School Committee Notes: $150k in Building Projects Approved, Superintendent Finalists, and More

The Medfield School Committee met on March 18 at the television studio at the high school.

The public meeting started at 7:30 p.m. and was preceded by a 7 p.m. executive session regarding contract negotiations.

At 7:30 p.m., the committee discussed:

* FY14 Budget Update. Learned the Capital Budget Committee has recommended $152,939 in school projects to be included in next year's budget:

• Wheelock: Upgrade classroom electrical, $15,000
• Wheelock: Replace boilers, $9,950
• High School: Life Skills Program space renovation, $30,500
• District wide: Security Enhancements, $38,325
• District wide: Financial Software Upgrade, $59,164

* Superintendent Search Update. Learned the committee received applications for 30 qualified candidates which they narrowed down to three finalists for the full school committee's consideration. They are:

1. Glenn Brand. Current Assistant Superintendent of Sharon Public Schools. Formerly worked in the Needham, Wareham, and Dennis-Yarmouth school systems. He is a candidate for his doctorate.
2. Jeff Marsden. Current Superintendent of Wrentham Public Schools. Previously worked in Douglas and Taunton school districts. Has a Ph.D. from Boston College.
3. John Phelan. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Personnel in the Milton Public School District. Has worked many years in Milton district, also worked in Boston Public Schools, and was an adjunct professor at the University of Massachusetts. He is working on his dissertation in educational leadership from UMass Boston.

* Public Participation. None

* Dale Street School Statement of Interest. Agreed to not pursue the Dale Street project this year and to let the state's School Building Assistance program know that Medfield is voluntarily taking itself out of consideration for this year but will be back next year. 

* Collective Bargaining Agreement. The state has come up with new regulations regarding teacher observation and evaluation, and there had been debate on how to implement the new regulations. On Monday, the committee voted to ratify the teacher Collective Bargaining Agreement Article XX - Teacher Observation and Evaluation. 

* FY14 School Budget Mailer. The committee approved the mailer to go out next week regarding the $28,253,055 budget for FY14. 

* Information Sharing.

• Committee members congratulated the Medfield Girls Basketball team which won the State Championship on Saturday.
• Chris Morrisson thanked his fellow committee members for their work on various subcommittees.
• Tim Bonfatti recognized Dale Street teacher Mike Mason who organizes the Dale Street Talent Show each year.
• Learned the MHS Student Council will host a Putting for Patients fundraiser on April 6 from noon to 4 p.m. at the high school. Event includes 18 holes of mini-golf as well as prizes and silent auction items. 

* Superintendent search process workshop. The committee finished the meeting with instruction from Future Management Systems on how to proceed with the Superintendent search process.