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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Comm. 04/26/2022Approved 05-03-22 Minutes for Tuesday, April 26, 2022 In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebig RFftIdED =l CLFRKS OFFICE An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held in sQQ{{�lpp��n vialjy �tl Tuesday, April 26, 2022. The open meeting session was called to order by it KSera'Neil at 5:35 p.m. r Members Present: Administration Present: Kiera O'Neil, Chair Teresa Murphy, Superintendent of Schools 3 Lynn Cavicchi, Vice Chair Michael Connolly, Assistant Superintendent (Teaching/Learning) Linda Fernando Ed Donoghue, Assistant Superintendent (Finance/Operations) Lauren Scher Jenn Walsh (5:41 pm) Members Absent: ***All members in person —Roll call vote not required *** Public Speak: None Communications: None Administrative Reports: Superintendent Teresa Murphy introduced Russ Booth who will become the new MHS Principal effective 7-1-22. Ms. Murphy reviewed the search process which was led by Michael Connolly and Bill Hocking. The first committee interviewed several candidates and sent two candidates to Superintendent Murphy for interviews. Teresa along with a second committee completed those interviews and chose Mr. Booth who is currently serving as Assistant Principal in North Attleboro. He also currently serves on the Robinson School Council. He is well versed in freshmen transition, master scheduling, and developing professional development opportunities. He has a lot of experience working directly with students. Mr. Booth spoke to the committee, expressing his gratitude and excitement about working in the community in which he and his family live. Assistant Superintendent Edward Donoghue reviewed the educational space study. A few weeks ago, a walk through was held for interested consultants. We received two bids which the ad hoc committee has reviewed and ranked. We have chosen the smaller of the two firms. We are currently doing reference checks and will then reach out for a contract proposal and then begin negotiations. I Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve the open meeting minutes dated 3-22-22 by Linda Fernando / Jenn Walsh Motion Carries 5 - 0 i Motion to approve the executive session meeting minutes dated 3-22-22 by Linda Fernando / Jenn Walsh Motion Carries 5 - 0 Motion to approve town -wide budget sub minutes dated 4-13-22 by Linda Fernando / Jenn Walsh Motion Carries 5 - 0 Page 1 of 4 Approved 05-03-22 Minutes for Tuesday, April 26, 2022 In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar At this point, there was 15 minutes before the Public Hearing scheduled for 6:00 pm. The following items were taken out of order. School Committee Business: A review of the superintendent evaluation process occurred including forms and the processes regarding members who are leaving or entering the committee. Superintendent Murphy suggested that the evaluation is postponed until June. Linda Fernando asked if she would still be able to provide input. Yes, she will be able to contribute but not speak at the evaluation meeting. Anew member will not provide updates. Upcoming meetings were discussed. May 3 will be a lengthy meeting. May loth is election night. A meeting to reorganize will occur on Tuesday May 17th or Thursday May 19tn prior to the town meeting. May 31 is graduation. Meetings will also be held June 7, 14 and possibly the 21st. A request was made to move the MASC workshop from June 21st to June 14th. We will contact MASC for their availability. Public Hearing on FY23 Budget: At 6:01 pm Chair O'Neil asked fora motion to open the public hearing. Motion to open the FY23 Budget Public Hearing by Linda Fernando / Jenn Walsh Roll Call: Lynn Caviccbi aye Jenu Walsh aye Kiera O'Neil aye Linda Fernando aye Lauren Scher aye Motion Carries 5-0 Assistant Superintendent Donoghue reviewed our current budget by recapping how we got to this point. An initial budget was approved in December of 2021. This spring, the town came back to the schools asking us to reduce the budget towards creating a balanced town -wide budget. The following changes have been made: • Proposed Dean of Students for QMS removed • Proposed EL Paraprofessional removed • Use of Bristol County grand funds added j • Additional pre -payment of special education tuitions from FY22 funds • Grade 5 elementary teacher (retirement) will not be replaced Mr. Donoghue reviewed the budget presentation highlighting the changes which were made this past week. The overall increase of 1.89% is the smallest budget increase in a very long time. The total budget is $55,851,048. The Bristol County funding will be used to pay a portion of the salaries of 4 interventionists in the district. The remaining salaries for these staff members will be paid by ESSR funds. Superintendent Murphy reviewed our staffing requests. The Assistant Principal at Robinson has been requested because there has been an increase in enrollment at that school. When enrollments were declining several years ago, the district removed one of the two assistant principals. The Page 2 of 4 Approved 05-03-22 Minutes for Tuesday, April 26, 2022 In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar district -wide Transportation Manager will oversee the transportation of our 29 Connolly buses as well as all of our special education bus and van drivers. Our hope is that the manager can review our bus routes and eliminate one bus going forward. This alone would cover the salary. We can also cover the salary through the revolving account. Questions/Answers: Linda Fernando asked to clarify the transportation manager and wanted to be sure we felt that this position was more important than those cut. Teresa Murphy noted that it is important to prioritize the transportation to improve our services. Teresa also noted that we need to start looking ahead to FY24 when some of our grant money goes away. We want to be able to sustain the positions we have in the schools. It may be difficult to sustain the QMS Dean of students if enrollments decrease. Kiera O'Neil is pleased with the way we are recording our spending so that we can easily note what expenses are being covered by grants. Lauren Scher emphasized the importance of evaluating our future needs as our grants run out. Lauren asked if we had factored in tuitions from upcoming school choice students. No, we have not done so yet because we do not know how many students will register. Teresa expressed her appreciation to everyone that had a hand in preparing the budget as well as Lynn and jenn who have worked as the members of the budget subcommittee. Lynn stated that it is important for everyone to understand that the proposed budget is very tight. Request for Public Comment: Anne Sullivan, 10 Smith Road: What position was dropped from QMS? Lauren Scher noted that nothing was dropped. We will not pursue the addition of a dean of students who would have been a third administrator under the principal. Motion to close the FY23 Budget Hearing by Linda Fernando / jenn Walsh Roll Call: Lauren Scher aye Linda Fernando aye Kiera O'Neil aye jenn Walsh aye Lynn Cavicchi aye Motion Carries 5 - 0 New Business: Consideration of revised FY23 School Budget: Based on the information just provided a vote is required on the revised budget. Motion to approve the revised FY23 Budget Hearing by Linda Fernando / jenn Walsh Motion Carries 5 - 0 Other- Items not anticipated by the Chair 40 hours prior to this meeting: None Documents Referenced: FY23 Revised Budget presentation Page 3 of 4 Approved 05-03-22 Minutes for Tuesday, April 26, 2022 In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar Motion to adjourn: At 6:44 p.m., 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 not to reconvene in open session and the chair so declares; Motion to adjourn into executive session by Jenn Walsh / Linda Fernando i Role Call Vote: Lynn Cavicchi Yes -Jenn Walsh Yes Kiera O'Neil ` Yes Linda Fernando Yes Lauren Scher Yes Motion Carries 5-0 Respectfully Submitted, Diane Nugent, Administrative Assistant to Superintendent & School Committee 5 1 Page 4 of 4