NEWTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE
MINUTES
OF REGULAR MEETING - MAY 13, 2002
EDUCATION
CENTER, FRAZIER ROOM, 7:30 P.M.
PRESENT: Chairperson Anne Larner, Vice-Chairperson Susan
Albright, Gail Glick, Patricia Kellogg, Marc Laredo, Leslie Schneider, Dori
Zaleznik, Mayor David Cohen,
Lindsay Dahlben, student representative – Newton North High School
ABSENT: Nancy Levine and student representative – Newton South High School
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Anne Larner
called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.
She announced that Nancy Levine is absent due to back surgery and is
expected to return at the next meeting.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no members of
the public who wished to address the Committee at this time.
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES' DISCUSSION
None.
RECOGNITIONS
There were no
recognitions.
MOTION: It was
moved to approve minutes from the
following School Committee meetings:
executive
session – 1/30/02
special meeting – 1/30/02
special meeting - 2/6/02
(Zaleznik
– Albright)
7
– 0 – 2
Absent
for vote: Mayor Cohen
Absent
for meeting: Levine
PUBLIC HEARING/VOTE ON SCHOOL CHOICE
Anne Larner explained
that, by law, they are required to hold a public hearing on school choice. Traditionally, they have never participated
in the program. There were no members
of the public who wished to address the Committee on this topic.
Superintendent Jeff Young
added that Newton has never participated in this program for several
reasons. First, there is a lack of
space to accept students from outside the system. But, more importantly, it is an ill-conceived program where
funding follows the students from poorer communities to those with more
affluence. This is not the answer to
improving schools.
Anne Larner noted that
Belmont has just opted to participate in school choice, as one of the few west
suburban communities to do so. They
were driven purely by economic reasons, in order to save four teaching positions,
and it was with reluctance that they took this vote.
Dori Zaleznik asked if
there has been any review of the program since its inception.
Jeff Young stated that he
has not seen anything official.
Dori Zaleznik mentioned
sending a letter to the Department of Education requesting an evaluation of the
program, which could indicate that it is not living up to expectations,
possibly resulting in amending of the law.
Jeff Young indicated that
it is worthwhile to send a letter.
However, there is little support for changing the law in the legislature
because it has a groundswell of support, along with vouchers and charter
schools.
MOTION: It was moved that the Newton
school system not participate in the Massachusetts School Choice
Program for the 2002-2003 academic year.
(Albright
– Mayor Cohen)
8
– 0 – 1
Absent:
Levine
David Naparstek, Health
Commissioner, thanked the Committee for the opportunity to provide this update
on the school health programs. He recognized
a number of people in the audience associated with the program – all who work
diligently around the safety and health of the children in the Newton Public
Schools. He introduced Linda Walsh,
Director of Clinical Services, who will assist him in conducting this
presentation. The reason their program
is so effective is because of the cooperative effort between the city and
school departments in coordinating services.
Their responsibilities include everything from daily nursing care to
environmental issues, such as air quality and integrated pest management
programs in the buildings. Their
department also works closely with Chartwells, the food service provider, on
health and nutrition issues. They are
involved in lead and asbestos consultation, as well as sewer backups, odors,
flooding, and evacuations. The city and
school information technology departments also work in tandem managing the
information systems and keeping data updated.
He then talked about a life-saving device pilot program at Newton North
High School, where they recently installed automatic external defibrillators,
with plans to expand that to Newton South next year. Their staff consists of 24 nurses who work in the school
buildings, two community health nurses, a school physician, four health
assistants, and an audiologist.
Eighty-five percent of their resources are committed to the schools.
Linda Walsh talked about
the role of a school nurse, which has evolved tremendously over the years. Their responsibility is to advance the wellbeing,
academic success, and lifelong achievement of students. The nurse facilitates positive student
responses to normal development, promotes health and safety, intervenes with
health issues, provides case management services, and actively collaborates
with others to build a student/family program of self-advocacy and
learning. On a daily basis, some of the
things they are required to do are to deliver medication to students, address
emergency situations, model health programs in the classroom, and provide
community support, where needed. They
must also comply with immunization requirements and state mandated health
screenings. The Massachusetts
Department of Public Health Enhanced School Services Grant was instrumental in
moving them toward their goal of having a full-time nurse in every school,
which they hope to reach by 2003. To the grant has also allowed them to upgrade
their management information system software, as well as train their staff in
its use. She then talked about the data
that tracks the number of and reasons for visits to the health rooms by both
staff and students during the course of the year. She also mentioned some of the high-risk medical needs, such as
asthma, allergies, and
diabetes, as well as vision, hearing, and other screenings required by
law.
Leslie Schneider asked
about coverage for the schools without a full-time nurse.
Linda Walsh explained that
one nurse shares time between Pierce and Zervas; the only two elementary
schools without a full-time position.
The health assistant is available in the building when the nurse is at
the other school.
Mayor Cohen inquired about
changes in the nursing profession in the past 10 years and any impact that may
have had on services.
Linda Walsh replied that
the biggest change is in the needs of the population. At one time, these students would have been treated at home or in
hospitals for certain ailments or medical requirements. A full-time professional nurse can address
issues such as feeding tubes, tracheotomies, etc. Without this level of service these children would be sitting at
home waiting for a visiting nurse and not being mainstreamed into the learning
environment, which is where they belong.
Jeff Young asked about any
trends in terms of psychotropic medications, such as anti-depressants or
Ritalin.
Linda Walsh stated that
there appears to be more children on these type of medications than there were
10 years ago. However, since they did
not collect this type of data until just recently, this is anecdotal information. There are also time-released medications
that can be taken at home rather than during the school day, which can also
skew the data.
Marc Laredo asked about
proactive approaches to their work.
David Naparstek reiterated that the defibrillators are a proactive approach, as is their work with the Melanoma Foundation to promote safe sun practices. Nurses are used in the classroom to help model programs such as hand washing, to promote the prevention of the spread of diseases. It is this ability to be utilized as a resource in the classroom that is the most effective method of proactive work.
Linda Walsh mentioned some
of their future goals in terms of being proactive. Given the population at the high schools, they hope to be able to
support two nurses in each of those buildings.
They also hope to be able to continue to develop their role as an
integral part of the teaching team in a
building by becoming more
mobile in a school rather than sitting in the health room waiting for
visitors.
Marc Laredo asked about
the role of the health assistants.
Linda Walsh explained that
each high school has a health assistant, another is shared among the four
middle schools and the fourth floats between Pierce and Zervas. These people assist the nurses in whatever
duties are required, particularly having to do with screening programs.
Susan Albright asked if
the nursing staff is outfitted with cellular phones or beepers, in case of
emergencies.
Linda Walsh replied that
while some utilize two-way radios, each school addresses this issue in the way
that works best for that building.
Gail Glick asked which
health education programs are formalized in the schools.
Linda Walsh stated that
currently they are all building-based programs rather than centralized. They are working with the physical education
coordinator to introduce programs around osteoporosis and nutrition, as well as
a tobacco program. Unfortunately, most
of it is informal at this time, as they have to compete with all the other
needs in the schools in a limited timeframe.
She would like to see some of this work formalized because she feels
they are under-utilizing the talents of these professionals.
Gail Glick asked how often
students seek advice around medical questions from nurses.
Linda Walsh stated that
teachable moments occur throughout the school day and the staff attempts to
capitalize on these times, whether it be issues around stress, peer pressures,
etc.
Dori Zaleznik asked about
the defibrillator pilot and who is trained in its usage.
Linda Walsh responded that
the physical educator and nurse are currently trained in its usage. However, when presenting the training at the
high school, numerous staff members expressed interest in being certified. They can also be incorporated into the
training of students in the program.
There will be four located in the building, which can be used on any
person who happens to be in the building and in need. There are numerous athletic events, extra-curricular activities,
and community education
programs occurring in the
schools serving a very large population.
Newton is ahead of other communities in this area.
Patty Kellogg asked how
they plan to find the time to structure a program for nurses to work in the
classroom.
Linda Walsh is confident
that she could structure programs in conjunction with principals, as currently
occurs in some schools.
Anne Larner is pleased
with the growth of this program and the collaboration between the city and
schools. Sitting on the planning
committee for the high school renovation project, she sees firsthand the
incredible involvement of the health department in the planning process.
REPORTS
SUPERINTENDENT’S PERSONNEL REPORT
Jeff Young announced the
appointment of Pamela Appleton, Principal of Angier Elementary School,
effective July, replacing Ruth Chapman, who will be retiring. Cindy Marchand, current Principal of
Williams Elementary School will be taking over the Principalship of Franklin
Elementary School, and Hank Van Putten, Assistant Principal at Oak Hill Middle
School, will now serve as Acting Principal at Williams. He thanked the screening committees who
worked tirelessly and were beneficial in helping him reach his recommendations. Informal courtesy interviews for Ms.
Appleton and Mr. Van Putten will be forthcoming at future School Committee
meetings.
Jeff Young reported on the
$52,376 positive balance in the FY02 budget, which continues the trend that has
consistently been reported for the past few months. However, they continue to anticipate costs exceeding budget in
the area of maintenance.
Jeff Young noted that the
special education report is also consistent with previous updates. The out-of-district tuition account is
slightly under budget, as is special education aides. However, contracted services are slightly over budget and they
expect a wash at year’s end. Finally,
he
mentioned that Medicaid
payments have tripled this quarter, which bodes well for the City’s future
claims.
Marc Laredo asked if they
are still trying to fill gaps in aide positions.
Carl Daynard, Assistant
Superintendent for Pupil Services, replied that the only positions currently
being filled are for new move-ins that require an aide or if someone leaves
that needs a replacement.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
DISCUSSION RE:
COMPLIANCE WITH CHILDREN’S INTERNET PROTECTION ACT (CIPA) REQUIREMENTS