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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Comm. 03/08/2022f Mansfield School Committee Meeting Approved 03-22-22�/ . Minutes for Tuesday, March 08, 2022 RECEIVED In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar , e OFFICE 2522 UR ? A 8: 35 An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held in person and virtually on uesday, March 08, 2022. The open meeting session was called to order by Chair Kiera O'Neill g°,6M..plrnt p TTc Members Present: Administration Present: Kiera O'Neil, Chair Teresa Murphy, Superintendent of Schools Lynn Cavicchi, Vice Chair Michael Connolly, Assistant Superintendent (Teaching/Learning) Linda Fernando Ed Donoghue, Assistant Superintendent (Finance/Operations) Lauren Scher Jenn Walsh Members Absent: ***All votes taken by roll call vote *** Roll Call: Lynn Cavicchi Linda Fernando Jenn Walsh Kiera O'Neil Lauren Scher aye aye (attended remotely) aye aye aye Public Speak: Ryan Barry, II Willis Street: He let the committee know that he is not comfortable with school choice and asked if the committee will reconsider. His specific concern was the lottery process, the lack of full per -student funding and the risk of residents losing athletic spots to school choice students. Superintendent Murphy let Mr. Barry know that there had already been two meetings to discuss school choice and the vote was set. However, she offered to call Mr. Barry tomorrow to give him detailed information on the program. Beth Collins, 7 Atwood Street (remotely): Ms. Collins is very concerned about the pending warrant for town meeting preventing the teaching of divisive content and allowing citizens to file complaints which can result in discipline or termination of staff if violated. She noted that this is a copy of wording being passed around the country. It relates to the teaching of Critical Race Theory which is not being taught in our district or inmost districts across the country. She urges citizens to vote no on this article. Communications: None Administrative Reports: Superintendent Teresa Murphy announced that Robinson Report card distribution will be changed from Friday March 11 to Tuesday March 18 to accommodate the lost days due to weather. Assistant Superintendent Michael Connolly provided an update on the February Vacation Week Math Achievement Academy. The funding for this effort was provided through a DESE grant. It was a challenge to pull it all together in a short period of time but we were able to bring on staff, organize a program, plan meals and transportation. Approximately 50 students attended at least a portion of the week. We are already working toward the April academy to try to boost Page 1 of 6 Approved 03-22-22 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, March 08, 2022 In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar participation. The district does understand that it is very difficult to bring in students over a break week. Mr. Connolly also noted that tomorrow, March 9, 2022 is a district wide half day. Topics for staff professional development include literacy, online benchmark assessments, MCAS item analysis, departmental work, NEASC work, curriculum pacing. Kiera O'Neil asked about the upcoming NEASC schedule. Principal Tim Tichacek noted that we had been bumped 2 years due to COVID. In 22-23 we will perform our self -study, In the spring or fall of 2023, NEASC will visit the schools for a collaborative working session. Then in 3 years the process will start again. MILS Student Representative Report: Francesca Smith presented to the committee remotely. She noted that MCAS testing and course selection are both approaching which can be very stressful. Our sports programs are doing very well; tonight, the boys play in a basketball tournament game. Many performing arts programs are in progress including choir, One Act Play, Orchestra and Percussion. The Math team finished at the top of the Hockomock League. This weekend MHS quiz team will be competing on WBGH. Approval of Warrant: Goods & Salary & Goods & Salary & Services Wages Services Wages 220027S 2022-14 220029S 2022-15 1-4-22 1-7-22 1-18-22 1-21-22 General Fund 224,628.74 1,606,226.38 484,257.79 1,631,290.76 Medicare - 2,393,60 - 2,640.44 Capital - - 1,104.40 - Revolving 205.00 61,679.42 444.24 77,942.95 Food Service 52,635.78 17,124.26 16,612.82 21,690.57 Gifts 1,151.72 - 5,500.00 - Student Activity 1,165.10 - 11,047.59 - Grants 2,716.12 75,734.73 17,829.90 72,760.17 Prior Year 24,170.00 - 9,415.00 - 306,672.46 1,763,158.39 546,211.74 1,806,324.89 Motion to approve the Warrant memo dated 02-14-22 by Linda Fernando / Jenn Walsh Roll Call: Linda Fernando aye Kiera O'Neil aye Jenn Walsh aye Page 2 of 6 Approved 03-22-22 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, March 08, 2022 In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar Lynn Cavicchi aye Lauren Scher aye Motion Carries 5 - 0 Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve the open meeting minutes dated 1-25-22 by Linda Fernando / Jenn Walsh Roll Call: Linda Fernando aye Lauren Scher aye Kiera O'Neil aye Jenn Walsh aye Lynn Cavicchi aye Motion Carries 5 - 0 Motion to approve the open meeting minutes dated 2-15-22 by Linda Fernando / Jenn Walsh Roll Call: Linda Fernando aye Lauren Scher aye Kiera O'Neil aye Jenn Walsh aye Lynn Cavicchi aye Motion Carries 5 - 0 Motion to approve the executive session meeting minutes dated 2-15-22 by Linda Fernando / Jenn Walsh Roll Call: Linda Fernando aye Lauren Scher aye Kiera O'Neil aye Jenn Walsh aye Lynn Cavicchi aye Motion Carries 5 - 0 Old Business: Facilities Subcommittee update: Met on March 1st with next meeting scheduled for late April. Discussed the QMS Boiler project funding for which must be approved at Town Meeting. If the project is approved by the state then we will be eligible for reimbursement. Estimated date for this effort will be summer of 2023. The group then reviewed items accomplished over February vacation (carpeting at Robinson library, light fixtures at QMS, as well as many cleaning and painting projects.) The facilities department is working on plans for the upcoming April vacation. As a Page 3 of 6 Approved 03-22-22 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, March 08, 2022 In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar reminder, the district is still trying to hire custodians; we are doing our best to get that info out to the public. New Business: Consideration of Field Trips: Athletic Director Michael Redding presented the field trip specifics to the committee. The itinerary includes a stop in NYC to visit the 9/11 Memorial and museum then continue on to Philadelphia, PA where they will visit and practice at Villanova University. On Saturday, the team will play Haverford High School. Upon completion of the game the team will head back to Mansfield. There are several fund-raising events to help defray the cost of the trip so the plan is that each student will be responsible for $150. Scholarship is also available for those in need. Motion to approve the MHS Football team to Pennsylvania and New York in October 2022 by Linda Fernando / Jenn Walsh Roll Call: Linda Fernando aye Lauren Scher aye Lynn Cavicchi aye Jenn Walsh aye Kiera O'Neil aye Motion Carries 5 - 0 Pride Survey Plus (formally called Communities that Care): Health Director Christine Dooling reviewed results from the 2020-21 surveys which she noted were taken remotely by students during the pandemic. The survey includes questions on drugs, alcohol, tobacco and mental health. We don't really know how the pandemic impacted results though there are clearly changes since the prior years. Ms. Dooling and Tina Karidoyanes (Director of Guidance at MHS) spoke about The Signs of Suicide Program. Students watch educational videos and complete a screening. When needed, school staff follow up with students and notify parents so that they can have follow-up conversations with their students. There is a definite increase in student anxiety across the board with levels we have never seen before. We need to continue to work at helping these students. Consideration of 2022-23 School Calendar Tonight, we have the second reading of the calendar. Assistant Superintendent Michael Connolly and Superintendent Teresa Murphy reviewed some of the highlights. It was also noted that we can no longer set a graduation date this far in advance. Due to changes at Xfinity Center, we are unable to secure a date until spring. We did have to change the date of the 2022 graduation from June 5 to May 31. Still, we look forward to having our students return to graduation at the Xfinity Center rather than Alumni Field. Page 4 of 6 Approved 03-22-22 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, March 08, 2022 In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar Motion to approve the 2022-2023 Mansfield School Calendar by Linda Fernando / Jenn Walsh Roll Call: Linda Fernando aye Lauren Scher aye Kiera O'Neil aye Jenn Walsh aye Lynn Cavicchi aye Motion Carries 5 - 0 Consideration of Policy JFBB School Choice: No action; postponed to a future meeting pending review from attorneys. Consideration of Ad -Hoc committee for review of Request for Qualifications for the Comprehensive Facilities Assessment and Educational Visioning Study for the Mansfield Public Schools The Ad -hoc committee will review, evaluate and determine the vendor with whom the district will move forward. Proposed Committee Members are: • Superintendent Teresa Murphy • Assistant Superintendent Ed Donoghue • Assistant Superintendent Michael Connolly • Director of Facilities Matt Jacques • School Committee Chair Kiera O'Neil • Principal Kerri Sankey Motion to approve the ad -hoc committee for the Educational Visioning Study RFQ by Linda Fernando / Jenn Walsh Roll Call: Linda Fernando aye Lauren Scher aye Kiera O'Neil aye Jenn Walsh aye Lynn Cavicchi aye Motion Carries 5 - 0 School Committee Business: None Page 5 of 6 Approved 03-22-22 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, March 08, 2022 In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar Other- Items not anticipated by the Chair 48 hours prior to this meeting None Documents Referenced: MHS Football Field Trip Pride Survey 2022-23 School calendar RFQ for Educational Vision Study Motion to adjourn: At 8:00 p.m., Motion to adjourn by Linda Fernando / Jenn Walsh Roll Call: Linda Fernando aye Kiera O'Neil aye Lynn Cavicchi aye Lauren Scher aye Jenn Walsh aye Motion Carries 5 - 0 Respectfully Submitted, Diane Nugent, Administrative Assistant to Superintendent & School Committee Page 6 of 6