Much news flowed from the Thursday, April 14, School Committee meeting. Apart from the vote about the former Gibbs School, the board, led by newly elected Chair Jennifer Susse and Vice Chair Jeff Thielman, learned:
— About the possible addition of as much as $187,000 in state aid under the just-passed House budget;
— That 425 have registered for kindergarten for the next school year;
— That, in an issue to be discussed next fall, Superintendent Kathleen Bodie said she is open to recommending an 8:30 a.m. school-day start time at the high schools and Ottoson; and
— From Michael Quinn of 15 Shawnee Road during public participation that high school and Ottoson track-and-field teams can’t use the Peirce Field track this spring, and Diane Johnson.
Budget, registration increases
As to the possible budget increase, which the state Senate must approve, Superintendent Kathleen Bodie said state Rep. Sean Garballey reported the state-aid increase of between $177,000 and $187,000.
As to kindergarten enrollment, Bodie said the numbers at Thompson and Hardy schools are approaching the predictions made in December by Jerome McKibben, a demographer who consults for the district.
She said 81 had registered at Thompson. Compared to registrations at the same time last year, she said the 425 was “close.” She expects final numbers to be in “high 500s.”
Consideration of a later start to the school day has been an ongoing discussion among Middlesex County school superintendents. “We already have a start time that is at the lower end of the recommendation,” she said.
She called for a discussion in the next school year, which would have to include negotiation with the teachers’ union.
She noted that some Arlington activities start at 7:10 a.m., including the band and Madrigal Singers.
As to the high school track, Diane Johnson, the schools’ CFO, said that hoped-for surplus to pay for damage repair did not occur, and fixes are scheduled for July. Committee member Paul Schlichtman asked Quinn to email Johnson with further questions, as the board does not typically respond immediately to queries made during public participation.
Vision 202 education rep
In other business, the committee voted unanimously to endorse Bodie’s recommendation of Scott B. Lever as the education representative to the Vision 2020 Steering Committee.
Lever, who has a Ph.D. and is a senior director for Gartner, has more than 18 years of professional experience in management and technology consulting.
He said he looks forward to engaging the community in a dialogue about what it means to have a “world-class” education.
Bodie said that changes adopted by the 2015 Town Meeting sought to have a more-defined standing committee and revitalized the education subcommittee.
National History Day competition
The committee also watched a presentation by Ottoson students portraying the high points of National History Day. See the full presentation here >>
The 2015-2016 team, one of the largest in the state, competed against 25 middle schools with 18 projects. Of those, six are going to the national competition.
The group had three honorable mentions and one special award, for the top Massachusetts history.
“We are all so proud of you,” Bodie said.
The team’s advisers are teachers Alison Sancinito and Jason Levy.
Finally, Rob Spiegel, the schools’ head of human resources, said a recent social aimed at attracting diverse applicants drew 13. “I think it was successful,” he said.
Subcommittee chairs
School Committee subcommittees for 2016-2017 have the following chairs:
· Budget, Kirsi Allison-Ampe.
· Community Relations, Cindy Starks.
· District Accountability, Curriculum/Instruction & Assessment Paul Schlichtman.
· Facilities, Jeff Thielman.
· Policies & Procedures, Bill Hayner.
· School Enrollment Task Force, Hayner, Cindy Starks, Jeff Thielman
· Warrant Committee, Hayner.
School liaisons
School liaisons for 2016-2017 are:
Bishop, Schlichtman
Brackett, Allison-Ampe
Dallin, Hayner
Hardy, Thielman
Peirce, Kardon
Stratton, Hayner
Thompson, Starks
Ottoson, Hayner
AHS, Starks
Townwide PTO, Kardon
This report was published Wednesday, April 21, 2016.
