The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My Public Portal AboutNauset Schools -- 2021-01-14 Minutes Nauset Regional School Committee IN January 14 , 2021 Virtual meeting, live streamed at Eastham Town Hall Present for the Committee : Judith Schumacher, Chris Easley, Richard Stewart, Josh Stewart, Ed Brookshire, Tom Fitzgibbons , Steven Leibowitz, Griffin Ryder, John O ' Reilly Present for the Administration : Thomas Conrad, Giovanna Venditti, Chris Ellsasser, Julie Kobold, Keith Kenyon, Stephanie Rae , Jim Nowack, Constance Boulos Others Present : Members of the Community Call to Order : Chair Easley called the meeting to order at 6 : 05 p . m . Agenda Changes : None Citizens Speak: Brian Kavanaugh read aloud the Nauset Public Schools Policy on Citizen ' s Speak . Mr. Kavanaugh commented on the 2 minute rule to the Committee . Helga Dyer read aloud a statement urging the Committee to immediately and accurately inform the taxpayers of the per pupil cost for school choice students, and reconsider allowing students to attend Nauset under School Choice . Adam Lange read aloud a statement from Tim Whelan with regard to the NRSC recent vote to circumvent town meeting . Consent Agenda : It was moved by Tom Fitzgibbons , Seconded by Ed Brookshire and voted unanimously to approve the consent agenda by roll call vote. Items approved : Grants and Gifts , Minutes of December 10 , 2020 and Minutes of January 7, 2021 . The Committee expressed their gratefulness for all gifts and grants . Chair Easley welcomed Mr . Griffin Ryder to the Nauset Regional School Committee . Priority Business : Connie Buolos , Nauset Public Schools Treasurer was present to provide an update to the Committee . Ms . Buolos stated it has been an uneventful three months, interest rates are still low and it is forecasted they will continue to stay low. Ms . Buolos then gave an overview of the OPEB account (Post employment benefit account) . Currently the balance stands a $ 1 , 162 , 670 . 00 , with a rate of return over the last five months at 9 . 06% . Rate of return since inception in 2017 is 7 . 06% . An overview was given on large cap funds and diversifying funds balances and rates . Principal ' s Reports : Chris Ellsasser , Nauset High School Principal reported on the following (written report was sent to the Committee after the meeting) : in person, hybrid and remote schedules and the challenges when student ' s change from one to the other; student support teams have been created where guidance, counselors and administrators have been each assigned 10 teachers ; conversations are had with that teacher about students who might be in need of Nauset Regional School Committee, January 14, 2021 1 P a g e support or students of concern . There has been a lot of positive feedback from teachers regarding this program as it is supportive of teachers as well . Every Tuesday night, ftom 6 - 7 , there is an open google meet space for families to come and ask questions or get updates . Winter sports are underway and QR codes are being utilized for people who attend those events — every student gets two cards that they can give for family members to attend . Games are also being live streamed . Discussion was held on winter sports . Keith Kenyon , Nauset Middle School Acting Principal, reported on the following (written report was sent to the Committee after the meeting) : The music department did a virtual concert where students were taped ; the concert was played in every homeroom and was well received . The staff had a pahama day prior to the holidays ; the staff made a significant contribution to Lower Cape Outreach council for the Homeless ; students had school picutres done in early December; the Schedule Committee has put in over 30 huors of volunteer work to come tip with an alternative schedule and that schedule was recently brouch to the full faculty; intramurals have started ; intermural basketball for boys and girls, and a running club, in total there are over 100 students that are active in the afternoon . Superintendents ' Report : Superintendent Conrad . updated the Committee on the number of retirements so far this year, in all of 2020 there were 16 retirements, at this point this year we have 25 with a few months left in the school year ; negotiations are progressing and we are hopeful that they will conclude shortly; the Superintendent thanked Sue Murray, Director of Nutrition for all her efforts in the Grab and Go Meals Program ; and the latest US News and World Report which ranked Nauset High School 24th in the state of Massachusetts . FY21 Budget — Dashboard Review : Giovanna Venditti, Director of Finance & Operations, reviewed the Dashboard with the Committee . Discussion was held on COVID Relief Grants . FY22 Proposed Budget Discussion : Julie Kobold, Nauset Middle School Principal answered questions on the FY22 Middle School Budget including : substitute lines, professional development, the BRYT Program, there have been no reductions or additions to teaching staff, and will use the Masters 5 formula for budgeting replacements for retirements . Principal Kobold stated that a goal for this budget is to fiend lines that were underfunded in the past . At Committee request, there will be an Agenda item on an upcoming meeting to explain the various steps and lanes in the teacher ' s contract. Judy Schumacher urged both Principal ' s to take into account hiring the best possible teacher for any openings in the schools . Further discussion was held on textbook software and media lines in the Middle School budget, as well as parking at the athletic fields, special education funding and the reserve fiends for negotiations . In answer to the question on what did not make it into the budget, Principal Kobold responded with some social emotional learning supports, professional development requests and the best way to utilize the greenhouse as a few, stating that there are certain items that are being looked at the she wants to be very intentional and careful about before dedicating funds to . The Committee tools a five minute break . Chris Ellsasser, Nauset High School Principal answered questions on the FY22 High School Budget including : there are some staff retiring who will not be immediately replaced; average class size at the high school is 20 , questions on the staffing sheet included in the FY22 Budget Folders, stipends for Advising for staff have been reallocated, Nauset Regional School Committee, January 14, 2021 2 1 P a g e Discussion was held on the Advisor/Mentor program and the direction that is going. More discussion was held on the shift to more licensing as opposed to hardbound textbooks . There will be one additional Adjustment Counselor added to staff. The FY22 Budget reflects fanding for 2 Adjustment Counselors and 5 Guidance Counselors . Athletics has been under funded in the past few years , an adjustment has been made to those line items to accurately reflect expenses . Discussion was held on utilities, special education expenses , and technology expenses . Principal Ellsasser indicated he regularly speaks with Department Chairs on current programming to identify areas that need to be changed or updated . In answer to the question of what didn ' t make it into the budget, Principal Ellsasser stated he sees a more robust health and wellness program for the future, as well as a part time trainer and nurse to address the physical and emotional needs of students . In addition, as Eileen Belastock, Director of Technology puts together a K- 12 Technology Plan, there will be items to address within that plan . Discussion was held on the salary line items, which are level funded pending Union Negotiations . NRHS Building Project Voting Time 11AWPM After discussion on the voting times , with understanding that under Massachusetts State Regulation the polls can be open for 8 hours only, it was moved by Judy Schumacher, seconded by Ed Brookshire and voted unanimously via roll call vote to set the voting time on the NRHS Building Project at 11AM to 7PM on March 30 , 2021 . Reports and Information Judy Schumacher reported that the Town of Orleans Finance Committee has invited members of the NRSC to speak next Thursday, January 21St, to speak to the Finance Committee about the budget process . Future Agenda Items Two items of discussion were identified : advertising upcoming open staff positions , and a follow up on having a Building Chief Engineer on site should the High School Building Project pass on the March 30, 2021 vote . Adiournment • It was moved by Ed Brookshire , seconded by Josh Stewart and voted unanimously via roll call vote to adiourn at 9 : 08 PM. Respectfully submitted, Arlynn Consiglio Items included in packet : Grants and Gifts , Minutes, FY21 Dashboard Report Nauset Regional School Committee, January 14, 2021 3 P a g e Nauset Regional School Committee, January 14, 2021 4 I P a g e