School Committee Reorganizes for 2012-13

Updated Wednesday, April 25 at 4 p.m. with a correction and additional information about the Hillside and Mitchell projects.

Meeting for the first time since the April 10 Town Election, the Needham Public Schools School Committee on Tuesday, April 24 welcomed newly elected member Susan Neckes to the board and reorganized their positions.

Neckes replaces Bill Paulson, who chose not to seek a second term.

The School Committee got down to business right away by voting on who would become the chairperson. Heidi Black was selected unanimously, moving over from her slot as vice chairwoman, while Joseph Barnes was chosen to be the new vice chairman.

Black’s first public comments as chairwoman were to thank her predecessor, Marianne Cooley.

“I’ve learned so much from you,” Black said to Cooley, who was elected as chairwoman last spring.

In other business, the School Committee briefly discussed School Choice, as required by law annually. School Choice is a program in which students who live in one school district may choose to go to school in another school district.

As has been the case in recent years, Needham officials said they are not interested in having School Choice students at this time. Committee members said that with an existing problem of overcrowding at local schools, there didn't seem to be a place to put students coming from outside of Needham right now.

The committee will vote on the issue at its next meeting.

Other items of note that were discussed at the April 24 meeting:

Hillside and Mitchell Schools

An update was given on the and elementary schools . School officials discussed some of the key points in proceeding with projects, including that they did not want any new building to have more than three or four sections of each grade so the student population could remain under 1,200. The School Department also wants to minimize the impact of re-districting, and they want to minimize any costs that won’t be reimbursed.

Representatives from the architectural firm Dore & Whittier, which has been hired to do the prefeasability study, will give an update on the project on Wednesday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. at . Architects will share preliminary information and answer questions parents may have about the study as it moves forward. They expect to submit a final report to the Permanent Public Building Committee and the School Committee in June, according to a letter sent out to parents by the superintendent.

School Committee member Michael Greis reminded parents of children who are 2-3 years old that it would be great for them to be involved in the process because the projects will affect their children.

Superintendent Evaluation

The School Committee also discussed the upcoming evaluation of Superintendent Dan Gutenkanst. They made a few changes in the process by which they will evaluate him, and they will each be putting together their evaluation by the end of next week. It will be presented at the May 15 meeting.