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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Comm Minutes 3/25/2014Mansfield School Committee Meetin>; Minutes for Tuesday, March 25.2014 Town Hall, Room 3 B & C An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held at the Superintendent's Office on Tuesday, March 25, 2014. 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 Chairmanyes yes yes yes Mrs. Brenda Hodges, Superintendent of Schools Mr. Edward Vozzella, Director of Finance SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Personnel APPROVAL OF WARRANTS Warrants Warrant Vs Dates Amount Salary & Wages 2014 -14 01/03/14 1,456,311.31 Goods & Services 2014 -1023 01/07/14 350,479.89 Salary & Wages 2014 -15 01/17/14 1,414,828.45 Goods & Services 2014 -1025 01/21/14 340,189.06 Salary & Wages 2014 -16 01/31/14 1,475,541.01 $ 5,037,349.72 Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil called for a motion to approve the warrants. A motion was made to approve the warrants 1st by Mr. Wayne Smith, Jr., 2nd by Mrs. Linda Fernando. Motion U.C. 4 - 0 -1 fMr. Trowbridge was delayed) 11— APPROVAL OF MINUTES Executive Session Minutes of January 28.2014 Executive Session Minutes of January 28, 2014, were approved. Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to approve the Executive Session minutes. A motion was made to 1st by Mr. Wayne Smith, 2nd by Mrs. Linda Fernando. Motion U.C. 4 - 0 -1 (Mr. Trowbridge abstained due to his delayed arrival @ 7:38pm) School Committee Minutes of January 28.2014 The School Committee Minutes of January 28, 2014 were tabled. Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to table the Open Session minutes. A motion was made to table the minutes 1� by Mr. Wayne Smith, 2nd by Mrs. Linda Fernando. Motion U.C. 5 - 0 OLD BUSINESS FY 15 Budget / Mr. Vozzella made mention of the FY 14 budget and that next week was the end of the quarter and he would be issuing the quarterly update for expenses vs. budget. We are running over budget in certain areas in Building & Grounds and in Special Education costs. We have had at least 3 move ins to the district in the last half year that we are paying for a half year this year and starting next year, a full year. All of these costs are for out placements. This year will be a challenge to balance the budget. As for the FY 15 budget, we are still working with the Town Manager and Town Accountant to try and close the gap. There are many alternatives on the table to help us bring it down and we will be meeting with the Fin Com on Thursday to run it by them and see if they agree with some of these suggestions, but we still have a way to go. Mrs. O'Neil stated that coming into today's meeting we were trying to bridge a gap of $46o,000 and then with today's Special Education additions it could be upwards of $500,000. Mrs. Hodges stated that she has shared some options to close that gap. She was not looking for the School Committee to vote on them but to inform the School Committee of the options before then to move forward with the budget process. These options were for before the today's additions. The Superintendent and School Committee went over the options and gave clarification to their questions. Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, asked Mrs. Hodges if she would like to have the School Committee take a vote today, although not necessary, for approval should they need to present cuts before they meet again as a Committee. Mrs. Hodges asked that the Committee could vote to as whether or not conceptually they could agree that if we needed any or all of the things before you that you could do that to close the budget gap. The Committee would not be reducing any teachers by taking this vote, but you would be conceptually, approving the reductions to close the budget. Mr. Michael Trowbridge made a motion to conceptually approve the cuts that were represented tonight as adequate. Mr. Smith made the 2nd motion. Chairperson, Mrs. O'Neil called for approval of conceptually approving the budget reductions. Motion U.C. 5 - 0 12- Mrs. Cavicchi asked that if there is more funding she would like to revisit the 2nd grade position. Sub Committee Updates: • Audit Committee — Mrs. O'Neil stated that the results of the audit will be presented to the Selectmen tomorrow. Each year the Audit matches up better and better. The auditors are very pleased. • CIP — Mr. Trowbridge noted that they are meeting again on Thursday evening. Mr. Vozzella gave a quick update on the high school gym floor. They are hoping to begin the floor by June 9'h. It will take 10 weeks to complete the project absent any problems. The school vents estimated cost has come in from the architect at $248,000 and we only have $100,000 appropriated making a $148,000 difference there. We are awaiting more definitive answers regarding the cost differences. • Budget Subcommittee — Mrs. O'Neil stated that the Budget subcommittee are scheduled to meet in the next two weeks. • Policy Subcommittee — Mrs. Fernando met with Brenda and Mark Wilson last week and she will have some policies to bring forward at the next meeting. NEASC Report/ Michael Connolly; The NEASC Report is now complete and can be found on the Mansfield High School website. Mansfield High School Principal, Mr. Michael Connolly, spoke briefly of the report. Mr. Connolly thanked the staff, students, parents and community for all their help during this process. The Committee on Secondary Schools has granted us continued accreditation for the NEASC. This accreditation is contingent upon submission upon a special progress report for October 1, 2014. The full report can be found on the website. Superintendent Hodges was pleased to say that the high school had done a great job as well as Mike Connolly in leading it. The teachers have done a great job in all the work they have done. NEW BUSINESS: Resource Officer / Anthony Lattanzio Officer Lattanzio spoke about his role as the Resource Officer within the Mansfield Public Schools and how he feels that it has been a very smooth transition and has fostered good relationships with the leadership as well as with the teachers and student body. Officer Lattanzio has also been making assessments in terms of safety and security along with short and long term goals for the district and �3� attending as many schools based activities to be seen in the community. Mr. Trowbridge was pleased to comment that by being out there your mere presence is a big help. Donation of old painting to MPS (vote needed ): Michael Trowbridge was approached by Keith Signoriello of Cavallo & Signoriello Insurance Agency, and his partner Ben Cavallo and Mitchell Seifert of New England Security Insurance, that was once in the center of town. They had a very old canvas painting that was as we believe, was the backdrop of the Mansfield old movie theater. Mr. Trowbridge does have an actual appraisal and history of the canvas. The canvas was actually appraised and valued at $20,000. Cavallo & Signoriello has moved to anew location and they don't have a location on any wall that can house this. The School Committee will need to vote on accepting this as a donation. Mrs. Hodges said that she would ask Scott Brigante, Department Chair for the Visual Arts, to work with us to display the painting. Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to accept the donation on behalf of the District. A motion was made to accept the painting 1st by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, 2nd by Mrs. Linda Fernando. Motion U.C. 5 - 0 Mr. Trowbridge asked that we please send a letter thanking them for the donation and have a plaque once we have Proposed Rate Increase ( votes required): The Superintendent prefaced her recommendation by saying that she always hesitates to increase any fees due to the financial climate but given the budget deficient for FY 15, Mrs. Hodges was asking that the School Committee consider increasing fees in Pay & Ride, Champs and Little Hornets Programs. We have not had a rate increase in Pay & Ride for the last seven years and are looking to raise the rate by $25. The last Champs increase was in 2009. There will be an increase for the before and after school programs by $10 per week and a $5 increase in the Summer Institute. It was also recommended that there be a $3 a day increase for the Little Hornets Infant Program and a $2 a day increase for all others. The last increase was in September 2012. Pay & Ride: Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to approve the rate increase for Pay & Ride. A motion was made to approve the rate increase for Pay & Ride as presented I` by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, 2nd by Mrs. Linda Fernando. Motion U.C. 5 - 0 Champs: Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to approve the rate increase for Champs. A motion was made to approve the rate increase for Champs as presented 1" by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, 2nd by Mrs. Linda Fernando. Motion U.C. 5 - 0 Little Hornets: Chairperson, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to approve the rate increase for Little Hornets. A motion was made to approve the rate increase as presented la by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, god by Mrs. Linda Fernando. Motion U.C. s — o PARCC Field Testing: Mrs. Hodges provided the School Committee with the PARCC Field Testing schedule that outlines the dates for the PARCC Field Testing, grade levels to be tested and the number of students to be tested. We were a little concerned how the elementary students would manipulate the technology for the testing and they did not have a problem what so ever. The students were very comfortable and excited about it. The testing so far has gone well. Field Trips ( if needed) The High School Representative Report ( The Spring sports have started. The model Senate was held today at the high school where the students would create either a State or Federal Bill just as the actual legislatures do, and presented them in class for discussion then moved one on to the school model Senate that was held today in the library. There were 16 Bills brought forward. April 81h and 91" there will be two groups that will present their Bills for the Hockomock League at Oliver Ames. Olivier Kozlowski, parent, asked Mrs. Hodges if the decision was going to be left up to the district to decide whether to adopt PARCC or not or if it was something coming from the state. Mrs. Hodges replied that at some point the district would look at whether or not they will do the PARCC and MCAS simultaneously before the state goes over to just the PARCC. Mr. Kozlowski was under the impression that if all went well that the state was looking to change it in 2o16. Mrs. Hodges added that it had been changed to 2017. Mr. Kozlowski was asking about how many computers would b necessary to do this testing and how many computers we have for the students. Mrs. Hodges explained that the district had to put a plan in place with the state as to how we would do that and our looks pretty good. SCHOOL COMMITTEE NEW BUSINESS OTHER Our high school percussionists and color guard as well as some 3,4 and 511, graders that did very well at the meet. The high school percussionists and color guard are moving onto the WGI in Ohio at the national level. Motion to adiourn: Chairman, Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, called for a motion to adjourn the School Committee Meeting of March 25, 2014 for the sole purpose of adjourning. A motion was made to close the meeting 1st by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, 2nd by Mrs. Linda Fernando. 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 �6� Respectfully submitted, Mary O. Jackson Secretary to the Superintendent & School Committee