Town of Provincetown

School Committee

Veterans Memorial  Elementary School Library

Minutes of  May 24, 2005

 

Members Present: Terese Nelson (Chairperson), Peter Grosso ( ViceChair), Molly Perdue, Debra Trovato, Burton Wolfman( Secretary).

 

Also in attendance: Mrs. Lachowetz, Mr. Teso, Mr. Boxer, Ms.Waugh,  Ms. Scalcione

 

The Chairperson called the meeting to order 4.05PM with roll call vote of members present.

 

The minutes of the May 9, 2005 meeting were approved with the  following spelling corrections:  Disney and Mass Sail.

Peter Grosso made the motion.   Deb Trovato seconded.   So voted 5-0.

 

Educational Update

 

Mr.  Teso reported on the Day Care Sub-Committee deliberations and distributed the Department of Education publication entitled “ Quality Standards for Public School Operated School Age Child Care Programs”. He also distributed a summary of the document. If the School District operated such a program there is not need for future certification and licensure for school age children in pre school. The requirements for toddlers are unclear or non existent. He also explained the staffing requirements for such a program and the physical space needs.

 

The Committee instructed the Day Care Sub-Committee to enlarge the committee beyond that of the School Council and to develop a business plan including financial requirements to initially launch a pilot program for children ages 2.9 – 6 years per the Dept. of Education regulations.  The Committee recognized that it would have to seek private funds to launch such a program because the Fiscal ‘06 operating budget did not include this activity.

 

Ms. Waugh reported on MCAS testing  program. She noted that it went well with remarkable levels of student participation and cooperation without evidence of a lot of stress.

 

Unfinished Business

 

Adult Education

 

Ms. Scalcione reported on winter adult education program noting that there remained $1500 in the revolving account to launch the next program .

Burt Wolfman moved and Deb Trovato seconded a motion to initiate Fall Adult Education program in addition to the Winter Program and retain Ms  Scalcione to administer the program.  Motion passed 5-0.

The Committee also noted that an additional Adult Education Program was not included in the operating budget and that programs would have to develop a self sustaining strategy.

 

School Website Discussion

 Mr. Teso reported on the status of the Web page and the district Tech Council. He noted the need to distinguish between the functional  requirements of the webpage such as calendar and curriculum description and the esthetic or marketing requirements. The discussion by both Committee and Adminstration focused on job descriptions of web master and web designer. The Committee noted its frustration with the lack of progress in implementing the webpage. The Tech Council and Administration will present an implementation program at the Committee’s July 12th meeting.

 

Francis Family Scholarship Committee

 

Burt Wolfman moved and Peter Grosso seconded a motion to  appoint  Olympia Ciliberto as one of the two  School District’s representatives on the John Anderson Francis Scholarship Committee. Motion passed 5-0

 

PSC Policy:  The Committee voted 5-0 to accept Home Schooling Policy:  IHBF. Peter Grosso made the motion to accept and Molly Perdue seconded the motion.  So voted 5-0

 

Other

 

The Chair noted several dates for the Committee: May 26th reception for Superintendent Lachowetz,  June 3rd Graduation, Retirement Party for Mr. Brizzi,  June 23rd. The Committee also requested that Mr. Brizzi be recognized by the School Committee at its June 14th meeting.  Also noted is a Special Education Workshop to be held on June 28th.

 

New Business

 

John Hanlon sought the approval of the School Committee for a field trip June 17th,18th, and 19th  for his science class . The trip would include 12 students and two chaperons,  Mr. Hanlon and Tracy Rose (parent).  The trip would require the use of the school bus and gas but students would pay for their own expenses.  Molly Perdue made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Peter Grosso.  So voted 5-0.

 

Deb Trovato reported on a PHS Friends project to repair the gazebo at Motta Field.  The group is seeking $300 of school funds for materials. Peter Grosso volunteered that he would get the materials donated.

 

Committee adjourned  6:15PM

 

 

Respectively submitted,

 

 

School Committee signature                                                                               Title