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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Comm. 09/8/2020Approved 09-22-20 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 08, 2020 Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar r - I JUL . q1 y ! : r An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held virtually on Tuesday, September 68, 2020. The open meeting session was called to order by Chair Kiera O'Neil at 6:00 p',m, Members Present: Administration Present: Kiera O'Neil Teresa Murphy, Superintendent of Schools Lynn Cavicchi Michael Connolly, Assistant Superintendent(Teaching/Learning) Linda Fernando Edward Donoghue, Assistant Superintendent (Finance/Operations) Lauren Scher Members Absent: Jenn Walsh ***All votes taken by roll call vote *** Roll Call Vote: Kiera O'Neil aye Lynn Cavicchi aye Linda Fernando aye Lauren Scher aye Kiera O'Neil asked for a motion to enter into Executive Session pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 30A, Section 21 for the Following Purpose: Under Exception No. 3. To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares. Motion to enter into executive session by Linda Fernando / Lauren Scher Roll Call Vote: Lynn Cavicchi Yes Kiera O'Neil Yes Linda Fernando Yes Lauren Scher Yes Motion Carries 4 - 0 School Committee returned to Open Session at 7:00 pm Public Speak: Public Speak is open for 15 minutes for anyone who has registered via GoToWebinar. None Communications: Chair O'Neil mentioned that several emails were received regarding the start of the sports season. Administrative Reports: Superintendent: Superintendent Murphy provided the following updates. The Hockomock Area YMCA donated several backpacks filled with school supplies. We are very appreciative of their ongoing support. Page 1 of 6 Approved 09-22-20 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 08, 2020 Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar The Mansfield Schools Health Services staff handmade masks for every staff member in the district. Thank you to Lisa Anderson, Betsy Johnson and Debbie Wirth for their hard work. Thank you to our J/J school nurse, Betsy Johnson, who handmade an "extra large" mask for our Mascot. DESE is allowing parents to opt out of the use of sanitizer. Information will be sent to parents in newsletters so they have the opportunity to opt out. Annroval of Warrant: Goods & Salary & Goods & Salary & Goods & Services Wages Services Wages Services 21005S 2021-3 21007S 2021.4 21008S 8-4-20 8-7-20 8-18-20 8-21-20 8-25-20 General Fund 60,992.39 282,879.51 191,017.20 326,967.80 277,760.04 Medicare - 2,256.00 - 2,256.00 - Capital - 3,289.18 - 32,991.84 Revolving - 54,803.76 87.09 50,351.35 - Food Service 256.00 4,332.62 4.99 4,332.62 - Gifts 2,367.59 - 581.82 - Student Activity - - 2,866.46 - - Grants - 17,248.49 - 12,078.64 693.00 Prior Year 104,509.76 952,330.13 2,309.55 947,066.53 33,963.49 168,125.74 1,313,850.51 200,156.29 1,343,052.84 345,408.37 Motion to approve the warrant dated 9-1-20 by Linda Fernando / Lauren Scher Roll Call Vote: Lynn Cavicchi Yes Kiera O'Neil Yes Linda Fernando Yes Lauren Scher Yes Motion Carries 4 - 0 Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve the open meeting minutes dated 8-18-20 by Linda Fernando / Lauren Scher Roll Call Vote: Lauren Scher Yes Linda Fernando Yes Kiera O'Neil Yes Lynn Cavicchi Yes Motion Carries 4 - 0 Page 2 of 6 Approved 09-22-20 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 08, 2020 Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar Motion to approve the open meeting minutes dated 9-1-20 by Linda Fernando / Lauren Scher Discussion: Please correct the section regarding surveying families. This comment was by Lynn Cavicchi not Lauren Scher. Roll Call Vote to pass motion as amended: Lynn Cavicchi Yes Kiera O'Neil Yes Linda Fernando Yes Lauren Scher Yes Motion Carries 4 - 0 Motion to approve the executive session meeting minutes dated 8-18-20 by Linda Fernando / Lauren Scher Roll Call Vote: Lauren Scher Yes Linda Fernando Yes Kiera O'Neil Yes Lynn Cavicchi Yes Motion Carries 4 - 0 Motion to approve the executive session meeting minutes dated 9-1-20 by Linda Fernando / Lauren Scher Roll Call Vote: Lynn Cavicchi Yes Kiera O'Neil Yes Linda Fernando Yes Lauren Scher Yes Motion Carries 4 - 0 Old Business: Committee Updates, Policv: The group is finalizing some policies and will meet in September to discuss updates for the upcoming year. Budget: Next meeting is on 9/11/20 Facilities: Next meeting is on 9/11/20 Return to Hybrid: Met on Thursday to discuss health metrics related to starting or stopping schools. Head Nurse Christine Dooling, Health Agent Amy Donovan -Palmer and Fire Chief Justin Desrosiers joined the call. The group discussed the best metrics to focus on and how to use the information. New Business: Consideration of Student Athletics for Remote Students Assistant Superintendent met with Athletic Director Michael Redding to discuss expenses. Mansfield will utilize the COVID relief grants to cover masks, electronic whistles, sanitizing items, cross country team needs, buses, port -a -potties. There should not be any financial impact to the district. Members of the School committee requested that Mr. Donoghue research and provide updates on the cleaning schedules for the portable toilets. Page 3 of 6 Approved 09-22-20 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 08, 2020 Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar Motion to approve the start of fall sports while our students are learning remotely by Linda Fernando / Lauren Scher Roll Call Vote: Lauren Scher Yes Linda Fernando Yes Kiera O'Neil Yes Lynn Cavicchi Yes Motion Carries 4 - 0 Consideration of 2020-2021 CHAMPS fees DESE has asked schools to work on ways to assist teachers with child care. The district has worked on a day -time CHAMPS opportunity which will be offered to 3 groups: a) Mansfield teachers with Mansfield students b) Teachers who live in Mansfield but work in other districts c) Mansfield teachers who live out of town. The fee will be $50 per day per student. So far there has been very limited interest. This service will be used on days that students are to learn remotely. The students will bring their devices to J/J and staff will assist them with their remote efforts. Motion to approve the 2020-2021 CHAMPS daytime fee by Linda Fernando / Jenn Walsh Roll Call vote: Lynn Cavicchi aye Kiera O'Neil aye Linda Fernando aye Lauren Scher aye Motion Carries 4 - 0 FY20 End of Year Financial Update: Assistant Superintendent Donoghue reviewed the end of year financial statement. It was an unusual end to the year with extra expenses in some areas and savings in other areas. Ed will provide a detailed spreadsheet at the next budget subcommittee. FY21 Budget Update: Assistant Superintendent Donoghue updated the committee. We are 2 months into the year and we are comfortable with our expenses so far. Most of the unforeseen cost has been covered by the COVID grant. Ed went on to discuss the grant availability and deadlines. The committee requested that Teresa provide a list of staff members who have been hired late this summer. The committee also asked if we have factored a possible increase in substitute teacher costs for this upcoming year. Will there be enough subs to cover? Superintendent Murphy stated that being able to support teacher absences due to illness or quarantine is a major metric in returning to school. We need to monitory this closely. The substitute teacher pool is very small. Special Education Return to School Update: Special Education Director James Leonard provided an update. He has held weekly meetings with the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC); he continues to manage updates received from DESE; and finally is managing the daily cohort list and processes. His staff is working steadily to catch up on IEPs that required student evaluations. These could not occur during the shutdown. The department has held two parent workshops: Page 4 of 6 Approved 09-22-20 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 08, 2020 Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar • Establishing a good environment for students so that they can easily adjust between summer - remote - hybrid. At the same time they provided supports for parents. • Supporting parents through the social/emotional needs of their students especially with their anxiety in physically entering the building. Jim is working with outside resources to provide social / emotional support to our students. The committee asked how the department will identify new students who may need to be evaluated for an IEP. Jim described the 'child find' process. Teachers will still have connections with students and be able to review work. We will also rely on parent concerns. How are the virtual seminars communicated to parents? Typically we rely heavily on SEPAC's network for communication. The information is also on our website. What does the first day of school (9/16) look like for our daily cohort students? Per the state guidance, it is appropriate to use asynchronous learning on Wednesdays for the daily cohort. We will provide paraprofessional support and guidance as the students work remotely on the first day. Return to School Update: Superintendent Murphy announced that last week our staff returned back to school remotely. Today all of our staff returned in person with the exception of those who are medically cleared to stay at home. There was a lot of collaborative planning, health training, mandated training and technology training. Principal Mary Watkins provided an update on the AP courses. An email is going to parents tonight regarding any issue with scheduling. AP Physics had to be cancelled which impacts 13 students. AP Psychology is supporting 63 out of 74 students. This is not a change from the original schedule. However the list of 11 students impacted did change. Both of these are very unfortunate results of the schedule changes. The district looked into online resources but there are none available for AP Physics. Most electives are still running but some students had to move from one elective to another. There is no impact to core courses. Chair O'Neil asked about Chromebooks at Robinson. Assistant Superintendent Connolly stated that phase 1 is for those who need it most. Phase 2 will start in October for the remaining students. Unfortunately we are waiting for another shipment. Ms. Murphy reminded the committee that there was never a 1:1 plan for chromebooks for our youngest students. Distributing these to students is above and beyond our original scope. Chair O'Neil asked the district to summarize what the first day of school will look like with everyone remote from home. Principals are currently working on newsletters and videos for students which will provide information on the first day of school. They are also working on transition videos for new students and for those students promoted to new buildings. The goal is to get students comfortable logging on to Google Meets and having an opportunity to meet teachers and classmates. New School Committee Business: None Page 5 of 6 Approved 09-22-20 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 08, 2020 Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar Other- Items not anticipated by the Chair 48 hours prior to this meeting None Documents Referenced: FY20 Financial Review Motion to adjourn: At 8:45 p.m., Motion to adjourn the open meeting by Linda Fernando / jenn Walsh Roll Call vote: Lynn Cavicchi aye Kiera O'Neil aye Linda Fernando aye Lauren Scher aye Motion Carries 4 - 0 Respectfully Submitted, Diane Nugent, Secretary to the Superintendent & School Committee Page 6 of 6