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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Comm Minutes 08/13/2013Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, August 13, 2013 Town Hail, Room 3 B & C An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held at the Town Hall on Tuesday, August 13.2013. After returning from Executive Session the Open Session meeting was reopened and called to order by Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil at 7:35 Pni. Motion U.C. 5 - 0 Members Present — roll call vote to re -open the Open Meeting; Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, Mr. Wayne Smith, Jr. Mrs. Lynn Cavicchi Mrs. Linda Fernando Mr. Michael Trowbridge Also Present: Chairperson; yes Vice Chairman yes yes yes yes Mrs. Brenda Hodges, Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Kiera O'Neil introduced the two High School Student representatives Jake Moran and Molly Trowbridge. SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT: Mr. John Nieratko introduced the new assistant principal at Robinson Elementary School Tara Boeing that she comes to us from Mattapoisett. Ms. Boeing spoke a little and said she was originally from Long Island and is glad to be in Mansfield. Kiera O'Neil welcomed John Nieratko to his first meeting as Robinson Elementary School Principal. Mrs. Hodges told the School Committee that they have hired 27 new staff members. Qualters will also be hiring a new Special Education teacher, the one they hired resigned to become a Special Education Director in another district, also another staff member took a leave of absence and they need to replace her. There is still one High School Business Position and one Middle School Science Position left to fill. Mrs. Hodges told the committee they do have candidates she has just not met with them yet. Mrs. Hodges said she is very happy with the work her administrators have done, trying to find the best fit for their schools. Warrants Chairperson Kiera O'Neil asked for a motion to approve the warrants A motion was made to approve the warrants 18' by Mr. Wayne Smith, 2 °d by Mrs. Linda Fernando. Motion U.0 4 — 0 -1 Mr. Mike Trowbridge voted to abstain from the vote, explained his daughter worked for the schools and didn't want to vote on the Salary and Wages part of the warrant. Approval of Minutes: Executive Session minutes of June 4, 2013 Lynn Fernando asked for a motion to discuss Executive Session list of names are incorrect but role call is correct. Chairperson Kiera O'Neil asked for a motion to approve minutes from June 4, 2013 as amended. A motion was made to approve the minutes as amended by I" Mr. Mike Trowbridge, 2nd by Vice Chairman Wayne Smith Motion U.C. 5 — 0 School Committee Minutes of June 4, 2013 Chairperson, Kiera O'Neil asked for any discussion, Mrs. Linda Fernando said the vote was 5 -0 but Chairperson Kiera O'Neil was not there and Mrs. O'Neil stated she was back in time to vote. A motion was made to approve the minutes from June 4, 2013 by ls` Mr. Mike Trowbridge, 2°d by Vice Chairman Wayne Smith Motion U.C. 5 — 0 OLD BUSINESS: BUDGET UPDATE: Mrs. Hodges said very little changed, wanted to let the committee know the exact dollar amount given back to the town was $289,584.00. Kiera O'Neil asked how much we gave back last year. Mrs. Hodges said we were in the $200,000.00 range. Grants are about the same as last year, very little change. GYM WALL: Mr. Bob Barry gave a brief update on the MHS Gym Wall. Mr. Barry handed out a time line for the Gym Wall. Mr. Maurizio Caruso Vice President Principal Architect of CDR Maguire spoke about the wall, told committee a time line and told them about some problem they encounter when demolition started and the test came back positive for non friable ACM, he explained how they would fix this problem. At the Construction Meeting several different options were discussed to address the issue. A tentative plan was identified to perform a partial abatement and utilize steel framing with steel stud infill and gypsum board in lieu of masonry. CDRM met with Asbestos Abetment contractors to identify scope they hired Northern Contracting to help with the issue and issued drawing to Northern revising project scope, on July 29`a asbestos work plan for partial abatement was filed with the DEP. On August 2, Northern Contracting Submitted Change Order #1 and #2. Change Order #1 came in at $102,747.81 Credit for Contract work. Change Order #2 $198,650.05 Extra for the implementation of the changes discussed on July 22 with a net add of $95,902.24. On August 6 the MBC /School, Northern and CDRM met to review proposal, option was raised to get quote for full abatement for comparison. On August 7 Asbestos work plan for full abatement was filed with the DEP. On August 9, 2013 Northern Contracting Submitted Change Orders #3 at the cost of $132,000 for full abatement (Approximately) On August 12`b MBC /School, Northern and CDRM met to review proposal #3. Northern provided revised Change Order #1 and #2 for a net revised amount of $ 86,500. The impact to schedule is Contractual Completion Date — September 6, 2013 Two weeks for Abatement, Two weeks for Structural steel installation the revised completion date is October 29, 2013. Mike Trowbridge HOW MUCH WOULD IT BE IF WE DID THE FULL ABATEMENT, it would be $132,000 vs the $86,500 4 weeks full 2 partial abatement Is it typical for asbestos to be used to build a wall, in the 70's hard to tell this is not where one would look for asbestos this is just little pots where the glue is, it is a hit or miss. Chairperson Kiera O'Neil what does this do for our fall sports, Mrs. Hodges said Joe Russo has found somewhere for the volleyball team to play and practice. Chairperson Kiera O'Neil at a cost Mrs. Hodges said no Mr. Russo would have told her. Should the wall be delayed at all we are then looking at the basketball season, but right now we have it taken care of the volleyball team. Mrs. Linda Fernando ask if this would take care of the problem are we assured nothing else will go wrong. Mr. Fabrizio Caruso said it is all exposed and cleaned, and do not see any problems that would arise. Mr. Mike Trowbridge asked, if you had a choice would you be apt to do a full abatement if we had $50,000 even if it delayed it 2 more weeks, Mr. Barry said he didn't think so we went through all the options and feel this is the best. He would not recommend the full abatement. Mr. Fabrizio Caruso said it is the all the schools no matter would construction you are doing it is everywhere. Mr. Mike Trowbridge ask if they did encounter it when they did the addition and Maureen Doherty said it was major construction and it would have been dealt with then. Mrs. Lynn Cavicchi asked if anything beside volleyball would be impacted, Mrs. Hodges said "we have gym classes and if it is a rainy day we will have to find other place for them to go ", but Mr. Russo is aware of this and has worked something out. Mr. Barry said there are addition fees associated with this work, on top of the $86,500 once the contract is negotiated Mr. Barry will have a final amount. Mrs. Hodges asked for it as soon as they have it. Mrs. Hodges thanks everyone for all the work they have done. UPDATE ON TELEPHONE SYSTEM: Has not moved as quickly as we would like it too, because it includes town and schools Met with a contractor that will work with town and school High School first to be addresses will not likely happen until mid year, been very fortunate that the patch we all work on has maintained It is a very significant undertaking going to take a better part of next year to move this forward. Has any other schools experienced this problem, no not like the High School DISTRICT CLIMATE SURVEY: Mrs. Hodges told the School Committee the results from the Climate Survey that was provided to parents at the end of the school year. Mrs. Hodges told the School Committee that while the participation rate was only 31% it is actually a little above the average response rate for parental surveys. Mrs. Hodges told the School Committee the purpose of the survey was to provide the district with feedback regarding parental perception on the overall quality of education in the district and determine areas where the district may target for improvement. Mrs. Hodges was very pleased that the parents gave the district an A or B for the overall quality of education on the district and that 93% of respondents agree that quality schools are important to them. Mrs. Hodges said once the School Committee has a chance to review the survey results she will prepare a letter to the parents thanking them for their participation and summarizing the results of the survey. Mrs. Kiera O'Neil asked how were the parents notified, Mr. Mike Trowbridge said by email. Brenda was please with response and hopes the committee is pleased, and that the parents are happy with what is going on. Favorable response with how their tax money is being spent. Some that responded to the budget believed there needs to be more money for schools and are willing to approve more money for the district. How familiar are the parents with budget maybe 40% felt they were very aware and 60% were somewhat or not aware, we need to continue to make them aware they were asked them about projects undertaking seemed aware and informed with what the schools were doing. Mrs. Kiera O'Neil found it interesting that the same percentage of parents that gave us an A gave us a C. Mrs. Kiera O'Neil asked what will we do with information and Mrs. Hodges said the information will be shared with administration as we do our school improvement plans and for School Committee and Brenda to better communicate the budget with parents. Mrs. Linda Fernando said it was so hard to get parents to respond, it is almost impossible even going door to door wouldn't make them take the survey, Mrs. Hodges felt they tried to remind the parents, many times. Mrs. O'Neil asked if we will be putting these results on the web, Mrs. Hodges said yes we will. Need to put out what we plan on doing with this information. Mrs. Lynn Cavicchi asked if it will be an annual survey Mrs. Hodges said no it will not be. Mrs. Lynn Cavicchi asked to make up the questions for the questionnaire and Mrs. Hodges answered K12 Insight and administration. Mr. Michael Trowbridge asked that a survey please not put out before town meeting. Mrs. Linda Fernando and Mrs. Kiera O'Neil think the survey is a great thing to have. TECHNOLGY UPDATE: Mrs. Hodges updated the School Committee on Technology work done during the summer. Mrs. Lori Letendre and her Technology Department enclosed an update on some of the larger scale projects they are working on. Mrs. Kiera O'Neil asked if only the High School is having wireless at this time. Mrs. Hodges said at this time only the High School is being done. Mrs. O'Neil asked if there was plans for the other schools, Mrs. Hodges said, we do but it will depend on funding. Mrs. Lynn Cavicchi asked what is the Kindergarten teacher's strategies and goals for collection of data. Mrs. Hodges said the kindergarten teachers are gathering performance data for the state, the state will use this information as a benchmark, right now we don't have a way of looking back once the student gets to grade 3. Information will be gathered on each individual student, just like MCAS gathers information through testing on each individual student. Mrs. Kiera O'Neil asked if parents will be notified of this collection of date and yes they will be. Mrs. Hodges asked Mr. John Nieratko to explain how it will work. Mr. Nieratko explained, it is a standardized assessment it is very observational it can be social interactions how we capture the moments in which these students are exhibiting the skills they need to master and then pulling it into one place. Mr. John Nieratko told the SC that he has spoken to cohorts in Lowell and other district and that an ipad is necessary to manage all of this. We are hoping to use this as a report card for parents. They will be regularly communicated too. Mrs. Kiera O'Neil asked that if we are reporting information to the state, that the parents have access to the same information. Mr. Nieratko said parents would have complete access to any information regarding their child. TRANSPORATION UPDATE: Mrs. Hodges told the School Committee dates are in your packet for signups and the closing date for transportation was July 26, 2013, and that we have the same number of buses as last year 31 buses. Bus routes are being completed as we speak and bus routes will be on line August 201i Mrs. Kiera O'Neil asked how are we were handling the kindergarten half day routes, she asked if there would be buses with only 2 students on them. Mr. John Nieratko said the total number in morning is 32 we have limited number of buses, longer routes some students will be on the bus a little longer, not sure of how many buses that will be running but will not be running buses with 2 students on them. ELEMENTARY ENROLLEMENT NUMBERS At the present time we have 167 students in full day Kindergarten and in the half day we have 32 students in the AM and 35 students in the PM. IA grade has 255 students 2nd grade has 283 students with a total 786 students we are down about 45 students from last year Mrs. Hodges told the School Committee that everyone got full day that wanted it. ROBINSON PLAYGROUND Mr. Mike Trowbridge asked if the playground was ADA compliant and Mr. Walter Parker had the town out to make sure anything we used is not going to be a liability. Mr. John Nieratko said the wood chips were not compliant and we will have to go back to and figure out what we can use the wood chips were a balance issue. Need something with more balance. Mrs. Lynn Cavicchi asked what the additional cost will be to replace the woodchips and Mr. Nieratko does not have an answer at this time. Mrs. Lynn Cavicchi asked where the additional money would come from Mr. Nieratko said the funds are in an account from MESA and principal account. Mrs. Hodges said we can use facility moneys if need be. Mr. Nieratko explained why the structure is needed the population is increases with all day kindergarten need something for the students to play on. The community also uses the structure Mrs. Lynn Cavicchi asked if we need to be concerned with wood chips in other playgrounds in the district. Mr. Mike Trowbridge said he thinks they were all pre existing but it is something we do want to change eventually. Mrs. Kiera O'Neil asked what the time frame is, Mr. Nieratko said they need to get a new quote and the company said once they get the approval, then a few weeks to get materials on sight then another week to get the grounds prep and about a week to get the structure up. Mrs. Linda Fernando asked who would be putting the structure up and Mr. Nieratko said the company will put it up. Mrs. Hodges asked the School Committee to take a vote to support the approval and installation of the playground. Mr. Mike Trowbridge made a motion to approve the installation of the playground incorporating the suggestions made tonight. 2nd by Mrs. Lynn Cavicchi. Motion U.C. 5 — 0 FACILITIES Mrs. Hodges told the School Committee the buildings are in great shape and everyone is pleased with the look of their buildings and work is ahead of schedule. Mr. Michael Trowbridge is thrilled with the fire inspections done in the summer, so that if there a problem there is enough time to make the changes before school starts. FIELD TRIPS NONE ILN ►50 SCHOOL COMMITTEE NEW BUSINESS NONE Motion to adiourn: Chairperson Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to adjourn the School Committee Meeting of August 13; 2013 for the sole purpose of adjourning. A motion was made to adjourn the meeting 1't by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, 2 1d by Mrs. Lynn Cavicchi. A Roll call vote to close: Mr. Michael Trowbridge, yes; Mrs. Lynn Cavicchi, yes; Mrs. Linda Fernando, yes; Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, yes; and Mr. Wayne Smith, Jr., yes Motion U.C. 5-0 Respectfully submitted, Janet Quinn