HomeMy Public PortalAboutNauset Schools -- 2020-04-09 Minutes Nauset Regional School Committee
April 9, 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, Ed Brookshire , and Jim O ' Leary
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 : 05 p . m . and read the virtual meeting notice indicating the ID Zoom
# 116337791 with a Password of 010311 for citizens who would like to participate . He also indicated they could call
into the meeting at 1 - 646111t558 - 0656 .
Agenda Changes - None .
Citizens Speak - None
Priority Business
Updates from Middle School, High School, and Superintendent
Principal Julie Kobold updated the Committee on remote learning at the middle school . They focused on making
sure students have some sort of device . Everyone has WiFi access . Parents have been surveyed asking about their
children ' s mental health and stressors they are experiencing. Parents need structure and predictability as well as
expectations for their children ' s work. She indicated that students like "Google Meets " to see their teacher and
classmates . She felt student and teachers were doing really well . Student documents are being submitted and
everyone, including counselors , will have access to them . Overall she reported she is really pleased with what kids
are doing. Students also indicated that they miss school very much. The Exploratory Team has a website set up for
students . Virtual events have been planned, including a virtual dance with a DJ. Forty people were on the screen at
various times .
Principal Chris Ellsasser reported that he made sure people have the technology, access and devices they need . Each
Administrator reached out to 50 staff members making sure the adult had something in place . The teachers met with
their Department Chair each week. The Department Heads meet together each week. Advisers reached out to kids
each week. Educational Assistants formed a team and created a webpage to support students . Teachers have reduced
the workload . He described the AB modified schedule . They are talking about moving senior events back and
holding a virtual Winter Awards Assembly. He is sending a letter out on Friday to staff and families . Every
morning he has an announcement, a report from a student or staff member, a thought for the day, a Ted Talk, a to do
list, and a daily schedule . He is working on a survey with kids engaged in school work, kids who cannot do the work
for one reason or another and kids who are just not choosing to do the work. Teachers are keeping a record of kids
that have seen and who they have not seen . In students not seen, the counselors reach out to the students . He will be
sending a survey to students and families every two weeks . He is very impressed the way students and teachers have
responded . He reported he is pleased at what is being done .
Nauset Regional School Committee, April 9, 2020 1 P a g e
Superintendent Conrad reported that he anticipates changes daily in responding to Covidl9 . He thanked the entire
staff for all their efforts . He will be surveying parents for feedback He thanked Principals Ellsasser and Kobold for
their leadership roles in their schools indicating they have done a fantastic job . He also indicated that with the help
of Susan Murray and her staff students/families are receiving breakfast and lunch, serving over 6 , 000 meals per
week. They are also serving meals to Councils on Aging in Brewster, Orleans and Eastham.He indicated that the
federal government will pay for this through their summer meals program . He is getting regular updates on
Covidl9 from MaryEllen Reed, Nurse Coordinator from the District. They are doing everything they can to keep
families informed . He has attended many virtual meetings with Cape Cod Superintendents, Commissioner of
Education and various energies . Schools are out until May 4th per order of the Governor . Superintendents on Cape
do not think we will get back this year and are looking at the impact going forward . Athletics is on hold for the
spring. Students will continue remote learning. He responds to countless emails daily. He is meeting with the
Administrative team remotely . MCAS tests have been suspended this year but they are waiting to hear on MCAS
testing for Grade 10 . He is working with Principal Ellsasser, Dan and Tom on getting refunds for the Ireland trip .
They are thinking this might take 10 - 12 weeks to get this resolved . He felt everyone is doing an excellent job .
He indicated there will be an AP test of some type but is not in place at this point. He also indicated that he does not
know if anything is being discussed about returning this year.
Ian Mack expressed a huge thank you to Supt. Conrad for his guidance and for everything you have done so quickly .
He also thanked the entire staff. Students ' well-being is the center of this and that is paramount. The Superintendent
indicated IT is working on Wi-Fl in a remote area in Truro . Judy Schumacher hoped that the surveys to parents will
continue . Principal Ellsasser indicated that students do have access to the internet but can be different in its capacity .
Both the middle and high school are reaching out to people to make sure that they get what they need . A "hot spot"
sheet for families was sent out from the high school for people to get what they need in terms of Wi-Fi .
Update on Financial Matters
The Superintendent indicated that he received a communication from the town of Orleans anticipating they might
have a shortfall of $ 500 , 000 for this fiscal year . They are asking that all departments look at their budget and ask to
see if departments have any funds to offset the shortfall . The town of Brewster indicated the budgets are frozen . At
the Finance Committee meeting in Wellfleet they would be in a position to ask the same relative to the budget. This
is for both the region and elementary budgets . Towns are nervous about next year ' s budget on the revenue side . The
Superintendent is hoping to have a conversation with the four Town Administrators .
Giovanna Venditti reviewed the Dashboard , noting not much has changed since last month . She is still projecting
the same deficit for Middle School and High School but that could change next month . Certain line items will
change as a result of the closure . They applied for extraordinary relief for special needs students and are waiting to
hear what we will receive from the state . She will know more next month . Utilities should also be less . The
substitute teaching line will have a savings as well as transportation. She also indicated the fuel costs will be less .
Update on the Building Project
Greg Levasseur reported the public information forums are cancelled due to Covid 19 . The project outreach is also
put on hold . He is waiting to get a sense of when the project will be moving forward . He does not know when the
towns will schedule town meetings and elections . A requested has been submitted to the MSBA for an extension
until October. The MSBA Executive Board meets on April 15 to vote on requests . He is hopeful to work the four
towns on the project moving forward. There is a 3 -Model of the project available, the website has been updated and
the FAQ ' s have been updated . Robert Renn, Finance Committee member from Orleans addressed the question of
the project being on hold and Greg Levasseur indicated it is in a holding pattern . The Building Committee is at the
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end of Schematic Design phase and until there is more funding from the four towns, the project is on hold . Chair
Easley indicated that the school committee votes to request the funding and MSBA gives a 60 day window for the
towns to respond . There are no town meeting dates and the building committee wants to work with the towns . They
will all determine the best way to proceed to fund the project . Greg Levasseur assumes the extension will be granted
by the MSBA until sometime in October.
Chair Easley stated they determined not to have the meeting that would set the 60 day time frame for the towns .
They have no idea of what the towns are going to do . People are worried about what the schedule will bring, He
suggested letting things settle down and get back to a sense of normal , then find a time when it is the best way to
proceed with the project. Everyone needs to know where we stand . Interest rates will be low . Will there be
government funding? Some things might be in the district ' s favor. Don 't know what the economy will do .
Student Opportunity Act
Keith Gauley presented the Student Opportunity Plan for the Region . The goal is aimed at closing achievement gaps
in subgroups for students . (ELL students , students with economical challenge, special needs) Working on early
interventions for students according to need . Mr. Gauley indicated he is not looking at 1 - 1 interventions but the
homeroom piece (Advisor/Advisee) and adding in the ESL tutor for inclusion classroom support .
The Superintendent reminded the board that the District will probably not receive a great deal of money from the
grant. Inner city schools will be getting more money . This has to do with the inadequate Foundation Budget
especially in the areas of special needs . Schools are thwarted by inadequate resources .
Motion : On a motion by Josh Stewart, seconded by John O ' Reilly, it was voted unanimously to accept the Student
Opportunity Plan as submitted . 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. Abstaining-Jim O 'Leary.
Richard Stewart suggested this topic be revisited at a future meeting.
Ian Mack shared that Xfinity has hot spots available to anyone even if you don ' t have an Xfinity account, access it
for free right now .
Future Agenda Items
Attendance report for next month, how the schools are functioning, and deeper support for subgroups identified in
the SOP . The Superintendent ' s evaluation is on hold . Evaluation of employees — will report next month .
Ian Mack inquired about the need for an increase in mental health services .
The Superintendent indicated that they have a search committee in place for Dr . Caretti ' s position . The search
committee will narrow down the field to 2 - 3 finalists for review.
Adjournment
On a motion by Robert Jacobus , seconded by Ian Mack, it was voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 7 : 26
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 . Abstaining-Jim O ' Leary.
Submitted by,
Ann M. Tefft, Secretary
Nauset Regional School Committee, April 9, 2020 3 P a g e