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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Comm Minutes 11/5/2012Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Monday, November 5, 2012 MHS Library An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held at the MHS Library on Monday, November 5, 2012. After returning from Executive Session the Open Session meeting was reopened and called to order by Chairman, Mr. Michael Trowbridge at 7:40 PM. Motion U.C. 5 - 0 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 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Personnel —None APPROVAL OF WARRANTS Goods & Services 2013 -1000 10/02/2012 $ 500,642.65 Salary &Wages 2013 -8 10/12/2012 $1,431,108.86 Goods & Services 2013 -1010 10/16/2012 $ 245,852.19 Salary & Wages 2013 -9 10/26/2012 $ 1,456,042.11 Goods & Services 2013 -1014 10/30/2012 $ 200,355.93 Chairman Michael Trowbridge called for a motion to approve the warrants. A motion was made to approve the warrants is' by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, 2nd by Mrs. Kiera O'Neil. Motion U.C. 5 — 0 APPROVAL OF MINUTES The Executive Session Minutes of November 5, 2012, were tabled. 11~ Chairman, Mr. Michael Trowbridge called for a motion to table the Executive Session minutes of November 5, 2012. A motion was made to table the minutes 1" by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, 2nd by Mrs. Kiera O'Neil. Motion U.C. 5 - 0 The School Committee Minutes of November 5, 2012, were approved as amended. Chairman, Mr. Michael Trowbridge called for a motion to approve the Open Session minutes of November 5, 2012, as amended. A motion was made to approve the minutes as amended 1st by Mrs. Jean Miller, 2nd by Mrs. Kiera O'Neil. Motion U.C. 5 - 0 OLD BUSINESS FY 14 Budget / Sub Committee Meetings / District Update Mr. Vozzella stated t hat he and Brenda had received all the budgets from all of the principals and directors and have reviewed them and made changes and we will begin our second round of meetings. There is nothing at t his time to report. We will be having the meeting of the Budget Subcommittee on November 10. Mrs. O'Neil asked about having a first quarter FY 13 update, and Mr. Vozzella stated that he believed he had sent it but would go and check and resend whatever they needed. Strategic Plan The Strategic Planning and Oversight Committee met on Tuesday, October Wh at 6:00pm. Mrs. Hodges provided a list of the current members of the committee with 14 members that includes principals, directors and six community members. We did review the Town Strategic Plan prior to the meeting and had discussion about the schools and their responsibility and what we have been charged with doing and how this works in with the town. We are going to review the School Improvement Plans as they directly tie into the Strategic Plan as well as into the budget. Mr. Trowbridge asked where we were as far as working with the Town side and Mrs. Hodges noted that she did let Mr. Ross know that we had our first meeting and that we were working with the school strategic plan and moving forward with that so we would be ready when he decided to work with the town & schools. As we continue the work of the committee, additional school and community representatives will join us. This committee will assist to implement the 5 Year Joint Town and School Strategic Plan and expand the two year School Improvement / Strategic Plans to five years. TELL Survey Summary Superintendent's Over view: 12— This survey was very controversial with DESE, the state superintendents association (MASS) and the principal associations (MESPA and MSPA). Both the MASS and elementary and secondary principals associations urged the DESE to administer the survey in October or November of this year, as opposed to March of 2012. March is a challenging time for educators and students with the beginning of MCAS and all of the anxieties that accompany this. The optimal time for a survey regarding school climate, teacher engagement and professional development is early in the school year, October or November. The TELL Survey was a part of the Race to the Top Competitive Grant Application in the state of Massachusetts. The State committed to determining the weaknesses of the educational institutions in the state and requiring school districts to formulate plans to correct areas of weakness. Mrs. Hodges has begun this process, at the district level, by administering a survey to all certified staff that is more relevant to our district, but also provides much of the same feedback. The results obtained in our local survey is very different than the TELL Survey results. I have provided the raw data for our local survey in your packet under the section Mansfield Professional Development and Teacher Engagement Survey. Mr. Trowbridge began the discussion by saying that the TELL Survey was taken by the teachers in the spring. Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz wanted to give a personal observation of a survey that was mandated by the state and then give her view of the TELL Survey. Mrs. Losiewicz began by saying that she looked over the survey very carefully and went over the results that you did on your own Survey. Mrs. Hodges did explain that this information from our district survey was merely raw data right now. Mrs. Losiewicz then stated that she felt that the TELL survey was poorly put together and in her opinion, purely a waste of time. You have to agree or disagree and there is no validity to this study. Mrs. Hodges did say that it was not a local survey. Mrs. Losiewicz and she did not want to be rude, but she did not want to waste her time by going over this again, she did it when she got it and then again, and Mrs. Losiewicz felt it was not worth the paper it was written on. Mrs. Hodges said that it was done as part of the Race to the Top; I believe they were looking for some weakness to build on and when you don't have it localized, well, you noticed in the survey that we did it was very localized in what we were offering in Professional Development, what our teachers are looking for Professional Development, how did they view their support within their schools, so we did localize it so that we could get information that we need to improve and we also were looking for information for our needs assessment used for our grants as well as what our teachers felt was important and where they wanted more and where did they see that it was effective. Mrs. Losiewicz noted that she did not have a problem with the questions with the TELL Survey but I had a problem how they measured and how they got their answers and they allowed for a lot more fluctuation in the answers. Mrs. Losiewiez wanted to thank Chris Kalinowski for pulling it together. I've gone over this with a fine tooth comb and I just don't think it's worth it. Mrs. Hodges did note that if you compare the two surveys, especially on Professional Development they are pretty opposite. Mrs. Miller agreed that she saw significant differences between the two that don't match at all. Mrs. O'Neil asked if the high school participated in the TELLS Survey. Mrs. Hodges stated that there was not have a large enough participation to provide feedback. Mrs. O'Neil stated that the problem she had going over one 13— survey to the other was that we were looking at completely different groupings. The fact that we had the TELLS for all elementary and QMS and then the results from the other one with a pretty large group at the high school, so we weren't looking at the same population. Mrs. O'Neil did not want to go over this whole thing in detail, what she really wanted to get out of this was even if we take into account certain issues there were still some things that needed to be addressed and are we working on any type of plan to address them. Mrs. Losiewicz said that she disagreed with her and that she felt that they you really can't figure out what the teachers are trying to say based on these answers. Mr. Trowbridge stated he felt there were some you could find out what their concerns are and to him the second survey does show the concerns. Mrs. Losiewicz agreed. Mr. Trowbridge noted that when this survey came out in the spring when class sizes were at the highest in the elementary and teachers were not happy. Mrs. Losiewicz added that they way the Tells was put together, she did not say it was a bad idea, the questions are good but the way it's put together and to measure the answers , there is no validity to it and it's not helpful and Mrs. Hodges went a step further to break it down for better understanding and we have one presentation after another and she wanted them to be useful and this one was not. Mr. Trowbridge noted that this survey was five months ago. Mrs. Hodges said that they will take the local survey which speaks to many things in the TELLS then we will certainly address the things that are in the TELLS as well . Mrs. Hodges did feel that the local survey gave us better information that we can use but it still speaks to the issues. Policy Updates & new updates — 2nd Reading Chairman Michael Trowbridge called for a motion to waive the 2 °d reading of the new Policy and Policy updates. A motion was made to waive the readings 1" by Mrs. Jean Miller, 2nd by Mrs. Kiera O'Neil. New Policy Policy Subiect IHBAA Observation of SPED Programs Undated Policies: Poli cy Subject AC Non discrimination ACA Non discrimination on the basis of sex GCBB Employment of Principal IJ Instructional Materials JB Equal Educational Opportunities JBA Student to Student Harassment JIE Pregnant Students ,4— GCF Professional Staff Hiring Chairman Michael Trowbridge called for a motion to approve the 2nd reading of the new policy and Policy updates. A motion was made to approve the warrants ist by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, 2nd by Mrs. Kiera O'Neil. Motion UC 5 — 0 Zoning Article Discussion Mr. Ralph Penny, of the Planning Board, came to the School Committee to speak on the issue of the revitalization of the Chocolate Factory as apartments and the impact it would have on the Mansfield schools. Mansfield Professional Development / Teacher Engagement Survey Results The School Committee was given the raw data results from the recent survey administered to all Mansfield certified staff. All Federal Grants require a "Needs Assessment" as a part of the grant application. The results from this survey provide the district with information to assist in the planning of professional development training and school and district initiatives. It also provides feedback on teacher satisfaction and engagement with the district. While the data is complete, the results from the survey have not been compiled and formatted for release to the Mansfield Educators Association, teachers and the community. The School Community will have the results in a more organized and formal manner and then results will be made available made to the other entities. Robinson School Improvement / Strategic Plan Mrs. Kate Kristenson presented the Robinson School Improvement Plan with a power point presentation that will be placed on the website. The School Improvement Plans will be tied into the implementation of the 5 Year Joint Town and School Strategic Plan and expand the two year School Improvement / Strategic Plans to five years. Appointment of Superintendent to BICO Board of Directors Per Massachusetts Regulations, each local district is required to formally reappoint the Superintendent to the BICO Board of Directors, annually. Mrs. Hodges requested that the Committee reappoint her to the Bi -county Collaborative Board of Directors for the 2012 — 2013 school year. The superintendent of each member district is required to represent the district on the Board of Directors. Chairman, Mr. Michael Trowbridge called for a motion to approve the reappointment of Mrs. Brenda Hodges to the BICO Board of Directors A motion was made to reappoint the Superintendent to the BICO Board of Directors 1` by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, 2nd by. Mrs. Kiera O'Neil Motion U.C. 5 - 0 —5— First Robotics Overnight Trite Jim Carver — Brown requested permission for the MHS First Robotics Team be granted the approval to participate in the FIRST Regional Competition being held at Worchester Polytechnic Institute, March 7 — 9, 2013. The team has raised and paid for the cost of the trip themselves. While not all of the details are in place for the team at this time, Mr. Carver — Brown has stated that he will meet all of the district expectations for chaperones. Chairman, Mr. Michael Trowbridge called for a motion to approve the MHS First Robotics overnight trip to WPI for a competition. A motion was made to approve the request of the MHS First Robotics overnight trip. I" by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, 2nd by Mrs. Jean Miller. Motion U.C. 5 - 0 Fall Town Meeting — Warrant Articles: Mrs. Hodges was contacted by Mr. Ross today and asked if we wanted to present the Articles or if we wanted him to do it and I told him that we were meeting tonight and that she would ask how the Committee would like to do it. The Committee wanted the Superintendent to present the Articles. Mr. Trowbridge went over the few items to be voted on at the Town Meeting. Field Trip Approvals ( if needed ) Qr SCHOOL COMMITTEE NEW BUSINESS OTHER Motion to adiourn: Chairman, Mr. Michael Trowbridge, called for a motion to adjourn the School Committee Meeting of Monday, November 5, 2012, at 8:55 PM for the sole purpose of adjourning. A Motion was made to close the meeting 1st by Mrs. Jean Miller, tad by Mrs. Kiera O'Neil. 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 16— Respectfully submitted, Mary O. Jackson Secretary to the Superintendent &School Committee