1. Greetings and Call to Order
   The meeting was called to order by Sue Hollingsworth, Chair, at 7:00 p.m.
   Members present included Ashton Peery, Vice Chair; Jan Nyquist; Julie Dobrow; Dennis Picker; Members; Laura Koning and David Birney, Hanscom Representative; and Sherice Horton, METCO Representative.
   Also present were Michael Brandmeyer, Superintendent; Paul Naso, Assistant Superintendent; and Dave Jack, Business Administrator.

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2. Chairperson�s and Members� report
   • Sue Hollingsworth introduced and welcomed Stefanie Smith, a Lincoln resident and student at Northeastern. Stefanie is working on a project for her journalism class. She is writing a report on how local government works.
   • Julie Dobrow stated that the Governor�s budget for FY05 did not include the full $1.5 million for METCO which had been requested by the Massachusetts Department of Education. She spoke to Jean McGuire at METCO Inc. and learned that they would like to launch a full campaign to get this fiscal issue resolved.
   • Ms. Dobrow asked the Committee for permission to contact other participating METCO Districts by letter, phone or by e-mail to request their support. All concurred.
   • Sue Hollingsworth reported that the SC has been invited to attend the �Welcome to Lincoln� party at the Pierce House on Sunday, February 8, from 3 - 5 p.m. Dennis Picker will speak on behalf of the School Committee.

3. Superintendent�s Report
   Mr. Brandmeyer announced that he and several members of the School Committee will be holding a �Town Meeting� style of meeting at Hanscom Schools on February 2nd at 6:30 p.m. This meeting will give Hanscom parents an opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts and ideas about their children�s education.

   The Superintendent stated that the Principal search for the Lincoln School is underway. The search committee held its first meeting this week.
   Mr. Brandmeyer stated that he has received over twenty- five resumes to date.

4. Public Comments
   No Discussion

5. Time Scheduled Appointments
   1. Accept Gift
      Mr. Brandmeyer asked the School Committee to accept a gift of $12,000 from the Brian J. Kelly Family Foundation for the purchase of instructional materials for the Lincoln Public Schools Special Education Department.
      Sue Hollingsworth moved to accept this gift. Julie Dobrow seconded.
      Approved 5-0. Hanscom and METCO Representatives concurred.

   2. PTA Grant Awards
      Nancy Marshall, PTA President, presented grants awarded from the PTA. They are listed as follows:
      1. Karena Hansen ($400): Latin American Music Performance
      2. Brenda Hedden ($1,000): Book Collection Room K-5
      3. Nancy Pollock ($250): Expanding Book Collection Room to Grade 6- Reading (under the umbrella of Brenda Hedden�s Book Room)
      4. Sandy Storer ($2,000): Two outdoor chess tables and seating at Lincoln School

      Mr. Brandmeyer thanked Ms. Marshall for her report and stated that these funds may be used as matching funds toward the Codman Challenge Grant.

      Ashton Peery moved to accept the grant funds from the Lincoln PTA. Julie Dobrow seconded. Approved 5-0. Hanscom and METCO Representatives concurred.

   3. Report on Base Housing Privatization Plans
      Colonel Ron Deak gave an update to the Committee on the most recent events relating to the Housing Privatization at Hanscom AFB. Many questions were raised regarding the potential impact of future enrollment at the Hanscom Schools due to this project which is slated for completion by November 2007. Colonel Deak stated that he believes all the housing units will be filled with military families but it is too early to make any predictions. Additional concerns were raised regarding the unique contract with the Patriot�s Village developer, allowing him to remove these units from the military housing pool in 2007. Such removal may shift the responsibility for educating the children in this housing to the Lincoln School. Colonel Deak invited members of the School Committee to attend a meeting with the Developer of this project on February 12th at 4:00 p.m. at the Officer�s Club.

   4. School calendar for 2004-2005: VOTE
      This is the second reading of the proposed school calendar for 2004-2005.

      Laura Koning, Hanscom Representative, brought up the calendar dates for the December recess. She stated that the time off is not long enough to allow travel time, especially for military families who only get to see their families once a year. David Birney, Hanscom Representative, asked if the Hanscom Campus is required to have the same calendar as the Lincoln Campus for December Recess. Ashton Peery suggested that the date for Institute Day could be explored and placed in future calendars in the month of December.

      Sue Hollingsworth suggested that the word Tentative be added to the June 15 and 16th graduation dates currently listed, due to the inclusion of five snow days on the calendar that could affect the dates of graduation.

      A decision was made to hold the vote on the calendar until the February 12th School Committee meeting.

      Sherice Horton, METCO Representative, left the meeting at 8:50 p.m.

   5. Strategic Planning Proposal
      The School Committee has expressed an interest in developing a strategic plan for the school district. This interest is reflected in the Superintendent�s goals and the School Committee�s goals. The last process to review the mission, vision and goals for student learning was completed in 1993. Mr. Brandmeyer presented a proposal for starting with the mission and vision that is currently in place and then begin a series of meetings with a multi-board group consisting of a member from each of the following:
      • Finance Committee
      • Selectmen�s Office
      • Hanscom AFB
      • Lincoln Community (residents, Boston parents, Hanscom representatives)
      • Teachers and Staff

      In his proposal Mr. Brandmeyer lists three goals and a timeline for accomplishing them:

      • Goal 1 � To review the Vision and Mission of the Lincoln Public Schools and to assess the degree to which they represent the beliefs, values and expectations of the community.
        Timeline � March � May 2004

      • Goal 2 � Identify broad outcome goals for student learning and identify and prioritize actions needed to achieve the stated vision and mission.
        Timeline May-September 2004.

      • Goal 3 � Establish working committees to work on Technology Planning, Middle School Evaluation and Learning Outcomes.
        Timeline September 2004 � June 2005.

      Members of the Committee discussed the idea of moving forward more quickly than the timeline suggested by the Superintendent and thought it would be more productive to consolidate some of the goals and work concurrently on them.

      Discussion ensued around the need to have the Technology Plan in place as expected by the Capital Planning Committee by next fall. Some members of the School Committee felt that this is not the highest priority but one member of the Committee reminded the group that there is a community expectation for a technology plan.

      Laura Koning expressed the idea of spending funds to go outside the district and look at the work comparable districts have already done, rather than �reinvent the wheel�.

      Mr. Naso spoke to this issue stating that the work he has been doing to date has been to engage teachers in meaningful ways regarding teaching to a �strategic plan� or �road map�. He stated that buying curriculum plans from other districts, usually fails.

      Ashton Peery proposed that several of the Committee members work with the Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendent to put together the draft of the strategic planning proposal, taking into account this evening�s comments.

      Dennis Picker stated that he is grateful the School Committee is spending quality time on this issue and he is feeling encouraged.

   6. Update on Superintendent�s Goals
      The School Committee and the Superintendent established goals in October for the Superintendent�s evaluation for 2003-2004. The Superintendent gave a brief overview of his progress to date toward the established goals as requested by the School Committee.

      Members of the Committee gave the Superintendent the following feedback:

      • Ashton Peery complimented Mr. Brandmeyer for his work on the FY05 budget

      • Julie Dobrow stated that the members of the Selectmen and the Finance Committee send their compliments to the Superintendent, stating that this was the most thorough and transparent budget they�ve seen from the School Department.

      • Mr. Peery brought up his concern that the Superintendent may have too many goals listed on his evaluation and that the Committee may have to re-think how much the Superintendent is really able to accomplish in a year without �burning out�. Mr. Peery also suggested that the Superintendent delegate more tasks rather than taking on so many duties.

      • Dennis Picker complimented Mr. Brandmeyer on catching the Grade 5 PE mix-up in the scheduling and for rectifying it quickly. The Superintendent stated that the PE Instructors, the Grade 5 Team and Judy Glassman solved the problem and made it work. Dennis was also pleased with the progress made against goal #5, the area of clarifying responsibility of the tutor�s and teaching assistants.

      • Jan Nyquist felt that Professional Development opportunities are a �non-fit� example listed under Measurements/Evidence in Goal #5 - Instill a culture of performance management in the school system.

   Laura Koning, Hanscom Representative, left the meeting at 9:35 p.m.

6. Curriculum
   No Discussion

7. Policy
   1. Transportation Fees Policy: First Reading
      During the development of the Lincoln FY05 Budget, the School Committee discussed increasing transportation fees in order to partially fund the addition of another bus. Dennis Picker will work with Dave Jack on the revised transportation policy that will be presented for a vote at the February 12th meeting.

8. Budget and Financial
   1. UMass Medical School � Medical Contract
      Dave Jack presented a proposed agreement between the district and the University of Massachusetts Medical School to assist the district with Medicaid reimbursement claims for Special Education students.

      Mr. Peery raised a question about the language in the termination clause. Mr. Brandmeyer stated that according to the contract it can be cancelled with 30 days notice. The district�s legal counsel reviewed the contract and found no problems with the language in it.

      Ashton Peery moved to approve entering this contract with the University of Massachusetts Medical School for the purpose of seeking Medicaid reimbursement, Dennis Picker seconded. Approved 5-0. Hanscom Representative concurred.

   2. Warrant Approval
      Hold for the February 12, 2004 meeting.

9. Old Business
   1. FY05 Budget Communication Plan
      Dennis Picker is developing a communication plan to guide the Committee and Administration in presenting the FY05 Budget Proposal and the implications of the budget to the community. He presented a work plan and timeline draft for review tonight.

      A short discussion ensued around the message the Committee wants to deliver to the community and the available dates to schedule the Information night. Ms. Dobrow has already scheduled a time to meet with the PTA March 2nd and the League of Women Voters on March 4th.

      Sue Hollingsworth offered to work on the draft for the town-wide mailing.

      After further discussion the Committee decided to hold a working meeting on February 5th to work further on this plan.

10. New Business
    No Discussion

11. Approval of Minutes
    Ashton Peery moved to approve the amended minutes of the School Committee meeting on January 15th, 2004. Dennis Picker seconded. Approved 5-0. Hanscom Representative concurred.

12. Information Enclosures
    None

13. Adjournment
    Sue Hollingsworth moved to adjourn the open meeting to reconvene in Executive Session for the purpose of Negotiations. Ashton Peery seconded. Approved on a roll call vote. Sue Hollingsworth, Yes, Ashton Peery, Yes, Jan Nyquist, Yes, Dennis Picker, Yes, Julie Dobrow, Yes. David Birney, Hanscom Representative, Yes.

    The open meeting adjourned at 10:43 p.m.

Recording Secretary
Stephanie Brown