NEWTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE

MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING – JUNE 9, 2003

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

PRESENT: Chairperson Anne Larner, Vice-Chairperson Susan Albright, Gail Glick, Patricia Kellogg, Marc Laredo, Nancy Levine, Leslie Schneider, Dori Zaleznik, Mayor Cohen, Keith Agoada, student representative - Newton South High School

ABSENT: student representative - Newton North High School

CALL TO ORDER

Chairperson Anne Larner called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. She outlined the process for public comment and noted that they do not allow comments about personnel in a public forum, unless it has to do with the Superintendent or School Committee. There are other forums available for this and people can leave their name with the secretary if they are interested in having those discussions.

Harry Kaplan, 37 Knowles St., expressed concern about the situation at Bowen Elementary School, which has exacerbated to the point where teachers are requesting transfers. The administration has not been successful in dealing with this problem. Therefore, he requests that the School Committee get involved.

Andrew Gottlieb, 166 Ridge Ave., stated that the problems at Bowen continue to persist and he also would like to see the School Committee get involved to the extent that their roles and responsibilities allow. He also feels that parents need to be a part of that process, so that they can have a satisfactory resolution.

Al Leisinger, 1002 Beacon St., requested that the Committee consider granting diplomas to students who have passed Newton's graduation requirements, even if they do not pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam. While the numbers may be small, the principle is important. Not only does the test itself leave a lot to be desired, but some of the members of the Board of Education are members of the Pioneer Institute, whose goal is to privatize education for profit.

Thomas Crowder, 121 Bishopgate Rd., member of Newton Chapter of the Coalition for Authentic Reform in Education (CARE), discussed MCAS, the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, and charter schools. Their group opposes the MCAS graduation requirement, which was designed to provide feedback to students, teachers and administrators of their performance, in order to improve educational methods. This aim has been frustrated by delays in obtaining MCAS results and test answers for analyzing. There is no data that concludes that passing the test is relevant to the demands of students as they go onto higher education or the workplace. In fact, one study by the State University of Arizona involving 18 organizations that hired high school graduates stated that 83% did not find any of the material on standardized tests useful in a potential employee. Gaps between different sub-populations of the study body have hardly changed even as average test scores rise. Next year NCLB will appear with an additional set of mandates. Under this legislation, students will be allowed to leave NCLB-judged under-performing schools for other districts, along with funding. Under-performing schools will be subject to numerous punitive measures that will not improve education. NCLB will require even more standardized testing. In terms of charter schools, the Board of Education's policies give more weight to increasing the numbers vs. furthering education reform of public schools. It has already been noted that several members of the Board of Education, including the Chairman, are members of the Pioneer Institute. This group's principle function is to promote charter schools, where tuitions are deducted from local school budgets, but the school systems have no control or oversight.

Elaine Leisinger, 1002 Beacon St., talked about the difficulties she faced in school but how important receiving her diploma was and encouraged the Committee to grant this right to students who have fulfilled the Newton requirements despite failing MCAS. She expressed concern for students' futures without this documentation. She also feels it would mainly hurt students of color and those on the lower economic scale. The test itself does not address basic knowledge or measure a student's intelligence.

Joan Goldberg, 148 Sumner St., Co-chairperson of CARE, noted that for many students who did not pass MCAS this year in the State, graduation was a sad time. She urged the Committee to grant diplomas to all deserving seniors regardless of MCAS scores. CARE was pleased when Newton joined the ranks of 47 other school committees in signing onto Brookline's resolution at the Massachusetts Association of School Committees/School Superintendent's (MASC/MASS) conference regarding this matter. The recent legislative vote to exempt special education students from the MCAS requirement shows a growing recognition of the discriminatory nature of high stakes testing. She noted that the pass rates, as defined by the Department of Education (DOE), are dramatically inflated because of their failure to include drop-outs who were originally enrolled in the class of 2003.

Carol Fernandez, 31 Locksley Rd., spoke on behalf of many Bowen parents in the audience this evening who feel as if their concerns have not been heard or addressed, which is why they are relying on rumor. Even those who have met with the administration and School Committee members have come away feeling frustrated. They are very troubled by the loss of the 5th grade teachers.

Leslie Gabriel, 17 Paul St., stated that this is the last year that her children will attend Bowen and she finds it difficult to leave it in such turmoil. They have been grateful for the excellent teachers, who have been the strength of their school. School communities can only work when the administration, staff, and parents all work harmoniously. The system fails without this cohesiveness. She outlined the process parents have taken to work through this issue, including their request that a solution be in place before the end of the school year, so as not to lose teachers. They are no closer to a resolution than they were when the process began.

Ken Gabriel, 17 Paul St., added that the situation at Bowen has deteriorated even further once the situation was brought to the Superintendent's level and he now asks the School Committee to acknowledge and address these issues. To learn only two weeks before school ends that the process of intervention is only now being formulated sends a disturbing message. If mediation is suggested, it is important to remember that this was not previously successful.

Sue Schy, Copresident of the Bowen PTO, read a statement signed by 11 current and recent PTO presidents, who support the administration in the handling of this matter. The Superintendent has worked in a systematic manner to understand the issues; established a plan for meeting with various groups; informed people that the process would take time; and asked that discussions around this issue cease for the sake of the children. For the most part, this request has been honored, except for a few who have not respected the protocol. She appealed to these people to honor the process, which they believe is fair.

Anne Larner stated that at this point the Committee will take up its regular business. There will be another opportunity at the end of the meeting for public comment. The Superintendent has kept the Committee informed about the issues at Bowen and they have been discussing the concerns. They have confidence in his leadership and direction and will continue to monitor the situation.

STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES' DISCUSSION

Keith Agoada commented on the impact that the parking fees will have on students. There are already severe parking issues at the school, which will only be exacerbated. More cars will be parked in front of neighbors' homes and more vehicles will be towed. This will also be unfair to students who cannot afford the fee.

Superintendent Jeff Young admitted that he raises a good point in terms of affordability and he will discuss this with the Principal.

RECOGNITIONS

The following recognitions were acknowledged:

Miriam Arbeit, Newton North High School, and Joanna Balm,

Newton South High School, who were recipients of National

Merit Scholarships.

Diane Holzheimer, librarian at Memorial-Spaulding Elementary

School, for being awarded the Louis Shores - Greenwood Publishing

Company Award for her contribution to the publication Appraisal.

Michael Cronin, Chief of Operations, for being the recipient of Newton's Annual Environmental Leadership Award from the Green Decade Coalition, for his efforts in developing environmentally friendly programs.

The Daytime (Day Middle School's newspaper) and its morning television program, W.O.R.D., for receiving the following awards:

1st Place International Award from the International

Quill and Scroll Society

3rd consecutive Gold Crown from the Columbia Scholastic

Press Association

1st place All-New England Awards, Highest Achievement

Awards, and 12 individual achievement awards, at the

annual conference of the New England Scholastic Press

National winner of the 2003 TIME Student Publishing

Award from the Association of Educational Publishers

APPROVAL OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

MOTION: It was moved to approve the School Committee

meeting minutes of 3/20/04 (public hearing on

FY04 budget).

(Levine - Schneider)

unanimous

REPORTS

SUPERINTENDENT'S PERSONNEL REPORT

Jeff Young announced that two new principals have been hired: Emily Ostrower at Countryside Elementary School, and Christine Moynihan, At Williams Elementary School. He thanked Sandy Delaney and Hank Van Putten for serving in these positions this year.

FY03 BUDGET UPDATE

Jeff Young announced that the MECTO reimbursement for special education came in higher than anticipated, which puts the FY03 budget at approximately $160,000 over projections as they come to the close of the fiscal year. The information in tonight's packet also discusses tuition reimbursements, which might also have a favorable year end perspective. The $319,250 spending freeze, which was instituted several months ago, remains unexpended and the associated supplies, materials and equipment unpurchased.

Marc Laredo asked about spending this balance.

Jeff Young stated that he would like to have some further discussions with the executive office before making a recommendation to the Committee.

SPECIAL EDUCATION UPDATE

There were no questions on the report.

PRESENTATION FROM CHAIRPERSON OF NEWTON NORTH HIGH SCHOOL CITIZENS' TASK FORCE

Anne Larner introduced Dr. Michael Jellinek, Chairperson of the Newton North High School Citizens' Task Force, and thanked him for being available this evening to provide the Committee with a summary of their work.

Michael Jellinek stated that it was an honor to serve in this position . He acknowledged that it was the hard work of the members of the Task Force which made the process so successful. While they acknowledged the physical plant limitations, the group was very impressed with the quality and culture of Newton North, which must be maintained. It is critical that a feeling of being connected to the school be the central focus. After much discussion among Task Force members, it was agreed that the renovation cannot be done with students in the classrooms, which means they have to find alternative space either on or off site. The Task Force felt that it would be too disruptive to have students leave the building and there also did not appear to be many space options in the community. Aside from cost, safety and physical space were key components involved in the weighing of the options. The original $39,000,000 proposal was not sufficient for the educational program and housing the students in a safe environment. The $70,000,000 proposal to renovate and utilize modulars would require an investment of $15,000,000-$20,000,00 in temporary structures with no permanent gain. The small hybrid option of a 40,000 square foot addition, with improved science classrooms and light/air, also invests approximately $15,000,000 in temporary structures by moving the students to an alternative building, such as Carr School. The new school proposal was not recommended because of the costs involved, as well as the possibility of not being reimbursed for certain items such as the pool and other large spaces. Their recommendation is for a large hybrid, which builds sufficient permanent space so that the investment makes sense and allows the students to remain on campus. This meets both the educational and renovation goals. In working with the Mayor's office, they were able to develop a financial plan for this option that would not require an Override. While this option was approved by an overwhelming number of the majority, there were several members who supported building a new school. In conclusion, he mentioned some concerns with this plan. First, he believes there should be a deadline to the planning process so that the cycle does not go on indelibly. Secondly, there are certain areas that should not have to wait for the project to be completed to be addressed, such as technology, and he is supportive of the plan that was put in place to address this need. Finally, the need for consideration of the maintenance budget is important, particularly in areas that will not be renovated under this plan.

Leslie Schneider asked how this process might be evaluated in terms of their goal of public engagement and communication.

Michael Jellinek stated that it was a time-intensive job. Of the 144 applicants, he chose 11 people to fill the volunteer positions. The 30 people on the Task Force put in 50-100 hours each, with a core staff of five to six who met weekly to prepare for the meetings. He would estimate 10-20 hours of staff time for every two-hour meeting. They were given all the necessary resources available, such as web site access and excellent reporting from the local newspapers. He would highly recommend this model for issues of this importance provided these resources are in place.

Dori Zaleznik complimented the Task Force on their work. While no one wants to drag out the process interminably, questions remain and the School Committee has to take the time to hear from the community and deliberate. The last thing they want to do is repeat past mistakes. It is imperative that the end result stand the test of time and be something of which the community can be proud.

Michael Jellinek commented that in many ways the Committee has a harder job than the Task Force, because they now have to make the specific decisions. However, he found the deadline very helpful and it was only exceeded by a week, through extending the hours and intensity of the meetings.

Marc Laredo complimented him on his ability to bring together a diverse group of people to take on a difficult issue, which resulted in a thoughtful and deliberate plan. It is now the role of the School Committee to take that broad picture and develop an educational vision and fill in the components. He is mindful of the need to move forward and believes they can set a deadline that can be met by working diligently.

Susan Albright thanked Dr. Jellinek for his leadership and commented on how wonderful it was to be part of the group. With regard to the deadline, typically the Committee does not meet over the summer. While they could call for special meetings with staff, it might be difficult to involve the public.

Michael Jellinek stated that there will be a lot of staff work that will need to be accomplished that can be done over the summer. He suggested they set a deadline for the technical pieces and then involve the public in September in developing options, setting an October deadline. He urged them not to lose another year.

Nancy Levine asked if any thought had been given to the use of the part of the building that would remain after the renovation and whether that might be maintained or rented for other purposes.

Michael Jellinek stated that this is where the City needs to do some work on a master plan. Aesthetically, it would be better to demolish, but if a critical City function needs a location and would fit without blemishing the culture of the school, it might make more economic sense.

Anne Larner stated that they need to work with the staff and the architect on the technical information and how the School Building Assistance Program (SBAP) factors into that, so that they can set out a scope for the feasibility study.

Gail Glick asked if Dr. Jellinek has any recommendations regarding advancing the conversations about the culture of the school.

Michael Jellinek stated that a balance of both small and larger learning spaces is probably best, as it would recognize the different needs of students. Trying to be innovative and having some flexibility with the space would also helpful. The students and staff in the building are the best resources for these discussions.

Mayor Cohen noted that it was Dr. Jellinek's leadership and moderating skills that were instrumental in getting the Task Force through its work, which was a difficult task given the number of people with very different backgrounds and viewpoints. It is now their responsibility to bring this work to fruition in an expeditious but careful manner.

Jeff Young added that the ability to keep constant communication flowing back and forth between the Task Force and the people at Newton North was extremely helpful and lent a great deal of credibility to the work of the Task Force.

Anne Larner acknowledged the members of the Task Force in the audience this evening and thanked them all once again.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

DISCUSSION ON PROCESS OF REVIEWING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR NEWTON NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

Anne Larner asked the architect if he would review the definition of education specifications (ed specs).

Carl Franchesci, architect from DRA, explained that it is a standardized form developed by the SBAP that lists all of the educational spaces being proposed in a school project and serves as a comparison to their regulations. Ultimately, this document is used to form a contract between the State and the school district, which establishes the formula for reimbursement. This was previously done for the Newton North project, but they now have the opportunity to revisit the document to see how much of it they want to retain and how they can make it better.

Anne Larner added that the work on the smaller learning communities grant may influence how they want to design/cluster classrooms. She asked if that would have an impact on the ed specs.

Carl Franchesci replied that the ed specs are more of a tally sheet and do not have to reflect how the building is specifically configured, which would be in the design development. It is theoretically possible for the ed specs to be identical to the original.

Dori Zaleznik asked if the ed specs provide an opportunity to explain to the State why they are moving to a different project than the original proposal.

Carl Franchesci The best tool for explaining the new project is in the long-range plan for the building through updating the feasibility study.

Marc Laredo asked if he could elaborate on the design process.

Carl Franchesci explained that it is not feasible to develop ed specs in a vacuum without some sort of conceptual design, so the best process is one that cycles between the two. There is always latitude in the design development process for different options, as proved true with the Newton South project.

Marc Laredo asked about the timeline for this process.

Carl Franchesci stated that it is difficult to estimate given the number of players involved the process, but he would expect the design process to take three to six months and then another several months to prepare the necessary bid specifications.

Anne Larner added that this must also cycle through the Design Review Committee.

Susan Albright noted that they do not want to assign a dollar value to the project prior to designing the program, which is going to involve input from a lot of people.

Jeff Young stated that the majority of the ed specs will not change because they already have the information on enrollment, number of classrooms needed, etc. However, there is still the need to talk about things such as career/technical education and smaller learning communities. The next step will be to develop a framework regarding policy issues and questions that have to be addressed in order to progress.

Susan Albright asked about the engineering aspect of the feasibility study, in order to determine if the building can support the project from that standpoint.

Carl Franchesci stated that there is technical information in the previous study about this, but they will need to review that further to fold this information into the options.

Leslie Schneider asked if there are any short-term health and safety issues that have to be addressed.

Nicholas Parnell, Building Commissioner, replied that they are working on the gymnasium floor this summer and will address any safety needs as they present themselves.

Anne Larner asked about air quality.

Nick Parnell responded that they are involved in meetings around this issue to determine how to best address this situation.

Patty Kellogg asked if there are plans for a study on whether a new building vs. the hybrid would save on energy costs.

Carl Franchesci stated that they have been asked to look at the new school option in comparison to the hybrid, so it will involve all educational and financial aspects.

Dori Zaleznik does not want to revisit the same territory as that of the Task Force, but nor doe she want to be locked into the large hybrid as being the only option. They need to satisfy themselves and the community at large that they have explored the option of a new building.

Anne Larner stated that they need to develop the educational piece before having an intelligent conversation on the design options.

Marc Laredo believes the two conversations can proceed in tandem.

Dori Zaleznik respectfully disagrees. She learned from the last process that once feasibility studies are complete, they take on a life of their own and are not inexpensive. She feels they need to have a secure educational plan in place before commissioning a feasibility study.

Gail Glick agrees on the need for a substantial discussion on program and goals prior to undertaking design and technical aspects.

Anne Larner concluded the meeting by noting that the Mayor has indicated that he will have some information on the financial aspect for the next meeting, which will be helpful in understanding the implications for other capital projects. Hopefully they can then set up some summer meetings to continue their work.

DISCUSSION ON TECHNOLOGY PLANNING

Anne Larner reminded people of the Committee's authorization in the spring to spend up to $250,000 for the language lab at Newton South High School. The cost was actually $213,000. The administration would like to use some of the balance to purchase speakers that would address technical issues with the audio setup in the labs.

Jeff Young noted that tonight's information outlines some options for using the balance of the funding. He is recommending it be used for the speakers and to finish the technology needs for Phase 2 of the Newton South High School project.

Nancy Levine stated that it makes sense to have adequate sound equipment in the new lab. She agrees that the priority should be on properly outfitting technology in the high schools, as they have been in desperate straights for some time.

Marc Laredo is disappointed that they have to once again move money from the K-8 budget for funding at the high schools, but agrees that this should take precedence.

Susan Albright is troubled that they do not have sufficient capital funding to address the original intent. If she votes against a motion on this, it is not because she does not support the needs of the high school, but because she believes the money is coming from the wrong place.

Anne Larner asked if there would be any funding for the elementary and middle schools.

Fran Zilonis, Director of Information Technology, replied that there would be approximately $142,000 remaining.

Jeff Young stated that the administration will prepare a proposal for the Committee on their recommendation for spending the remaining balance.

MOTION: It was moved to approve the technology expenditures,

as outlined in the memorandum of 6/1/03 (Attachment F), including $17,000 for speakers and security kits for the 85 new classrooms at Newton South, due to the fact that the world language lab bid came in lower than outlined in the memorandum.

(Levine- Laredo)

7 - 1 - 1

Opposed: Albright

Abstained: Zaleznik

DISCUSSION ON FAMILY CAP FOR USER FEES

Anne Larner stated that the administration has prepared some options for a family cap on user fees, which would set a maximum on the combined cost of transportation and athletic fees that one family would pay.

Patty Kellogg commented that it is frustrating that the cap impacts the sports fee collections but not transportation.

Sandy Guryan explained that it is basically a timing issue. The money collected from each fee must be deposited in the related revolving account set up and used for that specific purpose. The budget was reduced by the expected amount of bus fees. The fee collections will be used to offset the bills to the bus company and must be done before school starts, so that they have an accurate accounting of who will be riding buses in order to plan the routes. They would not know before that time if someone was eligible for the cap or how much to discount on the bus fee because the sports have not yet occurred. They do not expect an impact on spring sports, but it may mean they will have to provide some additional financial support to make up any lost revenue from the cap. There is some guesswork involved in determining the number of people with multiple children that will utilize transportation and the number playing multiple sports. This is complex and the database is being developed, but it is not yet exact.

Anne Larner asked if this is a conservative scenario.

Sandy Guryan replied in the affirmative.

Susan Albright asked about new ridership under this proposal.

Sandy Guryan estimated 10-20 more students per school, but this has already been taken into account and would not offset the cap. She will try to get a better estimate of this before the next meeting.

Marc Laredo commented that this complex task is taking a great deal of staff time. If he votes in favor of a cap, it is with the understanding of his continued opposition to the transportation fee.

Dori Zaleznik asked if they can include a caveat to revisit the fee if the ridership forecasts are down considerably and increased traffic becomes a problem. She is concerned that they will be forced to pay for buses that will not be necessary if ridership is considerably smaller and that it might place the sports program in jeopardy.

Marc Laredo shares the worry about the projections being off, but expressed concern about the difficulty it would impose on the administration to revisit this during the year.

Anne Larner believes problems should be addressed as they arise rather than anticipating situations.

Dori Zaleznik does not want to end up taking money from other places to cover any shortfall.

Gail Glick asked about a deadline for subscribing for the service.

Sandy Guryan stated that they are currently working on the specifics, but it will be sometime in mid-summer. They want to be sure to give families sufficient planning time, but also need time administratively to plan any necessary changes in the bus routes.

Gail Glick asked if there will be any flexibility for people who change their mind after school starts.

Sandy Guryan stated that given that this is the first year of the program, they will need some flexibility.

Nancy Levine asked about waivers for financial hardship.

Anne Larner noted that the material talks about using the free and reduced lunch program as the basic guideline, along with allowing the administration flexibility for hardship cases and payment plans.

DISCUSSION OF SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT

Anne Larner outlined the process that the Committee uses in evaluating the Superintendent, which involves a year's notice of intent to renew or terminate. The contract expires in June 2004 and the Superintendent is requesting a renewal. The Committee has given the Superintendent consistently strong marks for his leadership and community relations and strong progress in his management skills, which relate to the annual Systemwide Goals. Specifically, the budget monitoring and upgrading of budget documents received high praise from both the School Committee and the Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Board of Aldermen. Operations was another area in which the Committee expressed positive comments about leadership and management. It is hoped that with the acquisition of new software, improvements will be even more noticeable. In the area of curriculum, the Committee mentioned the major effort on smaller learning communities. They were not as successful as they would have liked to be in the area of graduation requirements, but continue to press ahead and hope that can come to fruition soon.

She then talked about the history of the Superintendent's performance over the past five years. He has displayed excellent leadership as a voice for the school system during the very difficult bus tragedy at Oak Hill Middle School, as well as during the Override in 2000. He excels in bringing a budget document to the Committee that meets their guidelines, addresses the financial constraints, but preserves quality education. The revision, alignment, and differentiating of curriculum, along with appropriate professional development programs, has been a focus in his tenure, as well as the development of MCAS support systems and communicating expectations through both forums and written materials. In the business area, he has worked hard to improve monitoring systems, budget documents, building analytical capacity, and developing a partnership with the City to reconcile and enhance the budget process. In operations, he displayed strong leadership taking them through the high school projects, which were not even a concept when he came on board. He has overseen the implementation of

the tier 1 construction projects, redistricting, and improving the situation for a long-range plan for facilities. In technology, they have developed a master plan and he is working on options for funding and financing this plan in a fiscally constrained environment.

Susan Albright has watched the professionalism and commitment of the school department grow under Dr. Young's leadership. He has earned the respect of the staff and the community at large. This is not to say that there has never been controversy, but it is the manner in which he has handled that which is so exemplary.

Dori Zaleznik believes that the job of superintendent is an extremely difficult one and Newton is fortunate to have someone of Dr. Young's caliber willing to sign on to another term. His ability to articulate a vision for the schools and then follow through with ideas to bring that to fruition is extraordinary. He has a remarkable ability to expresses his passion for what the system should be and she looks forward to continuing to work together.

Gail Glick admires his ability to perform a multi-faceted job with incredible creativity and intelligence. He has steered the system through some difficult times and stayed the course.

Patty Kellogg is grateful that he has selected education as his field, as she has no doubt he would be a leader in any position.

Nancy Levine agreed with all the comments of her colleagues and added that his ability to surround himself with quality staff at every level of education is another important factor in his success.

Marc Laredo does not have the history that some Committee members share, but in the short time he has worked with the Superintendent he has been very impressed. He brings a tremendous energy to the position. He is a strong leader with a clear vision. His communication skills are superb and he has tried to reach out to all members of the community, including those who differ with his opinions. He outlined the three areas that he looks forward to working on in conjunction with his colleagues, the Superintendent, and staff: 1.) deployment of resources, 2.) upgrading the physical plant, 3.) remaining a high quality school system.

Leslie Schneider is impressed by the Superintendent's ability to remain grounded through consistent crises and issues without being diverted from his goals. He has introduced some important new programs and the challenge now is to be sure they continue to monitor the programs and hold them accountable.

Mayor Cohen supports all the comments that have been made about the Superintendent, who he respects and admires a great deal.

DISCUSSION/VOTE ON ELEMENTARY EQUITY RECOMMENDATIONS

Anne Larner outlined the six recommendations of the Elementary Equity Committee's report, which was discussed at the last meeting: 1.) to broaden the definition of technology for which PTOs can fundraise to include periphery and infrastructure costs; 2.) affirm that PTO funding for the school department's initiative to automate libraries will not be an equity item; 3.) to allow PTO funding for professional development that promotes PTOs working together in support of technology implementation; 4.) to ask the school system to utilize a leasing arrangement for technology acquisitions where that is either cost-effective or will facilitate upgrading of technology on a more timely basis; 5.) to address inequities in the future, if they occur, and the system is not able to provide sufficiently for other schools; 6.) to seek a formal recommendation regarding implementation of a citywide endowment fund. At their last meeting, the Committee seemed to be in agreement on voting the spirit of the recommendations and then work with the group to develop policies that are acceptable to all.

MOTION: It was moved to accept the Elementary Equity

Report, with the understanding that the School

Committee will work with the group in the fall

on creating a policy from the recommendations.

(Zaleznik - Albright)

unanimous

DISCUSSION/VOTE ON STUDENT PARKING FEES AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A STUDENT PARKING FEE REVOLVING ACCOUNT

Anne Larner noted that the Committee discussed the parking fee during budget deliberations. According to the City, this fee cannot be part of the transportation revolving fund and, therefore, must have its own account. The administration will look into how they might address equity and affordable issues on this matter.

Susan Albright would like to have a discussion in the fall about transportation, safety, and neighborhood relationships, particularly around the high schools, where there are concerns about parking.

Nancy Levine added that they will also need to work closely with the police department around enforcement of parking regulations.

Gail Glick mentioned the possibility of incentives for carpooling as something else to consider in future discussions.

Patty Kellogg expressed concern about the lack of parking for students at Newton South. She also wondered if the $2.00/day fee is realistic. If it were lower it might encourage people to park at school.

MOTION: It was moved to approve the adoption of a high

school parking fee ($180 half-year; $360 full-year)

for the 2003-2004 academic year, as outlined in the memorandum of 6/5/03 (Attachment H), and to

request that the Board of Aldermen establish a

Parking Fee Revolving Account, in accordance with

Mass. General Law Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2,

effective July 1, 2003. The account will be used for

the deposit of fee revenue for student parking and

for the payment of the wages for campus aides. The

School Committee approved a limit of $65,000 for

FY04 for this revolving account.

(Levine - Schneider)

unanimous

VOTE TO ACCEPT GRANT

MOTION: It was moved to accept the grant totaling $10,000, as outlined in the memorandum of May 28, 2003

(Attachment I).

(Zaleznik - Schneider)

unanimous

COMMUNICATIONS

None.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Joan Thompson, 126 Park St., stated that she hopes the situation at Bowen will be addressed with a holistic approach rather than adversarial. There is always

room for conflict and debate as long as it is done with respect. She trusts that a process is underway to address the issues, although it may be taking longer than parents would like.

Winnie Ebb, 81 Oxford Rd., talked about the dedication, commitment, and professionalism of the teachers at Bowen. She believes the school is facing a crisis situation. Some teachers are leaving and other are struggling to remain in an environment where they do not feel supported. The Superintendent has been meeting with parents, in an attempt to understand the issues. However, there is still no report on how he plans to deal with the issues and she is losing her patience.

Joanne Kazarian, 131 Cypress St., talked about the atmosphere at Bowen when she served as Copresident of the PTO two years ago. These issues were brewing at that time. An outside mediator was brought in, but to no avail. She feels that an independent evaluation is now necessary.

Luanne Grossman, 41 Oakmont Rd., also believes Bowen is facing a crisis. This situation should never have been allowed to deteriorate to this point. The parents have exhausted their avenues and active intervention is necessary.

Reenie Murphy, 53 Trowbridge Ave., Copresident of the PTO Council, reviewed the working relationship between the Council and the Superintendent over the past year. She listed the many topics they have covered including, but not limited to, post-Override issues/concerns, building stronger relations with the community, Newton North building renovation, an in-depth review of the budget, equity, citywide crisis planning, standardized report cards, and systemwide technology plans. In every discussion Dr. Young emphasized that students come first. His commitment to this core mission was demonstrated during difficult budget deliberations, when the classroom was left intact while the administrative staff was reduced. While he has always been willing to listen to all sides of an issue, he does not let public pressure dictate his personal decisions. He makes choices based on what is best for the entire school community. He has never asked the PTO Council to promote any social, political or personal agenda. He admits weaknesses and areas that could use improvement and works hard on those efforts. Newton needs such a visionary leader in a large and complex system and she looks forward to continuing to work with him in the future.

Jane Franz, 15 Trowbridge Ave., Chairperson of the Newton North High School Council, seconded Ms. Murphy's comments regarding the fine work of the Superintendent. The parent community of Newton North particularly appreciates the time and attention he has given this year to their concerns around the renovation project, technology, and scheduling. Not only does he spend time listening to the concerns and issues of the schools, but has also begun to actively

reach out to members of the community who may not feel that they have an effective voice in the system. He is a man of great integrity, who manages to keep his sense of humor in a most difficult job.

Kim Koger, 62 Stearns St., is happy with the education her children have received at Bowen, which is a direct result of excellent teachers. It was shocking to hear that some of these dedicated staff members were leaving and/or seeking transfers. She has been expressing her concerns for some time and entrusted the situation to the Superintendent and the union, since she believed issues of personnel matters should be dealt with in-house and confidentially. However, it is nearly the end of the year and there is no resolution in sight. This entire situation has created a distrustful atmosphere, which hampers the mission of creating a rich learning environment for children. She questioned the feedback process and would like some clarification so that they are not subsisting on rumors.

Maureen Karlson, 11 Glazer Rd., commented that the specifics of the situation at Bowen are entirely separate from the process, which is not clear. The Bowen community is divided and she is concerned about the future of the school. This is a poor example for children in how to solve conflicts. A petition signed by 120 people indicates a serious problem.

Claire Sokoloff, 41 Oxford Rd., past PTO President, stated that this is a very complex issue and one that is going to take time to address. She believes that progress is being made and that communication will be forthcoming. She also feels that what has made the problem worse is people discussing the issues with others rather than with the administration, causing inaccurate rumors to circulate.

Margo Rendall, 11 Rockledge Rd., past PTO President, talked about the culture at Bowen when she served in this role. There were always a few teachers who transferred or left the system for various reasons, so it was not an unusual situation. However, the positive atmosphere of the school for students was always paramount. She is disturbed by the climate that currently exists in the building and people need to deal with it in a different manner.

Dee Mallon, 10 Oakmont Rd., supports the process that has been put in place. Personally, she did not anticipate a resolution prior to the end of this school year, but perhaps setting a deadline might be worthwhile. She has no serious situations with either the teachers or the administration and believes that some of the problem has to do with rumors, misstatements, and misunderstandings.

Donna Cohen, 133 Homer St., challenged the School Committee to act as an independent body in the situation at Bowen. She believes that the Superintendent has failed in his responsibilities. A recent Newsweek article listed the top 100 high schools in the country and Newton was not named. She wants the system to once again be recognized for its excellence. In order for this to happen, the Committee needs to send a message to the Superintendent that he should forego any raise until such time as this occurs.

Cathy Tang, 83 Redlands Rd., West Roxbury, METCO parent, talked about the culture at Bowen. This is one of the most diverse schools in Newton, in terms of both its student body and faculty. Her family was warmly welcomed upon their arrival and they have felt quite at home in the school community. She has nothing but praise for the Principal and the Superintendent and a great deal of confidence that the administration will develop a solution that will work for all factions in this conflict.

Matt Hills, 25 Hobart Rd., talked about the Newton North High School project. While there is a natural inclination to want to press ahead, they must take the time to process all the information they need and ask all the pertinent questions. Having the construction manager in place from the start will solve many problems. The process can move along swiftly if they act as a board vs. a management team. He cautioned them not to "nickel and dime" the costs associated with the project and get it done right the first time. Finally, he wished to stress that this is an opportunity to learn from the first process and remake a physical plant that they will be proud of long into the future. The major players have to act as leaders to bring this to a successful closure.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 11:06 p.m.