SC Action in brief

October 17 meeting

§ Superintendent announced process and timeline for review of Newton North “program” for new building prior to his bringing recommendations to the School Committee in November for a vote. The approved July 2004 “program” must be reviewed with the new Design Team for affirmation and any modification.

§ Committee updated draft RFP for elementary and middle school facilities study. Date of final action will be determined with the Mayor who is in the process of identifying a source of funds for the project.

§ Committee began discussion of 2006-07 school calendar: should students start the day after Labor Day and teachers the prior week or should students begin the Thursday after Labor Day?

§ Committee voted to recommend hiring Gibson Consulting of Texas and Human Resources Services of North Andover MA to conduct reviews of the administrative structure of NPS and the classification and compensation for non-union personnel respectively. Final awards pending review by the City.

§ Chair appointed FY2007 Budget Guidelines Committee – Gail Glick (chair), Dori Zaleznik, Marc Laredo. Next guidelines discussion will be November 14. The final vote on guidelines will be November 28.

§ Committee announced plans to hold an interactive public forum on budget guidelines during November – date and place to be determined. Letters, emails and comment on guidelines continue to be welcomed.

§ Committee discussed 12 resolutions that will be before the MASC annual conference next week.

§ Reenie Murphy announced plans of sub committee to develop electronic user satisfaction survey on committee website www.newtonpublicschools.com