News

1. School Committee Meeting Update, February 1, 2012
   On February 1, the Sudbury School Committee held a regularly scheduled meeting.  The main topics of discussion were the following:

   1) Welcome to Todd Curtis, Assistant Superintendent

   2) Special Education Update

   3) Discussion and Vote on FY13 Calendar

   4) Preschool Parent Coffees

   5) Donation

   WELCOME TO TODD CURTIS, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT

   Dr. Wilson introduced Mr. Todd Curtis as the new Assistant Superintendent for Sudbury Public Schools (SPS).  He will join the school district on July 1, 2012.  Mr. Curtis currently serves as Principal at the Floral Street School in Shrewsbury , a position he has held since 2006.  Prior to his work in Shrewsbury , Todd worked as Acting Principal in Hopkinton and as a Special Education Teacher in Brookline .  During his time in Shrewsbury , Mr. Curtis has led the District’s development of a comprehensive Program Review process and the development of a district emergency response manual.  He also has implemented job-embedded professional development, including Learning Walks and instructional coaching, and led the adoption of data-based decision making, including school-based growth models, data analysis, and student work review, at Floral Street Elementary.   In addition to his school district experience, Todd has served as an Adjunct Professor at Lesley University and as a Mental Health Counselor at Cambridge Health Alliance.

   Mr. Curtis is in the final stage of his doctoral work at Boston College , and he will defend his dissertation in March 2012.  He holds a Master of Education degree with an emphasis in Special Education from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colby College .  The School Committee voted in favor of approving the hire of Mr. Curtis as the Assistant Superintendent and welcomed him to the District.

   SPECIAL EDUCATION UPDATE

   Special Education Director Debbie Dixson provided an update that focused on District goals, statistics related to Special Education in Sudbury Public Schools, programs and services that are offered in the District, staffing, expenses, and challenges in meeting the needs of students as well as State law and regulations.

   The goals of SPS Special Education include:

   • teaching students with disabilities to become self-sufficient, self-reliant, independent learners who can advocate for themselves;
   • teaching skills in the areas impacted by disability through specialized instruction;
   • teaching strategies to empower each child and allow him/her to compensate for the disability;
   • promoting independence and high achievement; and
   • providing a safe and inclusive environment which is accepting of all students.

   Special Education is designed to meet the unique needs of an eligible student so that he/she can access and make progress within the general curriculum.  SPS must provide each eligible student a free and appropriate public education (FAPE).  Services for students with disabilities are documented in an Individualized Education Program (IEP).  Oftentimes, the students will receive the necessary services within the District; sometimes an Out-Of-District placement is required.

   In SPS, 427 students receive services through IEP’s.  This includes pre-school students as well as students who are currently placed out-of-district and represents 13.9% of the total SPS student population (the state average for students classified as having special needs is 17%).  Some of the children included in this count are not yet in preschool, as the District is responsible for what is considered educational needs from the time that a child is three years old.  At present, the number of students receiving services through IEPs is somewhat lower than in years past, but the Out-Of-District placements are at an all-time high.  For FY12, SPS currently expects to spend almost $475,000 more in Out-of-District tuitions than originally planned due to higher than expected Out-Of-District placements that occurred since the FY12 budget was adopted last Spring.  Some of this shortfall is offset by an increase of $100,000 in Circuit Breaker (the partial funding from the State to mitigate Special Education expenses) and a $200,000 prepayment by the District for the Concord Area Special Education (CASE) Collaborative.  CASE is a regionally-based organization that provides its member school districts with special education services.

   The District provides a continuum of Special Education services.  Each of the elementary schools and Curtis Middle School administer relevant programs and services that address a variety of disabilities.  Some of these disabilities include autism, developmental delays, sensory (vision and/or hearing) loss, neurological disorders, and disabilities related to communication as well as emotional and overall health.

   In recent years, SPS addressed growing student needs by creating new programs, expanding programs, and increasing the number of Special Education teachers.  In order to work within budgetary constraints, the number of Special Education assistants was reduced.  The Special Education budget includes $7.4M in Special Education expenses and salaries.  Whenever possible, SPS houses Special Education programs within the District, thus avoiding the cost of potential additional out-of-district placements.

   DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON FY13 CALENDAR

   During the January 18 School Committee Meeting, a preliminary calendar for the FY13 school year was presented with a start date of August 28, 2012 for students in Grades K-8.  Subsequent to the January 18 meeting, the School Committee received a number of emails from parents requesting a post-Labor Day start date.

   Historically, the School Committee has determined the start date for the school year based on where Labor Day falls on the calendar and with the aim of aligning the SPS and Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School (LS) calendars.  The Committee frequently receives input from parents who have children in both SPS and LS asking the Committee to align the SPS calendar with that of the high school.  The Committee appreciates all input, which assists us in understanding the needs of the community.

   Labor Day falls on September 3 this year.  The FY13 calendar for LS has a pre-Labor Day start date, with August 28 designated for Freshmen Orientation.  All other LS students will begin on August 29.  School Committee Chairman Jeff Beeler explained that in his conversations with LS School Committee Chair Nancy Marshall, he learned that LS has a number of high school specific reasons for beginning next school year before Labor Day.  In addition to these factors, he was advised that LS was concerned that if they do not begin during that last week of August, there would be a late end to the school year (with five snow days), potentially affecting exams.

   The Committee discussed the various concerns about the pre-Labor Day and post-Labor Day start dates, including the factor that SPS could end as late as June 27 with a post-Labor Day start.  Superintendent Dr. Anne Wilson assured the Committee that there is essentially no educational advantage or disadvantage to beginning the school year before or after Labor Day.  The Committee briefly discussed the additional transportation cost that would be incurred if the school busses (which are shared between SPS and LS) are required to accommodate different calendars.  After consideration of all the factors mentioned, as well as input from parents for and against aligning the calendar with that of LS, the Committee approved a start date of August 28, 2012.  With this calendar, the 180^th day of the school year would be June 17, 2013 and the 185^th day would be June 24, 2013 (which includes 5 snow days).

   PRESCHOOL PARENT COFFEES

   On March 14, the School Committee, Dr. Wilson, and Early Childhood Director Linda Karpeichik will hold two coffees for parents of preschoolers.  The coffees will be held at 9:30AM in the Grange on Concord Road and again at 7:00PM in the Curtis Middle School Library on Pratts Mill Road .  Invitations for parents and guardians will be mailed to the preschool directors within the next couple of weeks, and a reminder will be included in Sudbury Patch and in the Sudbury Town Crier closer to the date.  This is the second set of coffees offered specifically for preschool parents who have an interest in learning more about and becoming involved in the school district.  The topics will include a discussion about the FY13 SPS budget and the status of Half-Day and Full-Day Kindergarten for next school year.

   DONATION

   Dr. Wilson and the School Committee wish to extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to Promethean which donated 10 ActivSlates (wireless, notebook-sized tablets that interact with the ActivBoard) and 1 ActivArena (dual pens that allow two users to simultaneously interact with the ActivBoard).  This technology equipment will be used in the classrooms of teachers who participated in a recent study by Promethean to ascertain how Activ technology is being used in SPS classrooms.

   Please contact us with your questions, concerns and comments at school-committee@sudbury.k12.ma.us.  You can also find this update and other important information on the SPS website.  To access updates from the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee, visit the LSRHS website.

   Respectfully submitted,

   The Sudbury School Committee

   
   
2. School Committee Meeting Update, January 18, 2012
   On January 18, the Sudbury School Committee held a regularly scheduled meeting at Ephraim Curtis Middle School .  The main topics of discussion were the following:

   1) State of Curtis Middle School

   2) Completion of Noyes Green Repair Project – Under Budget

   3) Vote on Submission to MSBA of Statement of Interest for Nixon Roof Repair Project

   4) Discussion of FY13 Calendar

   5) Approval of Shared Facilities Department/Manager

   6) Donations

   7) New Assistant Superintendent

   STATE OF CURTIS MIDDLE SCHOOL

   Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Co-Chairs, Christina Granahan, Marybeth Madigan, and Carrie Lucchese, presented the highlights of the PTO’s work, including coordinating and leading family events and school-based programs, as well as funding educational enrichment programs for students and technology equipment for the school.  One of the challenges mentioned by the Co-Chairs (which was also presented as a concern by other PTO Co-Chairs in the District) is a difficulty in engaging volunteers.  The Co-Chairs also discussed a concern that the Curtis PTO has shifted its focus from being an organization of volunteers to one that has accepted a greater role in fundraising.  The Co-Chairs thanked the volunteers who dedicate time and/or money to support the PTO’s efforts.  The School Committee thanked the PTO for its considerable support and donations.

   Principal Stephen Lambert was joined by House Administrators, Peter Fardig (8^th Grade), Elizabeth Greer (7^th Grade), and Angela Menke (6^th Grade) to present the State of the School.  The presentation focused on academic and cultural achievements as well as challenges for the school.  The current enrollment of 1074 students is expected to remain the same for next school year; however, Principal Lambert expressed a potential need for an additional homeroom to address large class sizes.  The Curtis administration has established a scheduling committee that is working with consultants from IMG/iPASS (the student information system in Sudbury Public Schools) to consider changes to the way in which courses are scheduled as a first step in addressing the large class sizes.  The committee will also explore potential enhancements to course offerings and to the structure of the school day.

   2011 MCAS results for Curtis included the following achievements.  These comparisons are based on the results for 351 school districts.  In the grouping of Proficient/Advanced, Curtis ranked:

                 ·         13^th in the State for 8^th Grade Math

   ·         19^th in the State for 6^th Grade Math

   ·         23^rd in the State for 7^th Grade Math

   ·         28^th in the State for 6^th Grade English Language Arts

   The school improvement plan for this year includes initiatives to meet and exceed educational goals for all learners in Grades 6-8.  Efforts to support student performance include:

   • continued focus on closing the gap, as measured by MCAS, between the aggregate and the grouping of students with disabilities;
   • expanded opportunities with additional materials for students with language learning disabilities;
   • flexible groupings of students for Math instruction in Grade 6;
   • professional development that focuses on the use of the Universal Design for Learning, which provides a framework for designing curricula;
   • implementing the GRADE assessment that will provide additional data relative to student learning;
   • working with assessment data available through MCAS and GRADE to better understand each student’s needs.

   The House Administrators discussed the initiatives at Curtis that support a culture of connectedness and community.

   ·   Continued work on school connectedness ensures that each student has at least one adult with whom they feel comfortable.

   ·    In similar fashion to all of the schools in the District, Curtis          developed a rubric that provides students with a common understanding of behavior norms.  Consultant Stan Davis made a request to use this rubric as a model for other school districts.

   ·    Positive Actions Within our Schools (PAWS) gives students an opportunity to recognize each other for thoughtful and kind actions.

   ·   Certain efforts focus on building a culture where kids want to do the right thing even when no one is looking and building a community of collaboration among staff members.

   In the Fall, the results of the Metrowest Adolescent Health Survey, which was taken by students during the previous school year, were released.  This survey asked students to respond to questions related to school connectedness, substance use and prevention, stress management, and bullying prevention and school climate.  As a next step to gaining a better understanding of the stressors for 8^th Graders, one 8^th Grade Team developed and completed an additional survey.  Following are some of the results:

               - 78% of the students reported homework as the biggest source of                       stress;

   - 49% of the students reported having extracurricular activities 4 to 5    days/week and spending two hours on each of these days in these  activities;

   - 42% of the students report doing three or more hours of homework  per night;

   - 54% of the students reported going to sleep at 11:30PM or later.

   This year, the Curtis administration instituted several homework holidays each trimester to ensure students have a break from homework and families have opportunities to spend more time together.

   Principal Lambert spoke about the many opportunities at Curtis for students to participate in activities outside of the regular school day, including sports, clubs and the Curtis play.  He also acknowledged students who recently participated in academic and community-based challenges, including the winners of the Geography Bee, recipients of Citizenship Awards, and the student selected as Sudbury ’s representative to Project 351 (the Governor’s community service program that recognizes student leaders across the State).  Mr. Lambert also recognized 6^th Grade teacher, Barbara Ryan, who received the Bev Hollis Award, which is presented to a teacher, who is nominated by his/her peers, for exemplary work and dedication to the profession.

   During this State of the School presentation, a special acknowledgement was made to thank Mr. Paul Lamoureaux, who teaches ballroom dancing as an extracurricular activity to 6^th Graders.  Mr. Lamoureaux donated outdoor lights to the school to provide additional safety for students as they arrive and depart from the dance classes.

   COMPLETION OF NOYES GREEEN REPAIR PROJECT – UNDER BUDGET

   School Committee Chairman Jeff Beeler and Permanent Building Committee (PBC) Co-Chairman Mike Melnick reported on the completion of the Noyes Green Repair Project.  This project was approved at a special Town Meeting in 2011 with a total budget of $2.6 Million.  The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) approved a reimbursement of 35.42% of the approved eligible costs.  The reimbursement amounted to $733,677.

   As a result of the timely submittal of documentation to the MSBA, going out to bid quickly to obtain the best possible pricing from vendors, and the diligence of Mr. Melnick in managing the project, the Noyes roof, boilers and windows were successfully replaced within 11 months from Town Meeting approval.  Delays in window manufacturing required the continuation of the window installation after the school year began.  The Noyes staff worked closely with Mr. Melnick to schedule the work for individual classrooms while students were not in those rooms.

   The final cost of the project totaled $2,309,358, which is $290,642 under budget.  Adding to this the above-mentioned reimbursement from the MSBA (of $733,677) and an incentive from National Grid (of $31,524), the Town saved $1,055,843, roughly 41% of the initial total projection of $2,600,000.  Consequently, the total cost of the project to Sudbury is $1,544,157.

   The School Committee thanked Mr. Melnick for his outstanding work on the project, which included managing through manufacturing and weather-related delays and working closely with District staff throughout the installation of the roof, boilers, and windows.

   VOTE ON SUBMISSION OF SOI TO MSBA FOR NIXON ROOF REPAIR

   During the meeting, the School Committee voted unanimously to authorize Superintendent Dr. Anne Wilson and Chairman Jeff Beeler to execute a Statement of Interest (SOI) (and any other necessary documentation) to the MSBA for the repair/replacement of the Nixon School roof.  Mr. Melnick, Co-Chairman of the Permanent Building Committee, recently notified the School Committee of the need to submit a SOI to request partial funding by MSBA for this project.  The SOI submission required emergency meetings by the School Committee and the Board of Selectmen on January 11.

   The Nixon roof has been a high priority (for a number of years) on the list of capital improvements that SPS has submitted to the Capital Improvement Planning Committee.  It is also the next school project in line on a town-wide roofing survey commissioned by the PBC a couple of years ago.  One portion of the roof is failing (causing leaks) and lacks sufficient insulation.  This area will need to be replaced.  Other areas over classrooms and the gymnasium require repairs.

   More information regarding this potential project will be forthcoming in future School Committee meetings.

   DISCUSSION OF FY13 CALENDAR

   Dr. Wilson presented a preliminary calendar for the FY13 school year.  At present, the tentative calendar has a start date of August 28, 2012 for students in Grades K-8.  The 180^th day of the school year is June 14, 2013 and the 185^th day is June 21, 2013 (which includes 5 snow days).

   Customarily, SPS and Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School (LS) coordinate calendars in order to synchronize start and end dates.  SPS will finalize its calendar after receipt of LS’s calendar and a vote by the LS School Committee.  Further information will be forthcoming.

   APPROVAL OF SHARED FACILITIES DEPARTMENT/MANAGER

   During the Town Meeting in 2011, the position of a Shared Facilities Manager between the Town and Sudbury Public Schools was approved by a vote of the Town.  Through the efforts of Vice Chair, Susan Iuliano, and Town staff, including Town Manager Maureen Valente, a Memorandum of Agreement for a Shared Facilities Department/Manager has been created.  Chairman, Jeff Beeler, thanked Ms. Iuliano for her extensive and effective efforts in bringing this process to fruition.

   The School Committee voted unanimously to approve and enter into the Memorandum of Agreement for the Shared Facilities Department/Manager.  Earlier in the week, the Board of Selectmen also voted unanimously to approve and enter into the Memorandum of Agreement with Sudbury Public Schools.

   DONATIONS

   Dr. Wilson and the School Committee extend our sincere gratitude to the Haynes Organization of Parents for its donation of 13 MacBooks to complete the 3^rd Grade Laptop Cart and the installation of an LCD projector in the Haynes auditorium.

   The Committee and Dr. Wilson also express our appreciation to the families of Loring’s 5^th Grade class taught by Brad Jones, who donated an Amazon Kindle with a case and power cords and $100 of Amazon gift cards, to be used by the current and future students in Mr. Jones’ classroom.

   NEW ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT

   Dr. Wilson announced her recommendation of Mr. Todd Curtis as the new Assistant Superintendent for SPS, effective July 1, 2012.  Mr. Curtis currently serves as Principal at the Floral Street School in Shrewsbury , a position he has held since 2006.  Prior to his work in Shrewsbury , Todd worked as Acting Principal in Hopkinton and as a Special Education Teacher in Brookline. 

   During his time in Shrewsbury , Mr. Curtis has led the District’s development of a comprehensive Program Review process and the development of a district emergency response manual.  He also has implemented job-embedded professional development, including Learning Walks and instructional coaching and led the adoption of data-based decision making, including school-based growth models, data analysis, and student work review, at Floral Street Elementary.   In addition to his school district experience, Todd has served as an Adjunct Professor at Lesley University and as a Mental Health Counselor at Cambridge Health Alliance.

   Mr. Curtis is in the final stage of his doctoral work at Boston College , and he will defend his dissertation in March 2012.  He holds a Master of Education degree with an emphasis in Special Education from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colby College .  Mr. Curtis will meet with the School Committee at the February 1, 2012 meeting.

   Please contact us with your questions, concerns and comments at school-committee@sudbury.k12.ma.us.  You can also find this update and other important information on the SPS website.  To access updates from the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee, visit the LSRHS website.

   Respectfully submitted,

   The Sudbury School Committee
3. School Committee Meeting Update, January 4, 2012
   On January 4, the Sudbury School Committee held a regularly scheduled meeting.  The main topics of discussion were the following:

   1)      FY13 Budget and Enrollment Projections

   2)      Discussion of Administrators’ Salaries

   3)      Transportation Warrant Article Update

   4)      Announcement Regarding School Committee Positions

   5)      Recognitions

   FY13 BUDGET AND ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS

   Superintendent Dr. Anne Wilson and Business and Finance Director Mary Will updated the School Committee about enrollment projections and the FY13 rollup budget.  As has been stated in recent School Committee Updates, the rollup budget represents the same programs and staffing levels as those in the current fiscal year, rolled forward one year, utilizing certain assumptions related to salaries, benefits, and expenses.  The FY13 rollup budget reflects a step increase for teachers but no additional Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase in salaries.

   At this meeting, the School Committee voted to approve a budget with a reduction of the equivalent of 4.5 full-time positions, anticipating a decrease in enrollment of 80 students in Grades 1 through 5 and a slight increase of 4 students in Curtis Middle School .  Final Kindergarten enrollment as well as the number of students moving into or out of Sudbury between now and the start of next school year are not yet known.  At present, the District has received registrations for 146 Full-Day Kindergarten students and 22 Half-Day.  This breakdown is similar to that of the current school year.

   Since the last School Committee Meeting, the Administration has determined that there will be a decrease in expenses due to some savings in transportation fees.  The FY13 rollup budget that was approved by the School Committee and will be presented to the Finance Committee (Fincom) reflects this latest information as well as the decrease in enrollment.  This improved outlook for the rollup budget includes a deficit of approximately $243,000.  This is adjusted from the deficit of $389,662 that was reported in the previous School Committee Update.

   Some important points to make at this juncture in the budgeting process are:

   • The data is still in a state of flux.
   • Enrollment numbers are likely to change.
   • The Special Education budgetary needs will not be known until February 2012.
   • The level of Special Education funding by the State is not yet known.
   • School district needs that are not covered in the FY13 rollup budget include:  the addition of a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst; the portion of technology, professional development, curriculum analysis and review, and program enhancement/expansion that were funded with stimulus money over the past three years.
   • Typically, some COLA salary increase is included in the rollup budget.  Fincom has requested that step increases be included but that there be no COLA included in this budget.  A 1% COLA would equal $250,000 in cost to Sudbury Public Schools.  Salary increases for teachers and support staff are subject to collective bargaining.

   ADMINISTRATORS’ SALARIES

   In a recent Finance Committee Meeting, Fincom member Bob Stein raised some questions regarding the salaries of some of the District’s administrators.  Mr. Stein expressed his displeasure with salary increases that were given to these administrators and further incorrectly stated that Dr. Wilson’s compensation is greater than the compensation paid to former Superintendent Dr. John Brackett.  Mr. Stein’s statement is at odds with information the School Committee had previously submitted to Fincom.  Data regarding Dr. Brackett’s compensation including his annuity has been included in the FinCom report in the Town Warrant each year.

   School Committee Chairman Jeff Beeler indicated that he was troubled that any member of a Town Committee would inject misinformation into what should be an objective and dispassionate discussion about school finance.  While noting that the Committee could not address all sources of misinformation, a member of the Finance Committee elevating such misinformation at a level where it could potentially impact policy-making poses serious concerns.  Given that the School Committee takes seriously its obligation to present factual information about SPS operations, Mr. Beeler stated that it was proper for the Committee to respond.  He noted that the School Committee does not usually discuss individual compensation publically, but that under the circumstances, and given that such information is publically available, some discussion, with apologies to the specific employees involved, was warranted.

   First, it was noted that the suggestion that Dr. Wilson is paid more than Dr. Brackett is simply false.  As noted in a PowerPoint slide, the $188,277 in contractual compensation provided during the last year of Dr. Brackett’s employment is greater than the $169,800 in compensation provided in Dr. Wilson’s contract.  The PowerPoint slide set forth three elements of Dr. Brackett’s compensation: salary ($161,277), annuity ($21,000) and tuition reimbursement ($6,000).  It was noted that while Dr. Brackett likely did not take advantage of the tuition reimbursement, at a minimum, his compensation was $12,477 more than Dr. Wilson’s.  It was noted that Dr. Wilson’s compensation was in line with the going rate when she was hired and that the hiring process illustrated to the Committee that it was quite fortunate to have had the services of Dr. Brackett for what he was being paid.  It was also explained that historically the School Committee has allowed the Superintendent to direct a portion of their compensation into an annuity.  Dr. Brackett decided to do so; Dr. Wilson decided not to do so.  The data presented also noted that Dr. Wilson’s compensation, at $169,800, was lower than that of the Superintendents of Concord , Lincoln , Wayland, Wellesley and Weston (which range from $180,073-$200,000).

   As it relates to other Central Office administrators, it was noted that in the judgment of Dr. Brackett and the Committee, the market adjustments to the salaries at issue were warranted, appropriate, and necessary to ensure the continued proper management of the SPS District that serves more than 3,000 children.  It was further noted that at the time the market adjustments were made, there was not only a concern about fairness in compensation, but a need to ensure the retention of valued employees who would provide continuity and stability to a District that was undergoing profound leadership change at the highest administrative levels.  Additional comparative data was presented that placed the other Central Office administrators’ compensation in the mid-range of the Districts noted above.

   TRANSPORTATION WARRANT ARTICLE

   Vice Chair Susan Iuliano updated the Committee about the status of a home-rule petition requested by the Town of Sharon seeking an exemption from certain requirements concerning  transportation fees.  As has been noted in previous School Committee Updates, this Committee has been discussing the possibility of including a warrant article in this year’s Town Warrant to address the equity and cost issues related to SPS bus transportation by seeking a similar exemption from state law.  Ms. Iuliano informed the Committee that no progress has been made in the State Legislature with regard to Sharon ’s petition or with regard to other pending bills that would change the state-wide requirements.  She also noted that Sudbury ’s Legislators have stated that they would support our efforts; however, it is unlikely that such a petition would ultimately receive legislative approval for a single-town exemption from the state-wide requirements, especially when efforts are pending to change those requirements.  The School Committee is interested in remaining informed about and possibly supporting these efforts.  However, in light of what appears to be an initiative that currently has no path to success, the Committee voted unanimously to not include this transportation home-rule petition article in the 2012 Town Warrant.

   ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING SCHOOL COMMITTEE POSITIONS

   The Annual Town Election will be held on March 26.  This year, two of the School Committee members (Chairman Jeff Beeler and Vice Chair Susan Iuliano) end their three-year terms.  Ms. Iuliano has served on the School Committee for nine years, and Mr. Beeler has served for six.  During the meeting, Jeff announced his intention to not seek re-election in March.  Furthermore, Susan stated that she will not run for re-election.

   The School Committee encourages people who have an interest in running for a position on the Committee to contact us to find out more about serving in this role.

   RECOGNITIONS

   Dr. Wilson recognized the large volume of parent volunteers in SPS who invest their time and energy in providing enrichment for the students and support for the schools.  She specifically noted her interactions with the Parent Teacher Organization Co-Chairs, with parents who help with music classes and school-related programs (such as Bridges and the Food Pantry, for example) and with parents on the Special Education Parent Advisory Council.

   Please contact us with your questions, concerns and comments at 

   school-committee@sudbury.k12.ma.us.  You can also find this update and other important information on the SPS website.  To access updates from the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee, visit the LSRHS website.

   Respectfully submitted,

   The Sudbury School Committee
4. School Committee Meeting Update, December 21, 2011
   On December 21, the Sudbury School Committee held a Holiday edition of its regularly scheduled meeting at General John Nixon School .  The main topics of discussion were the following:

   1)      FY13 Budget and Enrollment Projections

   2)      Nixon State of the School

   3)      Donations

   4)      Recognitions

   FY13 BUDGET AND ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS

   Superintendent Dr. Anne Wilson and Business and Finance Director Mary Will updated the School Committee about enrollment projections and the FY13 rollup budget.  The rollup budget is one that represents the same programs and staffing levels as those in the current fiscal year, rolled forward one year, utilizing certain assumptions related to salaries, benefits, and expenses.  The FY13 rollup budget reflects a step increase for teachers with no additional Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase in salaries.  Since the last update, the projected deficit between a rollup budget and a non-override budget (which reflects flat State aid and a 2.5% increase in revenue) has declined from $537,682 to $389,662.  Several reasons for this improved outlook are:

   • The Town of Sudbury has given SPS an updated projection of the cost of benefits.  Rather than the formerly anticipated 8% increase, benefits are now expected to rise by 6.35%.  This is a savings of a little more than $110,000.
   • The change in health benefits and employee contributions to health insurance premiums that were negotiated during the collective bargaining of FY09 continue to provide savings in relation to what would have been spent without these concessions by the various Associations.
   • Some of the tuition that is collected for Full Day Kindergarten will be used to partially offset the salary of the Early Childhood Director in FY13.

   Some important points to make at this juncture in the budgeting process are:

   • The data is still in a state of flux.
   • The Special Education budgetary needs will not be known until February 2012.
   • The level of Special Education funding by the State is not yet known.
   • Current enrollment projections for Sudbury Public Schools (SPS) show a decrease of 73 students in total, which includes an increase of 4 at Curtis Middle School and a decrease of 77 in the elementary schools.  Enrollment by school, by grade will determine whether the staffing level can be reduced.  There are concerns about the incoming 8^th Grade class size, as many sections of the current 7^th Grade Core and Unified Arts classes are over SPS guidelines.  The Curtis Administration will be working with Dr. Wilson to identify potential structural changes in the schedule and in the allocation of sections.  It is not yet known if a staffing increase will be needed at the middle school to address this issue.
   • Over the past three years, SPS received approximately $1.75 Million in Federal stimulus money.  Some of this was used to fund professional development, curriculum support, technology equipment, data analysis, and assessment.  Stimulus money will not be available in FY13; however, continuous improvement in the education that is delivered to SPS students requires that there be ongoing funding for these initiatives.
   • School district needs that are not covered in the FY13 rollup budget include:  the addition of a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst; the technology, professional development, curriculum analysis and review, and program enhancement/expansion mentioned above that were funded with stimulus money.

   NIXON STATE OF THE SCHOOL

   Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Co-Chairs, Maria Behrakis and Joyce Minkoff, presented the highlights of the PTO’s work, including coordinating and leading family events, providing opportunities for parent education through guest speaker presentations at PTO Meetings, and funding educational enrichment programs for students and technology equipment for the school.  One of the challenges mentioned by the Co-Chairs (which also was presented as a concern by other PTO Co-Chairs in the district) is a decrease in volunteerism.  The Nixon PTO plans to survey parents to gain a better understanding of their availability and interests.  School Committee Chairman, Jeff Beeler, thanked the PTO for its considerable support and donations.

   Principal Joni Jay was joined by Assistant Principal Eula Walsh and Lead Teachers Bobbi Benson and Joanne Bleiler to present the State of Nixon School.  The primary focus of Principal Jay’s discussion was on school culture.  A commitment to the whole child, good citizenship, and having fun prevail as the foundation for this culture.  During the past several years, staff across the school district has developed a number of initiatives to help students feel more connected with each other and with adults in the school.  Students who have fewer connections are provided additional support, such as silent mentors.   To further support a culture that welcomes students, Nixon teachers greet students in the hallways every morning, and both students and staff take advantage of opportunities to recognize acts of kindness by the children.  Principal Jay holds Peace Assemblies for an entire grade level once each month to concentrate on a topic and to give students a forum in which they can nominate each other for recognition.

   Over the past year, a decrease in the number of incidents of unacceptable behavior, specifically on the buses and at recess, has been noticed by both students and staff.  There is a concern about the seemingly over-competitiveness of sports during recess, which will continue to be addressed so that the school environment is consistently one of inclusion and acceptance.  The adoption of a rubric that categorizes various behaviors and appropriate responses has helped the students establish norms for their interactions with each other.  All of the schools have established a similar tool to support core values and a culture that is kind and welcoming to children.

   Nixon continues to show strong academic performance and growth relative to MCAS testing.  One example of this is the large percentage of 5^th Grade students (73%) who scored Advanced in the 2011 Math MCAS.

   Nixon staff, as with all district staff, is invested in the work of data teams, analyzing student assessments in order to target instruction to match each learner’s needs.  All of the SPS educators have also begun the work of aligning curriculum and instruction with the requirements of the Common Core Curriculum.  Some of the academic and curriculum-related changes across the elementary schools will include: a shift to more non-fiction literature in English Language Arts; covering fewer topics in Math but in greater depth; and developing an earlier mastery of Math facts.

   With an overriding focus at Nixon School that “Kids are what we are about”, Principal Jay emphasized the need to continue to foster an environment that strengthens every child’s connection to the school, promotes every child’s development academically and socially, and supports families in the community.

   DONATIONS

   Dr. Wilson and the School Committee wish to express our gratitude and appreciation to the Jack and Mae Rosenberg Charitable Trust for a donation of $50,000 for the Aspirations Program, which is an after-school activity program for children with autism.    The program is primarily funded by this trust but also receives some grants as well as contributions from families.  In recent years, the trust has donated $100,000 annually; it was noted that additional funding would be beneficial to ensure the program’s growth.

   The School Committee and Dr. Wilson also extend our gratitude and thanks to Lueders Environmental, Inc. (a lawn care and plant care company) for its annual donation to Sudbury Public Schools, made in appreciation for its Sudbury clients.

   RECOGNITIONS

   Dr. Wilson recognized the staff at each school, acknowledging the teachers for creating an environment to differentiate teaching to reach every student and the support staff for building an environment that is welcoming and meets students where they are.

   Please contact us with your questions, concerns and comments at school-committee@sudbury.k12.ma.us.  You can also find this update and other important information on the SPS website.  To access updates from the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee, visit the LSRHS website.

   We hope you had a peaceful Holiday Season and a bright start to the New Year.

   Respectfully submitted,

   The Sudbury School Committee
5. School Committee Meeting Update, December 7, 2011
   On December 7, the Sudbury School Committee held a regularly scheduled meeting at Peter Noyes School .  The main topics of discussion were the following:

   1)      FY13 Budget and Enrollment Projections

   2)      Noyes State of the School

   3)      Recognitions

   FY13 BUDGET AND ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS

   The School Committee and Sudbury Public Schools (SPS) administration have begun working on projections for the FY13 budget.  The Finance Committee (Fincom) has asked all of the cost centers (Town of Sudbury , SPS, and Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School (LSRHS)) to prepare a budget that reflects 2.5% growth, based on preliminary assumptions about local revenue and flat state aid.

   In order to evaluate the needs of the school district in light of Fincom’s requested budget, Superintendent Dr. Anne Wilson and Business and Finance Director Mary Will prepared a rollup budget for review.  The rollup budget is one that represents the same programs and staffing levels as those in the current fiscal year, rolled forward one year, utilizing certain assumptions related to salaries, benefits, and expenses.  The rollup budget reflects a step increase for teachers with no additional Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) (increase) in salaries.  The overall salary expense increases by 2.16% in this budget.  The rollup also includes a 3% increase in other expenses, with the exception of utilities (with a 0% increase due to conservation efforts) and special education (i.e. expenses other than salaries, with an 11.7% increase).  Benefits are projected to increase by 8%.  Because this is a year of collective bargaining with all of the Associations, the outcome of the negotiations will impact the budget, mainly in the areas of salaries and benefits.  It was also noted that this rollup budget does not include the approximate $1.75 Million in stimulus monies that benefitted SPS for the last three fiscal years.  The FY13 rollup budget requires an overall increase of 4% to total $36,830,443 to maintain the current services provided by Sudbury Public Schools and to account for expected increases in out-of-district special education placements.

   The budget requested by Fincom, which is a non-override budget, reflects a total of $36,292,760.  The rollup budget, at the projected 4% rate of rise (as stated above), is $36,830,443 or $537,682 more than a non-override budget.  This amount is equivalent to 11 teachers at an average salary.  This measure is presented here only for illustrative purposes to give an example of the magnitude of such a deficit.  During the School Committee Meeting, it was noted that the funding shortfall is a function of the arbitrary cap imposed by Proposition 2½ that is being used in Fincom’s requested budget scenario.  It was also emphasized that these are the current budget scenarios, early in the budgeting process, and they are likely to change as more information becomes available in the coming weeks and months.

   Enrollment in SPS is projected to decrease by 72 students (with a decrease of 75 in the elementary schools and an increase of 3 in the middle school).  At present, class sizes in the elementary schools for FY13, utilizing the rollup budget, would be within guidelines.  Sections at Curtis Middle School are currently over guidelines in a number of the Core and Unified Arts classes in FY12 and will be addressed to the extent possible with the FY13 budget.

   Dr. Wilson also presented an analysis of the Chapter 70 Foundation Budget for Sudbury Public Schools.   Chapter 70 is the main source of aid from the state for public elementary and secondary schools.  Every school district is assigned a Foundation Budget (which is the minimum amount of funding that must be spent on education).  The Foundation Budget is based on an outdated formula and is lower than what is actually required to run the school district, especially concerning health care benefits and special education costs.  The Average Per Pupil Foundation for residential suburbs in Massachusetts is $8559.  For SPS, this Per Pupil Foundation is $8212.  The surrounding districts of Wayland, Lincoln, Wellesley, Weston, and LSRHS all have higher Per Pupil Foundations than that of SPS.  The state funds Foundation Budgets to varying degrees.  Income level and the market values of homes in a town determine the town’s required contribution to the Foundation Budget.  Typically, SPS’ Foundation Budget is funded by the state at 17%.

   NOYES STATE OF THE SCHOOL

   Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Co-Chairs, Terrie Hallal and Lisa Potter gave a presentation that highlighted the work of the PTO.  This parent-run organization coordinates family events at various times during the year and funds educational enrichment programs and technology purchases (such as ActivBoards, laptop carts, and desktop computers) for the school.

   Principal Annette Doyle thanked the PTO for its considerable support and donations.  Along with Assistant Principal Kristin Moffatt, and 5^th Grade Teacher Michelle Archambault, Principal Doyle presented the State of Noyes School through a theme of “We All Fit Together”.   An important initiative at Noyes (and throughout Sudbury Public Schools) involves using pre- and post-assessment data to inform and target instruction.  Data teams at Noyes use this data to determine not only the level of student learning but also the type of instruction that is needed to reach each learner.  Data teams meet during ILAP (Improved Learning for All Plan) days and staff meetings.  There was some discussion during the meeting related to how best to sustain the efforts of the data teams.  This work is currently accomplished by the staff during some staff meetings, during common planning time, and also outside of the normal school day.

   In FY11, the Noyes 5^th Grade teachers, Laura Dayal (then a Noyes teacher, who is now the Assistant Principal at Haynes School ), and Michelle Archambault developed a Math Professional Learning Community (PLC) in the school.  This structure allowed the team to focus on each 5^th Grader’s Math education.  This year, the Math PLC has also been implemented in Grades 3 and 4 at Noyes.  Students receive a pre-assessment before each unit of study and a post-assessment following the unit.  The students are grouped together according to their understanding and knowledge of the subject, as evidenced on the pre-assessment.  These flexible groupings are changed as necessary for each unit of study.  Each teacher is responsible for all of the students in the grade and is assigned to a different level of learners depending on the unit.  The students receive targeted instruction so that they are learning in an environment that is an appropriate match to their needs.  This type of differentiated instruction is proven to be a highly-effective teaching method; however, it requires enough teachers and support staff to schedule all of the teachers in a grade for a specific subject at the same time.  As the school district continues to look for ways to provide this type of instruction, to “improve on excellence”, it is also facing the challenges presented by headcount limitations.

   Assistant Principal Kristin Moffat spoke about efforts that relate to the students’ social development, including the Connectedness Survey (which Stan Davis helps to facilitate), Town Meetings for the students, the Behavior Thermometer (that was vetted through Stan Davis and his staff and will be presented to parents for their input later in the school year), and the many ways that students help each other (for example, through the work of the Safety Patrol).   In one recent Town Meeting, the students gathered to honor Veterans who attended the meeting to talk with the students about their experiences and to sing patriotic songs with the children.  All of the Town Meetings reflect the core values of the school.

   In response to the results of the English Language Arts MCAS for FY11, the staff at Noyes is focused on expanding language skills and on topic development of the long composition.  As the requirements to make Adequate Yearly Progress on the MCAS increase each year, all of the educators in SPS continue to work toward meeting these goals.  Principal Doyle explained that while Noyes staff and administration are committed to continued improvement in the instruction that is delivered to the students, they search for the balance between maintaining very high academic standards and a culture in the school that is supportive and nurturing.

   Principal Doyle thanked School Committee Chairman Jeff Beeler for his work on the Noyes Green Repair Project that replaced the school’s roof, boilers, and windows.  Mr. Beeler, in turn, acknowledged Michael Melnick of the Permanent Building Committee for his outstanding management of this project that has extended the useful life of Noyes School .

   RECOGNITIONS

   Dr. Wilson recognized Assistant Superintendent Dr. Judith Malone-Neville for planning and implementing a very productive Professional Day on November 28.  Dr. Malone-Neville was diligent in her efforts to ensure that every staff member was involved in some type of development on that day.

   Dr. Wilson also recognized the SPS professionals who led workshops during the Professional Day.

   Director of Business and Finance Mary Will was acknowledged by Dr. Wilson for her excellent work on the budgets and projections.

   Please contact us with your questions, concerns and comments at school-committee@sudbury.k12.ma.us.  You can also find this update and other important information on the SPS website.  To access updates from the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee, visit the LSRHS website.

   Respectfully submitted,

   The Sudbury School Committee