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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Comm. 06/02/2020approved 01-26-21 " Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, June 02, 2020 Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held virtually on Tuesday, June 02, 2020. The open meeting session was called to order by Superintendent Teresa Murphy at 6:33 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) Jenn Walsh (arrived at 6:47) Lauren Scher Members Absent: US", ; ***All votes taken by roll call vote Roll Call Vote: Kiera O'Neil aye Lynn Cavicchi aye? Linda Fernando aye Lauren Scher aye Statement from Chair O'Neil on behalf of the School Committee Last evening, at the beginning of our School Committee Meeting, the following was read by Chair Kiera O'Neil on behalf of the School Committee and District leadership: Embedded in our district vision statement is the idea that through our collective work, all students will achieve their personal best and become meaningful contributors to our society. We remain committed to this belief, and even more so when watching the events of the past week unfold. The anger, sadness, outrage, and hurt felt by many members of our community and by many across the nation over the senseless deaths ofAhmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd is real. We acknowledge there are systemic forces in play beyond the scope of our schools to address. However, more importantly, we recognize the incredibly powerful and pivotal role our schools have in preparing our children for a more inclusive, diverse, and racially just future. We ask each member of our school community - Committee members, administrators, staff, students, and families - to renew their commitment to achieving our district's ideal, to work together to acknowledge and address racial inequity in our schools and beyond, to speak up when hate is spoken, to support efforts that oppose racism and oppression, and to continue to work to create a safe learning environment thatsupports all our students achieving their personal best and contributing to a betterfuture. Kiera O'Neil, Chair Page 1 of 6 approved 01-26-21 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, June 02, 2020 Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar Lynn Cavicchi, Vice Chair Linda Fernando Lauren Scher Jenn Walsh Teresa Murphy, Superintendent Michael Connolly, Assistant Superintendentfor Teaching and Learning Edward Donoghue, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Public Speak : Public Speak via email to School Committee None Jenn Walsh arrived. Administration Reports. Teresa Murphy reminded the committee that she will start the Superintendent's Listening tour. These meetings will give families an opportunity to provide feedback regarding remote learning this spring. This will provide insight for us as we move forward with our plans for the fall. Monday, June 8th will be the first of these virtual town halls. As we prepare for next year, our two Return to Learning teams will start meeting to discuss plans for next year. These groups will review this year and bring forth recommendations for next year as we imagine there will be at least some remote learning next year. Classroom learning will also look different. One of our students has organized a peaceful March over the weekend. Although there will be school staff in attendance, this is not a school event so chaperoning and supervision will not be provided by the school. Many of our students and families and community members are expected to participate. We did invite the organizer into meet with Principal Watkins, Superintendent Murphy and Police Chief Sellon to discuss the plan. The community is welcome to attend. High School Representative Report. Lily Barnes presented her final report for the year. She reflected on the end of her senior year during the remote learning. She is appreciative for the overwhelming response of the community to help support the senior class. As a group, the Seniors focused on the positives and pulled together and united to do some great things. Many students made and delivered cards which were then sent to a local nursing home who are without visitors now. There are also groups doing fundraising and virtual events. It has been an honor to attend these meetings and I have learned so much. Thank you all. The committee expressed their appreciation for Lily and her level of participation and enthusiasm. New Business: Consideration of Revised FY21 Budget: Assistant Superintendent Ed Donoghue updated the committee on the reductions needed across all town departments. We were advised to look at a 10% budget cut so we reduced by $582,000. The biggest reductions were. 1) Special Education reduced by over $300,000 by prepaying tuition in Page 2 of 6 approved 01-26-21 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, June 02, 2020 Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar this fiscal year. 2) Reduction in Roland Green by $25,000 by delaying the introduction of a new curriculum. 3) Reduction in salary and wages by making further staff reductions (approximately $238,000.) Our new budget is a 2% increase over last fiscal year. Superintendent Murphy reviewed staffing changes as follows: Technology technician- this need is even greater as we go to more remote learning Add 2 kindergarten teachers due to the spike in enrollment. We have an increase of approximately 60 students. Reductions will be as follows: We don't know what the final state budget will be. The town went with a 10% reduction. However, to meet our contractual obligations of a due date, we are reducing additional positions (2 special education teachers, 2 world language teachers, 2 social studies, 1.5 para, 1 math teacher, 2 non professional teachers at the elementary level. ) This in addition to the 4.5 reduction in staff proposed in the budget. The net FTE reduction is 7.5. We hope that we may be able to bring some of these positions back if state reductions are better than expected. Next week is the budget public hearing. Motion to Approve the revised FY21 Budget of $52,670,030 by Linda Fernando / Lauren Scher Roll Call Vote: Lynn Cavicchi Jenn Walsh Kiera O'Neil Linda Fernando Lauren Scher aye (listen only mode) aye aye aye Motion Passes: 4 - 0 (Jenn Walsh unable to vote) Consideration of the Bus Transportation Refund Procedure for FY21: At the last meeting, the committee asked the district to look into a refund policy based on the unknowns of our back to school plan. Ed Donoghue reviewed a district plan to offer families an opportunity to request a refund if they submit the request by 9/15/2020. If there is a reduction of transportation in FY21 then we would propose a credit for the following school year. This is similar to what we are proposing for FY20. The committee discussed options and the impact on families. The committee asked that the district consider extenuating circumstances for which we may make exceptions. Motion to Approve the Bus Transportation Refund Procedure for the 2020-21 school year by Linda Fernando / Lauren Scher Roll Call Vote: Lauren Scher aye Linda Fernando aye Kiera O'Neil aye Jenn Walsh aye (Jenn was able to change meeting attendance) Lynn Cavicchi aye Page 3 of 6 approved 01-26-21 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, June 02, 2020 Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar Motion Passes: 5 - 0 Motion to Approve the FY22 Transportation Credit Procedure for the 2021-22 school year noting that extenuating circumstances will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Linda Fernando / Lauren Scher Roll Call Vote: Lynn Cavicchi aye Jenn Walsh aye Kiera O'Neil aye Linda Fernando aye Lauren Scher aye Motion Passes: 5 - 0 Consideration ofjob Descriptions: Human Resources Director Jocelyn LeMaire reviewed these new descriptions as a result of the most recent negotiations. The prior descriptions were created over 45 years ago. Motion to Approve the Special Education Paraprofessional and Special Education Nurse Paraprofessional Job Descriptions by Linda Fernando / Lauren Scher Roll Call Vote: Lauren Scher aye Linda Fernando aye Kiera O'Neil aye Jenn Walsh aye Lynn Cavicchi aye Motion Passes: 5 - 0 Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve Open Meeting Minutes dated 03-03-20 by Linda Fernando / Lauren Scher. Roll Call Vote: Lynn Cavicchi aye Jenn Walsh aye Kiera O'Neil aye Linda Fernando aye Lauren Scher aye Motion Passes: 5-0 Motion to approve Executive Session Minutes dated 03-03-20 by Linda Fernando / Lauren Scher. Roll Call Vote: Lynn Cavicchi aye Jenn Walsh aye Kiera O'Neil aye Linda Fernando aye Page 4 of 6 approved 01-26-21 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, June 02, 2020 Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar Lauren Scher aye Motion Passes: 5 - 0 Motion to approve Open Meeting Minutes dated 03-17-20 by Linda Fernando / Lauren Scher Roll Call Vote: Lauren Scher aye Linda Fernando aye Kiera O'Neil aye Jenn Walsh aye Lynn Cavicchi aye Motion Passes: 5 - 0 Motion to approve Open Meeting Minutes dated 04-02-20 by Linda Fernando/ Lauren Scher Roll Call Vote: Lauren Scher aye Linda Fernando aye Kiera O'Neil aye Jenn Walsh aye Lynn Cavicchi aye Motion Passes: 5 - 0 Motion to approve Open Meeting Minutes dated 04-09-20 by Linda Fernando / Lauren Scher Roll Call Vote: Lauren Scher aye Linda Fernando aye Kiera O'Neil aye Jenn Walsh aye Lynn Cavicchi aye Motion Passes: 5 - 0 New School Committee Business: Next meeting is next Tuesday for the public hearing. Start time is 7:30 with a brief retirement event. Other- Items not anticipated by the Chair 48 hours prior to this meeting: None Documents Referenced: Job Descriptions Transportation Change recommendations Motion to adjourn: At 7:40 p.m., Motion to adjourn the open meeting by Linda Fernanco / Jenn Walsh Roll Call vote: Lauren Scher aye Linda Fernando aye Kiera O'Neil aye Lynn Cavicchi aye Jenn Walsh aye Page 5 of 6 Motion Carries 5 - 0 Mansfield School Committee Meeting approved 01-26-21 Minutes for Tuesday, June 02, 2020 Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar Respectfully Submitted, Diane Nugent, Secretary to the Superintendent & School Committee Page 6 of 6