HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Comm. 4/9/2020Approved 06-02-20
Mansfield School Committee Meeting
Minutes for Thursday, April 9, 2020
Remote Call in
An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held in room 3AB of the Town Hall and
Via Remote conferencing on Thursday, April 9, 2020. The open meeting session was called to order
by Chair Kiera O'Neil at 5:30 p.m. A roll call was taken of both School Committee members and
Administration.
Members Present (via phone): Administration Present:
Kiera O'Neil, Chair Teresa Murphy, Superintendent of Schools
Lynn Cavicchi , Vice Chair Michael Connolly, Assistant Superintendent (Teaching/Learning)
Linda Fernando
Lauren Scher Administration Present (via phone
Jenn Walsh Edward Donoghue, Assistant Superintendent (Finance/Operations)
Members Absent: None
Pursuant to Governor Baker's Emergency Order Modifying the State's Open Meeting Law issued March 12, 2020, this meeting
will be held using remote participation via Bridge Conferencing.
Public Comment is temporarily suspended. However, written comments may be submitted to the School Committee at:
seltoolcomndttee@man.vfteldscliools.com until p.m. on Thursday, April 09, 2020 to be included as part of the public record for
this meeting.
This meeting will be broadcast live on Mansfield Cable Access and then rebroadcast throughout the week The video will also be
available at www. mansfieldschools. com.
***All votes taken by roll call vote ***
Public Speak:
Forty-one resident comments were received via email from the public. Due to the volume of
comments, they will not be read during the meeting. However, all received emails will be included
as part of the meeting records. Chair O'Neil reported that these emails all related to the upcoming
agenda item this evening regarding April Vacation. All except three emails were in favor of
continued remote learning rather than holding April vacation. Common factors include "don't want
to lose momentum", "our students are finally in a routine", "our days at home now are better spent
in lessons rather than in June when we may have more freedom."
New Business:
Continuation of Remote Learning from Tuesday, April 21,2020 through Friday, April 24,2020
Superintendent Teresa Murphy provided some background. The School Committee is responsible
for all approvals to the school calendar; it is not a decision that can be made by the district alone.
We are currently moving in a positive direction with remote learning. Teresa noted that we have
great momentum and would hate to take a break and have to start up again. By an overwhelming
majority teachers elected to continue with the remote learning. It would be Superintendent
Murphy's recommendation to continue on this momentum and cancel April vacation. Monday,
April 20th is Patriot's Day so school will be closed. However, if we held remote classes from
Tuesday, April 21st - Friday, April 24th we could change the last day of school from June 24th back
to June 18th.
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Approved 06-02-20
Mansfield School Committee Meeting
Minutes for Thursday, April 9, 2020
Remote Call in
Motion to continue remote learning from Tuesday, April 21, 2020 - Friday April 24, 2020 which
removes April vacation from the calendar and sets the last day of school on June 18, 2020 by Linda
Fernando / Jenn Walsh
Discussion
Linda Fernando: It was very interesting to see the emails sent by parents. Thank you for taking
the time to write to us. I like that everyone is in a groove and that students feel that they are
working hard.
Teresa Murphy noted that families and staff will be notified via email tonight.
Roll Call vote:
Lynn
aye
Jenn
aye
Kiera
aye
Linda
aye
Lauren
aye
Motion Carries 5 - 0.
Other- Items not anticipated by the Chair 48 hours prior to this meeting_
Superintendent Murphy learned today that Jeffrey Ptaschnik passed away. He was the Assistant
Superintendent of Mansfield Schools in the 1970's. At the time he was responsible for teacher
professional development and the creation of curriculum guides. More recently he worked closely
with the Mansfield Council on Aging and taught computers to seniors. Our condolences to his
family and friends.
Documents Referenced:
Public Comment emails
Motion to adjourn: At 5:41 p.m., Motion to adjourn the open meeting by Linda Fernando / lenn
Walsh
Lauren aye
Linda aye
Kiera aye
Jenn aye
Lynn aye
Motion Carries 5 - 0
Respectfully Submitted,
Diane Nugent, Secretary to the
Superintendent & School Committee
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