MLF Report for GLTHS School Committee
Meeting Date 01/14/2010
There were two cameras recording the meeting for later rebroadcast. Seven committee members were present; Mr Deeb was absent.
Mr Anderson, principal of the Hellenic American Academy addressed the committee to discuss the cooperative program between his school and GLT and to invite and encourage its continuation.
The non-voting student representative of GLT SC, Mr Anderson, gave a report on the holiday donation program, WinterFest planning, the GLT Christmas show and the winter sports program at the Voke. He left the meeting immediately after his report.
Minutes of Jan meeting were approved 7-0
Treasurers report was approved 7-0
There was no report from the General Counsel
Superintendent's report
- Requested permission for the baseball team to take a trip to Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown NY - approved 7-0
- Requested rescheduling the Feb SC meeting to Wed Feb 10 - Approved 7-0
- Read his letter to the SC announcing that he would be retiring at the end of the school year and that he would be accepting his next semi-annual raise per his contract terms. SC members thanked him for his service and praised his accomplishments. A 4-member subcommittee was appointed with Mr O'Hare as chair and members Lenzi, O'Neil and Olsen to identify and recommend a replacement. Mr Lenzi suggested the a new supt. be hired no later than Mar-Apr time frame to allow a transition period before Mr Cassin retires. The first meeting of this subcommittee will be Thurs Jan 21 @ 5pm.
Mr Garabedian (School Business Administrator) report
- Requested 2 yr renewal of on-call architect (firm name: KVA) - approved 7-0
- FY10 budget: pleased that state restored $370K in 9C funding
- FY11 budget: currently being created, state budget to be announced in few weeks after which GLT budget will be finalized by Apr 30 deadline; Concerned that federal Medicaid reimbursement for special ed costs will decrease from $700K to ~$150-$200K. This funding is based on # of students. There was discussion of the impact that closing Lowell Charter School might have because additional students may go to GLT. Also discussion re: increasing the # of students accepted which would increase the Medicaid reimbursement. The downside of this is since only one school system can claim this reimbursement for every GLT student there is one less city/town student thereby decreasing city/town funding by a proportional amount.
New Business
Mr. Tully welcomed Mr Bahou to the SC
Mr. Bahou made a motion to have the superintendent report on teacher licensing, the waver process and request similar area Vokes provide info on their numbers of wavered teachers. Mr. Cassin explained the waiver process. Since many experts in fields that are taught at Vokes are tradesmen and not certified teachers, the state has put a waiver process in place. If a qualified candidate has a teaching license that person will be hired. If no licensed teachers are available then the best candidate is hired who then must apply for a license. If he/she does not meet licensing requirements the state will issue a waiver and a schedule of requirements (usually education courses which are sponsored by the state and usually given at either Salem State College or Fitchburg State College) for the candidate to meet in order to be granted a license. Mr Lenzi discussed his own personal experience of having been hired originally with a waiver and completing the requirements for obtaining a license after he began teaching at GLT.
Meeting was adjourned.
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