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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Comm 09/02/2025Approved 09-30.25 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 02, 2025 Virtual Meeting usingGoToWebinar RECEIVED TOWN CLERKS OFFICE An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held on Tuesday, September 02, 2025. Theo en meeting session was called to order by Chair Jenn Walsh at 6:02 p.m. 2025 OCI - I P 2, 49 Members Present: Administration Present: MANSFIELD Jenn Walsh, Chair Michelle McKeon, Superintendent MASSACHUSETTS Jenifer Sellon, Vice Chair Amy Bright, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Lynn Cavicchi Jessica Davis, Assistant Superintendent Student Services Diane Ready Matthew Violette, Director of Finance and Operations Steve Schoonveld (at 6:25 pm) Members Absent: None The chair asked for a motion to enter into Executive Session under Exception No. 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 regarding collective bargaining of paraprofessionals. Motion by: Jenn Walsh / Jenifer Sellon ROLL CALL Vote: Lynn Cavicchi aye Diane Ready aye Jenn Walsh aye Jenifer Sellon aye Motion Carries 4 — 0 Return from Executive Session at 6:25 pm Public Soeak: None Administrative Reports: Superintendent Michelle McKeon provided an update on our return to school. Earlier in the day, the entire staff came together for the annual back to school staff meeting. Dr. McKeon shared some of her remarks from that meeting highlighting our Mission, Vision and Core Values, the importance of the sense of belonging, gratitude for our staff who worked over the summer and congratulations to staff who have served over 15 years of service. She also noted that we received many school supply donations from three local companies (Flockomock Area YMCA, Dairy Farms of America and Emerson Automated Solutions.) Our grant funding has increased this year to a total of $1,623,979 from $1,547,332 last year. This includes IDEA, Title I, Title II, Title III and Title IV. Lynn Cavicchi asked what factors triggered the increase. Primarily it was an increase in our student demographics. Assistant Superintendent Amy Bright announced that $550,000 of PRISM II and III grants were awarded to Mansfield to support the purchase of high -quality instructional literacy materials for grade K — 5. These funds will be used to help implement the newly purchased ELA instructional materials. At MFIS, the district has partnered with Quincy College and will implement strategies to prioritize and intentionally serve students traditionally underrepresented in higher education, including those who are the first in their family to go to college, students of color, English language learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students. Page 1 of 4 Approved 09-30-25 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 02, 2025 Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar With recent increases in our English Language Learners and Emergent Bilingual student populations, we are now considered a "mid -enrollment district" as we have exceeded 100 students district -wide. As such, we will engage in the development of an English Learner Parent Advisory Committee, or ELPAC, to help garner input and feedback from this growing population. The ELPAC will work closely with our Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC.) Lynn Cavicchi asked where we mostly saw increases. We are mostly seeing this at the elementary level although there have been increases in each school. Diane Ready asked if we have increased our EL support staff. Yes, we have hired additional staff over the last 5 years. Assistant Superintendent Jessica Davis noted that we are continuing to work on the corrective actions needed based on the Integrated Monitoring Review. Michelle Sexton has assumed the role as Chair of SEPAC and Curren Collura is the Program Coordinator. The SEPAC group meets several times a year focusing on various speakers who present on key topics of interest to the parents. The first meeting is scheduled for October 22"d. Lastly, a family newsletter was recently sent to all families of students on IEPs or 504 plans. Director of Finance and Operations Matthew Violette gave an update on the move to Roland Green. The district is ready to welcome students on September 151h. He thanked everyone who had a part in preparing the Robinson School for the addition of preschool classrooms. Some of the key accomplishments include the packing, moving and unpacking of Roland Green furniture and supplies, the completion of the new entrance and queue line for drop-off, the paving of the Robinson parking area, completion of the Roland Green playground including paving and fencing The Roland Green building is empty and ready to be transferred to the town. Matt also provided a breakdown of the cost to move. The money came from three resources: Capital, FY25 Encumbrance and FY26 Budget. Lynn Cavicchi asked for clarification of the capital money. Did we ask for additional funds or did we reallocate approved funds? The district used district paving funds that were already approved. We flipped priorities to make Robinson number one, resulting in QMS paving becoming the top priority for next year. Lynn also inquired as to the FY26 budget source funds. This money came from projected savings in the FY26 budget including utilities and maintenance costs for the Roland Green building on Dean Street. Steve Schoonveld asked if we had an estimate of last year's utility costs. It was roughly $40,000. He also asked about the encumbrances and if the turn back money needed to be adjusted based on the use for the move. No, the cost of the move had already been factored in prior to announcing the turn back dollar amount this spring. Mr. Schoonveld also inquired about our Food Services revolving account which sits very high. Matt recently met with Food Services Director Dawn Langtry to discuss the account and how we can draw down the balance. The biggest issue is the inability to obtain kitchen equipment as the supply chain is extremely backed up. Many projects are in progress but can't be completed. Steve asked Matt to provide a list of all projects that were completed across the 4 kitchens this year. Approval of Warrant: Salary & Goods & Salary & Goods & Wages Services Wages Services 2601PS 2603S 2603PS 2605S 7-3-25 7-15.25 7118125 7/29/26 General Fund 158,907.79 325,908.98 286,651.75 339,089.27 Medicare 2,800.00 - 2,800.00 - Capital - 193,151.61 - 177,631.06 Revolving 89,331.86 280.00 68,177.94 2,884.63 Food Service 26,668.17 441.00 7,464.21 6,326.70 Gifts - - - 257.00 Page 2 of 4 Approved 09-30.25 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 02, 2025 Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar Student Activity - - - - Grants 24,181.72 11,856A2 333.27 Prior Year 1,514,824.14 1,251,197.92 - 1,816,713.68 519,781.59 1,628,147.94 626,521.93 Motion to approve the warrant memo dated 08-14-25 by Jenifer Sellon / Steve Schoonveld Motion Passes 5 - 0 Old Business/Subcommittee updates: Lynn Cavicchi updated the committee on the budget meetings held over the summer. The first full town budget subcommittee meets next week. Our subcommittee worked through the revolving accounts and will have a report to the full committee on September 30`h. The next key area to work through is student activity accounts. There will be an external audit of these accounts in January. A meeting with FinCom representatives is scheduled for November 20th. Upcoming agenda items include cost sharing agreement, wage transparency, and town -wide financial policies. New Business: Update on negotiations with the paraprofessional bargaining unit: The committee and bargaining unit have come to an agreement on a new 3-year contract. Michelle thanked all that worked on both sides of the negotiations team. Some of the key changes: language regarding paras who temporarily take over a classroom; increase in sick time accrual balance, new orientation day for paras (to be included with new teacher orientation,) planned review of and recommendations for evaluation process, change in the probationary period for new staff and an increase of one personnel day. Salary increases: Year 1: $1.75/hour, Year 2: $1.25/hour and Year 3: $1.25/hour. Review of FY27 budget planning timeline: Director of Finance and Operations Matt Violette updated the committee on the budget planning schedule for FY27. The dates were reviewed with two comments. First, change the budget vote from December 16 to December 9. Second, Steve Schoonveld asked for clarification on how to vote. Does the committee vote on the budget total, does it vote to accept or move forward? Steve noted that a public hearing may be needed on the budget prior to a school committee vote. The district will research and update the budget timeline accordingly. Consideration to transfer the Roland Green School to the Town of Mansfield: Superintendent McKeon suggested that the school district is in a very good place in regards to the Roland Green building. Matt Violette noted that the move and cleanup is complete. He completed a walk through earlier today to verify the cleanout. Motion to transfer the care and custody of the Roland Green Pre -School Building located at 29 Dean Street to the Select Board of Mansfield effective 9-3-2025 by Jenifer Sellon / Steve Schoonveld Discussion: Lynn Cavicchi suggested a change to the motion to include the words "and control" Motion amended to transfer the care, custody and control of the Roland Green Pre -School Building located at 29 Dean Street to the Select Board of Mansfield effective 9-3-2025 by Jenifer Sellon / Steve Schoonveld Motion Passes 5. 0 School Committee Business: None Page 3 of 4 Approved 09.30-25 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 02, 2025 Virtual Meeting using GoToWebinar School Committee Questions and Comments: Steve Schoonveld noted that Senator Bill Feeney has entered a bill that would prevent employee retirement contribution percentage rate to change once retired. This is something to keep an eye on as Mansfield monitors rising health insurance costs. Lynn Cavicchi asked committee members if there had been any discuss regarding the superintendent evaluation and which indicators would be used. Superintendent McKeon stated that she would present her District Entry Plan and draft goals at the September 301h meeting. Lynn reiterated the importance of setting indicators per the recommendation of Sean Costello our MASC Field Officer. A future school committee meeting or workshop would be used to develop these indicators. Other- Items not anticipated by the Chair 48 hours orior to this meeting: None Documents Referenced: Warrant Minutes Roland Green move costs MOU for paraprofessionals Proposed FY27 Budget timeline Motion to adjourn: At 7:16 p.m., Chair Walsh called for a motion to adjourn. Motion to adjourn by Steve Schoonveld / Jenifer Sellon Motion Passes 5- 0 Respectfully Submitted, Diane Nugent, Administrative Assistant to Superintendent & School Committee Page 4 of 4