SC Action in brief
November 28 meeting
§ Superintendent presented his preliminary recommendations for modified educational spaces at a new Newton North. The Superintendent and new Design Team worked with North user groups to affirm and modify the ‘program’ developed in the original feasibility study. Proposed modifications were minor. Further detail, discussion, and vote are scheduled for December 12 and January 9th.
§ Committee reviewed latest data on the newly implemented elementary school lunch program. Early returns are encouraging, but the Committee requires more data and an appropriate feedback mechanism on customer satisfaction to be able to evaluate the program.
§ Committee reviewed a report on the elementary progress reports and acknowledged significant work by the Progress Report Committee to address teacher and parent concerns? The major remaining issue is how to best convey to parents mid year their child’s relative progress toward a year end goal. Parent and teacher feedback will be collected through June before further refinements are contemplated.
§ Committee approved budget guidelines for FY07 that reaffirm systemwide goals and long standing goals for class size, but signal another tight budget year and the need for continued internal review for further efficiencies and new ways of delivering services. The full text will be available shortly on www.newtonpublicschools.com.
§
The Chair announced that several items have been
added to the January/February agendas to review key areas/issues in
anticipation of the FY07 budget: January
9 – new Five Year School Budget Forecast; January 23 – FY06 changes in
Professional Development; February 13 – FY06 Changes to elementary aides;
February 27th – FY06 Changes to Elementary Librarians. In addition, a