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)