is currently between $10,000 and $12,000 above the contracted amount. The final budget will be submitted at the December 19th School Committee meeting.
      1. Program Review
         The School Committee will discuss the three programs listed and possible adjustments for the FY04 budget.
         1. Kindergarten
            The Superintendent met with the Kindergarten Team and the Lincoln Administrative Team to discuss options on maintaining a full day program without state funding support. After coming up with the options listed below the teams re-affirmed their commitment to full-day kindergarten.

            The Superintendent presented several options for review to the School Committee for the 2003-2004 school year Kindergarten program. The Massachusetts Law requires the school district to offer a half-day Kindergarten.

            Option 1: Full Day Kindergarten
            Option 2: Modified Full Day Kindergarten
            Option 3: Half Day Kindergarten with Tuition Option for Full Day Kindergarten.

            Comments and questions raised by members of the School Committee regarding the proposal:

            A suggestion was made to gain feedback from the community especially next years Kindergarten families, and perhaps even the 2004-2005 families.

            Could the School Committee offer the 80% day option along with the full day option?

            Members on the committee would like more information on the half-day option, and the full cost and number of buses needed.

         2. METCO
            The Superintendent gave a brief overview of the METCO program history in Lincoln and the current fiscal state of the program.

            Christina Horner, METCO Director for The Lincoln School, read a statement regarding the METCO parent meeting held December 4th.

            • The parents have re-organized themselves and now every grade level at the school has a parent representative.
            • Parents were challenged to have 90% participation in joining the PTA and 25% of the parents wrote a check at the meeting to join.
            • Parents discussed sharing some of the transportation costs for METCO.
            • Parents brainstormed ideas on tapping into resources for revenue.

            The School Committee members asked about the language of the METCO Policy regarding how many children are allowed per class, what reductions would be possible to make without reducing the grant, clarification on the “back-filling” policy for class placement allowed in Lincoln, the screening tool used to place students, and admission of students in the later grades rather than beginning in Kindergarten.

         3. Transportation
            Dave Jack, Business Administrator, presented a review of Policy EEAA: Transportation and Bus fee Policy. The School Committee will be reviewing the current policy and fee structure.

      2. Reductions to Base Budget (Phase III)
         Mr. Brandmeyer reviewed the Phase 3 reductions to the base FY04 of the Lincoln Campus budget.

         Some areas of savings were: Out of district tuition, CASE program assessment and transportation, and SPED Summer School.

         The Superintendent also presented proposed adjustments to the Base Budget with items that could be presented to the Finance Committee for an over-ride request.

      3. Possible Revenue Sources
         No Discussion

      4. Follow-up Reports: SPED and Instructional Aides
         No Discussion

6. Curriculum
   1. MCAS Report: 2002 Results
      A suggestion was made to present this information to the parents at each campus.

7. Policy
   No Discussion.

8. Budget and Financial
   1. Warrant Approval
      Ashton Peery, Vice Chair, motioned to approve the warrants totaling $681,246.13.
      Jan Nyquist seconded. Approved 4-0.

9. Old Business
   No Discussion

10. New Business
    No Discussion

11. Approval of Minutes
    Jan Nyquist motioned to approve the corrected School Committee minutes of November 21, 2002. Ashton Peery seconded. Approved 3-0. Mark Masterson and Anne Doyle abstained.

12. Information Enclosures
    No Discussion

13. Adjournment
    Sue Hollingsworth, Chair, moved to adjourn the open meeting to convene in Executive Session for the purpose of negotiations. Ashton Peery seconded.
    Approved on a roll call vote: Sue Hollingsworth, Yes, Ashton Peery, Yes, Anne Doyle, Yes, Jan Nyquist, Yes, and Mark Masterson, Yes.

    The open meeting adjourned at 11:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by
Stephanie Brown