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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Committee 09/26/2017Approved 10-10.17 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 26, 2017 Town Hall, Room 3A&B An Open Meeting of the Mansfield School Committee was held at the Town Hall on Tuesday, September 26, 2017. The open meeting session was opened and called to order by Kiera O'Neil at 7:31 pm. Members Present: Others Present: Kiera O'Neil Teresa Murphy, Superintendent of Schools Lynn Cavicchi Michael Connolly, Assistant Superintendent (Teaching/Learning) Linda Fernando Edward Donoghue, Assistant Superintendent (Finance/Operations) Jenn Walsh Lauren Scher Members Absent: None Video Recordine: Dana Hourigan 15 Evan's Circle` iy Z 5 COMMUNICATIONS: None APPROVAL OF WARRANT: None SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT: CI MHS curriculum night has been rescheduled to 9/27/17 due to plumbing issues. - RG curriculum was held earlier in the evening. On October 3, 2017, Mansfield will hold a "Focus on Prevention' presentation for all parenw-imcir MHS students. Topics include tobacco, underage substance abuse, consequences and penalties. Christine Dooling, Ken Wright and Joe Russo put this together as a result of questions that have arisen during the wellness committee. Teresa introduced Matt Jacques as our new Director of Facilities. Matt comes to us from the retail sector where he has experience in facilities management, capital improvements, and strategic planning. Matt has a business degree from UNH. We are very excited to have him herein Mansfield. Matt spoke about what he has done during his first month here. He is taking an "Outside in" look at the schools. Fresh eyes provide a new perspective. It has been somewhat challenging but he is excited about the many opportunities that exist. STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL: Mary Watkins introduced Cyrus Bernstein, a senior at MHS. He will be attending school committee meetings this year. Cyrus discussed the new cell phone policy. Students have been very cooperative and are adhering to the new rules. It has not had any negative impact on students interacting socially in the hallways or cafeteria. APPROVAL OF WARRANT: Warrants Warrant #'s Dates Amount Goods & Services 2018-1002 08/01/17 250,085.81 Salary & Wages 2017- 08/10/17 860,105.38 Salary & Wages 2018-3 08/11/17 398,805.79 Goods & Services 2018-1004 08/15/17 551,030.73 Salary & Wages 2017- 8/24/2017 858451.08 Salary & Wages 20184 08/25/17 304,931.55 Goods & Services 2018-1006 08/29/17 185,949.31 $ 3,409,359.65 Page 1 of 5 Approved 10.10.17 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 26, 2017 Town Hall, Room 3A&B Motion to approve the warrant by Linda Fernando / Jenn Walsh Motion Carries S - 0 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Open Session Minutes of 9-12-17 Motion to approve the minutes by Linda Fernando / Jenn Walsh Motion Carries 5-0 OLD BUSINESS: Gifts: Jim Leonard reported on the "Game Change" Grant. This grant has been offered through the New England Patriots and the Attorney General's office. It is meant to provide awareness on teen dating violence. A team from Mansfield reviewed the grant and studied whether or not we could incorporate this in a positive way. We will be awarded $3000 in September. We are required to provide a mid cycle and final report. Jim and Teresa thanked Christine Dooling, Joe Russo, Tim Tichacek, Josh Fogel, Laura Bennett and Ken Wright for their research on this effort. The effort will be student -led, providing further leadership opportunities for our MHS students. Kiera asked if these would be in school events. Students will drive the event selection and determine when events will be held with MHSguidance. How will the 30 students be chosen? Sophomores, juniors and seniors will be chosen through guidance, athletics, and student government. Lauren asked if the grant was just for one year. It is for oneyear only but jim hopes we can make this a permanent effort in our schools. Lynn asked if it were co-ed. Yes. She asked if looked at how other districts had used the grant. Jim had looked at two other districts. They have had success. Is dating violence incorporated into our current health classes? Teresa indicated currently it is not currently but that we are working toward that in the nearfuture. This should be added to a future agenda. No Approval needed. Subcommittees. Audit: No update. CIP: No update. Budget: Met on Monday 9/25 with Liz Christo and Yogen Chemburkar of the finance committee. They discussed priorities for this upcoming year: o Establish budget calendar/timeline o Review district fees o Revisit 5 year narrative o Create facilities/capital plan Policy: MASC has provided a lengthy list of policies that require updates. There are other areas within the district that requires review. Lynn provided a list of policies that should be addressed this year. Kiera asked that we maintain a list of these policies and include it in the agenda each week for a progress review. NEW BUSINESS: MEA contract approval. The union has voted to ratify the new MEA contract which will end in 2020. Kiera reviewed some of the changes: • Many housekeeping items • Some policy updates • Department heads will now be evaluated as teachers AND a department chair Page 2 of 5 Approved 10-10-17 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 26, 2017 Town Hall, Room 3A&B New student placement process for grades K - 5 2% salary increase annually Course reimbursement increase • Longevity changes • Increases in supplementary compensation for advisory positions Kiera noted that this negotiation process was very quick and easy. Lauren was pleased that all parties (staff, administrators, school committee) put "educating our students' as the first priority. Motion to approve the MEA contract for 2017 - 2020 by Jenn Walsh / Linda Fernando Motion Carries 5-0 Mansfield Organizational Chart. One change was made since last review. The Coordinator of evening school was added in reporting to the Assistant superintendent of teaching and learning. Motion to approve the Mansfield Organizational Chart by Linda Fernando / Lynn Cavicchi Motion Carries 5-0 MHS Unified Track fee: In August, Tim Tichacek and Joe Russo requested approval for a new Unified Track program at MHS. The program was reviewed but required a second review for a fee approval. Tim and Joe proposed that the first year fee is waived for the following reasons: • New program; need to gauge the number of days per week students will be active (compared to other varsity sports) • Other districts are currently not charging a fee • We have $2000 in grant money we can use in year one Motion to waive the athletic fee for YEAR ONE ONLY by Jenn Walsh / Linda Fernando. Motion Carries 5-0 Suicide Prevention discussion: Tina Karidoyanes, head guidance counselor at MHS, provided information on the S.O.S (Signs of Suicide) program. This is a state mandated initiative which is endorsed by MA Department of Education, The National Center for Mental Health and The American School Counselor Association. The program is intended to educate students, staff and parents, to reduce stigmas related to mental health, to encourage conversion, to encourage students to trust adults. It is recommended that we repeat this process every other year; therefore, we will screen grades 7, 9, 11 every other year. This year's timeline: Staff will be trained in September/October; Grade 9 will be screened in December; Grade 7 will begin in January. Screenings will occur first thing in the morning so that staff has an opportunity to review the responses and follow up with students that appear to be in need that very same day. The class will start with a brief lesson; a video; discussion and end with the screening. Guidance counselors will review all responses and as needed bring students in for follow up. If needed, parents will be called. Questions are: • Student name • In the last 4 weeks has there been a time when nothing has been fun for you? Or you were not interested in doing anything? • Do you have less energy than you usually do? • Do you feel that you can't do anything well or that you are not as good looking or as smart as other people? • Do you think seriously about harming yourself? Page 3 of 5 Approved 10.10.17 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 26, 2017 Town Hall, Room 3A&B • Have you tried to harm yourself in the last year? • Does doing even little things make you tired? • In the last 4 weeks does it seem that you are not thinking as clearly or as fast as usual? These are signs of depression or self harm. If either of the self harm questions are answered yes, then guidance will contact the student. If there are 4 or more yes answers then guidance will contact the student. If there are 3 yes answers then guidance will review the answers and on a case by case basis, contact the student. However, contact is not likely. Parents will be notified if a student has been called down. Once the screening is complete, the answers will be shredded. Staff will be trained, though the exact process has not yet been determined. The district will reach out to Dr. Barry Plummer. This year will provide us with a baseline for future comparisons. Michael Connolly advised the committee that this is state mandated and he commended the staff for their work on the screening efforts. SBIRT (Screening/Brief Intervention/Referral to Treatment) discussion: These screenings will be given to grade 8 and grade 10 students during January. The goal of this screening is to create dialog with students and to let them feel comfortable with adults. The screening is verbal; nothing will go in student records. If two questions were answered positive then a meeting would be held with guidance. At that point, guidance will determine the potential impact and decide if parents should be contacted. Parents and students can decide to opt out. Screenings will be given by the nurse. If two red flags are shown, then the student will be referred to guidance for discussion. Policy Updates: Lynn Cavicchi reviewed all the changes in the proposed list of policies. Summary of changes are: IJ and IJ -R Instructional Materials and Reconsideration of Instructional Materials Recommendation: Adopt; we do not currently have as policy. MASC recommended wording. III - Textbook Selection and Adoption Recommendation: Remove from policy manual; covered by IJ IJK - Supplementary Materials and Selection Recommendation: Remove from policy manual; covered by IJ IJM - Special Interest Materials Selection and Adoption Recommendation: Remove from policy manual; covered by IJ Section J JLCB Inoculations of Students Recommendation: Revise to make recommended changes per MASC; also reviewed by Christine Dooling, District Nurse Leader JLCC Communicable Diseases Recommendation: Revise to make recommended changes per MASC; also reviewed by Christine Dooling, District Nurse Leader JLCD and JLCD-R Administering Medicines to Students Recommendation: Revise to add recommended MASC wording regarding stocking Narcan; also reviewed by Christine Cooling, District Nurse Leader Section K KBE Relations with Parent Organizations Recommendations: Revise to include Booster Clubs/Organizations as recommended by MASC KJA - Relations with Booster Organizations Recommendations: Remove from policy manual; covered by KBE Motion to approve Revisions to JLCB, JLCC, JLCD & JLCD-R by Linda Fernando/Jenn Walsh. Motion Carries 5-0 Motion to approve Revision to KBE and removal of KJA by Linda Fernando/Jenn Walsh. Page 4 of 5 Approved 10.10.17 Mansfield School Committee Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 26, 2017 Town Hall, Room 3A&B Motion Carries 5-0 Motion to adopt new IJ & IJ -R by Linda Fernando/Jenn Walsh. Motion Carries 5-0 Motion to remove IJJ, IJK & IJM by Linda Fernando/Jenn Walsh. Motion Carries 5-0 Finance Workshop Agenda: The committee discussed potential agenda items for the upcoming Finance Workshop on October 17th. Items suggested include: • Reviewing best practices for reporting per MASC and MSBO. • Guidelines regarding special education stabilization fund (in support of vote taken last year to create.) • Review of policy manual section D "Financial Management" • Student activity accounts, gifts and grants • Changes expected to school budget process (new administrators) • Changes expected to town wide budget process (It was noted that the Mansfield Budget subcommittee was disbanded last year. ) • Any items that may be of issue during current year Upcoming Agenda Items: No discussion. Citizens Comments: None School Committee New Business: Annual School Committee Task Calendar -first draft: Dorothy Pressor, in the summer workshop, suggested that we keep an annual to do list for school committee meetings. This would facilitate agenda building, completing required tasks and keeping schools in loop their due dates. First draft presented for review. Lynn Cavicchi has several changes that she will send to Kiera. Documents Referenced: Mansfield Organization Chart SBIRT screening S.O.S. screening Policy changes Motion to adjourn: At 8:50 p.m., Motion to adjourn by Linda Fernando / Jenn Walsh. Motion U.C. 5-0 Respectfully Submitted, Diane Nugent, Secretary to the Superintendent & School Committee Page 5 of 5