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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Comm. 09/14/2021Approved 09-29-21 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September14,2021 �rCEIVED In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar�, i- _ _ ; RKS OFFICE 2` 2b An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held in persEff4�1117'ii � t8uallyP on Tuesday, September 14, 2021. The open meeting session was called to order by Chair,.lggzlP(N�i�jat 6:00 p.m. r Tc w, ;i111r f Members Present: Administration Present: Kiera O'Neil,Chair Teresa Murphy, Superintendent of Schools Linda Fernando Michael Connolly, Assistant Superintendent (Teaching/Learning) Lauren Scher Ed Donoghue, Assistant Superintendent (Finance/Operations) Jenn Walsh Members Absent: Lynn Cavicchi, Vice Chair Roll Call: Jenn Walsh aye Kiera O'Neil aye Linda Fernando --- (arrived directly to Executive Session) Lauren Scher aye Motion to Enter Executive Session: 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. At 6:01 p.m., Motion to leave the open meeting; enter into executive session and return to open session by Jenn Walsh / Lauren Scher Roll Call Vote: Jenn Walsh aye Kiera O'Neil aye Lauren Scher aye Motion Carries 3 - 0 Return to Open Meeting at 6:30 p.m. Public Speak: Public Speak is open for 15 minutes for anyone who has registered via GoToWebinar. None Communications: None Page I of 6 Approved 09-29-21 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 14, 2021 In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar Administrative Reports: Teresa Murphy: We have had a great start to the school year and are so happy that we started prior to Labor Day. All facets of our staff worked together toward a common opening goal. Our enrollment is at approximately 3490 students which is about 60 students less than last year. However our kindergarten and grade 1 numbers are up. Staff changes over the summer kept us busy. Two teachers retired over the summer, several staff members resigned (teachers, paras, food services). There were also requests to transfer into new roles especially the math and ELA specialists positions created at 3 of the 4 schools. She also noted that breakfasts and lunches are free for the entire school year. Teresa also introduced our new Hornet's Podcast. We have had several staff members already participate including Teresa Murphy, Mary Watkins, Sheila Newton, Michael Reding and Kerri Sankey. This is a new approach to sharing information with our community. Michael Connolly: As another example of family outreach, Julia Greenstine worked on a technology information card for students. At curriculum night, families received a card with a QR code directing them to our Student and Family Digital Learning Resources. Mike also gave his annual update on Summer Institutes. The goal of these institutes is to review, revise and improve upon our curriculum. There are many opportunities for curriculum development including curriculum teams, department time, grade level time and these summer institutes. All programs are reviewed by Mike to make sure that they support our district goals. This year we ran 66 programs attended by 280 staff members. He is very pleased that so many teachers, despite last year's burnout, felt that it was important to attend these sessions. Michael Connolly thanked Dyana Bogdan and Julia Greenstine for their help in planning, organizing and tracking. Some of the topics included new state frameworks, special education, diversity, social/emotional learning, adjusting for lost learning, ELA rubrics, Diversity in Math and ELA, SEL, Gaps in learning. Linda Fernando asked what kind of review will take place as follow up. Mike noted that department chairs, leadership team review the quality of all proposals and then follow up on how recommendations are implemented. Kiera O'Neil thought that the participation was impressive thinking that staff would have needed a break this summer. Ed Donoghue: Ed reviewed the history of the MSBA boiler project. The district submitted the Statement of Interest for both QMS and MHS. Only the MHS project qualified for review. In August, the state did a site visit and discussed the scope of the project. The CIP has approved initial funding for the schematic design which will go to town meeting. We are awaiting final approval of this project hopefully prior to town meeting. In order to qualify we must show that the town can fund the project for later reimbursement. The new boiler will be 90% efficient as opposed to our current at 50% efficiency. This will help to recoup some of the costs. Page 2 of 6 Approved 09-29-21 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 14, 2021 In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar Welcome windows are up and running successfully. This project was approved at the fall 2019 Town Meeting but was delayed due to COVID. Along the way there were many meetings to discuss needs and design. We have received positive feedback since school has opened. Teresa appreciates the cooperation of our office assistants. Ed recognized Matt Jacques for his efforts in leading this project. Linda Fernando asked if the new entries caused any delays with students entering in the morning. Ed reported that we open all doors so there has been no delay. Lastly, Ed provided an overview of the new transportation system (Transfinder.) The last software we had was not user friendly and did not provide us with the level of help that we needed. This package has many tools available to us and implementation went well. Currently 2100 of the 2300 riders have registered. Bus passes start on Thursday. There were some typical bumps on the first couple of days of school but we hope that when we go to year two of this software, day one issues will be improved. Lauren Scher asked if we had any shortage of bus drivers. Per Ed, no issues during the day; we are fully staffed. We do need to monitor athletics because there could be some shortages in the after school hours. Approval of Warrant: Motion to approve the Warrant Memo dated 09-09-21 by Linda Fernando / Jenn Walsh Goods & Salary & Goods & Goods & Goods & Goods & Services Wages Services Services Services Services 22005S 2022-3 22007S 2022-4 22008S 22009S 8-3-21 8-6-21 8-17-21 8-20-21 8-24-21 8-31-21 General Fund 145,173,00 305,903.61 23,314.00 326,283.96 208,358.17 63,819.29 Medicare - 2,393.60 - 2,393.60 - - Capital 1,925.98 - - - 19,971.80 1,326.30 Revolving 1,748.54 46,690.00 516.80 39,339.43 1,489.07 1,911.32 Food Service - 4,541.10 - 4,554.12 - - Gifts 19.00 - - 871.12 117.00 Student Activity - - - 750.00 - 4,526.27 Grants 6,903.00 16,379.52 111.42 77,224.11 56,591.87 - Prior Year 214,726.83 1,022,807.59 23,225.65 1,030,061.24 38,856.31 10,420.48 $370,496.36 1,398,715.42 47,167.87 1,480,606.46 $326,138.34 82,120.66 Motion Carries 4 - 0 Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve Open Meeting Minutes dated 08-19-21 by Linda Fernando / Jenn Walsh Motion Carries 4 - 0 Page 3 of 6 Approved 09-29-21 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 14, 2021 In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar Other open minutes listed in the agenda were not ready for review and were postponed until the next meeting. Gifts: Superintendent Teresa Murphy gave an update to School Committee on several gifts. Harvard Pilgrim Health Care awarded us a $500 Community Spirit Mini grant. These funds will go toward our playground fund. St Gregory the Theologian Greek Church, for the 5th year in a row, provided us with approximately 40 backpacks filled with assorted school supplies. Staples donated 2 cases of school supplies that were provided to students on the first day of school. The Hockomock Area YMCA donated several backpacks filled with school supplies. We are very grateful to the community support we receive at the beginning of each school year. Old Business: Committee Updates: CIP met last week to discuss items for the fall town meeting. Both the MHS Boiler and MHS Generator were approved by the committee. Facilities met last week and discussed summer cleaning and projects, the welcome windows, landscaping, heating repairs. The next meeting will be Tuesday 9/21/21. Budget met to review financial related policies which will be brought to the school committee on 9/28/21. On Wednesday 9/22/21, the town -wide budget subcommittee will meet. Returning&Learning met with administration and principals to discuss summer school. Of note is that 2nd grade students and Sth grade students moved up to their new schools for summer school which was very beneficial. The principals also provided updates on the opening of school. It was very encouraging to hear the work we are doing with Mclean Hospital. They have identified us as a role model district. New Business: Consideration of Emergency CIP request: After two failed starts of the MHS generator during testing, we looked into replacement options. The vendor advised us that we will need at least 8 months of lead time to secure a new generator so we must start the process as soon as possible. CIP is in support of this effort. Motion to approve $100,000 CIP request to replace the MHS generator by Jenn Walsh / Lauren Scher Motion Carries 4 - 0 Page 4 of 6 Approved 09-29-21 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 14, 2021 In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar Consideration of two new MHS student activity accounts: Mary Watkins presented this request. In 2018, the robotics activity account was closed due to years of inactivity/no student interest. Interest is picking up again, and Mary feels it is an important STEM activity to support. Mary proposes recreating this account with seed money to get the students started. E-Sports ran last year as a club. Now, the students (approximately 30 - 40) have the opportunity to compete against other schools similar in structure to the math team. Students can compete either online or at the Helix center at Patriot Place. Transportation may be needed for those events. Motion to approve both new Student Activity Accounts by Linda Fernando / Jenn Walsh Motion Carries 4 - 0 Consideration of Superintendent Goals 2021-2022: Superintendent Teresa Murphy presented her three goals for the upcoming school year. They were previously discussed and built during the July 20, 2021 School Committee Workshop. Teresa is asking the school committee to revisit the Student Learning Goal which was previously set to review summer school. That goal was questioned by school committee due the complexity of collecting data and the small pool size. Teresa is now suggesting a focus on defining terms for Equity and Inclusion. It would be helpful to take advantage of the time we have with Mass Insights who are helping us with this Equity Audit. The first assignment is to create Mansfield specific definitions. We asked why the district could not use the generic definitions. What is interesting is that everyone has different opinions, understanding and definitions of race and other terminology. We will bring in many stakeholders to help us build these definitions. The data may not be as clearly defined as the old goal but Teresa feels it is an appropriate goal to work toward this year. It will help guide us through the equity audit resulting in improved learning for our students. Lauren Scher likes the idea but feels that it is more ideological than defining terms. What is the next step? Teresa feels that this will be the basis of our strategic planning moving forward. Michael Connolly noted that even during the leadership retreat the small group has many different opinions on the definitions. It will be interesting to see what we as a district and community come up with. Stakeholders will be made up of students, teachers, community members, parents, etc. We still need to work out who will participate. Linda Fernando loves this idea as it is very important to her. She struggles with how this is a student learning goal; however, she supports the effort. Kiera O'Neil likes this approach. She had concerns with the summer school goal and feels this new goal will be very beneficial to our school community. Jenn Walsh also struggled with how this is a student learning goal but is super excited about moving forward with the equity component and would like to be considered as a key stakeholder. Page 5 of 6 Approved 09-29-21 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 14, 2021 In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar Teresa then briefly reviewed the district improvement goal which is the educational space study. Teresa's first step is to contact a consultant for the initial study. Kiera noted that the CIP committee was very happy to hear that we are looking ahead for our facilities. For the Professional Growth Goal, Teresa will pursue her doctorate degree by completing the dissertation proposal by the end of the year. Motion to approve Teresa Murphy's 2021-2022 goals by Linda Fernando / Jenn Walsh Motion Carries 4 - 0 School Committee Business: None Other- Items not anticipated by the Chair 48 hours prior to this meeting: None Documents Referenced: CIP information Gift information Superintendent Goals Motion to adjourn: At 7:49 p.m., Motion to adjourn by Linda Fernando / Jenn Walsh Motion Carries 4 - 0 Respectfully Submitted, Diane Nugent, Administrative Assistant to Superintendent & School Committee Page 6 of 6