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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Comm Minutes 9/11/2012Mansfield School Committee Meeting REVISED Minutes for Tuesday, September 11, 2012 Town Hall. Room aB & C An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held at the Town Hall on Tuesday, September 11, 2o12. After returning from Executive Session the Open Session meeting was reopened and called to order by Chairman, Mr. Michael Trowbridge at 7:35 PM. Motion U.C. A - o Members Present — roll call vote to re -open the Open Meeting; Mr. Michael Trowbridge, Chairman; yes Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, Vice Chairman; yes Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz yes Mrs. Jean Miller, yes Mr. Wayne Smith, Jr. yes Also Present: Mrs. Brenda Hodges, Superintendent of Schools Mr. Edward Vozzella, Director of Finance Personnel All vacancies have been filled for the beginning of school. The opening of school went very smoothly. Mrs. Hodges gave an overview of about each of the schools. Opening of School Mansfield Mi!h School Ouening of School 2012 -2013 Mansfield High School has 1404 students enrolled and approximately fifty students less than last year. The high school held an open house for the 9th graders this year beginning with an assembly and gave them all their schedules. They had upper classmen that spoke to the students as to what they could expect at the high school, some of the activities they could participate in and then showed the students around the school. There were students from the National Honor Society that helped guide the students around so they could have a sense of the school. We have received a lot of positive feedback from that. Mrs. Miller noted that she had received and heard a lot of wonderful things about this and people had wished that they had it for their older children. She was informed it was very successful. Mrs. O'Neil echoed the same sentiment and that she had heard nothing but great things about it and thought it was a great addition to the program. Mrs. Hodges stated that this is what she and MHS 11— Principal, Michael Connolly also heard and that she was pleased and happy you heard the same thing. At the beginning of the year the high school held class meetings and went over the hand book and the expectations, new attendance policy and anything that the students may need to be aware of. These meetings are held for the upper classmen regarding the SAT's and when they will meet with parents and students. A leadership meeting is held by the principal with the department chairs and administrators regarding what they are going to focus on. This year, the staff is gearing up for the NEASC visit that will be held April 28, 2013 through May first. This is a very BIG Deal. The staff has been working on their self study for about 21/2 years now. It takes that long for them to take their own internal look at curriculum and all building procedures. NEASC does expect a lot. Some of this is consistent with the DOE and some is not. This is what they are going to be spending a lot of their Professional Development on this year. The high school is also looking at the new PARC Assessments. On Sunday, April 28, 2012, the School Committee will be asked to attend the opening of the NEASC visit and meet with the visiting team. There will be some time during their visit that they will want to meet with the School Committee, upon availability, but it will be within those three days. Qualters Middle School The Qualters Middle School had an exceptionally smooth opening to school. Buses arrived on time the first day and every day of the first week of school. We began the year with a minimal number of student schedule issues. Class sizes are balanced. Our highest class size is in 7th grade pre - algebra due to student placement recommendations, but the numbers are reasonable for those classes. (Approximately 30) per class. I am also happy to report that after school activities have begun this week for many activities. We would like to thank and acknowledge PAC for funding most of our after school activities because without their help we never would have been able to do that. Mrs. O'Neil added what an impressive list of things they have done there over the last two years. The Jordan/Jackson School We have 1o65 students the Jordan/Jackson School. There are lots of important things happening around educational initiatives and a school climate initiave, a behavioral modification program called PBIS has been instituted at JJ that was begun last year and over the summer. There was a group of 13 teachers along with Heather Smith that looked at this and came up with a school plan on how they can really implement this and help to change the climate and culture and make it a more positive place for students and for all staff. This is geared for positive changes for students. Mrs. Miller asked if there was a way for the Committee to get more information on this. Mrs. Hodges did say that Heather Smith would becoming to give a presentation. This program has been received at a few schools with a great degree of success. —2— The JJ is also doing the Universal screening in Math and ELA and that means they are being tested to see what the student skill sets are at this time and measure that throughout the year. They are using DIBEIS which is a reading fluency test as well as MAZE which is a comprehension test and the AIMS WEB test which is a math test, so all the baseline test are being done at the JJ as well as the Robinson so that we will gather the data over the year so that we will be able to measure and know their success not just that we see the students doing better but that we will have the data to measure that. Over the summer there were lots of Summer Institutes going on where teacher would come together to work on the academic curriculum and instruction throughout the district at all levels . At the JJ they focused on the PBIS, Math and Reading. ROBINSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OPENING OF SCHOOL REPORT At Robinson the big thing is the Robinson full day Kindergarten Program. We have six full day and six half day classes and everyone that wanted to get into the full day program has been able to do that. We have a committee at the Robinson called " Readiness Committee" which is a group of parents and teachers that are meeting throughout the year that will look at how the full day Kindergarten is implemented. They will look at any challenges and anything that needs sto be addressed to make sure that students transition successfully into the program. One of the initiatives at the Robinson is the RTI, it is one of our continuing goals because the intervention that is in place at the k — 2 and the JJ. It really is a K —12 initiative. This catches our students early when they are struggling, especially in reading. The Robinson School has 839 students this year. The enrollment is decreasing. Roland Green Opening 2o12 We currently have 85 preschoolers -38 special education students and 47 peer models in 7 classrooms. This year we began an extended lunch and full -day option for peer models which has proven to be a popular option for parents as there is a wait list currently for the full day peer slots. Mr. Trowbridge asked where the enrollment is decreasing if the Superintendent's office would move to either another building or to the Roland Green and move the Roland Green to the Robinson. Mrs. Losiewicz was of the understanding that Mrs. Hodges would be closer to the Town Manager not further away. Mrs. Hodges gave an update on the Robinson space issues and that at the Robison it looks like there should be a lot more space but it's not. We have so many more special needs students with intensive needs that we're finding that we have to find more space at the schools. Our growth is pretty much around special needs with pretty significant needs. Mrs. Hodges along with Mrs. Michael Connolly, Principal of MHS, gave an update on the MHS phone system adding with an explanation of how they are dealing with it. -3- APPROVAL OF WARRANTS The following warrants were presented and accepted by the School Committee on September 11, 2012. Salary & Wages, #2013-1 date 07 -o6 -2012, in the amount Of $113,612.72 Salary & Wages, #2013-2 dated 07- 20 -2012, in the amount of $915,000.33 Salary & Wages, #2013-3 dated 08- 03 -2012, in the amount of $1,039,354.46 Goods & Services #2013 -1oo2 dated o8 -7 -2012, in the amount of $445,241.18 Salary & Wages, #2013-4 dated o8 -17 -2012, in the amount of $960,264.29 Goods & Services #2013 -1004 dated o8 -21 -2012 in the amount of $342,458.25 Salary & Wages. #2013-5 dated o8 -31 -2012, in the amount of $914,536.90 Chairman Michael Trowbridge called for a motion to approve the warrants. A motion was made to approve the warrants 1st by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, 2nd by Mrs. Kiera O'Neil. Motion U.C. r — o APPROVAL OF MINUTES The School Committee Minutes of June 28, 2012 were approved. Chairman, Mr. Michael Trowbridge called for a motion to approve the minutes. A motion was made to approve the minutes 1st by Mrs. Jean Miller, 2nd by Mr. Wayne Smith. Motion U.C. ti - o The Executive Session School Committee Minutes of September 11, 2012 were approved. Chairman, Mr. Michael Trowbridge called for a motion to approve the minutes of September 11, 2012. A motion was made to approve the minutes 1st by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, 2nd by Mrs. Kiera O'Neil. Motion U.C. i - o The School Committee Minutes of September 11, 2012 were approved. Chairman, Mr. Michael Trowbridge called for a motion to approve the minutes. A motion was made to approve the minutes 1St by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, 2nd by Mrs. Kiera O'Neil. OLD BUSINESS Transportation Update As of this date for FY13, there are currently 4,572 students in Mansfield Public Schools: 1,396 are eligible for free ride (2.o miles or more) 138 are approved for a free ride /fee waiver —4— 1,425 have paid for busing 2,959 total bus students as of this date There are currently 118 students in St. Marls: 64 are eligible for free ride ( 2.o miles or more) 33 have paid for busing 97 total bus students as of this date As of this date, all students have been assigned a bus route. There are 31 buses for MHS & QMS and 28 buses for the elementary schools. The district will be eliminating the late bus. Mr. Smith asked if they could be updated periodically during the year as to the numbers riding the bus for budgetary purposes. To note, there is no formal paperwork for pay & ride students. Strategic Plan Update Mrs. Hodges stated that she had spoken with Mr. Ross and they had nine people who have confirmed that they will be apart of the Oversight Committee. Mrs. O'Neil asked how we will be drilling this down to the schools and if it was going to be a separate initiative or follow from just the strategic plan. Mrs. Hodges explained that it will follow from this plan but it will also involve the schools individual school improvement plan / strategic plan. Mrs. O'Neil noted that she was looking for a more defined strategic plan for the schools with a more in depth look into the schools not just the school improvement plans but a full incorporation of community and schools. Mrs. Hodges agreed and noted that it will be a combination of both. Updated Wellness Poli cy The School Committee voted to waive the second reading of the Wellness Policy. Chairman, Mr. Michael Trowbridge called for a motion to waive the second reading of the Wellness Policy. A motion was made to waive the reading 1st by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, 2nd by Mrs. Kiera O'Neil. Motion U.C. 5 - o The School Committee voted to approve the Updated Wellness Policy. Chairman, Mr. Michael Trowbridge called for a motion to approve the Updated Wellness Policy. A motion was made to approve the Updated Wellness Policy 1st by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, 2nd by Mrs. Kiera O'Neil. Motion Carries 4 — 1- Mrs. Jean Miller was opposed to the policy and chose not to approve the policy because she felt the food issue was too restrictive. 15— District Enrollments / Class sizes The district enrollment numbers for the first week of school totaled 4,522. The average class size at the Robinson Elementary is 23 with the Jordan Jackson average being roughly 25 per class. The class sizes vary at the middle and high school with an average of 24 in classes. FY is Budget / Fin Corn Meeting/ Budget Sub Committee Mr. Vozzella informed the Committee that we will be going through the same process as they did last year. Meeting will begin in early October and follow pretty much the same dates as we have in the past. The Budget Sub Committee had met the other night and went very well. Mrs. Losiewicz stated that she thought that the meeting was great and felt that the Finance Committee appeared genuinely interested in the workings of the School Committee and felt very good about the upcoming season. The Committee felt positive about the atmosphere of the collective boards. Updated Medical Emergency Plan The School Committee voted to approve the Updated Medical Emergency Plan. Chairman, Mr. Michael Trowbridge called for a motion to approve the Updated Wellness Policy. A motion was made to approve the Updated Wellness Policy 15t by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, 2nd by Mrs. Jean Miller. Motion U.C. 5 — O District Policy Updates /Additions / Removals The following District Policy changes were brought forward by the School Committee District Policy Sub Committee. The School Committee approved the new changes at the September 11, 2012 School Committee Meeting. Updated Policies Poli cy Motioned by: Subject Vote BBC LL / KO 5-0 BDE LL / WS Sub Crate. 5-0 BDF LL / JM Advisory 5-0 BE LL / JM SCM 5-0 BIA LL / JM SC Orientation 5-0 16— / New Policies: Poli cy Motioned by: Subject Vote ADDA -E -2 JM / LL CORI 5-0 BBBA /BBBB LL / JM Member Oath 5-0 BEDA LL / JM Notification of SC 5-0 BHE LL / KO Use of Electronics by SC 5-0 Removal of Policies: Poli cy Motioned by: Subject Vote CBC LL / JM Job Description 5-0 CCA -E LL / JM Not Policy 5-0 EBCC LL / JM Bomb Threat ( Plan) 5-0 Student Representative to School Committee Miss Rashmi Koul will be serving as the student representative to the School Committee. Field Trip Approvals if needed None ( CITIZENS COMMENTS None SCHOOL COMMITTEE NEW BUSINESS Mrs. Hodges informed the Committee that the MASC will hold their annual conference in Hyannis November 7th — Nov. ioth . Mrs. O'Neil was interested in attending the conference. OTHER Motion to adjourn: Chairman, Mr. Michael Trowbridge, called for a motion to adjourn the School Committee Meeting of September 11, 2012 at 8:58 PM for the sole purpose of adjourning. A Motion was made to close the meeting by Mrs. Jean Miller, 2nd by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz. A Roll call vote to close: Mr. Michael Trowbridge, yes; Mrs. Jean Miller, yes; Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, yes; Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, yes; and Mr. Wayne Smith, Jr. Motion U.C. 5-0 l —7— Respectfully submitted, Mary O. Jackson Secretary to the Superintendent & School Committee