NEWTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE

MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING – NOVEMBER 26, 2001

EDUCATION CENTER, FRAZIER ROOM, 7:30 P.M.

 

PRESENT:               Chairperson Verne Vance, Vice-Chairperson Anne Borg, Susan Albright, Rodney Barker, Susan Heyman, Anne Larner, Nancy Levine, Andris Vizulis, Mayor David Cohen, Lindsay Dahlben, student representative - Newton North High School, Daniel Elkind, student representative - Newton South High School

 

 

OPEN SESSION

 

At 6:35 p.m., it was announced that the Committee will entertain a motion to convene in executive session.

 

MOTION:            It was moved, by roll call vote, to convene in

executive session for the purpose of discussing

                                    matters related to collective bargaining.  If passed,

the Committee will reconvene in open session

at 7:30 p.m.

 

                                                                        (Albright - Larner)

 

                                                                               6  - 0 - 3

 

                                                            Absent for vote:  Barker, Borg

                                                Absent for executive session:  Mayor Cohen

                                                                       

 

ROLL CALL VOTE BY WARD:

 

Ward I, "yes" (Vizulis); Ward II, "yes" (Albright); Ward III, "yes" (Larner); Ward IV, "yes" (Levine); Ward V, "yes" (Heyman); Ward VI, absent for vote (Barker); Ward VII, "yes" (Vance); Ward VIII, absent for vote Borg; Mayor Cohen, absent for executive session

                       

                                                           

CALL TO ORDER

 

Chairperson Verne Vance called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.

 

Superintendent Jeffrey Young read a statement written by Jennifer Huntington, Principal of Newton North High School, regarding the recent controversy over the presentation by Howard Zinn.  This speaker was part of a series presented by

 

 

the On-Campus Coordinator and Human Rights Board, to address issues following the events of September 11th.  The speakers were chosen from a survey of faculty and students, as well as suggestions from the social studies and history department heads.  This is a full-year voluntary program.  The speakers represent an array of different viewpoints and perspectives.  November 9th was chosen for Howard Zinn's presentation because it met with his schedule.  He addressed a full assembly and students were able to pose questions following his address.  The week following Mr. Zinn's presentation speakers from the Office of Veterans Services conducted presentations on World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and prisoners of war.  At each assembly the audience was asked to stand in honor of all veterans and to commemorate the victims of September 11th and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.  Next week Dan Hurwitz, a photojournalist, will speak on "The People's Cultures and Traditions of the Middle East."  None of the programs are mandatory and the speakers do not represent a particular viewpoint of the faculty or administration.

 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

 

Bette Lupo, President of the Newton Secretaries Association (NESA), spoke on behalf of their group regarding the loss of four positions in budget cuts last year and their desire to prevent any similar erosion from this year's budget.  The secretarial workload has expanded as enrollments have increased.  They now deal with more students and staff and more state reporting requirements.  Every other group of staff, i.e., teachers, aides, etc. increase exponentially with increased enrollment, but this is not true of the secretaries.  She will follow the budget process carefully and address more specifically the roles and responsibilities of the secretaries as deliberations continue.  She left them with documentation on the number of college packets that have been distributed by the high schools over the past several years, as just one example of their increased workload.

 

Bennett Goldberg, 26 Berkshire Rd., Cabot Elementary School parent, addressed the Committee regarding some issues impacting their neighborhood, as a result of the redistricting vote.  A group of parents in the far southwestern segment of the Cabot community, who are a great distance from Bigelow, submitted a petition requesting that the line be redrawn for this small number of residents.  This would only represent 1/2 to 1 student per classroom less at Bigelow under their plan over a five-year projection. 

 

John Davidown, 52 Berkshire Rd., Cabot Elementary School parent, reiterated the comments of the previous speaker and requested that should the Committee decide not to adjust the lines, they at least provide transportation to Bigelow for this area, which is over two miles, along very busy streets. 

 

 

 

 

 

Vandana Sodder, 44 Oak Cliff Rd., Cabot Elementary School parent, spoke in support of the elementary world language program, which she believes was eliminated in haste in last year's budget deliberations and hopes it will be

reinstated for next year.  Most countries teach a foreign language at the elementary level, in order to develop a population that can communicate across multilingual borders.  Research indicates that students who learn another language perform better in math and language arts and develop stronger communication skills in their own language.  Further, studies have shown that learning a foreign language enhances listening skills and memory.  She believes this should be an essential part of the core curriculum.  She distributed a list of Massachusetts communities who are currently offering world language at the elementary level.

 

Donna Mazzola, 17 Gilbert St., Newton North High School parent, expressed dismay that parents were not informed of Howard Zinn's presentation, so that they could have the option of excluding their children from the assembly.  She cannot fathom the thought process that went into having this anti-American speaker address the study body.  The fact that there are few American flags in Newton's classrooms and that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance is not a daily occurrence in all of Newton's schools only adds further insult. 

 

Lisa Hines, 112 Gibbs St., Newton Centre, Brown Middle School parent, talked about seating capacity on school buses.  Although the capacity is 77, this figure is based on weight and size of younger children and does not address the issues of older, bigger students and the addition of backpacks.  She believes the policy should reflect two students per seat vs. three.  The Mason-Rice routes are overcrowded because they do not technically meet the two-mile eligibility requirement, but are transported on existing buses because of past redistricting decisions. Today a minor accident with a bus occurred on Langley Road and it took a great deal of time to piece together who was on the bus so that they could transfer students to another vehicle.  Obviously this breakdown in communication has to be addressed as an overall citywide transportation/safety issue. 

 

Brian Camenker, 84 Staniford St., Newton North High School parent, talked about the lack of flags in the classrooms and the fact that the Pledge of Allegiance is not recited, nor are any patriotic songs sung in the classroom.  Howard Zinn's reputation is well known.  The students he spoke with were not told that the assembly was voluntary, nor were they made aware of the assemblies involving the veterans.  He feels the curriculum distorts American history and has little on the Civil or Revolutionary Wars, but a myriad of material on multicultural subjects.  He feels the Newton Public Schools has a skewed sense of priorities.

 

Jim Epstein, 110 Manchester Rd., Newton Highlands, Mason-Rice Elementary School parent, believes that after the September 11th tragedy, there is a role in the schools for teaching patriotism. 

 

 

 

Anthony "Fat" Pellegrini, 58 Clinton St., Newton, comes from a family of veterans and actually walked out of his daughter's graduation 20 years ago when Howard Zinn addressed the study body.  While the administration may have recently ordered flags for the schools, they have not been in place for many years.  He wondered why parents were not notified about this assembly. His grandchildren are now in the system and are coming home with material having to do with homosexuality that he finds offensive.  He believes the Newton Public Schools have gone too far.

 

Marsha Ciccolo, 13 Maple Circle, does not want unpatriotic messages foisted on her children.  Howard Zinn did not present facts, but simply offered his traitor opinions.  The 1960s are over and America is at war to protect the nation and western civilization.  It seems that Newton always only offers one side to an issue.  She hopes they never stoop to this low level again.

 

Thomas Mountain, 117 Truman Rd., Oak Hill Middle School parent, also expressed dismay that Howard Zinn was chosen to address the student body, as he is a notorious left-wing, anti-American/anti-Israeli zealot.  Students had no idea what this man represented until they heard him, but the adults who designed the program were well aware of his ideology.  He believes the school system needs to admit that they made a mistake and apologize. 

 

Benjamin Heidlage, 24 Garden Rd., senior class representative to the Student/Faculty Administration (SFA) at Newton North High School, disagreed with the previous speakers about hosting Mr. Zinn at their school.  While he does not agree with the man's opinions, he believes in his right to express those thoughts.  As one of the students who helped organize these events, he can testify that the assemblies were voluntary and that was made quite clear.  Students who were not aware of that were not paying attention.  Mr. Zinn is an avowed pacifist.  Future speakers will offer other views.  Their goal is to provide students with a well-rounded viewpoint on the subject, so that they can develop their own educated positions.  Newton Public Schools has always stood as an advocate for First Amendment rights.

 

Deborah Coyer-Luff, 18 Myrtle St., does not understand why the issue of seatbelts on school buses is so complicated or requires so much discussion.  Seatbelts are a safety mechanism, are readily available, at minimal cost, and the transportation contract is about to expire.  She suggested they contact the six neighboring communities who have decided to equip their buses with seatbelts and gain some insight into their decision-making process. 

 

Ted Hess-Mahan, 87 1 Watertown St., Horace-Mann Elementary School, is proud that Newton continues their commitment to presenting unpopular views on subjects, which to him is what is so great about this country.  On another note, Horace-Mann has fewer computers per student than any other school in the City. 

 

Their PTO has been attempting to raise sufficient funds to bridge that gap.  He hopes the Committee takes this into consideration in their deliberations around the elementary equity policy.

 

Sherry Moore, 146 Walnut St., is from a large family of veterans, some of who have served in wars and have various opinions about the subject matter at hand.  The complexity of the issue is what patriotism is all about.  The right to dissent from the mainstream opinion is an inherent right in a democracy.  She thanked the school system for providing children with an array of opinions, so that they can make their own decisions and learn how to think critically.

 

Faye Ruopp, 25 Groveland St., respects the rights of those who object to Mr. Zinn's presence at Newton North, and hopes they will respect other parents' rights to disagree.  Patriotism itself can be considered a collective right to express different opinions.  Many people moved to Newton because the community prides itself on its diversity of thought.  She hopes the events of September 11th help to unite people to better understand those who are different.  She thanked the veterans for all they have done and although she may not agree with Mr. Zinn, she values his right to speak. 

 

Cindy Spittel, 74 Fenno Rd., stated that her nephew attended Howard Zinn's assembly with his class and the teacher did not state that it was optional.  She is concerned that an opposing viewpoint was not offered simultaneously.  She believes his comments were disrespectful to students in the audience who have family members serving in the military, as well as to veterans who have lost their lives to provide American freedom.  Today she had a conversation with the Enrichment Coordinator in charge of the presentation, who informed her that they currently had no speaker in place to present an opposing viewpoint and asked if she had any suggestions.  While she agrees that all viewpoints have the right to be expressed, if they are not given equal consideration, the situation becomes more of an agenda vs. an education.

 

Chris Chu, 113 Chestnut St., West Newton, Peirce Elementary School parent, urged the Committee to approve seatbelts on school buses.  Parents religiously buckle up their children in automobiles and the same should hold true on school buses.  The pros far outweigh the cons on this subject. 

 

Ray Madoff, 20 Whitney Rd., Cabot Elementary School parent, hopes the Committee will look carefully at the redistricting map, because it unnaturally carves out a pocket of a neighborhood and districts it to Bigelow, simply to add numbers to that school.  They are surrounded on two sides by students districted for Day and two sides by students districted for Brown.  As a previous speaker mentioned, if the Committee does not redraw the lines, he urged them to provide transportation for safety purposes.

 

 

 

George Caruso, 19 Prescott St., Newtonville, appreciates all the hard work of the administration and School Committee, but believes they made a mistake with inviting Howard Zinn to speak.  When this issue is added to the lack of flags in classes and schools not reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, it begins to seem like an

unpatriotic movement.  It should have been made clear that the assembly was voluntary and a speaker with opposing views should have been present to debate Mr. Zinn.

 

Will Rogers, Bigelow Rd., believes that the Vietnam era continues to color a lot of thought process in this community.  It was popular to protest in the 1960s, but this is 2001 and democracy and respecting rights are fundamental issues that this county stands for.  Dissenting views are one thing, but an extremist like Howard Zinn is another. 

 

William Gasset, 178 Walnut St., does not care if the American flag or Pledge of Allegiance offends people, nor should the school system.

 

 

STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES' DISCUSSION

 

Lindsay Dahlben talked about a proposal being put forward by the SFA with regard to placement of flags in their school and the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis in homerooms, one of the auditoriums, and the film lecture hall.  Newton North also participated in the call for a universal reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance by all Americans one day last month.  However, she does not believe anyone should be forced to recite the Pledge.  With regard to Mr. Zinn's presentation, while it was optional, she knows a lot of students who were not aware of that fact.  He was extreme and it made some students uncomfortable, but he offered a different viewpoint and that was an important component for the speaker series.  Students need to hear all sides on what is happening in the war on terrorism so that they can understand and form their own opinions. 

 

 

RECOGNITIONS

 

None.

 

 

APPROVAL OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

 

            MOTION:    It was moved to approve the School Committee

                                    executive session and regular meeting minutes of

                                    11/13/01.

 

 

                                                                        (Albright - Levine)

 

                                                                                 8 - 0 - 1

 

                                                                       Absent for vote:  Barker

 

 

REPORTS

 

HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECT UPDATE

 

Heidi Black, Administrator for High School Construction & Strategic Planning,

provided her monthly update on the high school building project, beginning with

Newton South High School.  The contractor for Phase 1-A has nearly completed his work.  The foundation for the new wing has been dug and concrete is being poured.  They are expecting steel on site next month.  The prototype classroom is fully functional, with an electronic white board, a ceiling mounted overhead projector, Internet access, and an I-book portable Macintosh computer, which runs CD and DVD videos from a VCR and projects onto the teaching wall.  In addition, they have 20 student I-books on a cart.  Their goal is to have all teachers trained in the use of the equipment in that room and provide a schedule for all to access its usage.  Phase 2 continues to progress as well, with design/development meetings between the architect and department heads.  This phase will go out to bid in February.  Construction drawings are approximately 60% complete.  A series of meetings has begun with the principal and key faculty members at Newton North around the logistics of the work in that building.  They have discussed issues of swing space, replacement systems that will be replaced and other construction issues. 

 

 

REPORT ON ELEMENTARY MUSIC PROGRAM

 

John Michael Gray, Coordinator of Fine Arts, began his discussion by mentioning that Newton has a longstanding commitment to teaching patriotic music in the curriculum and patriotic songs have been the focus of much of the program in the schools over the past few months.  Art and music have been used a great deal to work through the tragic events of September 11th.

 

He spoke about the reduction in full-time equivalencies (FTEs) in the last budget and the impact that has had on program.  Teachers have lost some planning time, as well as group instrumental lessons.  Consequently, more students are taking fewer classes, resulting in increased class sizes.  Finally, some of the individual optional school programs were lost as a result of the cuts.  Staff are most

 

 

 

distressed by the losses in the instrumental program, particularly strings, and he will request in this year's budget that some time be added back to the program. 

 

Anne Larner asked if he could comment on the best age to introduce children to the instrumental program and what instruments are best suited at what level.

 

John Gray replied that in terms of the instrument, it really has to do with what they can physically handle.  Therefore, violin and piano are the earliest instruments that are introduced.  Research indicates that third grade is ideal for working with melodic instruments, so the recorder is introduced at that level.  These are then followed by flutes, clarinets, trumpets, etc., depending upon students' interests and capabilities. 

 

Andy Vizulis asked if there are concerns about the string program at the secondary level, as a result of cuts in the elementary schools.

 

John Gray commented that many students continue to take lessons outside of the schools and then play in the middle and high school orchestras.  However, they are losing families who do not have the economic advantage to pay for private lessons, so this becomes an equity issue.

 

Rodney Barker asked why the fourth grade chorus was eliminated in two schools.

 

John Gray explained that these were building-based decisions.  Memorial-Spaulding is housed at Carr this year, and therefore had some space issues.  Zervas has a new principal and music teacher and so they decided to drop it this year. 

 

Susie Heyman asked if there is still an elementary all-city orchestra.

 

John Gray replied in the affirmative and noted that it represents grades K-8.  In addition, there are two all-city choruses representing grades 5-6 and 7-8, which also play together as an ensemble. 

 

Susie Heyman commented that these are great losses and she hopes they can resurrect some of these programs. 

 

Superintendent Jeff Young asked about the impact of loss of planning time.

 

John Gray replied that teachers have lost some time to do cross-discipline work, as well as time to spend at the beginning and end of the class talking with children about the day's events.

 

Andy Vizulis asked about communication between fine arts staff at the various schools.

 

John Gray responded that email has been extremely helpful in terms of communicating on a regular basis.  In addition, the elementary and middle

school staff meet once a month separately and the K-12 group meets four times a year.  Early release days are also used for staff meetings and later this month they will host a 6-12 workshop on transitioning between grade levels.  The elementary staff has also been working on the literacy initiative and how art and music relate to reading. 

 

Andy Vizulis commented that given the lack of resources, the Fine Arts program has continued to remain a strong component of the curriculum under his leadership.

 

John Gray thanked him for his praise, but noted that it is due to a tremendously dedicated staff.

 

 

OPERATIONS STATUS REPORT

 

Michael Cronin, Chief of Operations, stated that the $1.4 million maintenance budget is down to approximately$146,000, to be stretched out over the next seven months, which should prove very challenging.  He appreciates the patience and collaboration he has received from principals and staff around delaying some of their requested purchases until next year.  The electronic transfer billing process is expected to go on-line December 1st.   As a result of the nice weather, work at Memorial-Spaulding Elementary School is moving along at a good pace.  The custodial overtime is approximately 5% over budget, so they will have to keep an eye on this area.

 

Anne Larner asked about the chiller at Newton North High School.

 

Michael Cronin stated that a compressor of the chiller needed to be replaced, at a cost of $24,000.  The defective part required immediate replacement and could not wait two years for the new system.

 

 

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

 

Jeff Young announced that these are the last two reports in the series of six that they have been discussing to help in the development of the budget guidelines.  Tonight's subjects will address building maintenance and support staff. 

 

The standard they wish to achieve in the area of maintenance and repair is a safe, healthy, accessible, and secure environment for all students and staff.  They have identified 12 variables they consider important in producing this type of environment, which are listed in the material.  Private industry spends approximately 2% of a building's replacement value for yearly maintenance. 

 

 

They have not met this threshold in Newton for a number of years.  The current budget represents less than half of this goal.  However, Newton is not alone in

this area.  National research indicates that school maintenance and operations costs, as a percentage of net expenditures, are at the lowest level since 1972.  Systems have been faced with making difficult choices between class sizes, programs, and supplies, resulting in staffing and building maintenance paying the price.  Eventually these decisions catch up with systems, which is the position that Newton finds itself facing.  It is imperative that they work toward a long-term policy that integrates capital planning and building maintenance.  The report shows the number of outstanding maintenance and repairs orders (M&Rs) which, as of November 16, total 334 at the elementary level, 146 at the middle schools, and 209 at the high schools.  The vast majority of these will not be taken care of with the limited funding available this year and only emergencies and safety issues will be addressed.  A safe, clean and healthy environment is necessary for people to focus on the business of teaching and learning and they need to embark upon a plan to meet this goal. 

 

Rodney Barker commented that one of their biggest problems is that they try to address items in the school budget which rightfully belong in the capital plan.

 

Jeff Young agreed and commented that they need to work closely with the City around these issues.

 

Susan Albright recommended a joint committee be formed with city and school staff for the purpose of discussing these items.

 

Mayor Cohen would be happy to discuss the possibility of a joint committee.  However, he would frown upon the concept of using the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for charter maintenance.  For the next several years, 100% of the capital money being used for bonding is going toward the high school building project.  They have had discussions about future years and the approximate $5 million they anticipate being available for capital spending annually, which he would envision being jointly split between the city and schools.

 

Susan Albright commented that following the high school project they have elementary schools that need to be addressed.  This only further pushes out items that continually get dropped to the bottom of the list.

 

Mayor Cohen stated that these are the types of decisions facing the School Committee.  Priorities will have to be set given the limited available resources. 

 

Susie Heyman believes that if they can get charter maintenance up to where it belongs, they will then have some funding to be able to cycle projects over a number of years for items such as painting, carpeting, lighting, etc.

 

 

 

 

Jeff Young next moved onto the support staff, which was the most difficult category because of the lack of good, clear local or national standards.  This subject covers the areas of aides, technology specialists, high school support staff, custodians, secretaries, and food services, as well as professional development and training for these people. 

 

In terms of aides, Newton has large numbers mainly due to its commitment to full inclusion of special education students. 

 

Technology is an area in which they have a great need for additional support staff.  The Department of Education's state guidelines call for one technical support person for every 100-200 computers.  Newton has one person for the entire system and would require 12-24 additional people to meet the guidelines.  In the area of instructional technology, the standards call for a .5 specialist for every 30-60 staff users.  Currently they have a total of 11.5 and to meet the standards they should have between 18-36 specialists.  Instead, their specialists spend their time fixing machines because people cannot move onto a higher level of work until the technical repairs are done. 

 

With regard to high school support staff, two years ago they created some short-term solutions to the overcrowding at this level, which increased the number of staff.  Unfortunately, most of those efforts were erased given the fiscal crisis they faced during last year's budget deliberations.  Should the School Committee feel this is an area of priority, they will be prepared to return those items to the budget.

 

In the area of custodial services, the industry standard is one custodian for  21,000 square feet of building space.  Newton staffs at one per 24,000 square feet.  They will need to appropriately plan for future needs, particularly as the high schools increase in size.

 

Food services are somewhat privatized in Newton, in that the vendor provides the food and Newton provides the staff.  They are currently in the process of rebidding the contract and reexamining how the program is delivered.

 

In terms of secretarial support, the Committee heard firsthand from the President of NESA this evening how cuts in staff have impacted their members.  The secretaries in this system are called upon to do so much.  Most elementary schools in the region have two school secretaries and Newton is below that standard.  Given the additional demands on their day, such as increased state reporting requirements and Pentamation accounting, it is time for an analysis of the secretarial staffing.

 

 

 

Finally, in terms of professional development, this is the key to making all of this work.  Simply hiring additional staff is not the solution.  People who are currently working in the system and those who fill any additional roles need to have the proper training and support in order to do their job. 

 

Susie Heyman agreed that this is a complex category and one that is difficult to compare with other systems because every school has its own way of delivering services.  She believes it is important to help people understand the staffing situation because contrary to what some may suggest, they are far from overstaffed in Newton.  While on the surface the numbers appear larger, once

they are broken down into how they support students and where they are placed it becomes a different picture.

 

Verne Vance announced that there will be a special School Committee meeting next Monday evening to discuss the budget guidelines, which will be drafted from these discussions.

 

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS

 

CONTINUED DISCUSSION ON USE OF SEATBELTS ON SCHOOL BUSES

 

Verne Vance began the discussion by addressing a question that was asked by a previous speaker earlier this evening, as to why they are even having any discussion about this subject.  His response is that the design of buses is quite different than that of automobiles.  There is also a question as to whether seatbelts are adequate to address safety issues and whether their installation could produce worse results.  These are the types of questions the Committee must discuss and debate before they reach a decision.  If the answers were as simple as they seem at first glance, they would not be struggling with this issue.  In fact, the federal government has yet to reach a conclusion on this subject. 

 

Jeff Young read into the record a letter from Congressman Barney Frank to the Associate Administrator of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation regarding the delay in the release of the bus safety report and his hope that it will be available as soon as possible.

 

Andy Vizulis reported that he and Mr. Vance joined Ken Temkin, Director of Purchasing & Transportation, on one of the bus routes this morning, which was a very interesting experience.  They spent some time at the end of the trip inspecting the features of the bus.  While everyone's gut reaction is that of course they need seatbelts on buses, in looking at things from an engineer's point of view, the current compartmentalization design of the seat construction appears to be an effective way of preventing injuries.  The concept of a seatbelt being a dangerous object in many kinds of collisions is a serious consideration.  His observations regarding speed of the buses is that they go very slowly through the

 

City and, therefore, the likelihood of rollovers are very slim.  In terms of the three-point seatbelt design, they would have to be firmly anchored to the seat back, which does not work without a complete redesign of the entire seat itself, which would then change its construction.  Currently the seat would deform and

absorb some energy in a collision.  Also, the fact that buses are full and students are packed into the seats is actually more beneficial safety-wise in terms of keeping them anchored in the compartment.  He consulted the driver this morning about her experiences in other communities where there were seatbelts on buses.  First he learned that it is not practical for the bus driver to supervise whether the student are wearing seatbelts and that this would require a monitor.  The driver also stated that many students do not wear the belts and they wind up dangling in the aisles, which can catch on students' legs, bags, etc.  Many students tie the belts together and rest them on the seat, which means students who want to wear them have to untie the belts.  On the other hand, in looking at the design of the bus, a rollover would be the worst case scenario because there are a lot of hard surfaces that students could come in contact with on the walls and ceilings.  Padding might be beneficial.  As for the windows, they are heavily fortified and cannot pop out of their frames and they only open to a certain point.  In conclusion, he has a great respect for the design of the buses, which are constructed like tanks.  Unless someone convinces him that the addition of seatbelts is going to greatly improve the safety of students, he does not feel that they are necessary.

 

Anne Larner attempted to convince him otherwise.  She retrieved a policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics from 1996, which states that the number of injuries from school-bus related events is estimated to be 19,000 per year, although most injuries are minor, with half sustained by passengers on the bus.  The Academy's recommendations for the requirement of seatbelts on buses in their policy statement are based on nine studies they reviewed, one in particular being a 1989 study conducted by the National Research Council on improving school bus safety.  This study indicates that the use of seatbelts on large type buses may reduce injuries and deaths by 20%.

 

Susan Albright is having trouble reconciling all the different reports, which state various and often conflicting opinions.

 

Anne Larner commented that this report is from a well-known and highly regarded national group of pediatricians and is based on a variety of other reports. 

 

Andy Vizulis wondered if they could retrieve any pre and post seatbelt information from one of the two states that mandates their usage. 

 

Nancy Levine requested that the public be provided with all of the material Committee members have been privy to around this subject.

 

 

 

Jeff Young stated that they would make copies available for loan or review in the School Committee office.

 

Andy Vizulis added that he will put as much material as possible on the web site.

 

Rodney Barker stated that the differences between automobiles vs. school buses and the fact that the buses are designed with safety features is a very compelling argument.  The notion that many students will not even wear them and that they can then become dangerous in and of themselves is a concern.  Also, if they change the design of the seat and some students wear belts while others do not, an accident could potentially cause more injuries to those students not wearing

the belts because the seats have now been designed to be more rigid and no longer adjust for the impact of a collision.  He has greater concerns about safety in terms of long bus rides for field trips and fatigued drivers and would prefer the Committee spend more time discussing this issue. 

 

Susie Heyman believes that they are on the edge of new reports and studies, as well as redesigns of bus seats to accommodate three-point restraints.  In the interim, she is leaning toward having lapbelts installed until the reports are finalized, because at least these would help with any lateral impacts.  The cost for this installation is negligible and if they can prevent any injuries it is worth their while. 

 

Anne Borg asked if the administration would be providing the Committee with a recommendation.

 

Jeff Young replied that if they ask him for one he will be happy to make a recommendation.

 

Anne Borg commented that while most bus trips run only through the City, a couple do travel onto Rte. 128.  Also, there are many field trips during the day and some get on the highways.  She asked about their options with regard to seatbelts in the new contract.

 

Ken Temkin stated that none of the manufacturers currently make three-point seatbelts for buses because there is no federal requirement.  The best they could ask for would be factory-installed lapbelts.

 

Anne Borg asked how many belts would be attached to each seat.

 

Ken Temkin stated that there would be three to a seat and they would be color-coded. 

 

 

 

 

 

Andy Vizulis added that he cannot imagine three high school students wearing seatbelts fitting comfortably in a seat.  If belts were mandatory at this level, they could only have two students per seat, with one set of belts not being used. 

 

Verne Vance reiterated what the bus driver told them this morning in terms of students at the secondary level often do not wear the belts.  In terms of the study Ms. Larner referred to in her comments, he remains skeptical on that data without additional details, as often "scientific" studies, when subjected to cross-examination, do not hold up.  When they quote a percentage of reduction in injuries and deaths, it is not clear what the base is or how they calculate that percentage.  Also, if the belts are only going to have a 50% usage rate, that percentage may change.  He is still not convinced that seatbelts themselves would not pose their own risks and dangers.

 

Andy Vizulis stated that a lapbelt is insufficient and can cause serious accidents. 

 

 

DISCUSSION OF WALKING DISTANCE AND POSSIBLE TRANSPORTATION FEE STRUCTURE

 

Due to the lateness of the hour and need to take up the rest of the agenda items, it was decided to postpone this discussion until the next meeting.

 

 

DISCUSSION OF REDISTRICTING ISSUES

 

Jeff Young stated that there are several items under this topic that need to be finalized, as a result of the recent redistricting vote.  One has to do with whether younger siblings should be able to attend the same high school as their older siblings, if they are redistricted to a different high school.  One component would address a four-year timeframe in which siblings could possibly be attending two different high schools.  The other is a suggestion posed by some parents who wish to extend it to any siblings in a family, despite the number of years difference.  His goal is to find a policy that addresses family needs, but which does not unravel the basic premise of the redistricting vote.  The administration is currently in the process of collecting data on the number of students that would be impacted by both of these scenarios. 

 

Nancy Levine suggested the possibility of a middle ground where they would look at a policy for siblings in the timeframe of when the redistricting occurred. 

 

The next item that needs to be addressed is the out-of-district policy, which as it currently stands requires people to line up on a particular date and requests are taken and numbered on a first-come-first-serve basis.  The administration is proposing instead to conduct a lottery whereby all requests would be grouped

 

 

into three prioritized categories: 1.) siblings of students already enrolled in the requested school regardless of the elementary district in which they reside, 2.) students residing in the Williams district who attend Brown, 3.) all others.  If the number of students in category A exceeds the number of slots available, they would then conduct a lottery for this category.  Under this scenario, categories B

and C would not get addressed at all.  However, if the number applying in category A does not exceed the number of slots available, they would then move to category B, where the same principle would apply.  Finally, if there were enough slots available after this category was filled, they would move to category C.  In terms of the Williams district, the students residing in the optional zones currently in grades 1-5 will have the opportunity to declare their choice of Brown or Day Middle School at the 5th grade, which would then determine their high school feeder pattern.  For those in the non-optional zones, they are districted to Brown and would have to apply for out-of-district placement at the middle school

level, thereby falling into Category C.  If they stay at Brown for middle school and then request out-of-district at the high school level, they enter Category B.

 

Susan Albright asked about the likelihood of anything being left for category C.

 

Jeff Young replied that it would be unlikely that there would be any slots for this category.

 

James Marini, Associate Superintendent for Secondary Education, added that this will not be a neat process where there will be a specific date that all requests will be finalized, rather it will be a continual moving target as various slots become available and people move into place.  He mentioned that there will always be a few situations where there will be an extraordinary circumstance to place someone ahead of others because of particular situations.  These types of decisions are rare, but they need to retain the flexibility to accommodate for these possibilities.

 

Anne Borg asked about students residing in the Newton South district who want to major in the technical-vocational program.

 

Jim Marini stated that students declare a tech-voc major in their junior year.  Their schedules are set so that they take their majors in the morning at Newton North and are then transported to Newton South for their academic classes in the afternoon.  Over the years, some tech-voc students have transferred full-time to Newton North because of the needs associated with their particular major and they would want to continue to reserve the right to make these decisions based on the needs of the students as they related to the program.

 

Jeff Young mentioned the next policy item, which has to do with the Cabot district line.  His recommendation is to stay with the existing boundaries that were voted last spring, which provide the best numbers for Bigelow and Day. 

 

However, he is also recommending the establishment of a walk-back bus for this area.

 

Susan Albright asked about the number of students impacted.

 

Jeff Young stated that he would provide the Committee with that information. 

 

Susan Albright asked if the bus would be an addition to the fleet.

 

Jeff Young replied that they will use an existing bus that has space available and establish another stop, at no extra cost.  He then mentioned the last issue, which is the delineation of the one-mile choice zone for the Mason-Rice district.  This is a minor modification that includes a few more homes, in order to preserve the natural neighborhood boundaries. 

 

 

ACTION ITEMS

 

VOTE ON 2002-2003 SCHOOL CALENDAR

 

The Committee discussed the recommendation for a proposed change to the school calendar by the Newton Teachers Association.  They are asking that 12/23/02  be included in the December recess, making the last day for teachers Monday, 6/30, which includes five snow days.  This would mean not having to heat buildings for just one day during that week and acknowledge that families travel over the holiday season and that attendance would most likely suffer on that day.  The Committee agreed with this recommendation.  They also noted that the students would not have to go beyond Friday, the 27th in either calendar proposal.  There was some discussion about the possibility of taking one less day during spring break, as some systems have done, so that they do not have to stretch the year out to the end of June.  It was decided that if they utilized all of the snow days this might be something to revisit later in the year.

 

            MOTION:    It was moved to approve the 2002-2003 school

                                    calendar (Attachment G-2).

 

                                                            (Levine - Mayor Cohen)

 

                                                                       unanimous

 

 

REAPPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE TO NEWTON COMMUNITY EDUCATION COMMISSION

 

            MOTION:    It was moved to reappoint Margaret Boyd as a

 

 

representative to the Newton Community Education Commission (effective July 1, 2001 - June 30, 2003).

 

                                    (Barker - Levine)

 

                                           unanimous

 

 

ACCEPTANCE OF DONATION

 

            MOTION:    It was moved to accept the donation of a computer

and color printer to Newton North High School, as

outlined in Attachment I.

 

                                    (Levine -Albright)

 

                                             unanimous

 

 

COMMUNICATIONS

 

Susie Heyman reminded people of two upcoming meetings.  The first is being hosted by the Citizens for the Future of Newton, tomorrow evening, 7:00 p.m., at the library, which will have discussion on the state fiscal situation and how Newton and other communities fit into that picture.  The PTO is hosting the second, on December 6th, and the topic will be Newton's budget.

 

Rodney Barker reported that the problems regarding the social studies curriculum at the state level continue and a meeting is scheduled with the Commissioner next week and another with the Board of Education in December.  He will keep the Committee abreast of any changes.

 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

 

Chris Chu addressed the Committee again regarding the seatbelt issue.  She has heard nothing that indicates that going without seatbelts would be a safer decision.  Her concern lies in the trips that go onto highways and at higher speeds.  If the Committee decides that seatbelts are not warranted for local use, she hopes they will provide them for these other trips.  Perhaps they can bid for buses equipped both ways.  While any study can be questioned, the American Medical and Pediatric Associations are reputable professionals.  In conclusions, lapbelt injuries are not likely to be more serious than head injuries in a rollover. 

 

 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting was adjourned at 11:15 p.m.