HomeMy Public PortalAboutBrewster School Committee -- 2019-11-21 Minutes (2) Brewster School Committee ; ' {a.
Tuesday , November 21 2019 . .
Brewster Town HallIT
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Present for the Committee : David Telman Jessica Larsen Nicole Camp and Laurel Labdon
Absent for the Committee : Marie Enochty
Present for the Administration: Thomas Conrad, Giovanna Venditti, Keith Gauley, and Joanna Hughes
Call to Order
Chair Telman called the meeting to order at 6 : 00 p . m.
Agenda Change — None
Citizens Speak - None
PRIORITY BUSINESS
Request from Brewster Whitecaps
Chris Kenny, President of the Brewster Whitecaps and Charles Hanson addressed the committee about a planning
effort around enhancements to the field . They indicated they are requesting Community Preservation money to help
with the funding . They stated there are 20 games at Stony Brook and another 20 on the road . They use the facility for
practice, pregame and youth clinics . They indicated there have been no renovations to the field since 2006 . They are
interested in improving some areas of the field including traffic patterns from the parking lot down the steep slope,
improve area around concession space, improve handicap access around the area by broadening the sidewalk and allow
handicap access into the school . In addition, they would like additional seating at the park. They have a concrete pad
area for people with mobility issues that is not ADA compliant . They would like to install bleachers on the third base
side and improve handicap access . Hey would like to move the grandstand that is there to the other side and put new
seating by the dugout and third base . They would also like to improve drainage . They had the service of a licensed
architect on pro bono bases . They need a plan for the CPC . They also indicated that John O ' Reilly is helping with this
as well . They would like to make submission to CPC in December . They had discussions with the Town and DPW to
support some of the project. They would like to extend the fencing down the baseline in front of the dugouts and put
netting up . The estimate for the project is $450, -$ 600, 000 . They need the School Committee endorsement to go to
CPC . The Superintendent indicated that the School Committee is favorable toward the project and would like the
Whitecaps to come back in December with the plans .
MCAS Presentation
Assistant Superintendent Keith Gauley and Principal Hughes gave a presentation of the MCAS scores . Keith Gauley
reviewed the state results in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science & Technology. He also reviewed the
MCAS Legacy results to show the difference in scoring . Principal Hughes reviewed the Eddy results in ELA
indicating that 70% of the students met or exceeded target . She is very pleased with these results . In Math the student
growth percentile is up and the scaled score increased 2 points which is also a very good result . She indicated in
Science 58 % of the students met or exceeded target. Students had a good performance but she knows the students can
do more and they will analyze the data to see what they can do to be even better . Keith Gauley reviewed the New
Accountability System, noting that the focus is on all students and lowest performing 25 % of students . He also
indicated that they are not requiring assistance or intervention and made substantial progress toward targets . He
reviewed the vision of the District that includes deeper learning, creativity and critical thinking, problem-solving and
reflection .
Principal Hughes stated the staff is very committed to analyzing the data, looking at best practices and helping all
students .
Chair Telman stated that Brewster is doing a great job . Principal Hughes indicated that so many students were so close
to exceeding the target. Taking the test on the computer makes her question the keyboarding skills of some students .
They are trying to provide more opportunities for keyboarding experience . Keith Gauley indicated the scores vary
Brewster School Committee Minutes November 21, 2019 [ 1 ]
widely from school to school and grade level to grade level this year . He will look across the District to see what is
working and look at practices .
Administrators ' Reports
Principals ' reports were included in the packet . There were no questions .
Superintendent ' s Report
The Superintendent reported that he attended the MASC Conference , attended many interesting sessions and
networked with other Superintendents . He also reported that he spent a good deal of time on the High School
building project. He has attended around 40 meetings so far including Select Boards and Finance Committees in
the four towns . He visited the Brewster Council on Aging which was very revealing and it was good to hear their
perspective . At the last Administrative Team meeting, he requested that Principals provide him with a report on
how we are doing with the new Homework Policy. He also attended a few tournament games for the High
School .
FY20 Budget Review
Giovanna Venditti reviewed the expenditure reports indicating a balance at Eddy School of $ 140 ,427 and at
Stony Brook School a balance of $ 85 , 103 . She reviewed line items with substantial movement. Chair Telman
asked if the Substitute , Long Term was split equally between the two schools .
Superintendent Evaluation Documents
The Superintendent reviewed the timeline for the Superintendent ' s Evaluation . He reviewed the standards and
indicated that the state has entered into the possibility of changing this somewhat . He may form a subcommittee
to look at changes to see if it is beneficial to the process next year. The Superintendent reviewed his goals that
included : 1 ) Research "teaching for deeper learning. " Develop a list of strategies to accomplish this learning
approach . 2) Analyze the current strengths and weaknesses of our current K42 SEL program . What
improvements need to be considered? 3 ) Review Professional Development model to increase our opportunities
to have Professional Development on a regular basis throughout the year . (Looking at the time it takes for mid-
term exams at the High School and the benefits as well as homeroom time at the Middle School)
Jessica Larsen stated that Nauset has the least amount of education time in the school day . She asked if the
District is working toward considering lengthening the school day . The Superintendent indicated that the
Calendar Subcommittee has a couple of ideas that they will bring to the bargaining table . He also indicated the
negotiating teams have not met.
Brewster Schools Visioning & Future Plans
Chair Telman thanked Jessica Larsen for making the statement at Town Meeting . He also thanked the town for
voting the funding for the feasibility study . He indicated that Jessica Larsen and Nicole Camp met with the
Superintendent to come up with strategies and plans for next steps . The Superintendent indicated that Brewster
needs to be comfortable with the education vision of the project to 2040 . What is the academic vision that we
want for all children in the elementary school?
The Superintendent indicated that he will look for a vendor who would begin the process of looking at the
initiatives . They will look at the scope of work and then ultimately look at the spaces . He indicated the Brewster
School Committee will decide to work with the vendor and give them an expectation . He felt having a neutral
company working on this is a good thing. The vendor will get public input and the school committee will drive
the whole process .
Brewster School Committee Minutes November 21, 2019 [2 ]
Laurel Labdon indicated that they have data from the visioning sessions where many people supported expanding
foreign language opportunities . She would like to see the Committee identify top priorities before the feasibility
experts are involved . This would give them a road map . Nicole Camp suggested that this be aligned with School
Improvement Plans . She would lilce to sketch the priorities on a timeline . Superintendent Conrad would like to
see the Strategic Plan moving forward and align with that as well .
The Superintendent indicated that it is hard to move forward without an academic vision . It is helpful to bring an
expert in the field to lead this exercise and work with Administration and the School Committee . Committee
members talked with a few vendors already.
Nicole Camp indicated that two years ago they had visioning meetings and the committee has a template . She
indicated that some of this work has been done already and they have an idea of what is important. Chair Telman
asked if the subcommittee would meet one more time with the Superintendent to bring forward a template . He
suggested they report back to the School Committee at the next meeting,
The Superintendent will meet with Giovanna Venditti about contracting someone and the process to do so . Chair
Telman asked that the Superintendent bring this to the next meeting,
Reports and Information
Preschool Enrollment is 17 students in a .m . program and 18 students in p . m . program for a total of 35 students .
Cape Cod Collaborative — no report
PTO — no report
School Council — Jessica Larsen reported that they had their first Joint Meeting of the Eddy and Stony Brook
School Councils . This gave them a chance to look at the School Improvement Plans and goals together . Nicole
Camp suggested the committee look at guidelines for class size ,
Policy — no report
Transportation — The Superintendent indicated that he will get the committee back together to look at the seat belt
issue .
Substance Abuse — Jessica Larsen indicated the subcommittee met and reviewed the Youth Risk Survey for the
High School . 66 % of the students reported a high level of anxiety . They discussed what can be done to help our
students ,
Building Needs Assessment — no report
Approval of Minutes
On a motion by Jessica Larsen, seconded by Laurel Labdon, it was voted unanimously to approve the minutes of
October 29, 2019 , as amended .
Adjournment
On a motion by Jessica Larsen, seconded by Laurel Labdon, it was voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at
7 : 16 p . m .
Ann M. Tefft
Included in the packet Principals ' Reports, MCAS Results, Supt. Eval, Documents, Visioning and Minutes
Brewster School Committee Minutes November 21, 2019 [3 ]