HomeMy Public PortalAboutNauset Schools -- 2020-05-14 Minutes Nauset Regional School Committee
May 14, 2020
Nauset Administration Building
(Virtual meeting, live streamed at Eastham Town Hall)
Present for the Committee : Ian Mack, Judith Schumacher, John O ' Reilly, Chris Easley, Richard Stewart, Robert
Jacobus, Josh Stewart, and Ed Brookshire
Present for the Administration : Thomas Conrad, Giovanna Venditti, Principal Julie Kobold and Principal Chris
Ellsasser
Others present: Robert Renn, Orleans Finance Committee, Greg Levasseur, Chair of the Nauset High School
Building Committee and Ed Maroney from the Chronicle .
Call to Order
Chair Easley called the meeting to order at 6 : 01 p .m. and read the virtual meeting notice indicating the ID Zoom
# 116337791 with a Password of 010311 for citizen participation . He also indicated citizens could call into the
meeting at 1 - 646- 55 & 0656 .
Agenda Changes - None .
Citizens Speak - None
Priority Business
Chair Chris Easley recognized all the extra effort that is being put out by the staff and administration . He stated a lot
has been accomplished and it is good to see the District is carrying on the quality of education in these trying times .
Consent Agenda
On a motion by Josh Stewart, seconded by Amy Handel, it was voted unanimously by roll call vote to approve the
minutes of March 12, 2020 and April 9 , 2020 . On a roll call the vote was as follows : Judy Schumacher — yea, Ian
Mack — yea, Richard Stewart — yea, Ed Brookshire — yea, Josh Stewart — yea, Robert Jacobus — yea, John O 'Reilly —
yea, Chair Easley —yea
Food Service Update
Sue Murray, Director of Food Service and Nutrition gave an update to the committee on the breakfasts and lunches
being prepared every day by the cafeteria staff. She indicated that sites for pickup are at Stony Brook, Wellfleet,
Orleans (just moved to the Middle School) and Eastham . They are also preparing meals for the Council on Aging in
Brewster, Eastham, and Orleans . Meals will be prepared by staff until the end of the year and then they will switch
to the summer feeding program with the Church of the Holy Spirit in Orleans . She recognized the cafeteria staff for
all their efforts preparing over 6, 000 meals a week. Members of the committee thanked the cafeteria staff and Sue
Murray for everything.
Superintendent Conrad recognized Sue Murray for receiving the National Nutritional Association Award for
Massachusetts and the Northeast. He stated she is doing a fantastic job and it is good to see that she is recognized
not only in the District but Nationally.
Update from Chair of Building Committee
Greg Levasseur reported that they have requested an extensions of the timeline for calling for votes from the
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MSBA. They have requested that the project ' s timeline be extended from June 15 to mid-October. The MSBA
has given the District until November 1St. The Building Committee is looking at adding the project funding to
the November state election ballot on November 3rd . That would require the District to go back to the MSBA
to extend the timeline to November 22d . He asked that the committee allow Greg Levasseur, the Project
Manager and Jacque Beebe to put together scenarios of the various options available for going forward . They
will bring this to the June NRSC meeting. He will send everyone something in writing prior to the meeting and
will review it at the meeting point-by-point . Everything is getting very complicated . He wants to make sure
there are no targets missed so the District does not lose a $ 36 ,000 ,000 grant from MSBA. Mr. Levasseur
indicated that the November 3rd vote is possible if by August 1St the four towns request that from the
Commonwealth and ask to put the project on the Presidential Election ballot.
Updates from Middle School, High School, and Superintendent
Principal Ellsasser updated the committee on remote learning, credit vs . no-credit (does not have impact on GPA),
senior event plans, and end of year activities . He acknowledged that the teachers, administrators, staff, students and
families are working longer and harder. He shared the abridged schedule that teachers and students are using . He
indicated that the high school has put together a program with the right amount of work and also gives students the
feeling of being well- connected . He reported that they are hoping to have a prom late in July and also an actual
graduation on the stadium field at the High School but will have a virtual experience if that has to happen He
reported that all award programs will be streamed virtually. He is starting conversations with staff about the fall . He
feels they need a remote learning version, a blended version and a person to person version of the learning
experience . He indicated they are working on a policy for end of year grades . He would like to reward and
recognize students for their work that is done in conjunction with what they did before the closure . He does not want
to harm students who could only do some level of work during the closure . He indicated that Guidance Counselors
are working with Administration and teachers with students who are struggling . Students have a circle of support.
He indicated that the AP folks have changed the test, 45 minute exam, covers material that students had covered up
to the closure . He indicated that all the tests will be taken at home at the same time, recognizing time zones across
the country.
Chair Easley expressed his concern about the pandemic heightening again in the fall . He suggested the
Administration take the summer to review best practices and improve quality of remoting learning in case it is
necessary again . Principal Easley indicated that they are going to survey the staff, students and parents and will be
holding focus groups with students about what did and what did not work. They are identifying what is needed
going forward in terms of technology and professional development. He would like the staff to feel confident and be
ready no matter what education looks like in the fall .
Principal Kobold shared that she is very impressed with the staff, secretaries, custodians, educational assistants, and
specialists who are putting in longer hours than anyone thought possible . She reported that some staff members are
bringing in guest speakers on line . This is very interesting for the kids as being on Google Meets is difficult all the
time . They are talking about best practices in Math and ELA and trying to use white boards . Grade levels are still
doing projects . They are talking about social emotional learning and counseling and are continuing their once a
week sessions . About 40 kids have 1 - 1 sessions with one counselor . She indicated that staff is checking in with
students . They have developed a coding system to track students . They focus on students who need more support.
The Google Meet schedule is on the website as well as the exploratory schedule .
The Superintendent indicated that there are 14 students taking advantage of counseling on Saturday. He also
indicated that Dr . Caretti is in the midst of applying for a $ 100, 000 grant to continue the counseling program next
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year. At the onset of the closure, Principal Kobold convened the crisis team . She is confident they have coordinated
wrap around services for kids when they need to do so .
Superintendent ' s Report
Superintendent Conrad reported he attends many virtual meetings on a weekly basis relative to policy, programming
and the agenda going forward . He meets with the Commissioner of Education, members of the Superintendents
Association, and Cape Superintendents receiving updates that can change rapidly. He also indicated that everything
takes so much longer to accomplish . He indicated that the HR Coordinator, Carol Forgione, led a robust team of
people working on the selection of an individual to replace Dr. Ann Caretti . He announced that Mary Buchanan is
the new Director of Student Services and comes to Nauset as a seasoned veteran from Cohasset. He is also working
with the NEA leaders regarding policies, contract negotiations, evaluations, stipends and remote learning . They
have decided the evaluations will roll over and be pushed into next year. He is also working with the Principals
trying to obtain refunds for the many field trips that were booked like Ireland, Washington DC, Quebec and New
York City. He shared his concern about the amount of money that parents put out and would like them to get
something back as soon as they can . He also spent about 30 hours over the vacation period with elementary
Principals and Patti Grenier working on adjusting the remoting learning going forward with a focus on the standards .
The focus has shifted to learning new materials focusing on math and ELA . He shared his concerns about gaps for
students as a result of the remote learning . He would like to partner with Recreation Programs so that the District
can provide some tutoring in each grade level for those who need it. He has had multiple meetings with nurse
coordinator, Mary Ellen Reed . They are looking at what the District will be doing health-wise going forward . The
nurses will be playing a totally different role for the District . They might need to have isolation spaces . They might
need to take temperatures of staff and students entering the building. They will take their lead from the Health
Agent in each town. He has had numerous parents who have volunteered for the Task Force for reopening school .
He may break the Task Force into two groups , elementary schools and the region.
The Superintendent indicated early on the staff had a few days to get prepared for remote learning . . There was so
much focus on professional development at the beginning and it was overwhelming for the staff. Administration
backed off on the professional development and let the staff get comfortable with the process . The staff is helping
each other out with the technology and sharing best practices . He also reported that he is shifting the goals that he is
working on . There will be two goals that deal with the response to the pandemic . He will analyze what went well
and what can be done better . He will ask teachers where they feel there is a need to improve this model of remote
learning.
He indicated that the Union wants to support teachers . There are no issues . Everyone would agree that this is a far
different way of running school than what we have had in the past. He indicated there are parents in the classrooms
and we are listening to their needs as well .
FY20 Dashboard
Giovanna Venditti reviewed the Dashboard with the Committee noting the Budget and Finance Committee reviewed
it prior to the meeting. She indicated that $ 662,285 was put back into the budget. There is a balance in the Region
Only budget estimated at $350, 000 . They received $311 ,403 in extraordinary relief Additional information will be
forthcoming on Special Needs transportation, unemployment line item, substitute, and savings in utilities . The
Middle Schoo has al projected $ 50, 000 to return to E & D . The High School has a deficit of $ 59, 000 . They have
money coming in from solar SREX . The Central Office budget will spend the entire budget at this time . She
reviewed revenues, expenses, and projected E & D balance with the Committee . She indicated that she will see how
many students, due to remote learning, will not be coming back to the district through school choice . It was asked
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that she track this in the next fiscal year to see if the District is gaining or losing students . She indicated that capital
items continue to make progress . The balance in the account is $ 129, 189 .
The Superintendent indicated that there are no new resignations in the Region .
Ms . Venditti indicated that there are savings from the closure in utilities and substitutes . She indicated that
everything was spent or encumbered through the remainder of the year, so the District is in good shape .
Superintendent' s Evaluation
The Superintendent indicated he met with Chris Easley and Gail Briere to discuss the evaluation of the
Superintendent. The Superintendent related that his focus has been on remote learning and they agreed that the
Superintendent should shift his goals in accordance with the work . He will have two goals that have to do with
remote learning. He will lead the District through the closure and analyze the response to remote learning as well as
develop an enhanced remote learning plan for potential future needs .
Chris Easley indicated that this will be broken down into two sections, analyze remote learning and enhance what
needs to be done later on in the summer . (two tier set up) He thanked Gail Briere who did a lot of work on this .
The Superintendent felt the new goals will make the district better. He needs to get away from the other goals right
now . Chris Easley indicated that he will reach out to Gail Briere about the process for evaluating the first goal . It
was suggested a Joint Meeting not be held in a Zoom format.
Jim O ' Leary' s Resignation
Chair Easley indicated this was Jim O ' Leary' s last meeting on the board . He thanked him for all of his efforts over
the years . He has served Brewster well on the committee . He will be missed . There will be a meeting with the
Board of Selectmen to choose someone to fulfill his term .
Reports and Information
Cape Cod Collaborative — Robert Jacobus indicated that the Collaborative is trying to deal with the present
situation and planning for the future . They applied for a small business loan and the application was accepted.
Strategic Plan — Judy Schumacher reported that the committee met and looked at the Strategic Plan again to see if
anything should be adjusted in the plan because of remote learning. The long term vision and goal remain the same .
There are no adjustments needed . There may be tweaks in the timeline . They hope it will be implemented starting
this next school year as planned . They strongly urged the district to do an assessment and gather data on lessons
learned so that we can have informed data driven decisions .
Budget and Finance Subcommittee — Judy Schumacher indicated that the committee met and reviewed the
Dashboard .
Future Agenda Items — Chris Easley would like to see a review of remote learning, what tools might be necessary,
professional development, as he is concerned about reoccurrence of the shutdown .
Adjournment
On a motion by Robert Jacobus, seconded by Amy Handel, it was voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 7 : 49
p .m . On a roll call the vote was as follows : Josh Stewart-yea, John O 'Reilly-yea, Chris Easley-yea, Ed Brookshire-
yea, Robert Jacobus-yea, Judith Schumacher-yea, Ian Mack-yea, and Richard Stewart-yea, Amy Handel - yea
Submitted by,
Ann M. Tefft, Secretary
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