HomeMy Public PortalAboutNauset Schools -- 2020-11-12 Minutes (2) Nauset Regional School Committee
November 12 , 2020 6 : 00 PM k F '
Virtual meeting, live streamed at Eastham Town Hall
Present for the Committee : Judith Schumacher, Chris Easley, Richard Stewart, Robert Jacobus, Josh Stewart, Ed
Brookshire, John O ' Reilly, Tom Fitzgibbons
Present for the Administration : Thomas Conrad, Giovanna Venditti, Mary Buchanan, Keith Gauley, Principal Chris
Ellsasser, Assistant Principal Stephanie Rae , Acting Principal Keith Kenyon
Others Present : Tracy Murphy, Sharon Basso, Henry Evans, Richard Peterson, Greg Levasseur
Call to Order
Chair Easley called the meeting to order at 6 : 00 p . m. noting the Zoom invitation 82994592874 .
Agenda Changes — Chair Easley moved the Civics Presentation and Building Committee Update to immediately
follow the Consent Agenda Vote
Citizens Speak — None
Consent Agenda
On a motion by Rob Jacobus seconded by John O ' Reilly, it was voted unanimously via roll call vote to approve
both the Gifts and Grants offered to NRSD and the Minutes of October 8 . 2020as written .
Judy Schumacher thanked Snowy Owl for their part in the gifts to NRSD , and requested the administration research
how to have all Nauset Public Schools featured as an option on their website . Currently there is only Stony Brook
and Eddy Elementary Schools .
PRIORITY BUSINESS
Middle & High School Civics Update
Superintendent Conrad began the update with an overview of the Committee request to hear from different
departments and different programs on the Middle and High School campuses . The Civics Update begins that
process for the Committee .
Richard Peterson, Nauset Middle School History Teacher, opened the discussion by stating that for the last couple of
years the History Department has been looking at the new Civics Law that was signed by Governor Baker, which in
part requires a project in eighth grade , and at one point in High School . There is no specification on when or what
subject . This year, the Middle School students will begin with an inquiry on what they are interested in? What
needs to you see in the community? They will build their project from there with the goal of sustainable change ,
something that could have a lasting legacy in the community .
Henry Evans , Nauset High School History Teacher, spoke to the future, and the requirement that all students
between ninth and twelfth grade be required to take a Civics Course that offers something of interest to them . The
High School currently has a Witness to War program that would qualify. If a student was interested in a School
within a School system or human rights , they could build a project on that. A student could self-select what issue
they would like to address .
Nauset Regional School Committee, November 12 , 2020 1 P a g e
Judy Schumacher had a question regarding the teaching of US History, and if Civics had replaced that. Henry Evans
responded that US History is incorporated into World History currently . World History 2 is a required course .
After discussion, the Committee thanked Mr . Peterson and Mr. Evans for their presentation .
Building Committee Update
Greg Levasseur gave the Committee an update on the Nauset High School Building Project. He indicated that
during COVID , he received a lot of questions which he forwarded to architects and engineers for responses . All
information can be found on www. nausetbuildingproject . com ,
Mr . Levasseur explained the unusual parameters of Nauset High School , being in a national seashore , having
endangered species issues with the property, the property being Eastham ' s water resource district, as well as being a
shelter for the Community in periods of inclement weather and disaster. Discussions and plans are being made
around energy efficiency with all those parameters in mind.
In the near future the public outreach team will be meeting to start the process of looking at when to resume moving
forward and begin interacting with the public and putting a message together . The Committee is looking at safe new
ways to interact with the public and Mr . Levasseur welcomed any suggestions from the Committee on how that
might happen .
The deadline to have the project voted on is May 31 " .
After discussion, the Committee thanked Mr . Levasseur for the update .
Administrators ' Reports
Principal Kobold was not in attendance . Superintendent Conrad indicated her written report was included in the
packet and that members could ask any questions of Keith Kenyon or Stephanie Rae .
Stephanie Rae indicated that Julie Kobold forwarded some updates in her report, school is well underway at this
point . Julie is missed, but Keith has been a great addition to help out through this time .
Keith Kenyon updated the Committee on projects he and Stephanie have been working on : including forming a
scheduling committee which now has about 14 members and is looking at all aspects of scheduling at the Middle
School . The first school council meeting was held, with 18 members . Two subcommittees were formed within that
meeting. One will be studying and putting together a school improvement plan . The second subcommittee will
study professional development at the middle school . In person music lessons will be starting up, and everyone is
waiting to see what is going to happen with winter interscholastic sports .
Discussion was held on world languages and intermural sports . Judy Schumacher requested that Carina DaSilva,
ELL Coordinator, be invited to the next meeting to give an overview on the ELL Program at Nauset . The
Committee thanked Keith Kenyon for filling in while Julie Kobold is on leave .
Principal Chris Ellsasser ' s report was included in the packet. Highlights included : the success of the fall sports
program, the fact that students are complying with all COVID restrictions and behaving like model citizens , and a
conversation with all school departments during a school meeting to see what is working and what is not working
well . Principal Ellsasser also indicated that Zoom seems to be the preferred platform and is working out well for
most of the departments .
Nauset Regional School Committee, November 12 , 2020 2 P a g e
Discussion was held on socialization, cohorts , and winter athletics . On a question from Josh Stewart on how kids are
feeling about this new learning model , Principal Ellsasser responded that coming to school has been both a good
thing and a disappointing thing . It' s been a shift for students to adapt to, but they are malting the best of it. It is and
will continue to be a work in progress , evaluating what is working and what isn ' t working. The staff and students
will be surveyed to see how things could change for the better . The Senior Class in particular is being looked at in
terms of making this year special for them , as their social activities are now so restricted .
Superintendent ' s Report
Superintendent Conrad gave an overview of the Middle School Basketball Court, backup details for which were
included in the Committee ' s packet. He then asked Tracy Murphy to speak to the Committee on the proposal from
the Orleans Recreation Advisory Committee ,
Ms . Murphy reported that Orleans citizens are very interested in a basketball court for community use at Nauset
Middle School . Ms . Murphy and Ms . Basso explained they would like Committee authorization to apply to the
Orleans CPC for funding to get an estimate on construction of a basketball court .
After discussion on a motion by Josh Stewartseconded by Rob Jacobus it was voted unanimously by roll call vote
to authorize the Orleans Recreation Advisory Committee to apply to Orleans CPC for funding to get an estimate on
construction of a basketball court at Nauset Middle School ,
Superintendent Conrad reported on the following to the Committee : Labor & Management meetings with various
schools continue and should conclude within the next two to three weeks . He thanked Ann McConchie and Mark
Mathison for their time working on this Committee . Issues addressed are schedules , spaces at the buildings,
ventilation etc . Now that DESE has approved snow days , if they are used as remote learning days , can be counted
towards student attendance for the year. The administration is currently looking at this, and will bring it back to the
Committee for approval once a determination is made . The Business Office , and Giovanna Venditti , have been
working on budgets for FY22 and are currently working on the Central Office budget . Wellfleet budget is close to
being completed, and all budgets are being worked on and developed .
On a question from Judy Schumacher regarding negotiations , Superintendent Conrad indicated these are continuing
negotiations on the new contract, which were stalled due to COVID . On a question from Rob Jacobus,
Superintendent Conrad discussed remote learning, snow days and electric outages .
Special Education Update — Director of Student Services Mary Buchanan
Mary Buchanan thanked the Committee for inviting her to speak to them at this meeting. Ms . Buchanan indicated
she has been with Nauset for 5 months and began during the unprecedented time of COVID . She has been very
impressed with the District and staff handling of the pandemic, their professionalism and integrity in coming
together for all students . Ms . Buchanan shared that the focus at this time for the Special Education staff is student
and staff mental health. Nauset was not awarded funds under the Mental Health Grant this year, however Ms .
Buchanan was able to amend the Special Education Entitlement Grant to fund a LICSW to work with and support
students and families during this school year .
Discussion was held on the results of previous Youth Risk Behavior and Mental Health surveys given to students .
Ms . Buchanan will work on getting the results of those previous surveys to the Committee .
The Committee thanked Mary Buchanan for attending the meeting and for her report.
Nauset Regional School Committee, November 12 , 2020 3 ( P a g e
FY21 Budget
Giovanna Venditti reviewed the Dashboard Report with the Subcommittee in detail .
Capital Asset Reclassification
After discussion it was moved by Tom Fitzgibbons seconded by Judy Schumacher, it was voted unanimously by
J.
roll call vote to approve the Capital Asset Reclassifications as submitted .
Harassment Policy — Approve for a Second Reading
It was moved by Josh Stewartseconded by Robert Jacobus and voted unanimously by roll call vote to approve the
Harassment Policy for a Second Reading .
Unfinished Business
None at this time
Reports and Information
Cape Cod Collaborative
Robert Jacobus reported on the previous Cape Cod Collaborative Board Meeting, with focus on an application for
forgiving the PPE loan previously secured . That application will be submitted .
Mr . Jacobus thanked the Committee for and indicated it was a pleasure and privilege to be part of the group.
Budget and Finance Subcommittee
Judy Schumacher reported on the recent Budget and Finance Subcommittee meeting, in which the Committee
reviewed the dashboard in great detail . Ms . Schumacher indicated she was very concerned with the deficit in the
cafeteria budget in both the middle and high school cafeteria . Due to COVID , and number of meals served, that
deficit will not be going away, and will eventually conclude in a large loss for this school year. In addition, the
cafeteria staff are the very ones that have been working tirelessly to be sure free meals are available to students and
families in the community, and have done so even during the worst of the COVID pandemic . Next month there will
be a greater look into the cafeteria numbers by Sue Murray and Jim Nowack.
MASC Conference
Tom Fitzgibbons reported on the MASC Virtual Conference, sharing that it was well set up and done efficiently .
There were no break- out sessions, and each of the 10 items was voted on . All items with the exception of one
passed .
Capital Asset Subcommittee
Chris Easley reported the Capital Asset Subcommittee met and reorganized, went through the five year and one year
capital plans and had good discussion on it.
Future Agenda Items
Invite Carina DaSilva to give an overview on the ELL Program at Nauset .
Nauset Regional School Committee , November 12 , 2020 4 P a g e
Adjournment
On a motion by Robert Jacobus , seconded by Josh Stewart, it was voted unanimously ia roll call vote to adjourn at
8 : 3lPM.
Submitted by,
Arlynn Consiglio
Included in packet . Principals ' reports , Dashboard, Capital Asset Reclassifications , Harassment Policy and minutes
I
i
I
Nauset Regional School Committee, November 12 , 2020 5 P a g e