Minutes Special Meeting #241 Thursday, October 10, 2002 7:00 PM ...

WACHUSETT REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMITTEEHOLDEN ♦ PAXTON ♦ PRINCETON ♦ RUTLAND ♦ STERLINGMinutesSpecial Meeting #241 Thursday, October 10, 20027:00 PMMedia CenterWachusett Regional High SchoolCommittee Members Present:John Rokicki, ChairmanDuncan Leith, Vice-ChairmanDonald BensonCarol Esperti (7:27 PM)David FedeliKimberly FergusonJeffrey GibbsJane JamesAlice LivdahlDavid LowenthalPeter MacDonaldKelly MaxwellNatalie Mello (8:30 PM)John NunnariJulie Scott (7:58 PM)Kathleen SinghTammy Tod (8:07 PM)Edwin TwarogMargaret WatsonPatricia Young (7:45 PM)Committee Members Absent:NoneAdministration Present:Alfred D. Tutela, Ph.D., Superintendent of SchoolsPaul K. Soojian, Director of OperationsOthers Present:Linda Lehans, The LandmarkStacy Grossi, Worcester Telegram & GazetteChristine Nelson, Sterling Meetinghouse NewsRemo Rossi, Chair, Sterling SelectboardStan Moss, Princeton SelectboardMark James, HoldenLarry Floryan, HoldenMaureen Floryan, HoldenDavid Gibbs, SterlingAnn Quill, SterlingMelinda Johnson, PaxtonRon Johnson, Paxton

Minutes Special School Committee MeetingOctober 10, 2002Page 2Jeffrey Wentzell, PaxtonDavid Clark, SterlingI. Call to OrderChairman John Rokicki called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM.The Superintendent distributed the Agenda (attachment 1).II.Public SessionMark James, Holden, read a prepared statement (attachment 2).Maureen Floryan, Holden, read a prepared statement (attachment 3).David Gibbs, Sterling and Larry Floryan, Holden, presented OperatingCosts Analysis (attachment 4).III.Discussion Regarding the Permanent High School Facility SolutionMotion: To consider a compromise position to put forward to the voters(P. MacDonald)(K. Singh)Chairman John Rokicki informed the Committee that discussion on thismotion would be for ten minutes.Motion: To move the question(T. Tod)(C. Esperti)Roll call vote:In favor:Donald BensonCarol EspertiKimberly FergusonJeffrey GibbsJane JamesAlice LivdahlJohn NunnariTammy TodPatricia Young

Minutes Special School Committee MeetingOctober 10, 2002Page 3Opposed:Duncan LeithDavid FedeliDavid LowenthalPeter MacDonaldKelly MaxwellJulie ScottKathleen SinghEdwin TwarogMargaret WatsonAbstained:John Rokicki(Motion failed 9-9-1)Discussion continued.Roll call vote on the Motion, which reads: To consider a compromiseposition to put forward to the votersIn favor:Carol EspertiDavid FedeliPeter MacDonaldKathleen SinghTammy TodOpposed:John RokickiDuncan LeithDonald BensonKimberly FergusonJeffrey GibbsJane JamesAlice LivdahlDavid LowenthalNatalie MelloJohn NunnariJulie ScottEdwin Twarog

Minutes Special School Committee MeetingOctober 10, 2002Page 4Patricia YoungMargaret WatsonAbstained:Kelly Maxwell(Motion failed 5-14-1 5-13-1)Motion: To take the modulars off the November 16, 2002 SpecialTown Meetings(J. Gibbs)(D. Fedeli)The Superintendent advised the Committee that modulars are temporaryand accreditation requires a permanent long-term solution.Member Carol Esperti left the meeting at 8:40 PM.Motion to Amend: By adding “and to schedule a Special Town Meetingon December 3, 2002 for the modulars if a long-term solution failed.(J. Gibbs)(K. Maxwell)Roll call vote on the Motion to Amend:In favor:John RokickiDuncan LeithDonald BensonJeffrey GibbsJane JamesAlice LivdahlKelly MaxwellNatalie MelloJohn NunnariJulie ScottTammy TodPatricia YoungMargaret WatsonOpposed:David FedeliKimberly Ferguson

Minutes Special School Committee MeetingOctober 10, 2002Page 5David LowenthalPeter MacDonaldKathleen SinghEdwin Twarog(Motion to Amend passed 13-6)Motion to Amend: By substituting “ballot vote” for “Special TownMeeting”(K. Singh)(E. Twarog)Chairman Rokicki limited discussion to ten minutes on the motion.Roll call vote on the amendment:In favor:David FedeliKimberly FergusonDavid LowenthalPeter MacDonaldKelly MaxwellKathleen SinghTammy TodEdwin TwarogOpposed:John RokickiDuncan LeithDonald BensonJeffrey GibbsJane JamesAlice LivdahlNatalie MelloJohn NunnariJulie ScottMargaret WatsonPatricia Young(Motion failed 8-11)Member David Lowenthal left the meeting at 9:30 PM.

Minutes Special School Committee MeetingOctober 10, 2002Page 6Roll call vote on the main motion, as amended, to read: To take themodulars off the November 16, 2002 Special Town Meetings and toschedule a Special Town Meeting on December 3, 2002 for themodulars if a long-term solution failed.In favor:Duncan LeithDonald BensonDavid FedeliJeffrey GibbsJane JamesAlice LivdahlKelly MaxwellNatalie MelloJohn NunnariJulie ScottEdwin TwarogMargaret WatsonPatricia YoungOpposed:John RokickiKimberly FergusonPeter MacDonaldKathleen SinghTammy Tod(Motion passed 13-5)Member David Lowenthal returned to the meeting at 9:35 PM.Following a question regarding the possibility that the Town of Princeton wouldnot schedule a Special Town Meeting on December 3 rd , the Superintendentreminded the Committee that as the chief executive office for the District it is hisresponsibility to implement School Committee action and would prepare petitions,if necessary.Motion: To direct the Superintendent to conduct an analysis of theoperational costs of B1 and A1 compared to current costs, assumingtoday’s educational plan.(D. Benson))(A. Livdahl)

Minutes Special School Committee MeetingOctober 10, 2002Page 7The Superintendent advised the Committee that this would create theperception of the Superintendent taking sides. This is part of thecontract with Strekalovsky & Hoit and the Superintendent indicated thathe would direct the consultants to complete this analysis.Roll call vote:In favor:Duncan LeithDonald BensonDavid FedeliJeffrey GibbsAlice LivdahlPeter MacDonaldNatalie MelloJohn NunnariMargaret WatsonPatricia YoungOpposed:John RokickiKimberly FergusonJane JamesDavid LowenthalKelly MaxwellJulie ScottKathleen SinghTammy TodEdwin Twarog(Motion passed 10-9)Motion: That the long-term high school plan offer open enrollmentschool choices(K. Singh)(P. MacDonald)Motion: To extend the meeting for thirty minutes(K. Maxwell)(D. Fedeli)

Minutes Special School Committee MeetingOctober 10, 2002Page 8Roll call vote:In favor:Donald BensonDavid FedeliKimberly FergusonAlice LivdahlDavid LowenthalPeter MacDonaldKelly MaxwellJohn NunnariJulie ScottKathleen SinghTammy TodEdwin TwarogOpposed:Duncan LeithJeffrey GibbsJane JamesNatalie MelloMargaret WatsonPatricia YoungAbstained:John Rokicki(Motion passed 12-6-1)A friendly amendment was offered by Member David Lowenthal andaccepted by Members Kathleen Singh and Peter MacDonald, to have apreferential seating for the two school option by town and that availableseats would be offered on a lottery basis.Motion: To move the question(T. Tod)(E. Twarog)Roll call vote:In favorDavid FedeliJane James

Minutes Special School Committee MeetingOctober 10, 2002Page 9John NunnariKathleen SinghTammy TodEdwin TwarogOpposedDuncan LeithDonald BensonKimberly FergusonJeffrey GibbsAlice LivdahlDavid LowenthalPeter MacDonaldKelly MaxwellNatalie MelloJulie ScottMargaret WatsonPatricia YoungAbstainedJohn Rokicki(Motion failed 6-12-1)Roll call vote on main motion, which reads: That the long-term highschool plan offer open enrollment, preferential seating for the twoschool option by town and that available seats would be offered on alottery basis.In favor:John RokickiDonald BensonDavid FedeliKimberly FergusonDavid LowenthalPETER MACDONALDKelly MaxwellJulie ScottKathleen SinghTammy TodEdwin TwarogPatricia Young

Minutes Special School Committee MeetingOctober 10, 2002Page 10OpposedDuncan LeithJeffrey GibbsJane JamesAlice LivdahlPeter MacDonaldNatalie MelloJohn NunnariMargaret Watson(Motion passed 11-8 12-7)IV.AdjournmentMotion: To adjourn(A. Livdahl)(N. Mello)Vote:In favor:John RokickiDuncan LeithDonald BensonDavid FedeliKimberly FergusonJeffrey GibbsJane JamesAlice LivdahlDavid LowenthalPeter MacDonaldKelly MaxwellNatalie MelloJohn NunnariJulie ScottKathleen SinghTammy TodEdwin TwarogMargaret WatsonPatricia YoungOpposed:None

Minutes Special School Committee MeetingOctober 10, 2002Page 11(Motion passed unanimously)The meeting adjourned at 10:30 PM.Respectfully submitted,Alfred D. Tutela, Ph.D.Superintendent of SchoolsADT:ssSchool committee/minutes