Board in Brief
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
This is "Board in Brief," issued at the request of Commissioner David P. Driscoll to bring you up to date on Board of Education matters. This is a report on the regular meeting held on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at Belmont High School in Belmont.
Comments from the Chairman
Chairman Peyser opened the meeting by introducing Belmont School Superintendent Peter Holland and Belmont School Committee Chair Scott Stratford, who welcomed the Board to Belmont High School. Chairman Peyser read a citation for Belmont High School senior Jeff DeFlavio, who is concluding two years of service as the chair of the state Student Advisory Council and as a member of the Board of Education.
Chairman Peyser also announced that he has appointed a committee to conduct the annual performance evaluation of the Commissioner. Board Vice Chairman Henry Thomas, III, and Board member Rick Crowley will serve with the Chairman on this committee. The Board will vote on the Commissioner's performance evaluation at the June meeting.
Comments from the Commissioner
Commissioner David Driscoll updated the Board on the FY 05 budget process. The Senate Ways & Means Committee has released its proposed budget for FY 05, and debate in the Senate began on May 19th. After the Senate adopts its budget proposal, the House-Senate conference committee will convene to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of the budget. The Commissioner highlighted two areas of particular interest in the budget proposals: (1) a proposed moratorium on charter schools, which would include some charter schools approved by the Board that have not yet opened; and (2) the proposed creation of a new department of early education and care to oversee early childhood functions currently housed at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Office for Child Care Services, and the Department of Public Health. The Commissioner noted also that legislation has been filed to revise the School Building Assistance law.
The Commissioner reported on the status of the Holyoke and Winchendon Public Schools, which the Board voted to declare as under-performing districts. The Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (EQA) has conducted fact-finding visits in each district. Board members received copies of the Tier III reports at the meeting. The Commissioner said the Department is continuing to work with leaders in both school districts as they prepare their turnaround plans for presentation to the Board.
School Performance Overview and Update
The Board heard a presentation from Associate Commissioner Juliane Dow on the school performance review process, which is defined both by the Massachusetts education reform law and the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Commissioner Driscoll noted that school accountability issues will be a large part of the Board's work during the next year. Chairman Peyser thanked the Commissioner, Associate Commissioner Dow and the Department for the work that has been done to implement a unified system of school accountability in the Commonwealth. The Chairman also thanked Deputy Commissioner Mark McQuillan, who is leaving the Department, for all of his work on implementing the No Child Left Behind Act.
Proposed Amendments to Regulations on Under-Performing Schools and Districts
The Board voted to solicit public comment on proposed amendments to the Regulations on Under-Performing Schools and Districts, with respect to the process for reviewing district performance. The proposed amendments: (1) clarify the respective roles of the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability and the Commissioner/Board of Education; (2) incorporate recommendations of the Governor's Task Force on State Intervention in Under-Performing Districts; and (3) make some editorial changes. After the public comment period, the Commissioner will bring the amendments back to the Board for final action either at the summer meeting or in September.
School Building Assistance
The Board voted to adopt amendments to the School Construction Regulations. The Board initially reviewed the amendments at the February 2004 Board meeting and sent them out for public comment. The amendments to the regulations address: a 7.3% annual cost factor adjustment; final audit requirements; procedures governing the sale or lease of school buildings that have received a state grant; recent changes to the DCAM requirement on contractor and designer evaluation; and clarifications and other minor wording changes.
The Board also voted to approve adjusted grant amounts based on the final close-out audits for 41 school construction projects. Based on the audits, the Department has adjusted the School Building Assistance grants that were originally awarded to these communities. The audit adjustments represent a total decrease for all the projects of over $9 million.
The Board also discussed an updated School Building Assistance priority list that adds five more projects to the existing list. Under state law, a community that secured local funding authorization for a capital or major reconstruction project by June 30, 2003, shall be placed on the priority list for reimbursement at the rate for which it would have been eligible on January 31, 2003. These five projects have now met all application requirements and have been added to the end of the priority list.
Charter School Renewals and Amendments
The Board voted to approve an amendment to the charter of the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter High School. The amendment changes the school's location from Hadley to South Hadley. Under the Charter School Regulations, the Board of Education must approve this type of change in the material terms of a school's charter.
The Board voted to renew the charter for the Community Day Charter School in Lawrence. Joan Silverman and Bruce Bean made a presentation to the Board about the school's accomplishments, focusing on the school's use of data to assist teachers in improving classroom instruction. Chairman Peyser commented that Community Day is the first charter school in Massachusetts to have its charter renewed for a second five-year term. He commended the K-8 school on its extraordinary track record in preparing its students, most of whom are from low-income families, for academic success in high school and beyond.
Approval of Grants
The Board voted to approve $158,345 in federal grants for community service learning (school-based programs), and amendments to grants under the federal program for 21st Century Community Learning Centers.
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Malden.
last updated: May 27, 2004
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