Last night was our first
regular Committee meeting of 2015. Chair Kristin Thorp announced the
subcommittee and liaison assignments for 2015. Supt. Taymore provided an update
on ECC and Kindergarten registrations (details are on the website), the Lincoln
Principal search (the search committee, on which I have the privilege to serve,
has had an organizational meeting and our first set of interviews with the
intention of completing our work by the beginning of February), and a proposal
for a new agreement with SEEM Collaborative (where some of our students with
special needs attend).
In Educational Programs
and Personnel, MVMMS Principal Brent Conway and Director of Mathematics Gr.
6-12 Christina Cardella presented a proposal to re-sequence math at the middle
school level as a response to new frameworks from the state. (If you want to see the presentation, click
here: http://www.mmtv3.org/index.php?categoryid=28
and start the video at 15:35. It lasts just under an hour.)
Under Finance and
Facilities, we voted to accept a one-time infusion of $40K that the Board of
Aldermen approved, and will be using to address recurring technology challenges
as well as purchase a requisition system that will improve efficiencies in our
business office.
In Policy and Planning, we
discussed policies around background checks for adults with direct access to
students, student photographs (i.e. school pictures), the physical inventories
we intend the Supt. to take, school admissions and enrollment (including
kindergarten and grade one), and staffing. Policies that were put on the agenda
for information purposes (to be discussed on 1/27) include those addressing
student attendance, student activity funds, student discipline, gifts and contributions
to schools (including DonorsChoose.org), and field trips. A year-end summary report
was provided that details the completion of the review, updating, and revision
of the MPS Policy Manual – a two-year effort.
Read about the above
topics on our website at http://melrosecityma.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1523
or watch on MMTV or their website (location noted above). Next meeting is 1/27/15 at 7:00 in the
Aldermanic Chamber of City Hall!
