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HomeMy Public PortalAboutBrewster School Committee -- 2019-08-15 Minutes Brewster School Committeefit Thursday, August 15 2019 Brewster Town Hall I Present for the Committee : David Telman Jessica Larsen Marie Enochty, and Nicole Cam p Present for the Administration: Thomas Conrad, Ann Caretti, Giovanna Venditti, Keith Gauley, and Joanna Hughes Call to Order Chair Telman called the meeting to order at 6 : 00 p . m . Citizens Speak Dr. Ann Caretti, Director of Student Services for Nauset, thanked the School Committee for all their support last year. She informed the Committee that an out-of-district placement student is coming back to Brewster. The staff helped with the transition and everyone feels it will work well for this student. PRIORITY BUSINESS Second Reading of the Homework Policy On a motion by Marie Enochty, seconded by Jessica Larsen, it was voted 4 yeas to approve the Homework Policy for a second reading and adoption . Marie Enochty wanted to make sure that Principal and Teachers do not withhold recess from students for completing homework. The Superintendent indicated that the Administrative Team is looking at that all the time and feels recess is a critical time for the students . Nicole Camp reminded the Chair that she asked for not assigning homework during standardized testing is considered . Chair Telman indicated that the Policy Subcommittee will look at this document again and thanked everyone for their comments . Green Energy Community Program Peter Lombardi, Town Administrator explained the Green Energy Community Program and asked the Committee to comply with the five criteria and in particular, fuel efficient vehicle program as well as the five-year commitment to reduce energy consumption . If an existing vehicle needs to be replaced, the replacement must meet the fuel efficiency standards . (there are some exemptions) The Select Board approved this program for the town. Brewster has one vehicle, a pick-up truck, used by Barry Schofield . Peter Lombardi indicated that the new police cruisers meet the new fuel efficiency standards . They are not that restrictive . The only action takes place at the time of replacement. Most Ford Explorers meet the minimum requirement. Motion : On a motion by Marie Enochty, seconded by Jessica Larsen, it was voted unanimously, 4 yeas, to authorize the Superintendent to draft a letter in support of Criteria 4, under the Green Energy Community Program . Peter Lombardi indicated that once all documentation is submitted to DOER there is a formula they use to disseminate money for conservation efficiency projects . This is a very beneficial program for the community for savings in capital and operational budgets . The final phase of the 5 Criteria is a five-year energy reduction plan with the goal to reduce energy use by 20% . He will go back to the Select Board and the School Committee to get that plan approved to submit to DOER in October. Capital Plan Giovanna Venditti updated the committee on the status of current capital projects . HVAC - $20 , 000, ongoing Repair of the roofs - $4, 500 and $ 10 , 000 , looking at having various sections of Stony Brook repaired . This will be ongoing. Brewster School Committee Minutes August 15, 2019 [ 11 Paint, $20, 000, Bids came in too high . Doing painting at Stony Brook for $ 9, 500 . Technology - $ 50,000 — ongoing Sidewalk and Curbing — Eddy School, $ 15 ,000 . Doing temporary fixes in the front of the school building and is working with an architect for design . Eddy Parking Lot - $20,000, paving and repairs . Department of Public Works . Need to resurface parking lot and it requires engineering . This project will be done next year. Peter Lombardi, Town Administrator, requested that the schools let him know if there is an emergency or priority in this fiscal year by the first week in September. Jim Nowack indicated that they have not met with Barry Schofield and the Principals to build the FY20-25 plan. The Superintendent indicated that they will stay on the town ' s timetable as the schools want to be good partners in this process . Peter Lombardi indicated that the Capital Plan Committee is being reconstituted and they will provide a recommended 5 -year plan to the Select Board and Finance Committee by the end of January to be voted at town meeting. Peter Lombardi would like FY20 capital by September 4`". (anything that has come up since the May town meeting and he would like the 5 -year capital plan by the end of October so that the School Committee can vote it at their October meeting. Enrollment at Eddy Elementary School Principal Hughes reported that they will move forward with 4 teachers as they are close to the guidelines of 22 per class . Parents have been notified about their child ' s assignment by mail . She has schedule educational assistant support to those classrooms . She thanked the parents for their patience. She indicated that Eddy had 11 new registrations over the summer. Principal Gauley indicated that Kindergarten enrollment is 61 students or 15 and 16 in a class . He also indicated that 10 new registrations came in over the summer and 2 students left the area. Visioning Superintendent Conrad indicated that they are working on the Strategic Plan and that a PowerPoint Presentation from Maxine Minkoff, Gail Briere and Judy Schumacher has been prepared for School Committees in the month of September. He indicated the plan gives the district clear direction and we will see where Brewster ties in with the Strategic Plan . Chair Telman indicated that Marie Enochty will be the Brewster representative to the Cape Cod Collaborative. Adjournment On a motion by Jessica Larsen, seconded by Marie Enochty, it was voted unanimously, 4-0, to adjourn the meeting at 6 : 37 p .m . Submitted by, Ann M. Tefft Included in the packet: Homework Policy, Brewster 5 -Year Capital Plan Brewster School Committee Minutes August 15, 2019 [2 ]