Town of Provincetown

School Committee Meeting

Veterans Memorial  Elementary School Library

 

Minutes of

 February14, 2006

 

Members Present:  Terese Nelson (Chairperson), Peter Grosso, (ViceChair), Debra Trovato,  Burton Wolfman, (Secretary),  Student Representatives:  Jasmine Hadley, Helen Hemley.  (Absent: Molly Perdue)

 

Also in attendance:   Janice K. Lachowetz, Supt. of Schools,  Anthony Teso, VMES Principal/DSS,  Edward Boxer, PHS Principal,  Betty White, Administrative Assistant for Business and Finance,   Susan Avellar, and  John Hanlon

 

Vice Chair Peter Grosso called the meeting to order at 4:00 P.M. due to Ms.  Nelson being delayed.

 

Public Comments:

Helen Hensley on behalf of students who are requesting a ping pong table and the establishment of a ping pong team.  The juniors also requested to have a meeting with the superintendent of schools.

 

Minutes:

Burt Wolfman made a motion to approve the 12/15/2005 Minutes.  Seconded by Debra Trovato.  The Minutes were approved  3-0 (two members absent)   Debra Trovato made a motion to approve the 1/18/2006 Minutes.  Burton Wolfman seconded.  The Minutes were approved 3-0 (two members absent).

 

Education Update:

Mr.  Teso reported that the teaching staff  was all participating in technical training for computer usage email, power point, spreadsheet and data management.  Visual Thinking Strategy seminars conducted by Provincetown Art Association and Museum were taking place in the lower grades.  He further announced that during May there would be a mid-cycle audit by the State of Special Education and ELL.  Grade 5 will be going to Nature’s Classroom, and Grade 6 had completed their fund raising for their class trip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Mr. Boxer reported that Student Representative Jasmine Hadley has been accepted to attend Harvard Summer School.  Five students qualified for John & Abigail  Adams Scholarships for free tuition at state college.   He also reported that high school attendance from 2002-2006 has been increasing from 92.2% in 2003 to 94.2% in 2006. The Tennessee Williams Festival being planned in Provincetown has asked four seniors to perform the last scene of the Glass Menagerie to be directed by Ron Weissenberger. Three students are interning with the Cape Codder Newspaper.  Teresa Barbo of the Center for Coastal Studies is leading a class in professional writing.  Mr. Boxer also reported that according to John Hanlon who is coordinating the Cape Light Compact green initiative has enough subscribers who have joined so that a solar panel installed AT the VMES during the summer 2006.  He also described the Senior community service project, and announced the participation of students and parents with the Provincetown Police regarding exposure to MySpace.com.

 

New Business:

6.1    The Committee vote to approve a school ski trip requested by John Hanlon and Susan Avellar.  Burt Wolfman made a motion to approve the ski trip.  It was seconded by Peter Grosso. Motion carried  4-0 (1 member absent)

6.2    Committee noted the first reading of  a required Student Nutrition and Physical  Activity Policy.  It will be placed on the next agenda for discussion.

6.3    The Committee approved a line item transfer of $500 from line item 10-2800-44-400-118 to line item 10-2430-44-500-155.  Motion to approve was made by Debra Trovato.  It was seconded by Peter Grosso.  Motion carried 4-0 (1 member absent)

 

Unfinished Business:

7.1    The Committee discussed the correspondence from the Chairman of the Nauset School Committee and the activity of Keith Bergman, Town Manager, proposing the closing of Provincetown High School.  The Committee informed the student representatives that the committee would resist efforts to close the school.  The committee authorized the PHS principal to share with  students  the letter from the Nauset School Committee chairman.  Also, the Committee will schedule a public hearing for March 7th to discuss Strategic Planning.   The Committee approved  an  assembly  at PHS to discuss with students the future of our schools.  The Committee, on the recommendation of  Superintendent Janice Lachowetz, invited  Janice Williams to the next meeting  which will be held on March 14th  to discuss implementing a school/community strategic planning initiative.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Executive Session:

At  5:30 p.m. the  Committee voted unanimously by roll call to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing non-union contracts.

 

Adjournment:

Meeting adjourned at 6:30 P.M.

 

Respectively Submitted

 

___________________________                                          ______________________

Burton Wolfman                                                                      Date

School Committee Signature                                                                             

 

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These Minutes were approved at the School Committee meeting held on:

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