MINUTES OF THE HINGHAM SCHOOL COMMITTEE

 

December 17, 2007

 

Regular Session

 

 

The meeting was called to order by Chrisanne Gregoire at 7:40 p.m. in the School Department Conference Room. 

 

Members Present:         Chrisanne Gregoire, Christine Smith, Barbara Cook, Caryl Falvey, Esther Healey, Linda Hill, Steve Nagle.

 

Central Office Present:  Dot Galo, Jean Curtis Loud, David Killory.

 

Visitors Present:            Todd Millen, Janet Duffy, Alan Freedman, Heather Lewallen, Eliza Burns, Jennifer Henriksen, Helaine Silva, Sharon McKay, Rick Swanson, Chuck Cormier, Doug Holley, Paula Girouard McCann, Debbie Stellar, Roger Boddie, Virginia Byrnes, Jonathan Asher, Tom Hoffman, Victoria Milano, John Cotter, Margaret Hughes Penni, Greg Sullivan, Karen Bogle, McCaig, Linda Port, Amy Farrell, Charlotte Alger, Maryann Shafter, Bruce Thompson, Mike Barclay. 

 

On a motion by Caryl Falvey and seconded by Linda Hill,

 

            It was

            Voted:              To approve the Minutes of the Regular Session of November 19, 2007. 

 

Student Communications.

 

Charlotte Alger spoke about events going on at the high school, including a choral concert, Green Day, undefeated fall sports teams, the Community Book Read book, and about addressing the concern regarding use of non-recyclable cafeteria trays.

 

New Business.

 

Dot Galo presented an overview of the initial School Department budget for FY 2009.  Included in the overview were the guiding principles, security and safety needs, budget assumptions with respect to class size, increased enrollments, greater mandates, high costs to fill vacancies and increasing special education requirements.  David Killory added greater detail for the level services budget, new initiatives and the Capital Budget.

 

On a motion by Christine Smith and seconded by Barbara Cook,

 

            It was

            Voted:              To approve the proposed 2008 budget meeting dates and topics.

 

The Committee heard an update on recent meetings with the MSBA.  Dot Galo reported on the MSBA tour of PRS, Foster, South, and the Middle School on December 12, 2007 and the subsequent meeting in Boston on December 13^th.  The MSBA saw firsthand the district wide enrollment problem.

 

Subcommittee Reports.

 

Christine Smith, Chair, Long Range Planning Subcommittee, reported on a recent meeting regarding the athletic fields.  It was agreed that the field study would wait until March to resume discussions so that the primary focus for the School Committee and Central Office remains the MSBA school project.  The LRPC recommended that the special town meeting to be scheduled or the new school project include wording for funding for the upgrades to both Foster and PRS and that the LRPC recommends that the School Committee act on a proposal at their January 7^th meeting to request of the Selectmen a Special Town Meeting and subsequent election for funding of the first phase of the Master Plan.

 

Steve Nagle, School Building Committee representative, reported on a recent meeting and confirmed consensus on moving forward with Foster and PRS renovations as part of the Special Town Meeting vote and that the Building Committee is progressing with the required bid pre-qualification process for the construction of the proposed new school.

 

On a motion by Esther Healey and seconded by Barbara Cook,

 

            It was

            Voted:              By roll call vote, with all in favor, to adjourn the School Committee meeting at 9:50 p.m.

 

 

                                                                                                            Barbara Cook

                                                                                                            Secretary

/ns