HomeMy Public PortalAboutNauset Schools -- 2020-12-10 Minutes Nauset Regional School Committee ;
December 10 , 2020 ; . � r
Virtual meeting, live streamed at Eastham Town Hall
Present for the Committee : Judith Schumacher, Chris Easley, Richard Stewart, Josh Stewart, Ed Brookshire , John
O ' Reilly, Tom Fitzgibbons, Amy Handel
Present for the Administration : Thomas Conrad, Giovanna Venditti , Principal Chris Ellsasser, Assistant Principal
Stephanie Rae , Acting Principal Keith Kenyon
Others Present: Carina Dasilva, Greg Leaasseur, Community Members
Call to Order
Chair Easley called the meeting to order at 6 : 04 p . m . noting the Zoom invitation 81500382452 .
Agenda Changes - None
Citizens Speak — None
Consent Agenda
On a motion by John O ' Reilly, seconded by Toni Fitzgibbons it was voted unanimously via roll call vote to approve
the Fundraiser Gifts and Grants offered to NRSD and the Minutes of November 12 , 2020 as written.
PRIORITY BUSINESS
ELL Update — Carina Dasilva
Carina Dasilva, ELL Teacher and Coordinator for the Nauset Public Schools, reviewed the handout included in the
Committee ' s packet. There are currently 125 students enrolled in grades K- 12 in the ELL Program , Ms . Dasilva
reviewed the following items : Benchmarks and the students in each school that did not meet them, ACCESS testing,
which all students are required to take, the initial identification process for students to qualify for ELL services,
ELPAC , which is a parent advisory group for parents of students enrolled in ELL, and some things the ELL
Department is working on and hoping for. Focus is really on securing enough annual funding to continue the
program for all students who qualify, and also in bringing together parents of ELL students and encouraging them to
participate more fully in the broader school community. Ms . Dasilva concluded her presentation by pointing out the
following link to DESE website MA Blueprint for English Learner Success :
httl2s ://www. doe .mass . edu/ele/blueprint/dashboard .html .
Discussion was held on ELL students entering school during their secondary years, and English writing as a skill and
how difficult it is to develop that skill . Ms . Dasilva indicated there are content support teachers in the high school
that do help students with writing for different subjects .
The Committee thanked Ms . Dasilva for her presentation .
Building Committee Update
Greg Levasseur reported on the following items :
With the project coming out of hibernation, there is work being done on the front page of the website . Within the
next 10 days or so there will be artist renderings of the completed project ; the Committee reached out to Unibank for
an updated financing schedule . The annual interest rate is now at 2/5 %, as opposed to the previous 3 . 25 %, and the
Committee opted for a 25 year level principal loan . With the new interest rate , total cost is coming down for each of
the towns ; there are a couple of subcommittees meeting, the first being a Facilities subgroup who has reached out to
the architects and engineers for an updated energy efficiency hybrid system to determine costs, and a Public
Outreach subgroup who is looking into ways to reach out to the community effectively via social media etc . MSBA
has declined any further extensions and there is a deadline for a vote of May 31 , 2021 .
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DiscussionNote on HS Building Project
Chris Easley gave an overview of the HS Building Project process . The process began formally 5 years ago when
there was a realization that the high school in its current state required updating and maintenance . The Committee
requested guidance from all four towns , and each town indicated they would like Nauset to pursue MSBA funding .
The first application in April 2015 was declined, the second in April 2016 was accepted. The Nauset High School
Building Committee was formed, and it was voted that when all plans were ready, funds for the project would be
requested from all four towns at their Annual Town Meetings . The plan was to go before the towns in Spring 2020 ,
however due to the pandemic that became impossible . The MSBA granted a final extension for the vote to May 31 ,
2021s
Judy Schumacher reviewed a handout to the Committee detailing the background regarding authorizing debt, the
actions taken to date and the options currently available . The original voted and approved option, requesting funds
from each town meeting, would now bring the project to , or with the pandemic possibly exceed, the current deadline
of May 31 , 2021 .
The pandemic has further highlighted issues with the current building . The Committee expressed agreement that if
the vote on the $96 , 000 , 000 building project with $ 36 , 000 , 000 coming from MSBA should not pass, there would
need to be an Article for vote at Member Town Meetings for approval of a $ 98 , 000 , 000 code upgrade to the school .
Further discussion was held on the importance of getting the word out to voters .
After discussion .
On a motion by Richard Stewart : I would like to make a motion to rescind the School Committee vote taken at the
November 14 2019 meeting-that stated when the Nauset Regional School Committee makes the request to borrow
from its ' Member Towns that it does so under the guidelines of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 16 , subsection
(d) Ed Brookshire seconded the motion and it was voted and approved unanimously via roll call vote .
On a motion by Ed Brookshire • I would like to make a motion that when the Nauset Regional School Committee
makes the request to borrow from its ' Member Towns that it does so under the guidelines of Massachusetts General
Law Chapter 71 Section 16 subsection (n) Richard Stewart seconded the motion, and it was voted and approved
unanimously via roll call vote .
On a motion by Ed Brookshire * Should the funding question for the High School Building Project fail at the ballot
box this spring the Nauset Regional School Committee will ask that an Article be placed on the Member Towns
Spring Meeting Warrant to request $98 , 000 , 000 necessary to pay for the ` Code Only Upgrade" option. The options
that has been developed and presented by the Nauset High School Building Committee . Tom Fitzgibbons seconded
the motion and it was voted and approved unanimously via roll call vote .
Superintendent Conrad informed the Committee that his office will be working with Town Clerks to coordinate a
timing for the vote .
Administrators ' Reports
Interim Principal Keith Kenyon reviewed his handout report with the Committee, additions and highlights were as
follows : Parent Teacher conferences have taken place and were successful, work continues via the Scheduling
Committee on the Wednesday schedule issues and are in the process of being worked out, and arrangements have
been made for students to pick up breakfast upon exiting the buses to bring to class . Discussion was held on
continuing and upcoming support services and events at the Middle School .
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Principal Ellsasser reviewed his handout report with the Committee with the following additions/highlights .
Professional Development — January 4th is a full day and the focus will be on student engagement and achievement
balanced with wellness . A survey is going out to students, families and staff asking questions about health and
wellbeing. Principal Ellsasser indicated currently there are more students in the remote learning model, up to 25 % .
Discussion was held on absenteeism and requirements for returning to school . Discussion was held on Civics
Curriculum and the requirements for graduation around that subject. Judy Schumacher expressed hope that Nauset
High School would revisit having all students study 19th Century US History .
Superintendents Report
Superintendent Conrad reported on the efforts in putting together all the FY22 budgets which include individual
meetings with Principals and Administrators . Good progress is being made, the Central Office Budget has passed
and will be presented in January. Negotiations have restarted and the plan is to get those completed as soon as
possible ; regarding COVID , Superintendent Conrad indicated that they are watching the numbers carefully and in
fact have some positive cases now our schools . Conversations are ongoing with Health Agents in all communities .
VNA has been responsible for contact tracing, however now the Health Agents and Nursing staff are taking that
over ; and he is doing some work with the SC Chairs looking at Department Head roles and what changes might
make sense . Judy Schumacher requested more information regarding the ELL Program and where that programs
budget comes from . Superintendent Conrad indicated those budgets are built into each individual schools operating
budget. It is his hope that the funds for this program can be increased .
FY21 Budget
Giovanna Vendetti reviewed the Dashboard Report with the Committee in detail .
Fill Vacant Posts & Committee Assignments
The Committee filled the following vacancies :
• Warrant Authorizer — Chris Easley
• Cape Cod Collaborative — Chris Easley
• Policy Subcommittee — Judy Schumacher
School Committee Evaluation & Meeting Schedule Discussion
Judy Schumacher reviewed the results of the NRSC Self Evaluation Survey, indicating this evaluation was really
more of a checklist or assessment or what is being done . Discussion was held on the best way to conduct an
evaluation, perhaps by taking the broad categories on the current survey and each writing a paragraph on that
category, or changing the response categories on the current checklist . Judy will do some more work on the survey
and bring it back to the Committee for review .
Meeting Schedule Discussion : Chair Easley asked the Committee how they would feel about two meetings per
month instead of one . One would be on reports and updates, the other would be school business and finances . This
would allow for more continuity between meetings .
The Committee was generally in favor of this and will revisit it at a future meeting.
Reports and Information
Budget and Finance Subcommittee
Judy Schumacher reported on the previous meeting; there was a presentation from the auditors on the 2019 Audit,$
Sue Murray and Jim Nowack did some work on the cafeteria numbers and the situation is not as bleak as it appeared
to be . Discussion was held on how to address the projected shortfall of funds , as well as some initiatives by the staff
to bring in more revenue and increase participation . In addition, options for current cafeteria staff to fill in elsewhere
in the schools are being looked at. The Subcommittee will continue to look at this monthly. In addition, the
Committee reviewed the Nauset Regional Middle School budget in detail . The Sub Committee requested that when
the new budgets are presented the principals provide a list of what items were not able to be included .
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Policy Subcommittee
Josh Stewart reported on the last Policy Subcommittee meeting in which the committee is continuing to review a
new Staff Responsible Use Policy,
Capital Asset Subcommittee
Chris Easley reported on the last Capital Asset Subcommittee meeting which included : the one and five year Capital
Plans were reviewed, the Committee requested a job description be developed for a facilities manager, review of
maintenance items at the high school , review of the 2021 Capital Plan, and the Committee is beginning to build a
yearly calendar .
Future Agenda Items
None
Adjournment
On a motion by Ed Brookshire seconded by Josh Stewart, it was voted unanimously via roll call vote to adjourn at
8 : 52PM.
Submitted by,
Arlynn Consiglio
Included in packet : Principals ' reports , Dashboard, ELL Presentation, Minutes
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