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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Comm Minutes 10/1/2013Mansfield School Committee Meetine Minutes for Tuesday, October 1, 2013 Town Hall, Room ciB & C An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held at the Town Hall on Tuesday, October 1, 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 Pm. 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 Mr. Edward Vozzella, Director of Finance Personnel APPROVAL OF WARRANTS Warrants Warrant #'s Dates Amount Goods & Services 2014 -1006 09/03/13 428,878.19 Salary & Wages 2014 -6 09/13/13 1,445,254.34 Goods & Services 2014 -1008 09/17/13 310,690.82 Salary & Wages 2014 -7 08/16/13 1,455,566.71 $ 3,640,390.06 Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil called for a motion to approve the warrants. A motion was made to approve the warrants 13t by Mrs. Fernando, 2nd by Mrs. Cavicchi. Motion U.C. 5 ~ 0 —1— APPROVAL OF MINUTES Executive Session Minutes of August 13.2013 Executive Session Minutes of August 13, 2013, were approved. Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to approve the minutes of August 13, 2013. A motion was made to approveln by Mrs. Linda Fernando, 2nd by Mrs. Lynn Cavicchi. Motion U.C. 5 — 0 Executive Session Minutes of September 10, 2013 Executive Session Minutes of September 10, 2013, were approved. Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to approve the Executive Session minutes of September 10, 2013. A motion was made to approveln by Mrs. Linda Fernando, 2nd by Mrs. Lynn Cavicchi. Motion U.C. 4 — 0 —1 — Mr. Trowbridge was not present at the meeting. School Committee Minutes of September 10, 2013 — As Amended The School Committee Minutes of September 10, 2013 were approved. Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to approve the minutes of September 10, 2013. A motion was made to approve In by Mr. Wayne Smith, 2nd by Mrs. Lynn Cavicchi. Motion U.C. 4 — 0 —1 — Mr. Trowbridge was not present at the meeting. OLD BUSINESS Strategic Plan Draft: Chairperson, Mrs. O'Neil stated that she was very pleased with the Strategic Plan and asked if there was going to be a presentation to the Committee. Mrs. Hodges said that yes, they do plan a presentation once they get the final feedback from the Strategic Plan Committee and incorporate all of their updates and bring it forward to a November meeting. Mrs. Fernando asked if they could make suggestions to the plan. Mrs. Hodges said that they could make suggestions but the best time would be while they were finalizing the draft. The feedback from the Strategic Plan Committee is due back within two weeks. Once the Committee has reviewed and edited this Draft, the Plan will be submitted for your approval. —2— Robinson Playground: Superintendent, Mrs. Brenda Hodges, thanked the MESA group for their fundraising efforts and their contribution to the Robinson Playground. To date, MESA has given $12,500 toward the playground effort. The next stage is the ground cover which now needs to be ADA compliant. Mr. John Nieratko, Robinson School Principal, explained the process they were going through as well as the amount of nearly $24,000 anticipated for the cost of the ground cover. It is roughly $12 a square foot for the covering. We are still looking into other options. NEW BUSINESS 2014 ~ 15 — School Calendar: The 2014 — 2015 School Calendar was presented to the School Committee. The calendar included the start and ending dates, winter and spring vacation dates along with the tentative eight 1/2 days included for Professional Development. Mrs. Hodges also asked to review having no school on January 2, 2014 due to energy issues. There was some discussion that the Committee would post another survey on the website to get feedback from the parents regarding possibly changing February vacation. Mrs. Fernando brought up the conversation regarding the elimination or shortening of the February break. Mr. Trowbridge noted that he did not support the February break being taken off the calendar and supported the survey. The other topic for discussion was that of having school on the day of low attendance. Mrs. Hodges planned to place a survey on the website for parent feedback on the three issues brought up. Mrs. O'Neil asked if there could be a "Champs Program" for the QMS students on the half days. Mrs. Hodges stated that she had conversation already with QMS Principal, Mr. Zeff Gianetti, regarding a program at the QMS. They are presently looking into a program and will look into the feasibility of such a program. Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to approve of the recommended 14 — 15 school calendar opening and closing dates, school vacation dates and the tentative half days for teacher Professional Development with the option for some adjustments. The Committee decided that they would wait for the results of the survey. Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to approve that the district remains closed on January 2, 2014, due to energy issues. A motion was made to approve that the district remain closed on January 2, 2014, due to energy issues, ist by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, 2nd by Mr. Wayne Smith. Motion U.C. 5 — 0 r Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to approve the decision to have the district remain a full day of school for the day of low attendance. A motion was made to approve the decision to have the district remain a full day of school for 13— the day of low attendance 151 by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, 2nd by Mrs. Linda Fernando. Motion Carries 4 — 0 — 1 Mr. Wayne Smith was against the full day Elementary Report Cards: John Nieratko and Joanne Jordan presented the new Report Cards for the Kindergarten as well as for grades 1 through 5. The School Committee's approval is needed to adopt the Kindergarten assessment for measuring student progress that is consistent with Teaching Strategies Gold, which is required by the state.. Teaching Strategies Gold assesses growth for each child in the following areas: • Social/ Emotional • Physical Development • Language Skills • Cognitive Development • Literacy skills • Mathematical skills Kindergarten Report Cards Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to approve the new Kindergarten Report Cards . A motion was made to approve the new Kindergarten Report Cards, ist by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, 2nd by Mrs. Linda Fernando. Motion U.C. 5 — 0 Grades 1 — 5 Report Cards The proposed changes to the report cards for grades 1— 5 are necessary to accurately assess the work that is being done at each grade level. Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to approve the new Elementary Report Cards for grades 1 through 5. A motion was made to approve the new Kindergarten Report Cards, ist by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, 2nd by Mr. Wayne Smith. Motion U.C. 5 — 0 School Physician: Mrs. Hodges asked the School Committee to reappoint Dr. Karen Halle, M.D. to the position of School Physician. Dr. Halle has been our School Physician for the past 12 years and provided excellent service for the Mansfield Public Schools. 14— Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to approve the reappointment of Dr. Halle. A motion was made to approver by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, 2nd by Mrs. Linda Fernando. Motion U.C. 5 — 0 Medication Policy The Medication Policy for the Mansfield Public Schools was brought forward by the Superintendent. Mrs. Hodges noted that there were no changes made to the previous medication policy and that it was her recommendation to the Committee that they renew the policy. Mrs. Cavicchi noted that the information they had in hand was more a regulation than a policy and needed to be updated. Mr. Trowbridge noted that we could approve the present policy annually and make an amendment in the future if we had to. Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to approve the Medication Policy for the District. A motion was made to approvelst Mr. Wayne Smith by, 2nd by Mr. Michael Trowbridge. Motion U.C. 5 — 0 Concussion Policy: Mrs. Hodges updated the Committee as to the letter that was sent to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirming that the Mansfield Public Schools had reviewed and updated the Concussion Policy that was originally implemented in January 2012, and that we are in compliance. This update does not require the School Committee's approval. Audit Committee Appointment: The Board of Selectman previously voted to appoint Mr. James A. Ragazzo to the Audit Committee, and now need the approval of the School Committee to finalize the appointment. Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to approve the appointment of Mr. James A. Ragazzo. A motion was made to approve Mr. Ragazzo's appointment,lt by Mr. Wayne Smith, 2nd by Mr. Michael Trowbridge. Motion U.C. 5 — 0 Field Trips Shelia Newton — MHS — NYC trip for 45 students from the high school drama program to attend a drama workshop & Broadway Production in NYC on April 4 & 5 2014. —5— Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to approve NYC trip. A motion was made to approve the field trip 1t by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, 2nd by Mrs. Linda Fernando. Motion U.C. 5 — 0 Christine Riley & Kelly Kenny — Rhode Island field trip to Rhode Island to the Jackolantern Spectacular at Rodger Williams Zoo with approximately 30 students. Chairperson, Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to approve the field trip to Rhode Island. A motion was made to approve the field trip In by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, 2nd by Mrs. Linda Fernando. Motion U.C. 5 — 0 Nora McNeilly & Beth Donovan — QMS — French proposed a field trip to Woonsocket, RI to see the play Les Miserables on November 1, 2013, for the seventh and eighth grade French classes. Chairperson, Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to approve the field trip to Rhode Island. A motion was made to approveln by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, 2nd by Mrs. Linda Fernando. Motion U.C. 5 — 0 Mansfield resident, Mrs. Molly Miller, spoke to the School Committee that she was happy they were talking about the calendar early. Mrs. Miller felt it was a bit disheartening last year that the Jewish Community requested to be heard regarding the holidays how this year we are offering up to the community the ability to discuss the Day of Low Attendance. We as a community were not asking to have the Day of Low Attendance off the calendar that was not our intent. Our concern was that at last year's discussion, there could be honor and respect of a segment of the community on their high holidays. Mr. Neil Rhein spoke to the Committee about what he felt was a lack of recycling on the part of the school district. The biggest problem he saw was at the sporting activities and that there were too many garbage barrels and not enough recycling bins for people to utilize along with having more recycling in the cafeteria set up with the same issue. 16— SCHOOL COMMITTEE NEW BUSINESS OTHER Motion to adjourn: Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to adjourn the School Committee Meeting of October 1, 2013, at 9:05 rM for the sole purpose of adjourning. A motion was made to close the meeting V by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, 2°" by Mr. Wayne Smith, Jr. 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. Motion U.C. 5 — 0 —7— Respectfully submitted, Mary O. Jackson Secretary to the Superintendent &School Committee