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HomeMy Public PortalAboutBrewster School Committee -- 2020-04-30 Minutes Brewster School Committee Thursday, April 30 , 2020 Brewster Town Hall Present for the Committee : David Telman, Marie Enochty, Nicole Camp, Jessica Larsen, and Laurel Labdon Present for the Administration: Thomas Conrad, Giovanna Venditti, Keith Gauley, and Joanna Hughes Also in attendance : Peter Lombardi, Town Administrator r Call to Order Chair Telman called the virtual meeting to order at 6 : 00 p. m. He explained the virtual meeting protocol and checked in with people in attendance to be sure they were without technical difficulty. Agenda Changes — None Citizens Speak Adam Lange addressed the Committee regarding school choice and shared his opinion of opposition to the program for the Brewster Elementary Schools as well as the burden to taxpayers . He also alluded to the desire of some Brewster citizens for the consolidation of the two Brewster Schools based on enrollment. PRIORITY 13JSINE. S Administrators ' Reports Principal Joanna Hughes reported that the Brewster Schools are very engaged in remote learning. She thanked all the educators in Nauset who created a remote learning program overnight. She also recognized cafeteria workers, nurses, parents and the students who are being so resilient. Everyone is doing a great job and she thanked the Brewster community. Principal Hughes indicated that participation data is about 70-80% at Stony Brook and 80-85 % at Eddy. She indicated some grade levels will be doing some remote field trips with the help of the community partners . Nicole Camp thanked everyone who is working so hard in the schools . Participation, equity, outreach and entering school in the fall are items of concern. Who are we missing and how do we reach them differently or better? Where will everyone be in the fall moving forward. Principal Gauley indicated that a letter went out to families about increasing the academic learning and decreasing the burden on families . He indicated if students have not been engaged so far, teachers have discussed best ways to connect with families . If there is a point person, that is helpful without being overwhelming. Jessica Larsen asked about the school lunch program. Principal Hughes indicated that 6 , 000 meals a week are being provided . Summer School delivery is on hold as they are waiting on what that will look like and if they can access the building per the Board of Health. They may offer summer school remotely to kids who might be behind because of COVID49 . School Psychologists are coordinating IEP meetings virtually. Principal Gauley also thanked the teachers, staff and parents . Kindergarten Orientation will consist of a mail packet followed by a video and an online answer and question session on May 20'''. He is working on Grade 2 send off and placement. He indicated that 55 students have registered for Kindergarten so far and he anticipates 70 . Superintendent 's Report Superintendent Conrad expressed his gratitude to staff, parents, students and community concerning the last five or six weeks . He acknowledged the cafeteria personnel for being out there on the very first day making sure families have meals . They are serving well over 6, 000 miles per week, 7 days per week. The cafeteria staff really stepped up and took care of our families . They are also providing hot meals for a few COA ' s in our towns . He reported he has weekly meetings with the Commissioner of Education, DESE, Principals, and Teachers . He is trying to make changes as things change moving forward and it is very challenging. The Principals efforts have been outstanding. They worked at least 30 plus hours relative to the work Administration did in researching the guidelines from the Commissioner and planning the program Nauset will provide students in the elementary schools . This will bring Brewster School Committee Minutes April 30, 2020 [ 11 continuity and consistency across the four towns moving forward in math and ELA . He reported the Union has been fantastic to deal with as a number of contractual items had to be considered. They have been great partners with Administration and he could not thank them enough. Interviewing for Dr. Caretti ' s position through the HR Coordinator, Carol Forgone and a team of people is going very well . The two most important issues going forward is financial issues in terms of potential savings and looking for direction for next year' s budget and the focus on the summer school program. He is concerned about potential gaps for some students . He is interested to see what will happen with the Recreation Programs and whether that will take place this summer in the four towns . He would like to look at a partnership with them. He is thankful to have such great people working in the District. Peter Lombardi shared some developments particularly with the town ' s finances . He reported that he has heard nothing but wonderful things about what the teachers have done to move to the remote learning environment. He complimented the Administration and Sue Murray in food services . A town task force has been meeting since first week of March and the Principals are involved in that . He stated the Grab and Go lunches is a terrific service for our families in need. He also mentioned the hot lunches for the COA that are being prepared . He stated those 30 meals a week going to seniors who really need it is wonderful . He appreciates all of it . He talked about this year ' s budget and next year ' s budget. During the first week in April, they looked local receipts and anticipated shortfalls of budget projections . He instituted a spending freeze on all non-related pandemic expenditures that runs through June, as there is so much uncertainty. He indicated Brewster is in a good positon with 2 . 5 million dollars in the Stabilization Fund . He indicated they try to build those funds up and avoid shortfalls this year. He stated FY21 will be more of a challenge . The legislature provided some relief for municipalities with an option to amortize any deficits and will only use that option as a last resort. Hence, the spending freeze . He realizes everyone ' s budget is tight and everyone is very responsible with their budgets . He is just formalizing practices that are already in place and trying to be careful with every dollar that is spent. Next fiscal year. He made some initial changes to the FY21 budget at the end of March by shifting funding for capital stabilization fund and the affordable housing trust to general stabilization . ($ 600,000) The Finance Committee gave a series of recommendations to the Board of Selectmen about next year' s budget . Based on current projections, they are planning on reducing our revenue by 500 , 000 , half is local receipts . They also made corresponding reductions of $ 500, 000 in expenses . At this point none include any school funds . They have not assumed any reductions in school funds . They hope they can work with the Committee and Administration about taking a look back at budgets and look for savings . The town union contracts are expiring this year as are the school contracts . He would like to end up in a place with equity between town and school employees . They made a handful of recommended changes to capital and the special project warrant article where there are several standing funding requests that the schools included in the warrant article . Based on trying to balance the budget and capital requests, he is recommending a slight reduction in the school capital line at total of $37, 000 . (HVAC, plumbing electrical repairs line and similarly for the painting line) He asked that the committee keep in mind that those funds have been used for work that is done in the summer. Brewster is not having town meeting next week. We have not set a date for town meeting. The town might schedule town meeting sometime in the early fall . Funding for summer projects may not be needed based on the timing of when town meeting happens . Summer recreation, just like everything else, is in a wait and see pattern . He met with Recreation Director and they are looking at different scenarios for the summer program. They are waiting for state guidelines . Jessica Larsen mentioned painting and perhaps working with Barnstable County Sheriff s Department. Approve Policies for a Second Reading and Adoption Motion : On a motion by Marie Enochty, seconded by Jessica Larsen it was voted by roll call vote to approve the policies for a second reading and adoption. (Policies JFABF-Educational OppOortunities for Children in Foster Care, JFABE — Educational Opportunities for Military Children and JBB — Equal Education Opportunities) On a roll call vote the vote was as follows : Laurel Labdon- yes , Nicole Camp - yes , Marie Enochty - yes Jessica Larsen - yes and Telman - yes Brewster School Committee Minutes April 30, 2020 [ 2 ] FY20 Budget Review Giovanna Venditti reported that the Eddy School balance is $48 , 193 . She is looking at Circuit Beaker reclassifications , cafeteria shortfalls , applied for extraordinary relief ($ 73 , 000), looking at transportation costs and savings , fuel and maintenance . She highlighted items that had significant change of over $ 1 , 000 since last month. Since the report, she unencumbered funds in the utility line items , $ 14, 121 . She reported that the Stony Brook balance is $63 , 978 . Utilities will be unencumbered . Stony Brook has some reclassifications of expenses to circuit breaker, potential cafeteria deficit, applied for extraordinary relief, looking at transportation savings . Substitute line item has been unencumbered . There is a savings in electricity of $ 8 ,000 . School Choice Public Hearing Motion : On a motion by Marie Enochty, seconded by Nicole Camp, it was voted unanimously to go into a public hearing on school choice . On a roll call vote the vote was as follows : Laurel Labdon- yes, Nicole Camp - yes, Marie Enochty - yes Jessica Larsen - yes and Telman - yes Motion : On a motion by Marie Enochty, seconded by Nicole Camp, it was voted unanimously NOT to participate in school choice for the Brewster Schools for 2020-21 school year . On a roll call vote the vote was as follows : Laurel Labdon- yes, Nicole Camp - yes, Marie Enochty " yes Jessica Larsen - yes and Telman - yes On a motion by Marie Enochty, seconded by Jessica Larsen it was voted unanimously to come out of the public hearing. On a roll call vote the vote was as follows : Laurel Labdon- yes , Nicole Camp - yes, Marie Enochty - yes Jessica Larsen - yes and Telman - yes Student Opportunity Plan Keith Gauley explained the Student Opportunity Plan . The purpose of the plan is based on recommendations in terms of changes to the Formula for Chapter 70 funding. Districts who receive extra money are to complete the plan . The plan is to provide additional growth and advances to subgroups . He indicated that PreK is a big focus for state . Brewster has a PreK program so he added it to the plan . They are looking at additional interventions for ELL and Title I students in the form of an intervention specialist, LETRS professional development for a new cohort of teachers and a Project-Based learning focus in offering another course next year for teachers . The total amount is $ 7, 800 . The state allows you to use a portion of the funding for existing expenses and half for a new approach to improving student gaps . He mentioned how it will be measured to see if we are closing gaps and achieving a deeper level of learning and how the schools engage families . The plan requires engagement of stakeholders and a school committee vote . A motion was made by Marie Enochty and seconded by Jessica Larsen to approve the plan as written for discussion . Marie Enochty commented about preschool in all for towns indicating Brewster has an Integrated Preschool but not a Universal Preschool . Keith Gauley indicated he will remove Brewster from the sentence . Nicole Camp inquired about the progress monitoring piece, in terms of prevention or prescreening for reading. What does the school have to get an early identification point? Principal Gauley indicated they use the regular K Brewster School Committee Minutes April 30, 2020 [3 ] screening. As they run into students that might need assistance, they become part of the Nauset Tiered Support System (NTSS) program . Jessica Larsen indicated that Brewster is only running the integrated preschool but there are three preschools in the building. She stated the need for Universal Preschool in Brewster stating that it is a good goal . Motion : On a motion by Marie Enochty, seconded by Jessica Larsen, it was voted unanimously to approve the Student Opportunities Plan as amended . On a roll call vote the vote was as follows : Laurel Labdon- yes, Nicole Camp - yes , Marie Enochty - yes Jessica Larsen - yes and Telman - yes Reports and Information Cape Cod Collaborative — Marie Enochty reported that they had a meeting and they are looking at the budget and buses . they met. They are looking at meeting the needs of the children in their program . PTO — no report School Council — no report Policy Subcommittee — no report Transportation Subcommittee — no report Substance Abuse/Mental Health Task Force — no report Approval of Minutes On a motion by Jessica Larsen seconded by Nicole Camp, it was voted 5 yeas to approve the minutes of February 27 , 2020 . On a roll call vote the vote was as follows : Laurel Labdon- yes , Nicole Camp - yes , Marie Enochty - yes Jessica Larsen - yes and Telman - yes Adjournment On a motion by Jessica, seconded by Nicole Camp, it was voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting. On a roll call vote the vote was as follows : Laurel Labdon- yes, Nicole Camp - yes , Marie Enochty - yes Jessica Larsen - yes and Telman - yes Submitted by, Ann M . Tefft Brewster School Committee Minutes April 30, 2020 [4)