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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Comm. 01/23/2024Approved 02-06-24 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, January 23, 2024 In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held in person and virtually on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. The open meeting session was called to order by Chair Lynn Cavicchi at 6:00 p.m. Members Present: Administration Present: Lynn Cavicchi (Chair) Teresa Murphy, Superintendent Jenn Walsh (Vice Chair) Michael Connolly, Assistant Superintendent (Teaching/Learning) Jenifer Sellon Ed Donoghue, Assistant Superintendent (Finance/Operations) Vivian Webster Steve Schoonveld (left 8:33pm) Members Absent: None Chair Lynn Cavicchi called for a motion enter into Executive Session 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 to discuss the MEA contract. Motion to enter into executive session by Jenn Walsh / Jenifer Sellon at 6:03 p.m Roll Call Vote: Steve Schoonveld aye Vivian Webster aye Lynn Cavicchi aye c Jenn Walsh aye 'Jenifer Sellon aye n ' Motion Carries 5 - 0 > x- z: r—M ;-n C') c cn J -o M The committee returned to Open Session at 6:24 p.m. N(,i m r,- r D c� a PublicSpeak: None �p 4� --eln AD WA C F) Administrative Reports: rrt Superintendent Teresa Murky announced that Jenn Walsh and Steve Schoonveld will participate on the educational space subcommittee. The first meeting is tentative for January 31st but Teresa will confirm with Kevin. At the last Health and Wellness meeting, Health Director Christine Dooling presented information on the Behavioral Health Help line. This is a new support system that we have advertised within the schools with posters, etc. Each school reported out activities. Christine Dooling presented results of the latest PRIDE survey. Assistant Health Director Betsy Savoie reviewed our Vaping Diversion Program. We have seen a decline in the number of students referred to this program which is a positive sign. Students report feeling safer and there has been much less vaping at the MHS bathrooms. Page 1 of 7 Approved 02-06-21 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, January 23, 2024 In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar The search process for Special Education Director Jim Leonard has been initiated. Jenifer Sellon will sit on this search committee. The plan is to bring a revised job description to the committee on February 6rh, post on Feb 7di, close on Feb 26d' with interviews to be held in March. Assistant Superintendent Edward Donoghue provided an update on the QMS Boiler project. Bids were received and a contract was signed with the lowest bidder (per state law). The plan is to start work in mid -May with the demolition and removal of the old equipment. Completion goal is to turn on the heat in mid -September. Bids for alumni field, gym and playground will be announced next week. MSBA is opening their application process again. Ed recommends that we pursue funding for the J/J roof replacement. Mr. Donoghue also provided the FY24 second quarter update. Chair Cavicchi asked that a copy get sent to FinCom. Approval of Warrant: Salary & Wages Goods & Services 2024-12 24024S 12/8123 12/12123 General Fund Medicare Capital Revolving Food Service Gifts Student Activity Grants Prior Year 2,058,133.29 2,539.20 70,337.06 31,669.10 109,504.93 2,272,183.58 749,362.30 427,715.97 7,108.93 39,405.03 2,232.90 22,046.10 8,379.33 1,256,250.66 Salary & Wages 2024-13 12/22/23 1,755,782.39 2,539.20 80,332.09 34,446.31 412.50 75,079.86 1,948,592.35 Goods & Services 24026S 12126/23 670,698.26 28,413.40 3,851.71 66,897.33 106.01 90.00 17,605.01 990.00 788,661.72 Motion to approve the warrant memo dated 01-17-24 by Jenn Walsh / Jenifer Sellon Motion carries 5 - 0 ADDroval of Minutes: Date 1st 2nd Discuss Vote Roll Y N Comments Executive Session 01-09-24 JW JS Y (see (amended to state not to be JS below) released) JW 5-0 Open Meeting 01-09-24 Postponed Page 2 of 7 Approved 02-06-24 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, January 23, 2024 In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar Steve Schoonveld asked for clarification on whether or not the executive session minutes would be released. Past practice has been to approve all executive minutes as not released. Approval for release is a separate task that occur typically once or twice per year. He requested the motion be amended and changed going forward to state "no release." Gifts: Consideration of Mansfield Boosters/ MHS Baseball team gift of a new baseball field dugout and wind screen: MHS baseball team ran fundraisers that will be used to add high fencing and a windscreen to frame the dugout. This will help create a buffer for our team from the high traffic area of the J/J path. It will also improve safety. Jenifer Sellon asked if there is a design on the windscreen. There is no design. Jean Walsh asked how long a windscreen will last. The lifespan should be approximately 20 years. Each winter the windscreen will be removed and stored. Steve Schoonveld asked about the visitor dugout. This dugout is cutoff from access already and is not in direct sun so the windscreen is not needed. Lynn Cavicchi asked if we need to pull building permits. Ed was not sure but would check with Matt Jacques who will he managing the project. The district would assume cost of any permits. What is the timeline? We hope to start as soon as the ground thaws and expect it to be a one -day project. Committee Updates: Policy: Chipping away at the E and G policies in addition to some new MASC updates from December related to technology. Discussed revolving funds per the request of member Steve Schoonveld. Will review again at next meeting. Perhaps the Budget Subcommittee can take a look at the procedures as well. Budget: Met last week with the Finance committee to get ready for the town budget meetings. Discussed a grant for high quality instructional material. Grant will pay for half of the cost of the new math curriculum. Director of Instructional Learning Julia Greenstine provided additional information on this grant. Mansfield is currently meeting with representatives from McGraw Hill to determine the materials such as classroom kits, family kits and all available product options so that we have a plan to submit by the June grant deadline. The state has encouraged us to spend a lot on curriculum and boost our materials as much as possible. Assistant Superintendent Donoghue pointed out that the grant must be spent by June 30th. We estimate the grant to be approximately $150,000, DEL At the last meeting, the team reviewed Mansfield demographics and next steps. Still need to assign two students to the committee. It was noted that this should be finalized soon. Teresa will share the demographic information with the school committee. New Business: Consideration of a change to the MHS 2023-24 calendar for MCAS testing_ Principal Russ Booth and Assistant Principal Matt McGuire discussed the reasoning for their request. Grade 10 students take MCAS testing this year on 3/26, 3/27, 5/21 and 5/22. We need all hands on deck for proctoring and ample space for the testing. MHS administration has found that it is easiest to have all grade 9, 11 and 12 students arrive at 10:15 when most of the students have completed their exams. Any students who are still working will move to an overflow area. Bus transportation will be a normal run in the morning for QMS and MCAS-taking high school students; Page 3 of 7 Approved 02-06-24 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, January 23, 2024 In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar a second run mid -morning for the remainder of our MHS students and then a normal departure at the end of the day for all students. Questions / Answers: Steve Schoonveld- Will this occur every year or just this year? We would like to do this every year but we cannot plan ahead for exact dates when we build the school calendar because we do not get these dates until early in the current school year. Motion to approve the change to the MHS 2023-24 school calendar by Jenn Walsh / Jenifer Sellon Motion Carries 5 - 0 First Rending of Mansfield Public School2024-25 School Calendar. - Assistant Superintendent Michael Connolly reviewed the proposed calendar by highlighting start and end dates, curriculum nights, conferences, professional development and holidays. If no concerns, then the calendar will be brought for vote on 2/6/24. Questions / Answers: Steve Schoonveld asked about half days vs full days and if we were sure we were accounting for enough instructional time. Superintendent Murphy noted that in the past, Mansfield held 9 half day curriculum days and we have since cut back due to the impact on parents. We now have 4 half days for professional development. She also noted that this past December both J/J and Robinson held their conferences on the same week meaning that there were several half days all at once. This was difficult for parents as well as for MESA who rely on parent volunteers to assist with book fairs, etc during conferences. We will do our best to avoid that but last year was a case where we had no other choice. Consideration of 2024-25 MHS Progrnrn of Studies: Principal Russ Booth and Guidance Director Tina Karidoyanes presented proposals for next year's changes. Highlights include: • addition and subtraction of courses • course name, description and prerequisite changes • removal of online courses Discussion focused on math and the deletion of Algebra I Honors. There was a lot of research on this coarse. Those students in 8rh grade who performed well in Algebra moved on to Geometry Honors. Those that performed at a lower grade could take Geometry CPA. Few students show interest in repeating Algebra in grade 9; therefore, there would then be no need for Honors I Algebra. Online courses were dropped due to decreasing demand. They were first implemented back in 2009-10 as an alternative for enrollment overload. The use of online during COVID and the increased availability of state -run online schools appears to have reduced the need for us to offer. Superintendent Murphy asked Principal Booth and Director Karidoyanes to review the process that is followed when recommending Program of Studies changes. Ms. Karidoyanes noted that the effort starts in October, seeking out information from department chairs on new or possibly obsolete classes. In November, the department chairs propose edits to their course and meet with Principal Booth to discuss in detail. In December, Tina presents to the secondary leadership team. The next step is to meet with Superintendent Murphy and Assistant Superintendent Connolly to review. The changes are very thoughtful and intentional. In addition to internal input, the district goes out to Hock schools for trends and to be sure our students are competitive academically. Page 4 of 7 Approved 02-06-24 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, January 23, 2024 In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar Questions / Answers: Jenifer Sellon asked for clarification on the deletion of Algebra 1 and how it might impact the math pathway for students. There are still multiple paths that a student can take in order to take AP courses junior / senior year. Jenn Walsh was a bit surprised by the deletion of the Algebra class. She emphasized that students can't get stuck on their math progression based on what a student takes in grade 6 math. Tina noted that Department Chair Jaime Mintz has been advocate for student opportunities and multiple pathways. Principal Booth noted that students, especially in math, mature at different rates. It is important to understand this maturity and to offer various math course work and paths to support the students. Steve Schoonveld asked for an explanation on the course levels (AP, honors, college prep, essential and unleveled.) He felt the descriptions in the program of studies were not clear. How can a parent identify who their student is? These are not descriptors of a student but rather of a course. The levels are fairly standard across the country. Colleges also review ours (and all) high school programs of studies to measure our curriculum. Steve asked for a percentage of students who fall into each level. It isn't quite that straight forward. She noted that there is a shift toward changing copse leveling and GPA calculations nationwide. For example, many colleges recalculate our student GPAs based on their own formulas. We expect to see changes in the upcoming years. Lynn Cavicchi asked if we have a system by which standards apply across departments. For example, can we assume an honors ELA class is equivalent to an honors math class? Also, why is it that we don't have business honors classes but we do have honors performing arts classes? Tina noted that back prior to 2000, there was a push to make performing arts classes honor level. This was due to the many students who avoided performing arts in favor of honors programs for improved GPAs. Trends change and change again over time. Vivian Webster asked for a profile of an essential level student. Are these typically students on IEPs? Can students switch paths from an essential level to a college prep level? Director Kariyodanes noted that essential level courses are Flexible so that they can be adjusted based on the current student population. Students can switch but it is important to have the proper opportunities for them. Superintendent Murphy noted that we try to be very open with our families during IEP meetings so they know what course offerings are available. Steve Schoonveld asked how course registrations work when a student just misses a prerequisite grade. There is a waiver process in place where parents, students, teachers and counselors can discuss the best option moving forward. The waiver process is well documented and students/parents are informed of this option. There is a deadline of April 1st which allows Tina to complete the scheduling. The goal with leveling and waivers is to challenge students but at the same time, not putting too heavy of a burden on them. Can students change lanes? Yes, students move between honors and college prep courses. The difference between the levels is typically the pace, level of independent work and depth of study. Lynn asked that we review the approval process for AP courses across departments to make sure they are consistent. Do we have the staff to meet the demands of AP courses? Principal Booth Page 5 of 7 Approved 02-06-24 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, January 23, 2024 In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar believes we can meet the demand. However, when we cannot, we look at options. Each year offers unique circumstances. Lynn asked for counts in dual enrollment. We have two students at Southeastern and four students at Bridgewater taking 1 class per semester. No one is doing full dual enrollment; we are researching the reasons why. Motion to approve the change to the MHS 2024-25 Program of Studies by Jelin Walsh / Jenifer Sellon Discussion: Steve did not feel that he was ready to vote on changes tonight. He asked if there is an option for parents to review and provide input. Perhaps a 2 week comment period. Superintendent Murphy noted that tonight we have seen a very impressive and detailed presentation on the changes and is not sure that parents could make comments without listening to the context. The drivers of the Program of Studies really come from in-depth and lengthy preparation by the high school. Additionally, we are on a very tight schedule which, as Tina mentioned, started back in October leading into hard deadlines this spring in order to complete the scheduling process in June. There is a lot of communication with families starting with 8th Grade Opportunities Night next week. Given that most of the changes are minor, Steve is willing to move forward with a vote. In the future, if there are significant changes then the presentation should be done earlier in the year with the opportunity for parents to provide input. Motion Carries 5 - 0 Steve Schoo veld left the meeting at 8:33 p.in Superintendent MuMhv Mid -Year Formative Assessment Update: Teresa provided a document of all tasks completed to date and reviewed them at a high level. This is an opportunity to present progress and allow the committee to adjust goals if needed. The committee was pleased with her progress. School Committee Business: Consideration of School Committee Goals: Chair Cavicchi provided a brief refresh of last meeting's discussion. Vivian Webster asked that the goals be updated to include "New members will take the Charting the Course introduction class within one year of being elected." Motion to approve the School Committee Goals as amended by Jelin Walsh / Jenifer Sellon Motion Carries 4 - 0 Upcoming agenda items and meeting dates were reviewed. Other- Items not anticipated by the Chair 48 hours prior to this meeting None Page 6 of 7 Approved 02-06.24 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, January 23, 2024 In Person & Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar Documents Referenced: FY24 Quarter 2 financial update Warrant Minutes Baseball dugout gift proposal District Calendar for 2023-24 and change proposal District Calendar for 2024-25 MHS Program of Studies and change proposal Mid -Year formative assessment School committee goals Motion to adjourn: At 8:57p.m, Lynn Cavicchi asked for a motion to adjourn. Motion made by by Jenn Walsh / Jenifer Sellon. Motion carries 4 - 0 Respectfully Submitted, Diane Nugent, Administrative Assistant to Superintendent & School Committee Page 7 of 7