(Reminder: official minutes of the Melrose
School Committee can be found on the melroseschools.com web site following
approval by the Committee. My notes are below, and edits and errors are mine alone.)
Melrose Middle Schoolers
kicked off the meeting for our monthly “School Spotlights” segment, speaking
eloquently about their whole-school reading of Seedfolks (and resulting ELA work), along with a project-based
learning approach to medieval manors including a “Gallery Walk” for students to
view other students’ approaches to constructing a viable and sustainable manor.
The high school student
representatives spoke to the many activities in progress or anticipated at MHS,
including athletics, upcoming AP exams, Celebrate
the Arts! showcase of visual and performing arts by all levels of Melrose
students (tonight – 4/14!), and the upcoming performances of Les Miserables
(tix here: https://melrosedrama.wordpress.com/.)
Under her Announcements,
the Superintendent invited French teacher/French exchange program leader Mr.
Morisseau to present a book received in friendship from the mayor of exchange
location Saint-Witz to Mayor Dolan, inscribed with a personal greeting. She
spoke to her unification of many Melrose logos into the Melrose “M” as an
encircled block letter (as it appears on the football field, MHS front doors,
etc.). In addition, she provided warm thanks to Ms. Annette MacPherson,
Kindergarten registrar, for her tireless efforts to place incoming K students
at their first choice school while balancing the many other complex elements of
school placement (like ELL and special education services, geographic
proximity, physical classroom sizes, sibling enrollment, etc.).
Educational Programs
and Personnel
·
Dr. Adams, in
concert with the elementary principals, presented their Kindergarten capacity
study, recommended addition of two K’s at Lincoln and Roosevelt for FY17. There
is no ideal situation for next year, but Principals Donovan and Maranto believe
they will be able to provide incoming students with the same high quality
educational services we’ve all come to expect, with the additional support of
special education personnel in their buildings. Supt. Taymore made it clear
that the buildings will be virtually out of classroom space after the
incorporation of these classrooms.
·
The Secondary School Code of Conduct was
presented, with changes noted in the areas of privacy, information security,
digital citizenship, use of devices, and restorative justice.
·
The changes
preliminarily voted on start times for the FY18 school year were affirmed. The
district will now more deeply explore the details, like building access during
the earlier morning hours to ensure students’ health and safety.
Finance and Facilities
·
Mr. Ken Dolce,
Director of Food Service on behalf of our vendor, Chartwells, spoke to the need
to increase school meal prices (breakfast and lunch) by ten cents in the FY17
school year (which was approved).
·
Discussion
began around FY17 fees for Education Stations; with Dr. Josephson presenting competitive
market pricing and potential percentage/dollar increases. That discussion will
continue at the next meeting.
·
Based on new
state regulations, the Committee transferred dormant graduating class monies
(for those not already making arrangement for fund dispersal) into the High
School Student Activity Account “for the benefit of all Melrose High School
students.”
·
Supt. Taymore
announced that the search for a new Director of Finance (given the resignation
of Jay Picone effective later this month) has not been fruitful, and
recommended employing the services of an accounting organization with whom we
currently work to take on the critical duties that ensure continued smooth
business operations. The Committee transferred the balance of Mr. Picone’s
annual salary into a different category in order to effect this recommendation.
·
Melrose Chief
Financial Officer Patrick Dello Russo presented a review of the disappointing
financial situation faced by Melrose in that federal and state payments have
declined precipitously while our city’s needs continue to grow. It was
suggested that everyone carefully review the City’s Visual Budget (found here: http://www.cityofmelrose.org/mvb/).
He spoke to the importance of maintaining the most favorable bond rating
possible as a critical element of supporting a sound fiscal system. In
addition, he noted the fact that Charter School financing regulations allow
(this year alone) $2.7M of tuition assessments with only $.2M reimbursement for
a net loss of $2.5M, of which the gain of even a portion could be invested in
our city. Mayor Dolan commented that city officials are discussing health
insurance opt-outs for employees as an option that may be mutually beneficial.
He also noted that it is likely that we could lose some school positions, but
that would be the last possible avenue for savings.
The Committee voted to add
a meeting on Tuesday, May 17th (at 7:00 in the Aldermanic Chamber)
in order to complete budget deliberations. (Please
note that we will hold our Public Hearing on the budget – as mandated by law –
on Tuesday, May 10th at 7:00.) We reviewed the recent MA Senate
passage of the RISE Act (“enhancing reform, innovation, and success in
education) and it was agreed that we would consider a letter in support of the
bill’s basic tenets for consideration by the MA House of Representatives (should
they choose to take up this issue) on 4/26. We expressed appreciation to Mr.
Picone for his service to students and staff as well as the Committee, and
wished him well in his future endeavors.
Next meeting: April 26th at 7:00 p.m. in
the Aldermanic Chamber.
Have a great April vacation!
