This year’s cohort of MHS National Honor Society is
the largest ever, with 100 members. There is an increasing focus on community
service (especially group projects) and some of the students spoke to their
efforts at our 6:30 pre-meeting:
-
“Reach Out and
Read,” a Children’s Hospital Boston program, provides new or gently used books
for primary care doctors to provide children. The collection goal was 350
books, and 1589 books were collected and delivered over February vacation.
-
Since
toiletries are not covered by food stamps, students set up donation boxes and
provided the Servants Heart Food Pantry with 1000 items.
-
A military
movie service drive was conducted that involved placing donation bins in six
locations around the city. This effort was undertaken last year, and 150 movies
were collected and matched by a donor for a total of 300 movies. This year, 300
movies were collected and matched for a total of 600 movies donated.
-
Clothing was
collected for donation to families who might be in need. The initial goal was
20 bags, with 35 ultimately received and delivered.
-
Groups of
students joined together on May 3d to remove rubbish and leaves/brush from
local parks.
-
High school
tutoring is taking on enhanced life in the form of e-mail addresses by subject
area so younger students can ask questions of tutors for personalized help.
At our regular, 7:00
meeting, the following topics were addressed:
-
Elections for
student representatives to the Committee will be held in late May.
-
Education
Stations has submitted an application to participate in Harvard University’s
Community Action Partners (CAP) program, which provides non-profit
organizations consulting in order to address a specific concern. Ed. Stations’
concern is that they have grown substantially and would like a review of their
business model.
-
Four MVMMS
students have qualified for the National History Bee in Louisville later in
May.
-
Four
construction projects (Hoover, Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Winthrop schools) were
discussed and timelines presented.
-
The consent
agenda included: * three field trips (Roosevelt 2nd grade to the
Seacoast Science Center in Rye, NH in June; MHS iRaiders to Merrimack, NH in
June; and MHS band, orchestra, and chorus to perform on a cruise to the Bahamas
in Feb., 2016); * 2nd vote on Policy JC: Elementary School
Assignment and Class Size; * Report on maintenance projects completed during
April vacation; * Personnel Report; * Monthly Budget Report for April; *
warrants (bills the district pays). All items were approved.
-
Anticipated
enrollments for the 2015-2016 school year (which don’t account for students who
choose a private setting for high school) by school and grade.
-
Summer academic
plans, including high school credit recovery and middle school support.
-
The FY14
End-of-Year independent financial audit of the schools. There was one minor
finding and that was addressed immediately with no follow-up needed.
-
A request for
feedback on this year’s budget process in order to make it more effective next
year. Comments can be sent for review any time and Committee comments can be formally
submitted by or at the 5/26 meeting.
-
Committee
over-arching goals were re-affirmed and preliminary work was begun on next
year’s SMART goals, with further work happening on SMART goals and action items
on 5/26 and in June.
-
Advocacy
efforts continue, with the Committee giving the Chair approval to send a follow-up
letter to legislators regarding challenges faced by the district that can be
improved by legislation.
-
A
clarification that there have been no legal settlements in the district since
at least 2012 (the last year that was researched).
