HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Comm Minutes 2/15/2011MANSFIELD SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
RDCEIV ED
Michael Trowbridee, Chairman -P'` OFFICE
Frank DelVecchio, Vice Chairman P 2: 21
Lisa Losiewicz
Jean Miller
An Perry
6:30 PM Open Session
Adiourn to
EXECUTIVE SESSION - 6:31 PM - Superintendent's Office
Adjourn to
OPEN SESSION - 7:00 PM - Room 3 A & B
6:31 PM EXECUTIVE SESSION
AGENDA
1.) Collective Bargaining Strate2V /
Update / Non Union Personnel
Food Service, Little Hornet Daycare, MEA, Para Prof.,
SPED Drivers ,Administrators.
7:30 PM OPEN SESSION
AGENDA
7:30 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
7:35
7:40 SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
1.) Personnel
2.) Thank you to the Mansfield Building Inspector, Fire
Department and Police Department
3.) Smart Board Demonstration
• Company Representative
• Jordan Jackson Teachers
4.) QMS Schedule — 2011 - 2012
8:00 APPROVAL OF WARRANTS Enc.
8:05 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1.) Executive Session Minutes of January 13, 2010 Enc.
2.) School Committee Minutes of January 13, 2010 Enc.
8:10 OLD BUSINESS
1.) Kindergarten Pilot Program
2.) FY' 12 Budget Update
8:30 NEW BUSINESS
1.) 2010 -2011- Calendar /Make Up Snow Days
2.) 1st Draft — New Calendar - 2011— 2012
3.) Field Trip Approval
9:00 SCHOOL COMMITTEE NEW BUSINESS
OTHER
Mansfield School Committee Meeting AMENDED
Minutes for Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Town Hall, Room 3B & C
An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held at the Town Hall on Tuesday,
February 15, 2011. A motion to open the Open Meeting was made by Mr. Michael Trowbridge, 2 °d
by, Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz with a roll call vote and called to order at 6:30 PM by Chairman, Mr.
Michael Trowbridge. After returning from Executive Session the Open Session meeting was
reopened and called to order by Vice - Chairman, Mr. Frank DelVecchio, at 7:35 PM.
Motion U.C. IN 0
Members Present — roll call vote to enter into Executive Session:
Mr. Michael Trowbridge, Chairman;
Mr. Frank DelVecchio, Vice Chairman
Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz,
Mrs. Jean Miller,
Mr. Jim Perry
Also Present:
Mrs. Brenda Hodges, Superintendent of Schools
Mr. Edward Vozzella, Director of Finance
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
None
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT:
NEMN
yes
yes
yes
yes
Mrs. Hodges thanked the Police Department, Building Inspector Nick Riccio and Chief Neil
Boldrighini or the Fire Department for their invaluable help and assistance on Friday, February 4,
2011, due to the snow issue on the roof of the Robinson Elementary School. Never was their child's
safety at risk. The principals, teachers and staff, were wonderful, it was a day that could have been
very confusing but through their efforts turned it into a nice day for the children. The superintendent
wanted to thank everyone involved for making our children safe as well as our buildings, we never
could have done it without their help.
Mr. Rick Tremble of Valley Communications gave a presentation of the use and portability of the
Smart board in the classrooms. Three Jordan Jackson teachers were present, Ms. Kim Holster, music
teacher, Ms. Mary Shea, art teacher and Ms. Rayna Freedman, a third grade teacher, along with
fourth grade student, Mia. The purpose of this demonstration was to show the value of the smart
board technology in the classroom. The example presented was a project that we presented at the
State Technology Conference this past October called 2 Bad Ants. This program spans most of the
school year and incorporates literacy skills through arts, music and choreography through technology.
Teachers can provide makeup opportunities for children via this technology.
Mr. Trowbridge returned to the Open Session meeting.
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Mrs. Hodges announced that she has asked QMS Principal, Zeff Gianetti, to look at and work out a
( new QMS schedule along with the teachers. Although the teachers are choosing not stay after school
it poses a problem for the principal. Mr. Gianetti will be moving forward with or without the
teachers to work out the schedule and bring forward some options for you.
APPROVAL OF WARRANTS
The following warrants were presented and accepted by the School Committee on February 15, 2011.
Salary & Wages, #2011 -12 dated 12/11/2010, in the amount of $1,427,887.76; Goods & Services
#2011 -1018 dated 12/1512010 in the amount of $314,096.51; Salary & Wages, # 2011- 13 dated
12/22/2010, in the amount of $1,308,103.84 ; Good & Services # 2011— 1019 dated 12/28/10, in the
amount of $366,243.19.
Motion to approve the warrants by Mrs. Losiewicz, 2 "d by Mr. DelVecchio.
Motion U. C. 5 — 0
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The Executive Minutes for January 13, 2011 were approved as amended.
Motioned by Mrs. Jean Miller, 2" by Mr. Jim Perry.
Motion U.C. 5 — 0
The School Committee Minutes of January 13, 2011 were approved as amended.
Motioned by Mrs. Jean Miller, 2nd by Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz.
Motion U.C. 5 - 0
OLD BUSINESS
Kindergarten Pilot Program:
Principals Kate Kristenson and Joanne Jordan sent home a survey to parents, with 153 being returned.
There were 43 parents that wanted the half day Kindergarten and 110 wanted the full day. If we
piloted two programs, we could accommodate 44 to 46 students in an all day program, which would
allow 22 or 23 children in each class. The main reason for this full day program was for the education
benefit it would bring to the children Mrs. Miller was concerned that the students that need the extra
help could somehow be contacted to be in the full day classes or will it become a random lottery
where everyone will be eligible to be part of it.
Mr. Bill Deasy a teacher at the Mansfield High school, spoke to the issue of the loss of the Little
Hornets Daycare at the Robinson. Mr. Deasy respectfully stated that the parents, teachers within the
system, as well as their children, love the safety and family atmosphere by the daycare offers. Liz
Parsons, teacher/ parent at the JJ spoke of this same experience provided by Little Hornets.
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FY' 12 Budget Update:
Mr. Vozzella spoke to the FY' 12 Budget. Essentially, the numbers have not changed. We are
working with a sub group that consists of The Superintendent, Mrs. Brenda Hodges, and Director of
Finance & Operations, Mr. Ed Vozzella, School Committee Chairman & Vice Chairman, Mr.
Michael Trowbridge and Mr. Frank DelVecchio, Town Manager, Bill Ross, Finance Committee
Chairman, Andy Gazzolo and Selectmen Kevin Moran.
2010 — 2011— Calendar / Make up Snow Days
It was the recommendation of the Superintendent, Brenda Hodges that the district make up the 5
missed snow days by attending school beginning on Tuesday, April 19, 20 & 21. This will allow a
three day weekend on April 18" and April 22 "d instead of the regular April vacation.
On January 25th, the School Committee discussed the need to talk about options to address the
makeup days at the next scheduled meeting, February 15th. The School Committee voiced a concern
that the district had already missed 4 days and it was only January 25th, with much of the winter still
ahead of us. The School Committee voiced a need to discuss the calendar in view of the contractual
requirement that school end by June 30th and the last day of school was already June 28th. The
School Committee expressed a need to be proactive with a backup plan.
The School Committee met on February 15'h to discuss the 5 makeup days that were now required for
the district. The options are limited in that no full professional days are scheduled for the remainder
of the year, and the one half day scheduled on March 11th does count as a full day of school.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not allow extending the regular school
days by any amount of time to address makeup days; thus this was not an option.
MCAS testing occurs well before June and the School Committee considered the need to provide
instructional days prior to the end of June in preparation for students taking the MCAS tests.
The School Committee discussed the concern that many families schedule vacations to begin the last
week of June. Camps begin for students and teachers have summer courses beginning the last week
of June.
Making up three of the 5 days over April vacation was discussed; however, the issue with those
families that had scheduled vacation became a concern.
Saturdays were brought up as a discussion item, given that Saturdays would not interfere with
vacations, or other concerns that had been brought forth.
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After much discussion and recognition that no decision could be made without creating other issues,
the School Committee voted to consider making up 2 of the 5 days on Saturdays, one in March and
one in April.
The Superintendent was asked to look at the school calendar and notify the School Committee
via the Superintendents' Weekly Report of two Saturdays that would accommodate student
attendance.
Each member of the board spoke to their preference for the makeup days. Mr. Trowbridge wanted
the 2 Saturday's, one in March and one in April; Frank DelVecchio wanted a full day on a March
Saturday; Jim Perry wanted a Saturday in March; Jean Miller wanted a Saturday and Lisa Losiewicz
wanted the three days in April vacation.
Motioned to have two Saturdays, one in March and one in April was made by Mrs. Miller and
2 "d by Mr. DelVecchio.
Motion Carried: 4 —1 with Mrs. Losiewicz opposed.
lst Draft — New Calendar / 2011— 2012:
Mrs. Hodges presented the School Committee with the first draft of the school calendar for next year.
The request was made by Mrs. Miller and Mr. Perry to save the February vacation. They will discuss
this thought at the next meeting.
Field Trip Approval:
It is the recommendation of the Superintendent to approve this request to travel to Australia in July,
2012. There is the basic understanding that travel insurance will be purchased and more
information will be brought forward for the next meeting.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE NEW BUSINESS
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OTHER
Motion to adjourn
Motion was made to adjourn the School Committee Meeting of February 15, 2011 at 9:40 PM for
the sole purpose of adjourning. Motion to close by Mr. Frank DelVecchio, 2 "d by Mr. Michael
Trowbridge. Roll call vote to close: Michael Trowbridge, yes: Jim Perry, yes; Frank DelVecchio,
yes: Mrs. Lisa Losiewicz, yes; Mrs. Jean Miller, yes.
Motion U.C. 5 - 0
Respectfully submitted,
Maiy O. Jackson
Secretary to the Superintendent
& School Committee