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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Comm Minutes 1/24/2012Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday. January 24. 2012 Town Hall, Room RB & C An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held at the Town Hall on Tuesday, January 24, 2o12. After returning from Executive Session the Open Session meeting was reopened and called to order by Vice Chairman, Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz at 7:35 PM. Motion U.C. 4 - 0 Members Present — roll call vote to re -open the Open Meeting: Mr. Michael Trowbridge, Chairman; Not Present Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, Vice Chairman; yes Mrs. Jean Miller, yes Mrs. Kiera O'Neil yes Mr. Jim Perry yes Also Present: Mrs. Brenda Hodges, Superintendent of Schools Mr. Edward Vozzella, Director of Finance PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Committee member, Mr. Jim Perry, read a letter sent to Superintendent Hodges from State Representative Jay Barrows, praising the Mansfield School District, Mansfield High School administration and MHS students for their support of and participation in the Tri -Town Drug and Alcohol's Task Force event, "The Amazing Race ". Approximately 110 students from the towns of Mansfield, Foxboro and Norton participated in the event, held at the Hockomock YMCA. The 18 mixed school teams were on a scavenger hunt style race around the YMCA, completing tasks at 11 different "countries" to gain clues before being able to move onto the next "country ". The event was a huge success and the students were commended for their active participation and maturity. This task force was created in 2008 to help raise awareness of drug and alcohol abuse amongst teens, as well as create wholesome opportunities for students in the three towns to come together and engage in fun activities with one another. Pat Harrison, Mansfield Public Schools head nurse, is to be commended for her leadership in organizing and promoting this task force for Mansfield. II — SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Full Day Kindergarten: On January 9, 2012, the Superintendent received an invitation from the DESE to apply for a Transition to Full Day Kindergarten Grant. The grant was due by Tuesday, January 24, 2012. Due to the very short turnaround time, Mrs. Hodges forwarded the proposal to Kate Kristenson and Joanne Jordan to review. They were very excited to apply for the grant. The application has been submitted for four additional full time kindergarten classes. If the district should receive the grant, Superintendent Hodges stated that the School Committee would need to make a decision regarding transitioning towards full day kindergarten. School Committee member, Jean Miller, asked if they could have some discussion now and referenced the concerns that the Committee had previously put forth. These concerns centered on space, method of selecting students who would fill the slots and concern that all students in Mansfield would not be able to attend, so maybe the district should wait until space and funds were available so that all students would have an opportunity to attend. Principal Kristenson stated that the grant proposal was for $6o,000 and if selected, Mansfield would receive these funds later this year to provide furniture and instructional materials and supplies for the classrooms, so that the program could be implemented in September, 2012. Acknowledgement: Mrs. Hodges stated that she would like to publically acknowledge the presentation of Ryan's Story, and would thank the QMS PAC and Mansfield Bank for bringing such an important message to Mansfield. APPROVAL OF WARRANTS The following warrants were presented and accepted by the School Committee on January 24, 2012: Salary & Wages, # 2012 -13 dated 12 -09 -2011, in the amount of $1,529,227.50; Good & Services # 2012 -1o18 dated 12 —13 -2011, in the amount of $470,434.27; Salary & Wages, #2012 -14 dated 12- 22 -11, in the amount of $1,395,677.75. Goods & Services #2012 -102o dated 12 -27 -2011 in the amount of $438,735.85; Salary & Wages, # 2012 —14B dated 12 -28 -2011, in the amount of $2,059.20. Vice — Chairman, Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz called for a motion to approve the warrants. A motion was made to approve the warrants ist by Mrs. Jean Miller, 2nd by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz. Motion U.C. 4 — 0 APPROVAL OF MINUTES Executive Session Minutes of December 13, 2011 were tabled. School Committee Minutes of December 13, 2011 were approved as amended. Motioned made 1St by Mrs. Jean Miller, 2nd by Mrs. Kiera O'Neil. 12— Motion U.C. 4 — 0 School Committee Minutes of January 10, 2011 were approved as amended Motioned made 1st by Mr. Jim Perry, 2nd by Mrs. Kiera. Motion U.C. 4 — 0 OLD BUSINESS FY'i.q Budget: Director of Finance and Operations, Ed Vozzella updated the School Committee regarding the FY'13 Budget. He informed the Committee that the sub - committee had met to discuss the school and town budget. At this time the initial gap is 23M, with the school district representing the full gap. The sub - committee will continue to meet and work on options for reducing the deficit, knowing that more accurate numbers will be available to the Committee regarding local and state revenues as we move towards April and May forecasts. 2 °d Reading — Concussion Policy The School Committee waived the second reading of the District Head Injury /Concussion Policy. Some discussion centered on the role of the athletic trainer. The trainer is not present at all home events, but there is a protocol to be followed by the coach and staff to be able to assess the extent of the injuries and handle the situation if the trainer was not present at the event. Mrs. Miller asked if there were any contract implications and she was told no. Mrs. O'Neil wanted to know if there was a test, an Impact Test that had to be taken before the student could return to sports. Mrs. Hodges assured the Committee that there is such a test and the protocol begins with the student's doctor and ends with the school nurses. Mrs. Harrison and the nurses are very involved in this process. Vice Chairman, Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, called for a motioned to waive the reading of the Concussion Policy 1st by Mr. Perry, 2nd by Mrs. O'Neil. Motion U.C. 4 — 0 Vice Chairman, Mrs. Losiewicz, called for a motion to accept the Concussion Policy. Motion was made 1st by Mrs. Jean Miller, 2nd by Mr. Jim Perry. Motion U.C. 4 — 0 Strategic Plan Update: Superintendent Hodges and School Committee Vice Chair, Lisa Losiewicz, updated the Committee on the Long Range Strategic Plan. The forty member task force met on January 19, 2012, and were presented with information regarding the schools and town from Dr. Mullin, consultant. This information was gained through town and state research and through numerous meetings with town and school officials and local civic and town organizations, along 13— with business leaders. The task force will continue to meet during the month of February to review the information and begin to formulate a long range plan for the town and schools. The Executive Committee for the Strategic Planning will meet again on March 8th and the entire group will meet together on March 18th. Dr. Mullin will attend the Annual Town Meeting in May to present the overall plan to the community. Communication / Draft Survey Superintendent Hodges presented the School Committee with a draft proposal for the Communication Survey that parents will be asked to provide feedback regarding the effectiveness of communication between school and parents. The survey consists of 33 questions and covers topics such as the Mansfield District website, E — Backpack, Principal's Newsletters, School Messenger and X2 Student Portal. Track & Field Update: Edward Vozzella presented an update on the status of the track and field project. School and community groups have been notified that as of May 25, 2012, the Mansfield High School track and field will be unavailable while a new surface is installed for both. The projected date for completion of the project is September 1, 2012. If the project should be completed prior to this date, groups will be allowed access to the track and field. This project is being funded by Capital Improvement Funds and not the general budget. NEW BUSINESS TechnologUpdate: Lori Letendre, Director of Technology, presented the plan to expand the School Messenger Program to include automated attendance calls. This will allow the school to utilize an automated calling system or email notification that will inform parents if their child has been absent from school for the day, or any portion of the day. These calls will be made only to those parents that have not advised the school of the absence of their child. Mrs. Letendre also informed the School Committee that the district has received a donation of a Plasma Digital Display that will be installed at Mansfield High School. This will display any message or information that the district wishes to post on the digital screen. Lori explained that it is very flexible and one more communication device capable of providing information on activities and events occurring throughout the district. Mrs. Letendre also informed the School Committee that the district is in the process of converting the information contained in the Easy IEP Program that is currently used by the Special Education Department into X2. This should be completed in late April and will result in a cost savings to the district, as we will no longer be paying for the Easy IEP Program. Superintendent Hodges praised Lori and her staff for the excellent manner in which the department addresses technology initiatives and the volume of work that is being accomplished within the department. School Committee member, Jim Perry, stated that he wanted to reiterate the comments of the Superintendent and added his praise for Mrs. Letendre and the —4— members of the department, as he had the opportunity to experience, first hand, the quality and amount of work that is accomplished. Roland Green Peer Model Tuition Survey: I have received a request from Joanne Jordan, Principal of the Roland Green School, to increase tuitions next year for the 2 day, pier model from $120 to $128 and the 3 day, pier model from $176 to $180. It has also been requested that for those students whose parent wants them to stay for lunch in the 3 day program, the district would add an extra hour to their school day and charge an additional $5 per day, resulting in a monthly tuition of $240. If these changes are approved, parents would be required to maintain the schedule for the month. Day to day or week to week options would not be entertained. Given that Joanne's research indicates that the Mansfield Preschool is charging significantly below the fees of most surrounding Preschools in Mansfield and is somewhat below the fees that are being charged in other surrounding communities, I recommend that the School Committee approve this nominal increase in fees. Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:30 -11:oo or 12:00 -2:3o at $180.00 /month Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:30 -12:oo at $240.00 /month Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:30 - 2:3o at $420.0o /month Tuesday, Thursday, 8:30 -11:oo at $125.00 /month Vice Chairman, Mrs. Losiewicz, called for a motion to approve the addition of the full day preschool and the tuition increase. Motion was made Is' by Mrs. Jean Miller, 2nd by Mrs. Yiera O'Neil. Motion U.C. 4 — 0 MHS Athletic Fee's Survey: Superintendent Hodges provided the School Committee with a 2010 — 2011 summary comparison of the athletic fees charged by Mansfield, and the area breakdown of charges that are being charged by surrounding towns, along with many other Massachusetts towns throughout the state. The School Committee expressed their appreciation of the information that was provided and stated that it was helpful to see the comparisons. Mansfield is at the low end of the fee range being charged. Mansfield also is one of the towns with the lowest family caps. Athletic Director, Joe Russo, and his office are working to provide a further breakdown of the fees by specific sports and multiple students in one family. 15- Transportation Fee's Survey The School Committee was also provided with a comparison survey of 24 Massachusetts towns regarding fees being charged for bus transportation. The attached analysis shows that for every ten dollars we increase the Pay & Ride fee, we would collect an incremental $15,96o, assuming we keep the family cap at $500. Once again, Mansfield compares very favorably and falls in the middle range of the fees being charged. Mrs. Hodges felt that our fees were within the ballpark right now. Mrs. Losiewicz did not feel comfortable changing the fees at this time. Both Mrs. Hodges and Mr. Vozzella felt it was a tough time to raise fees. The Transportation fees will remain the same. Field Trip Approval (if any) None National Convention in Boston: The School Committee briefly discussed the conference being held in Boston sponsored by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. While members expressed their desire to attend, they believed the registration fee of $75o was cost prohibitive. No member of the Committee will be attending the conference. NONE SCHOOL COMMITTEE NEW BUSINESS NONE OTHER Superintendent Hodges thanked the Qualters Middle School PAC and the Mansfield Bank for sponsoring the "Ryan's Story" presentation for the parents and students of grades 7, 8, 9 and 1o. Mr. Halligan spoke about the lessons learned too late from the events surrounding his son's death, at age 13, in relation to bullying and teen depression and the steps that parents can take to monitor their child's use of technology. More than 300 parents were in attendance at the parent presentation on the evening of January 23rd. The feedback from students and parents has been very positive. Motion to adiourn: Vice Chairman, Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, called for a motion to adjourn the School Committee Meeting of January 24, 2012 at 8:55 PM for the sole purpose of adjourning. A Motion was made to close the meeting by Mr. Jim Perry, 2nd by Mrs. Kiera O'Neil. A Roll call vote to close: Mr. Jim Perry, yes; Mrs. Jean Miller, yes; Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, yes; Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, yes. 16— Mr. Michael Trowbridge was not present at this meeting. Motion U.C. 4— 0 17— Respectfully submitted, Mary O. Jackson Secretary to the Superintendent &School Committee