HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Comm Minutes 11/29/2011Mansfield School Committee Meeting
Minutes for Tuesday, November 2% 2011
Town Hall, Room aB & C
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An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held at the Towr�a��`n esday,
November 29, 2011. After returning from Executive Session the Open Session mestjng wUs
reopened and called to order by Chairman, Mr. Michael Trowbridge at 7:35 P r ; = T T
Motion U.C. n - o
Members Present — roll call vote to re -open the Open Meeting;
Mr. Michael Trowbridge, Chairman;
Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, Vice Chairman;
Mrs. Jean Miller,
Mrs. Kiera O'Neil
Mr. Jim Perry
Also Present:
yes
Not Present
yes
yes
yes
Mrs. Brenda Hodges, Superintendent of Schools
Mr. Edward Vozzella, Director of Finance
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chairman, Mr. Michael Trowbridge asked for a moment of silence for Mrs. Nancy Kitchen,
former secretary for the MHS Athletic Office, who passed away last week.
Mr. Trowbridge asked that we keep Selectman, Mr. George Dentino, in our thoughts. Mr.
Dentino will be going in for back surgery after being in a car accident. We all wish him a quick
recovery.
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
Email received by Tristan, a committee volunteer.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Personnel
1WIM
APPROVAL OF WARRANTS
The following warrants were presented and accepted by the School Committee on November
2% 2011, Goods & Services #2012 -1012 dated 11 -01 -2011 in the amount of $649,329.99;
Salary & Wages.
# 2012 - n dated 11 -10 -2011, in the amount of $1,418,794.76; Good & Services # 2012 -1014
dated 11 -15 -2011, in the amount of $259,137.40; SalarWages, #2012 -12 dated 11- 23 -11, in
the amount of
$1,425,538.02; Good & Services # 2012 -1017 dated 11 -29 -2011, in the amount of
$384,009.15.
Chairman Michael Trowbridge called for a motion to approve the warrants. A motion was made
to approve the warrants 1St by Mrs. Jean Miller, 2nd by Mrs. Kiera O'Neil.
Motion U.C. a — o
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
NONE
OLD BUSINESS
FY'i-A Budget:
Director of Finance and Operations, Ed Vozzella, reported that the FY'13 Budget
Process was moving along ahead of schedule. The principals and the
superintendent, along with Mr. Vozzella, had worked together to prioritize the
educational needs of the district, representing personnel and items that were not
represented in the FY'12 Budget. He reported that this information would be
made available to the School Committee members for next Thursday, December
8th.
Strategic Plan Update:
Chairman Trowbridge reported that the Executive Committee of the Strategic
Planning Project was scheduled to meet on Tuesday, December 6th, to discuss the
next steps in the process.
J/J Data Presentation:
Assistant Principal, Ms. Heather Smith and Jordan Jackson teachers, Patty Coyne,
Kaitlyn Swartz and Meghan McCarthy provided the School Committee with
information via a power point presentation on examples of the utilization of data
to drive instruction at Jordan /Jackson. The team of teachers highlighted how the
staff is building bridges between the collection of data and the utilization of this
data to adjust teaching strategies, resulting in improved student achievement and
success. This presentation may be viewed on the Jordan /Jackson and the district
website. I applaud the teachers and administration at Jordan /Jackson for the
excellent work that is being done and the outstanding presentation that was
delivered by the teachers: This truly captured a snapshot of the tremendous work
that is being done by the entire staff at Jordan Jackson.
Response to Intervention Update:
Jordan Jackson teachers Ryan Gentili, Aimee Conroy, Joanna Mutchler and Patty
Coyne presented an overview of the Jordan /Jackson Response to Intervention
Program, outlining the three tiered instructional model. A history of the RTI
Model was presented, depicting the process that has evolved at Jordan /Jackson
over the past two years. While this was presented by Jordan /Jackson teachers,
Robinson School has also been involved in the same process. Response to
Intervention is a K -i2 initiative and the staffs at Qualters Middle School and
Mansfield High School are working to expand the program at both buildings.
Principals Zeff Gianetti and Michael Connolly provided the School Committee with
an update as to where each school is in regards to the full implementation of the
program. The Jordan/ Jackson RTI Presentation is available on the Jordan
Jackson and district websites. Again, I commend the Jordan /Jackson teachers
and administration for a second impressive presentation describing the
outstanding work being accomplished by the staff at Jordan/ Jackson and
Robinson Schools.
Undated Policy Handbook:
The School Committee discussed the need to engage in the process of updating the
School Committee and District Policy Manual. After discussion, the School
Committee voted to engage Jim Hardy, representative of the Massachusetts
Association of School Committees, to assist with this initiative. Kiera O'Neil and
Jim Perry volunteered to take the lead on this project.
Social Media Policy:
Superintendent Hodges stated that she had provided the School Committee with
two sample Social Media Policies from the MASC and Murphy, Hesse, Toomey and
Lehane, as requested by Mrs. Miller. Mrs. Hodges asked if the School Committee
had reviewed these policies and were ready to proceed with discussion. The
Superintendent also reminded the Committee that prior to the implementation of
a policy, the MTA must be involved and successful negotiations of the policy must
be agreed to by both parties. After discussion, Mrs. Miller stated that she did not
want to re open the contract, as her intent was only to be proactive.
Field Trip Approval (if any)
CITIZENS COMMENTS
There were no Citizens Comments
SCHOOL COMMITTEE NEW BUSINESS
OTHER
Motion to adjourn:
Chairman, Mr. Michael Trowbridge, called for a motion to adjourn the School Committee
Meeting of November 29, 2011, at 8:30 PM for the sole purpose of adjourning. A Motion
was made to close the meeting by Mr. Jim Perry 2nd Mrs. Jean Miller. A Roll call vote to close:
Mr. Michael Trowbridge, yes; Mr. Jim Perry, yes; Mrs. Jean Miller, yes; Mrs. Kiera O'Neil, yes.
Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz was absent from this meeting.
Motion U.C. a - o
Respectfully submitted,
Mary O. Jackson
Secretary to the Superintendent
& School Committee