SCHOOL NEWS

The regular meeting of the Berkley School Committee was held at the Berkley Middle School on Monday, November 15, 2004. This newsletter will highlight that meeting.

Mr. Edminster . Berkley Middle School The principal and a group of teachers were interviewed during the Tier II review.

Professional development activities with staff were held November 20. Math teachers met with Susan Looney on the math exemplars program; Social Studies teachers focused on strategies to prepare for the MCAS social science tryout test; the remainder of the staff focused on curriculum development.

Student Council's first dance was October 22.

On October 28 BMS students participated in the National Student Mock Election.

On the October 29 Professional Development Day, teachers heard a presentation by Atty. Mary Gallant on special education regulations, discipline, 504 and general guidelines. In the afternoon, staff reviewed spring 2004 MCAS results.

Term I ended on October 28; report cards went home on November 10; parent/teacher conferences were November 17.

BMS School Improvement Council met and began the process of reviewing the current document.

Mrs. Bousquet and Mr. Edminster attended a program on how to begin a school-wide bullying prevention program.

Student picture make-up day was November 12.

The PTO Fall Book Fair was held the week of November 15.

Mrs. Francisco . Berkley Community School On October 20 (early release day), staff reviewed MCAS data for grades three and four. Technology training on the new grade entry procedure for grades K-2 was held and grades 3 & 4 conducted a more detailed item analysis of the MCAS questions.

The Berkley Community School PTO held a very successful family dance on Oct. 29th.

BCS completed a very successful collection of care packages to send to the troops serving in the Armed Forces in Iraq.

On the October 29 Staff Professional Day, staff worked with Susan Looney, Math consultant, on the content area of Geometry. Specialists conducted program visits this day.

All students in grades K-4 participated in a mock presidential election on November 2nd.

Report cards went home November 10, 2004. This was our first time utilizing the new K-2 report card grade entry system. Teachers in Grades 3 & 4 established a committee to investigate a new report card.

At the Berkley Community School PTCAC meeting, a presentation was given by Mrs. St. Pierre on Curriculum Accommodation Plans; they also began brainstorming future goals for BCS, as well as budget needs for the 2005/06 school year.

Congratulations to Sarah Fasel, grade one teacher, for being a Grand Prize winner in the .Wonderful Walls. bulletin board contest sponsored by Instructor Magazine.

The staff person in the .Presenting Our Staff. feature for November was Loretta Marshall from the staff of the BCS cafeteria.

POLICY READING was approved for School Discipline #6640.

NEW POSITIONS: The Committee approved two positions recommended by the administrative team as top priorities: Middle School Assistant Principal and a Life Skills/Health Teacher. The positions will be funded through carry-over funds and the revolving account.

MASS/MASC ANNUAL MEETING: Dr. James reported on the Hancock VS Driscoll session he attended. This case is challenging the state on the adequacy of the school funding formula. He also attended a session on proposed changes to the school building assistance legislation. Dr. James reported that Mr. John Miller from a Cambridge architectural firm will discuss school building assistance changes with the Berkley High School Building Committee at their next meeting on November 30 at 7 PM in the Superintendent's Conference Room.

REVOLVING ACCOUNT PRESENTATION: Dr. James presented information on Berkley School Department's revolving accounts. He reviewed the six major accounts, explained what activities the accounts encompass, whether town meeting approval was needed for the account, if capital items may be purchased, what the revenue source is, and fund balance information.

2004/05 BUDGET: A list of recommended transfers based on the budget expense report was approved.

PROJECTED BUDGET TIMELINE FY 2006: The Committee endorsed the budget timeline which indicates the 2006 proposed budget will be given to the School Committee on December 13. It will be discussed at School Committee meetings on January 10 & 24, 2005. The budget will be forwarded to the Finance Committee by the end of January.

DONATION: The Committee voted to accept a $2,000 donation from Malloch Construction to Berkley Public Schools.

PERSONNEL REPORT

APPOINTMENTS:

Donna Horgan, Technology Mentor

Heather Blaser, Technology Mentor

John Gallagher, Jr., Girls. Basketball Coach

SCHOOL PHYSICIAN: Middleboro Pediatrics (Dr. Bornstein, Dr. Gross & Dr. Welland) have agreed to serve as Berkley's school physician.

UPDATE ON THE HIGH SCHOOL ISSUE

Dr. James read the November 5 letter from Dr. Furtado on behalf of the Somerset School Committee. Berkley has provided enrollment projections and information on the number of students attending alternate institutions, as requested. The School Committee, Mrs. Mills and Mrs. Taylor discussed the other information requested from Somerset. A joint workshop meeting will be scheduled for the Berkley Board of Selectmen and the Berkley School Committee to develop a plan of action. Discussion ensued about different ways to solicit feedback from the community. Some ideas include sending a survey to all homes in January (perhaps with the town census), holding open forum for the public and placing a question on the May ballot (depending on outcome of Somerset's town meeting). Other ideas included placing signs on the common, updates in the School Committee Newsletter and using any other opportunities that come available to share information with the public. The point was made that it is important for the public to know all their options and the results of their vote. If they do not approve an agreement with Somerset, and they do not approve construction of a new school in Berkley, our high school students will have to be schooled within the two buildings that we presently have in town which could include purchase of modular classrooms.

Dr. James has had discussion with Mr. Wulfson from the Department of Education, concerning foundation reserve funds. He has advised that Berkley may use these funds to explore a joint project with Somerset. The Committee voted to send a letter to Somerset to re-affirm Berkley's interest in a joint project with Somerset, with the understanding that the Somerset School Committee is not interested in regionalizing. A communication was received from West Bridgewater School Committee that they are not interested in accepting students from Berkley in 2008.

SENIOR CITIZENS’ HOLIDAY DINNER: The annual Senior Citizen's Holiday Dinner is scheduled for Saturday, December 4 at 12 noon in the Berkley Middle School Cafeteria.

BERKLEY MEETINGS - DECEMBER 2004 

LONG RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEE: Dec. 7, 4:15 PM , BMS

POLICY COMMITTEE: Dec. 13, 3:15 PM, BMS

SCHOOL COMMITTEE: Dec. 13, 7 PM, BMS

SOMERSET MEETINGS - DECEMBER 2004

SHS PTO: Dec. 15, 6:30 PM, SHS 500s Conf. Rm.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE: Dec. 16 , 6:30 PM , N. Elem. School

(Call ahead to be sure meeting isn't cancelled.)