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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Committee 02/28/2017Approved 3-28-17 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, February 28, 2017 Town Hall, Room 3A&B FICE An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held at the Towr ffl�ft6 l lfascQ� z' 31 February 28, 2017. The open meeting session was opened and called to order by Kiera O'Neil at 7:04 pm. Members Present:_ Kiera O'Neil, Chair Lynn Cavicchi, Vice Chair Linda Fernando Jenn Walsh Lauren Scher Members Absent: None Video Tanine: None COMMUNICATIONS: None SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT: No update Also Present: Teresa Murphy, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Edward Vozzella, Director of Finance and Operations ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT: Teresa took time to recognize the achievements of the MHS students of late: Marching Band/Choir: successful trip performing in Disney Track: Championship seasons for both boys and girls with great success in State meets. Hockey: Both boys and girls are state tournament bound APPROVAL OF WARRANT' Swimming: solid season, with sectional and state qualifiers Cheerleading: Competed in Regionals Wrestling: several students qualified for All -State Basketball: Both boys and girls Hock League champions and on the way to playoffs Warrants Warrant #'s Dates Amount Goods & Services 2017-1021 01/03/17 648,980.55 Salary & Wages 2017-15 01/13/17 1,533,478.93 Goods & Services 2017-1023 01/17/17 381,783.70 Salary & Wages 2017-16 01/27/17 1,611,874.33 Goods & Services 2017-1025 01/31/17 559,200.69 $ 4,735,318.20 A motion to approve the warrant was made 1stby Linda Fernando and 2nd by Jenn Walsh. Motion Carries 5-0 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Page 1 of 5 Approved 3-28-17 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, February 28, 2017 Town Hall, Room 3A&B Open Meeting Minutes of 2-7-17 One correction needed: Change the day.from Thursday to Tuesday in the first paragraph. A motion to approve the minutes as amended was made 1stby Linda Fernando and 2nd by Jenn Walsh. Motion Carries 5-0 Executive Session Minutes of 2-7-17. Tabled due to error in motions for close of meeting. Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes of 2-8-17. Amotion to approve the minutes was made istby Linda Fernando and 2nd by Jenn Walsh. Kiera O'Neil and Lauren Scher did not attend the meeting and abstained. Motion Carries 3-0-2. FINANCE AND OPERATIONS REPORT: Things look good. Weather has been in our favor regarding snow removal and energy use. Special Education looks favorable. Lane changes were less than budgeted. GIFTS: Jim Leonard came to the podium to discuss a $12,000 Post secondary Transition Grant that we have been given through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. A team was created at MHS which started with last year's career fair. That fair was successful and informative for our students and staff. This year the career fair has been expanded. As a district we want education for students so they know the many options that exist for them. As part of the grant two additional classes have been developed called Vocational Awareness and Life after High School. Jim thanked all the staff that contributed to the grant application effort. No vote required by school committee. OLD BUSINESS: Sub Committee Updates 1, Audit: Kiera O'Neil recognized along time past audit member who had recently passed away. 2. CIP: No updates until the spring. 3. Budget: The next full budget subcommittee meeting will be on Tuesday, March 14 th. Jenn Walsh and Lynn Cavicchi plan on attending a Budget Planning Presentation by MASC. 4. Policy: The subcommittee has met with administration to complete a few more policies. Some will be approved tonight. 2017-2018 District Calendar., Tonight is the third review of the calendar. Since last meeting, administration went back to see if any dates could be modified so that parents were not heavily burdened by early dismissals during the month of March. This was handled by moving the Robinson conferences from March to April. Discussion: None Linda Fernando made a motion to approve the 2017-2018 calendar. Lauren Scher seconded. Motion Carries S-0. StudentAdvfsgaCommittee: None Page 2 of 5 Approved 3-28-17 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, February 28, 2017 Town Hall, Room 3A&B NEW BUSINESS: QMS Course Proposals., Suzanne Ryan, Principal along with David McGovern and Brian Riordan (Assistant Principals) presented their plan for a new structure at QMS. All information is on the QMS Course Presentation document. Suzanne began by explaining why we are going through this process: "To restructure the day to provide a more robust, well-rounded middle school experience for all students while also responding to the decline in student enrollment in a fiscally responsible manner." She thanked all who participated in the preparation of this new plan. Everything that will be presented falls in line with the two core District goals of expanded offerings and teaching all students. QMS has a vision of what makes an effective middle school model. Key components are interdisciplinary teams; engaging curriculum; and enrichment opportunities. QMS went through a detailed process and time frame to come up with the current plan. It started with reviewing what works, what needs improvement along with parent and staff feedback Suzanne felt that the must -have items are: enrichment courses especially for grade 8; common planning time; increased flexibility for students including lunches by grade; all students on team and off team at the same time. The proposed schedule would include 7 fifty minute periods per day (5 core academics per day; 2 specials per day). In Grades 7 and 8 foreign language would be the 5th core subject. In grade 6, literacy is the 5th core class. Dave McGovern gave an overview of the course offerings by grade. Highlights include: combining health and PE into one year long course; identifying enrichment courses which will include classes er courses; A new grade 6 allowing movement breaks for the students; more in-depth comput course entitled "Successful Student'; New Grade 7 & 8 Science and Engineering class; Grade 8 Civics and removing the current ASB block. Brian Riordan reviewed the next steps which include determining staffing; providing professional development; finalizing scheduling logistics; informing parents, students and staff; building the new schedule. Questions/Comments: Kiera O'Neil felt that this represented great progress since prior schedules. Linda Fernando thought the concept was amazing. She asked about the placement process for enrichment math. Sue Ryan said that it is already being piloted but it consists of a review of many pieces of data from J/J. Jenn Walsh and Lauren Scher asked questions regarding the band and orchestra programs and how they would fit into the new schedule. Sue Ryan has been working closely with Matt Maguire on the details of this plan and will have additional information soon. Lynn Cavicchi is very excited about the proposed schedule. It is moving toward a better day for kids and a more rounded education with the new offerings. Linda Fernando made a motion to approve the new QMS course offerings. Jenn Walsh seconded the motion. Page 3 of 5 Approved 3-28-17 Mansfield School committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, February 28, 2017 Town Hall, Room 3A&B Discussion: The committee discussed exactly what would be approved in this motion. Approval would be made for the high level plan of new courses that would be offered and and modified scheduling blocks. Lynn Cavicchi requested that Suzanne Ryan return for informational purposes once a final plan has been created. Motion to approve new QMS offerings and new schedule structure carries 5 - 0. Policies: Three policy revisions were brought forward tonight for approval. JJ Co -curricular and extracurricular activities JJA Student Organizations JRA -R Student Records Lynn Cavicchi motioned to approve the policy revisions and Linda Fernando seconded the motion. Motion carries 5 - 0. JJ -E Co -curricular and extracurricular activities propose to delete. Linda Fernando motioned to approve the deletion of the policy and Lynn Cavicchi seconded the motion. Discussion: Lauren Scher wanted to make sure that if we deleted this policy, the language was covered by another policy. Lynn Cavicchi indicated that the policy addresses non discrimination which is already covered in policy AC. Motion carries 5 - 0. Field Trips.- World rips:World Travel Club to Scandinavian Capitals 2018. Michael Connolly and Kevin McGovern came to the podium to provide a brief overview. Lynn Cavicchi motioned to approve the field trip with the caveat that the committee could reconsider based on "world conditions." Linda Fernando seconded. Discussion: The program historically has been held during the summer and is paid by families with no fund raising. The school does meet early with the students to give them time to financially prepare. Kevin indicated that we would be using EF tours with whom we have had a lot of success. Motion carried 5 - 0. Citizens Comments: None School Committee New Business: Lynn Cavicchi asked if we could schedule a workshop to discuss the 5 year narrative; Tech Plan; and transition plan for new positions. Teresa will have an entry plan in place for the next meeting. School Committee Other Business: None Documents Referenced: QMS Course Proposal Presentation Motion to adjourn by Lynn Cavicchi at 8:52 pm; seconded by Linda Fernando. Page 4 of 5 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, February 28, 2017 Town Hall, Room 3A&B Motion U.C. 5-0 Approved 3-28-17 Motion to adjourn: At 8:28 p.m., Kiera O'Neil asked for a motion to enter into Executive Session pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 30A, Section 21 for the Following Purpose: Under Exception No. 3, To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and not to reconvene in open session and the chair so declares; Linda Fernando motioned and Lynn Cavicchi seconded. Role Call Vote: Lauren Scher Yes Linda Fernando Yes Kiera O'Neil Yes Jenn Walsh Yes Lynn Cavicchi Yes Motion U.C. 5-0 Respectfully Submitted, Diane Nugent Secretary to the Superintendent & School Committee Page 5 of 5