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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Comm 08/11/2026Approved 8-11-26 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, August 11, 2026 In Person room 3AB An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 in room 3AB4b�f Q. I V E 0 (1 n�.l �� Town Hall. The Open Meeting Session was called to order by Chair Jenn Walsh at 6:32 p.m. (, _ i i J 1, r �E. Members Present: Administration Present: ZG'IO 1 t� (- S: 35 Jenn Walsh, Chair Michelle McKeon, Superintendent Jenifer Seller, Vice Chair Amy Bright, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning Diane Ready Jessica Davis, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services t `. i l..i') Jamie Vitonis Matthew Violette, Director of Finance & Operations Members Absent: Lynn Cavicchi Public Speak: Lynn DiCorpo, 879 West Street asked for the procedure for getting the new contracts on the website and when that would take place. Superintendent McKeon noted that the MOUs have been approved and signed and all contracts are with the attorneys and the Massachusetts Educators Association to incorporate the changes and provide us with a final draft to review and approve. We will post those to the website as they become available. Administrative Reports: Superintendent Michelle McKeon provided an update on the Strategic Plan process. The draft was reviewed at the last meeting and the district is in process of incorporating recommendations and fine tuning the content. Our consultant is working on the final draft of a dashboard graphic. At the upcoming leadership retreat, the staff will continue discussions as it relates to school improvement plans. Assistant Superintendent Amy Bright provided an update on the 19 Summer Institutes that were held this summer Topics included curriculum work across several grade levels and content areas, alternative scheduling pathways at MHS, executive functioning goals and study skill classes at QMS, building connections and supports for EL and students in the BESST program at J/1 and Robinson. Ms. Bright also announced that we were chosen to participate in the inaugural cohort of the MA Early College Planning Phase. Our team will engage in the development of a comprehensive Program Design Plan. This past year, 11 seniors graduated with college credit to support their entry into college or the work force. In addition, 51 students in the classes of 2027, 2028, and 2029 earned dual enrollment credits. There were 22 students who took place in the Early Adoption Cohort last year while 2 students took a summer Public Speaking Course at Quincy College. The 26-27 approved course list for dual enrollment with Quincy College includes Entrepreneurship, English 12, English 12 Honors, Accounting 1, Environmental Issues & Conservation, and Economics Honors. During the first month of school the district will be able to identify all students who can participate in Dual Enrollment. Assistant Superintendent Jessica Davis provided an update on Extended School Year. Five weeks has completed very successfully with approximately 50 dedicated staff members and our amazing transportation team. This summer, 100 students accessing programs and 70 students accessing standalone special education services. Jessica also reported that we hired a .6 Board Certified Behavioral Analyst who will provide services for the district mostly at the high school. We also hired a Teacher of Visually Impaired. Both of these hires were able to happen by ending a contract with a consultant currently offering these services. This new arrangement creates a cost savings for the district. Director of Finance and Operations Matthew Violette reviewed the final FY26 financial report. Key notes: There is a remaining budget in salary and wages due to unfilled positions and the use of grant funding but a negative balance in the business office due to the transportation costs. This year we did not shift money out of the revolving account to cover some of the transportation cost. The district maintained a higher revolving account balance because we anticipate the new transportation contract to rise 40%. Facilities is in the red due to high heating and Page 1 of 5 Approved 8-11-26 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, August 11, 2026 In Person room 3AB winter costs and required door replacements at the QMS and MHS. The cost of required text books caused MHS to go in the red. The School Committee line was overspent due to the cost of developing a 5-year strategic plan. Lastly technology overspent in order to purchase new chrome books prior to an expected price hike this year. Approval of Warrant: Goods & Salary & Goods & Salary & Goods & Salary & Services Wages Services Wages Services Wages 2649S 2649PS 2650S 2650PS 2653PS 2653PS 6/2126 6l5/26 6116/26 6118/26 6130126 712126 General Fund 765,272.96 2,300,717.37 695,998.22 2,600,830.20 2,307,872.92 1,551,419.87 Medicare - 2,800.00 - 2,800.00 - - Capital 103,846.02 - 57,906.31 - 7,971.51 - Revolving 9,193.03 43,244.53 2,415.13 43,007.14 29,662.42 35,282.13 Food Service 116,738.78 42,796.74 41,232.40 44,013.41 48,016.23 33,472.29 Gifts 1,841.50 - 219.43 - 2,953.11 - Student Activity 23,229.49 200.00 10,646.25 4,086.93 80,086.57 - Grants 2,076.39 97,194.79 58,648.29 20,384.89 21,099.68 17,827,28 Prior Year - - - - - - 1,022,198.17 2,486,953.43 867,066.03 2,615,121.57 2,497,562.44 1,638,001.57 Motion to approve Warrant memo dated 7-10-26 by Jenn Sellon / Diane Ready Motion Carries 4— 0. Approval of Minutes: Date 1st 2nd Discuss Y/N Vote 05-26-26 1S DR N 4-0 06-02-26 1S DR Y* Motion amended to include revisions 1S DR 4-0 05-26-26 Executive Session -no release 1S DR N 4-0 06-02-26 Executive Session -no release I 15 I DR N 4-0 *Diane Ready requested grammatical changes to the 6-2-26 minutes. Acceptance of Gifts and Grants: Motion to Accept Federal Entitlement Grants (Title I, Title II, Title III, Title IV) by Jenifer Sellon / Diane Ready. Title 1 Title 11 Title III Title IV Total FY2027 207,101.00 58,176.0D 20,229.00 30,271.00 315,777.00 FY2026 420,287.00 74,574.00 17,135.00 24,882.00 536,878.00 Change (213,186.00) (16,398.00) 3,094.00 5,399.00 (221,101.00) Discussion: As a refresher, the district made $2.4 million in budgetary cuts. Additionally, our portion of the entitlement funds were cut by over $200,000. The combination of these two events led to cuts in our reading specialists which had been funded by these grants. This is a big loss of service to our students. Diane Ready asked Page 2 of 5 Approved 8-11-26 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, August 11, 2026 In Person room 3AB why these grants were cut. Matthew Violette noted that Title Grant formulas have changed impacting many MA schools with a shifting of funds going to other states. It is nothing we can control as it at the federal level. Jenifer Sellon asked if the reading teachers were supplements to classrooms? Yes, these teachers provided extra support to students identified as needing reading assistance; they were not classroom teachers. Motion Approved 4 — 0. Old Business / Committee Updates: A Policy Subcommittee meeting was held on 7-27-26. Many policies were reviewed and will be up for consideration this evening. A School Needs Assessment Subcommittee meeting was held on 8-10-26. The group reviewed the plan created in 2024 with the goal of looking toward long-term plans under our current budget scenarios. The committee will take tours of the schools to see the current status of our facilities and talk to the Select Board about getting the committee back together again. New Business: Consideration to appoint Stephanie Curran as a QMS School Nurse: State law requires the School Committee to approve nurse and physician hires. Stephanie Curran was interviewed to replace Elayne Brown at QMS upon Elayne's retirement. Stephanie is an experienced Licensed Registered Nurse with a broad range of experience from school nursing to emergency care. Jenifer Sellon asked if she was licensed with DESE. Superintendent McKeon noted that the district is working with Stephanie to help her reinstate her license with DESE and there are no concerns. Motion to approve the hire of Stephanie Curran as a QMS School Nurse by Jen Sellon / Diane Ready Motion Carries 4— 0. Consideration to approve the mileage reimbursement amount for FY27: The Town of Mansfield issued a memo that it has adopted the current IRS rate of $.76 per mile. Motion to approve the reimbursement rate of $.76 per mile as set by the Town of Mansfield for Mansfield Public Schools by Jen Sellon / Diane Ready Motion Carries 4-0. Review of policies with no changes: The following policies were reviewed at the last Policy Subcommittee meeting and do not require any changes. All were read into the record and will be marked at Reviewed 8-11-26. • DFC School Space Leasing, Rental, And Service Charges • DH Bonded Employees • DI Financial Accounting • DJA Purchasing Authority • WE Procurement Requirements • DFC School Space Leasing • FB Facilities Planning r • KA School Community Relations Goals • KDB Public's Right to Know • KDD News Media Relations/News Releases • LA Education Agency Relations Goal • LB Relations with Other Schools and School Districts Page 3 of 5 Approved 8-11-26 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, August 11, 2026 In Person room 3AB *Diane Ready noted that FCB Retirement of Facilities does have a minor change and should be moved to the next agenda item. Consideration of policies with Revisions: Code/Title Notes Motion 1 Motion 2 Vote DA Fiscal Management All policies were reviewed is DR 4-0 DB Annual Budget with the committee and were read into the record. The DBC Budget Deadlines committee decided to take DBG Budget Adoption Procedures one vote for all changes. DBJ Budget Transfer Authority The policies will be marked as DD Grants, Proposals, and Special Projects Revised 08-11-26 DIEAudits Diane Ready presented a list DJ Purchasing of housekeeping changes which have been incorporated DK Payment Procedures into the final drafts. DKC Expense reimbursement FA Facilities Development Goals FCB Retirement of Facilities JJF Student Activity Accounts JKAA Physical Restraint of Students KBA School-Parent/Guardian Relations Goals KBG Parent Advisory Councils (PACs) KE Public Complaints Consideration of policies to be deleted: Code / Title Notes Motion 1 Motion 2 Vote DBI Budget Operation and Control* All policies were read into the JS DR 4-0 DDA Gifts and Contributions record and will be removed from DFF Control over Internal Funds our policy manual. JKA Corporal Punishment *This was a recently added Mansfield policy. However, it is all part of MA General Law and there is no associated MASC policy so it will be removed. Page 4 of 5 Approved 8-11-26 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, August 11, 2026 In Person room 3AB Consideration of New Policv: Code / Title Notes Motion 1 Motion 2 Vote DEC Federal Funds Supplement Not Supplant This is a new MASC policy which JS DR 4-0 covers use of Title Grants. Districts must add services to Operating Budget not use to fix gaps in the Operating Budget. School Committee Business: None School Committee Questions and Comments: None Other- Items not anticipated by the Chair 48 hours prior to this meeting: Documents Referenced: Warrant Minutes School Nurse resume End of Year Financial Data Memo from Town Manager re mileage reimbursement Policies Motion to adiourn: At 7:28 p.m., Chair Walsh called for a motion to adjourn. Motion to adjourn by Jenifer Sellon / Diane Ready ROLL CALL Vote: leniferSellon aye Tenn Walsh aye Jamie Vitonis aye Diane Ready aye Motion Carries 4-0. Respectfully Submitted, Diane Nugent, Administrative Assistant to Superintendent & School Committee Page 5 of 5