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Home My Public Portal AboutBrewster School Committee -- 2020-08-20 Minutes Brewster School Committee n 3 Thursday, August 20 , 2020 000 f Brewster Town Hallittual Meeting) 'L i G i ',. Tel (V Present for the Committee : David Telman, Jessica Larsen, Christine Peterson, Judi Lech, and Katie Jacobus Present for the Administration: Thomas Conrad, Giovanna Venditti, Keith Gauley, and Joanna Hughes Call to Order Chair Telman called the virtual meeting to order at 6 : 00 p .m. Agenda Changes — None Citizens Speak — None PRIORITY BUSINESS Administrators ' Reports Principal Keith Gauley reported that he is updating staffing assignments that allows for student placement that will take place on Wednesday. Breakdown of the classes is : K has 4 classes, 13 - 14 in person and 8 — 9 remote Gr. 1 has 4 classes , 1344 in person and 10 remote Gr. 2 has 2 classes , 4 in person and 14 remote He announced that Julie Dowd is the new Gr. 2 Teacher who will teach the remote students . He reported that he will be shifting assignments for staff. There will be a remote teacher and an in-person teacher. He thanked the building task force for all their hard work. Members of the task force are Colleen Lawless, Laureen Barnes , Erin Gates, Missy Carpenter, Ellen Trudeau, Kathy Roy and Tony Young. He also reported that the YMCA is ready to move downstairs to give them a drop off and pick up location so they won ' t have to go through the building. Principal Joanna Hughes reported that 161 students are coming back in —person. There are 46 remote learners, 10 homeschooling . Two students are moving. Six new students have registered . i Gr. 3 — 46 in person and 8 remote Gr. 4 — 54 in person and 24 remote Gr. 5 61 in person and 14 remote i Principal Hughes reported there will be 34 remote teachers and also indicated that there could be a multi-age class with 8 3" grade students and 8 fourth grade students doing remote learning . She also indicated that remote learning will encompass the full day and rotate back and forth. Principal Hughes indicated they are not using the same remote model as the high school but younger students have a model with a dedicated teacher. Teachers will work from the school setting . If a child moves from remote to in-person learning, teachers can collaborate and talk about the student . She indicated that each grade level has a designated remote teacher. She indicated she will divide up remote students a to that there is equal distribution. There are 3 teachers in Grade 3 , 3 or 4 in Gr. 5 . She reported there is no additional new staff and she is using certified teachers for all classes . She was pleased to report there is adequate spacing between students, staff assignments will go out and teacher assignments after that . If parents change their mind about in-person or remote, it could change teacher assignments . Plans are all very fluid. She took all survey data on buses and submitted it to the bus company to determine the capacity for each bus . Students will have an assigned seat . She will be working on arrival and dismissal procedures . i 1 Brewster School Committee Minutes August 20, 2020 [ 1 ) I c I She indicated the building is in good shape . Signage will be in place to meet the guidelines . She is working on a Professional Development program for the first 8 days of school. Members of the building task force include : She indicated that teachers have been a part of the planning process which is critical and she is very grateful . The Superintendent informed the committee that he met with David Rost from the NYA and he indicated the number of students interested in the program is very low . He told Mr. Rost that the program would have to be in sync with all the same protocols relative to the daily school plans . The Superintendent indicated that the schools are not going to let anyone come into the building during the school day and let him know that this is a big issue . Mr. Rost is interested in having the program and is meeting with his Board of Directors . Because of the low numbers, students would stay in the school they are in and that would bring the program to the two schools separately. The Superintendent indicated he thinks the program will be helpful for the students and families . Each after school program has different changes with their programs and they must submit reports to the state . Jessica Larsen indicated there will be 20 students at Stony Brook and 20 students at Eddy. Superintendent's Report Superintendent Conrad recognized the efforts that Principal Hughes and Principal Gauley are making . They have been involved with the District Task Force as well as the Building Task Force . He reported that they are working Saturdays and Sundays and have not had a vacation this summer. He praised the work they are doing and thanked them for all their efforts and leadership . He indicated that the schools are making good progress and he applauded the work they have done. He reported that the District held a number of Question and Answer sessions for parents over a number of days with 700 parents involved. These Question and Answers session can be found on the Nauset website . The District Task Force is sending a "Back-to-School Blueprint" to school committee, staff and parents . He will also be doing another TV Spotlight relative to opening school and masks . He reported that he continues to have conversations with a physician at the Cape Cod Hospital relative to a testing program for teachers . He is working on a number of plans to consider. He reported that teachers are getting prepared to participate in the opening of school and training days . The Superintendent is having the ventilation and air exchanged checked in all buildings . Private contractors are working on the systems to snake sure systems are getting the maximum performance . These systems will continue to be checked throughout the school year. He met with every Head custodian and will have a report in each building. Cleaning Protocols are being written for use throughout the District . Judi Lech indicated she attended the Cape Cod Reopening Task Force meeting. She indicated that Mark Mathison asked the question about guidelines for air exchange rates . She would like more information about abut indoor air quality. The Superintendent indicated that he meets with Union Leadership weekly and they have had robust conversations around this topic . He indicated that outside forms are look at the systems and indicating if there ' re are things we can do to improve air quality in buildings . The Superintendent indicated he is watching this closely. He also explained that this is an issue at many school systems across the Commonwealth. He indicated that he has a strong relationship with the Union and will do everything he can do to make people comfortable when they come back. He will send the committee an update as soon as he receives it. FY21 Budget Giovanna Venditti reported that she will provide an update on the FY21 budget in October when all salaries will be encumbered. She hopes by then that towns will have town meetings . She indicated there is a line in the budget "reserved for negotiations " and this has not been finalized . She is working on the 1 / 12 budget. She will have a final FY20 Financial Report in September. Brewster School Committee Minutes August 20, 2020 [2 ] FY21 Capital Plan Giovanna Venditti indicated that the Town Administrator asked that the committee to revise the FY21 Capital plan with a $ 37, 500 reduction. FY21 was amended to total $ 117 , 500 . Motion: On a motion by Judi Lech, seconded by Katie Jacobus , it was voted unanimously by roll call vote to approve the FY21 Capital Plan in the amount of $ 117 ,000 . On a roll call the vote was as follows : Judi Larsen-yea, Judi Lech — yea, Katie Jacobus — yea, Christine Peterson — yea, Chair Telman — yea 5 yeas the motion passed Policies for a First Reading The Superintendent indicated that the MASC were concerned with all things that are happening at the state level and they wanted to make sure schools have the opportunity to make changes in policies temporarily. The Policy Subcommittee met and voted the policies with a few adjustments relative to age for mask wearing and what masks are acceptable and not acceptable . He stressed the fact that these adjustments in policies are temporary due to Covid 19 and then we will revert to our former policies . Members of the committee had numerous questions so the item was tabled until the September meeting. Reports and Information Cape Cod Collaborative — No report PTO — no report School Council — no report Policy Subcommittee — no report Transportation Subcommittee — no report Substance Abuse/Mental Health Task Force — The subcommittee has not met but Mary Buchanan, Director of Student Services reached out to the subcommittee members and will schedule a meeting . Chair Telman would like the Superintendent to invite the new Director of Student Services to the next meeting. Building and Needs Assessment Committee — no report Strategic Plan — The Superintendent indicated the plan is done . He will present it at some point but it is hard to imagine introducing it light now. He is focused on getting the buildings opened for fall and then we can introduce this to school committee first and then teachers and parents . j Approval of Minutes On a motion by Jessica Larsen seconded by Judi Lech, it was voted unanimously by roll call vote to approve the minutes of July 19, 2020 . a Adjournment On a motion by Jessica Larsen, seconded by Judi Lech, it was voted unanimously by roll call vote to adjourn the meeting at 6 : 56 p . m. Submitted by, Ann M. Tefft a I i Included in packet : Policies, Revised FY21 Capital Plan and Minutes i Brewster School Committee Minutes August 20, 2020 [ 3 ] i I I