WAKEFIELD SCHOOL COMMITTEE Wakefield, Ma School Committee Business Meeting Tuesday, January 13, 2015 Present: Chairman Callanan, Vice-Chairman Morgan, Ms. Cook, Mr. Liakos, Mr. Kenney and Mr. Markham. Also in attendance Supt. Zrike, Business Admin. Pfifferling and Clerk Majeski. 1. Call to Order – Chairman Callanan called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. 2. Reading of the Mission Statement: It is the mission of the Wakefield Public Schools to educate and inspire every student to live a life of engaged learning, personal responsibility and positive contribution through: 1) safe and healthy learning environments; 2) diverse learning opportunities; 3) high quality teachers and staff; 4) community involvement and partnerships; and 5) 21st Century tools and skills. 3. Comment a. General Public – None b. Student Advisory Council Members – SAC members reported that the Winter Ball will take place on Jan. 17th, mid-year exams next week, Gr. Parent Orientation Jan. 16, Warrior Academic Night held on Jan.12th. Warrior Academic Night allowed upcoming freshmen to ask students about courses. There was a big turnout and students got a lot out of it. Dr. Zrike thanked the students involved in the Academic Night and for guiding the 8th graders through the process. 4. Student Spotlight – Coding @ the Galvin Middle School – Erin Foley and students from grades 5-8 spoke about the Coding programs at GMS. Coding is offered to students in grades 5-8. It is the language of our world today; all devices run on computer codes. The program allows students to know how coding works and it teaches comprehensive thinking. Now mandated K-age 14. Computer programming jobs is growing at 2x the national average. Comments from students – Gr. 6 used website code.org. She spoke about how blocks are moved. It is done thru JavaScript. It gives a solid foundation is computer programming. Gr. 5 – talked about how you can program a character to do whatever you want it to do. Gr. 8 – talked about coding that is being done at hr. 7 & 8. Tristan spoke about how he has scored coding on his own. Spoke about Code Academy and can do anything with what you learn thru Code Academy. Help with logical thinking. Ms. Foley thanked the committee for inviting them and asked that they support coding programs in the future. Mr. Callanan asked if it was an elective and was told it has been in place since the first week in September. It is a 3-4 month course. Gr. 7& 8 will take the course for one half of the year. Mr. Markham thanked Ms. Foley for the presentation. He noted that, with

the introduction of Google to Gr. 4, the program is more likely to get an informed group when they enter the middle school. As the depth of students becomes more prevalent, is the curriculum going to align with the needs? Ms. Foley noted that it is constantly fluid and changing. She has revised the curriculum every year. This year the students have done more coding than they did last year. Mr. Liakos asked if the elementary curriculum is aligned with the GMS curriculum. Percentage of students taking the courses. Ms. Foley noted that she has met with elementary technology teachers to discuss what they can do to help prepare the students for the courses at the middle school. There also has to be more communication with the high school teachers in better prepare the GMS students. Almost all students are receiving instruction in instructional technology. Dr. Zrike noted the high school has to take it to the next level. Ms. Biscardi has done an outstanding job in guiding it, and is taking advantage of the technology tools. He thanked Ms. Foley and her students for their presentation. 5. Doyle PTO Update – Julie Kingley, Doyle PTO President came before the committee to update them on the status of the Doyle. The PTO is trying to focus on community. We want to be innovative, and are doing a lot of fundraising. The PTO is working towards getting tax-exempt status. The PTO tries to support the teachers. The members and Superintendent congratulated the PTO for all they have been able to do since the school opened in September. Mr. Liakos thanked the PTO for staying engaged re. full day kindergarten. Now it has to be supported at Town Meeting. 6. Chairman’s Remarks, Reports, Recommendations a. Chairman’s Comments – Committee will hold a workshop on January 24th from 9-2. b. Recognition Request from Dolbeare Staff – Ms. Morgan moved, seconded by Mr.Liakos, that the School Committee forward to the Board of Selectmen a request from Dolbeare School staff seeking permission to install a granite bench to be placed outside of the Dolbeare School, in memory of Jeanne Hudd. Funds will come from efforts outside of school to pay for the bench and installation. Voted Unan. 7. Superintendent’s Remarks, Reports, Recommendations a. Superintendent’s Communications – Dr. Zrike reviewed the following communications: 1. Communication from MSBA advising that the SOI for Greenwood & Wakefield Memorial High School will not be invited into the MSBA’s Eligibility Period, but invited them to submit in FY2015. 2. Parent University will take place on March 21st; 3. Walton & Galvin Principal Search Timeline 4. Warrior Academic Night b. STARS Crisis Team – Dr. Zrike recognized WHS staff Jason Levene, Jen Hart and Arthur A.J. Beebe, Recipients of the Philip Mahoney Exceptional Service Award c. Wakefield Memorial High School Program of Studies – Principal Rich Metropolis and Guidance Director A. J. Beebe came before the committee to present the proposed changes to the WHS 2015-2016 Program of Studies.

Mr. Metropolis commended Mr. Beebe on guiding him, as a new principal, through the process. The Pride Night was a wonderful night. Cafeteria was transformed and allowed to access every possible course they can take next year. Mr. Beebe was instrumental in the process. Mr. Beebe reviewed the proposed changes within the 2015-2016 programs of studies. Curricular offerings are reviewed annually with department leaders to ensure that programming at WMHS best serves student needs and college and career readiness. All students complete their course selections prior to February vacation. Once data becomes available, the department will start to build the next year’s master schedule. Gr. 8 students are visited by the HS guidance staff, are able to tour the school and are invited to attend the 1st Academic Pride Night. Mr. Metropolis then reviewed the changes to last year’s Program of Studies. d. Early Childhood Center Update – Ms. Perriello, Principal of the Doyle School, came before the committee to update them on the Early Childhood Center and present a recommendation. The proposed number of classrooms for next year total l7, with the potential of an 8th. The classes include: Integrated Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) 15 students, Integrated Social Communication 15 students; Medically Fragile 9 students; Integrated Half Day 15 students and General Education 15-20 students. She then presented the Full Day Preschool Schedule which runs from 8-2:25, with teacher’s day 8-2:50. Half Day 7:50-2:40, with teacher’s day 7:50-2:40. Music, Movement, Arts and Technology are incorporated into the preschool curriculum. It is yet to be determined which of these offerings will be taught by a specialist instructor for the 20152016 school year. Recommended Change for 2015-2016: Expansion of Programming; Walton K will move to Woodville; one ½ day will transition to full day ASD Class; Additional ASD class will be created; possibly add full day general class. Early Release Days: morning students will attend during the first half of the year, afternoon students attend in the morning during the second half of the year. Screening: Preschool will end 3 days earlier in June for screening. Tuition: Maintain current rate: $5000 for full days, $2500 for 5 half days, $1500 for 3 half days and $1000 for 2 half days. Registration: January 14, ends prior to Feb. vacation, priority given to current families; $50 deposit, lottery only if necessary, forms on Doyle website. The committee thanked Ms. Perriello for the presentation. Ms. Morgan moved, seconded by Mr.Liakos that the School Committee accepts the Early Childhood Center Director’s recommendation for changes in programming. Voted Unan. e. Establishment of 2015 – 2016 First Day of School – Next meeting. f. Request to add Paraprofessional at the Doyle School – Ms. Morgan moved, seconded by Mr. Liakos, that the School Committee approves the Superintendent’s recommendation to add a Paraprofessional at the Doyle School. Funding will come from tuition. Voted Unan. 8. Business Report – Business Admin. Pfifferling reviewed the month financial reports with the committee. a. Monthly Financial Statement, Grants, Revolving Accounts, November/December bills, b. Personnel Report – 3 appointments, 1 resignation c. Acceptance of Gifts

1. Ms. Morgan moved, seconded by Mr. Markham that the School Committee accepts with gratitude a donation of $2000 from Wakefield Educational Foundation (WEF) for the METCO Program’s 45th year Anniversary Celebration funds to be used at the discretion of the Advisory Council. Voted Unan. 2. Ms. Morgan moved, seconded by Mr. Markham, that the School Committee accept with gratitude a donation of $75 from Lueders Environmental, Inc. for the School Department to use as it deems appropriate. Voted Unan. 9. Consent Agenda a. Payroll Warrant – Ms. Morgan moved, seconded by Mr. Markham that the School Committee approves payroll warrants #23 and #25 as presented. Voted Unan. b. December 9, 2014 Minutes – Ms. Morgan moved, seconded by Mr. Markham that the School Committee approves the minutes of December 9, 201 as presented. Vote: In favor Callanan, Liakos, Morgan, Cook. Mr. Markham and Mr. Kenney abstained because they were not present. So voted. 10. Subcommittee/Liaison Reports a. Policy –Mr. Liakos moved that the School Committee lay on the table for two weeks Policy 704-R Family and Medical Leave Act, and Policy 1108 Relations with Booster Organizations. Voted Unan. b. Budget – Mr. Markham reported that the Subcommittee met on Jan. 16th, reviewed monthly reports and wished to recognize the central office staff for their transparency. c. Labor Relations – Met with Clerical union before meeting to continue discuss and will meet again on Jan. 26th d. Communications 11. Future Dates: Saturday January 24th Workshop, Tuesday January 27 Regular Meeting. Ms. Morgan moved, seconded by Mr. Liakos that the committee establishes April 29th as their second meeting in April, since the regularly scheduled meeting would fall on Election Day. Voted unan. 12. Adjournment – On a motion by Ms. Morgan and seconded by Mr. Markham, the committee adjourned the meeting at 9:30. Voted Unan.