Minutes - Wayland School Committee
Regular Session  January 31, 2011  

A Regular Session of the Wayland School Committee was held on Monday, January 31, 2011 at 7:00 P.M. in the School Committee Room of the Wayland Town Building.

Present were:
Dr. Louis Jurist, Chair
Mrs. Barb Fletcher, Vice Chair
Dr. Malcolm Astley
Ms. Beth Butler
Dr. Shawn Kinney

Also:
Dr. Gary A. Burton
Superintendent of Schools

Mr. Brad J. Crozier
Assistant Superintendent

Mr. Geoffrey S. MacDonald
Business Administrator

Mr. Pat Tutwiler
Principal of Wayland High School

Chair Louis Jurist convened the regular meeting at 7:03 P.M.

1. Comments and Written Statements from the Public:
Donna Bouchard asked the School Committee to consider surveying the parents to see if they would choose lower class sizes over technology. She also believes that parents would be willing to purchase laptops to keep the class sizes low.

2. WHS Condom Availability Program:
Pat Tutwiler, Amy Schoeff, Marybeth Sacramone, and Ruth Mori reviewed the proposed condom availability
program to prevent sexually transmitted diseases at Wayland High School. They answered questions from the
School Committee members.

Upon a motion duly made by Dr. Kinney, seconded by Mrs. Fletcher, the School Committee voted unanimously
(5-0) to approve the WHS Condom Availability Program as outlined in the proposal.

3. WHS Math Curriculum Update (Sequence of Courses):
Mr. Tutwiler and Mr. Crozier provided the School Committee with information related to a change in sequence to teach geometry in freshman year, and algebra 2 in sophomore year. Mr. Tutwiler also highlighted the other high school curriculum changes for FY12. They answered questions from the School Committee.

4. Discussion re: Cyber-bullying Prevention Curriculum:
The School Committee Policy Subcommittee will review the recommendations from the cyber-bullying prevention curriculum and advise the full School Committee at a future meeting.

5. Discussion re: January Minutes:
The School Committee discussed drafting minutes from the January meetings related to the Superintendent Search. Ms. Butler will draft the minutes.

6. Continued Budget Discussion:
The School Committee discussed the revolving balance of the WSCP accounts.

7. Approval of Accounts Payable & Payroll Warrants:
Upon a motion duly made by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Ms. Butler, the School Committee voted unanimously (5-0) to approve payment of the following:
• Wayland Public Schools Accounts Payable warrant, dated 1/31/2011, in the amount of $306,435.36
• Wayland Public Schools Accounts Payable warrant, dated 1/31/2011, in the amount of $178,791.55
(High School Project)
• Wayland Public Schools Payroll warrant, dated 1/27/2011, in the amount of $1,039,961.55

8. Acceptance of Gifts:
Upon a motion duly made by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Ms. Butler, the School Committee voted unanimously
(5-0) to accept the following gifts with gratitude:
• Donation of $2,500 to the WHS Robotics Program from Mr. Frank Vanzler, c/o KVAssociates, Inc.
• Donation of $1,000 to the WHS Robotics Program from Mr. George Metzger, c/o HMFH Architects

9. Superintendent’s Report:
(a) Mid-Year Goals Update:
Dr. Burton provided a mid-year update on his goals that were approved by the School Committee last fall. He answered questions from Committee members.

10. Follow-up and Future Agenda Items:
• The School Committee discussed a draft communication to the community related to the FY12 calendar.
• The School Committee discussed snow days and the decision-making process and factors for calling off school made by the Superintendent.
• The School Committee discussed the School Committee website, renewal of subscription, and process and timing for updating the website.
• The School Committee discussed how questions from the public should be addressed and the protocol release of information.

11. Continued Budget Discussion:
The FinCom (Cherry Karlson, Richard Stack, David Gutschenritter, Bill Steinberg, Tom Greenway, Paul Grasso, Sam Peper) joined the School Committee at 9:17 P.M. The FinCom described their thinking on the School Department’s capital and operational expenses. Their guideline was to fund $500,000 of the technology request, which $350,000 was carried in debt exclusion and $150,000 in operational funds. They would not increase the FinCom guideline for operational expenses. Therefore, the School Committee would have to prioritize positions and operational computer equipment within the current FinCom guideline.

The FinCom also discussed possible funding in FY13 for Capital and Operational budgets.

The School Committee discussed the adjusted FinCom guideline and next steps in the budgeting process.

Upon a motion duly made by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Ms. Butler, the School Committee voted unanimously
(5-0) to increase offsets and the operational budget by $100,000 for technology purchases.

12. Comments from the Public:
Molly Upton requested opening seats for VHS to residents.

Tom Sciacca commented on a Globe article today discussing ebooks on the Ipad and the possible direction of
devices. He also pushed the School Committee to reduce personnel as a trade off for technology.

13. Executive Session:
Upon a motion duly made by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Ms. Butler, the School Committee voted unanimously (5-0) to convene in Executive Session at 10:21 P.M. to discuss matters pertaining to Collective Bargaining with the School Department’s unions, as set forth in Section 23B of G.L. Ch. 39. The School Committee agreed that discussion regarding union contracts and Superintendent negotiations would be in Executive Session, as conducting these discussions in open session will have a detrimental effect on the School Committee’s negotiating position.

The Chair announced that they would reconvene in Regular Session for adjournment purposes only.

14. Adjournment:
Upon a motion duly made by Mrs. Fletcher, seconded by Dr. Kinney, the Committee voted unanimously (5-0) to adjourn the Regular Session at 10:38 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Gary A. Burton, Clerk
Wayland School Committee

Observers:
Kim Cook, Wayland
Marybeth Sacramone, WHS Guidance
Ruth Mori, RN, Board of Health
Amy Schoeff, RN, WHS
Tom Sciacca, WVN
Molly Upton, WVN

Corresponding Documentation:
1. WHS Condom Availability Proposal
2. WHS Math Curriculum Update
3. Suggested Language for Cyber-bullying Prevention Curriculum
4. Superintendent’s Mid-Year Goals
5. Proposed Revisions to WHS Program of Studies 2011-2012